Bayreuth
medi Bayreuth defeats Neptunas Klaipeda 102:78 in the final game in the first half of the Champions League group stage
medi Bayreuth chalked up its third win in a row to complete the first half of the Basketball Champions League group stage. On the seventh matchday, the team of Head Coach Raoul Korner defeated Neptunas Klaipeda 102:78 at home in highly convincing fashion on Tuesday evening and so is back in contention for a playoff spot in Group D.
Knowing how important the encounter was, Bayreuth was highly focused to begin with. As in the home game against Bremerhaven in the German league three days previously, Raoul Korner’s team managed to unfold its game plan extremely effectively.
It was palpable from the very first minute that the team was aware of the importance of this final game in the first half of the group stage. And that was reflected in the concentration and focus with which it set about its task. Bayreuth managed to score a high percentage of shots from near to the basket. A strong eight assists in the first period were proof that the team played as one and unselfishly sought and also found the better positioned teammate. It was only after calling a timeout that Klaipeda briefly got back into the encounter. However, medi Bayreuth was able to pull nine points ahead again by the end of the period thanks to two beautifully carved-out buckets by De’Mon Brooks.
In the second quarter, it was Nik Raivio who gave Bayreuth its highest lead up to then (30:15). Yet the Lithuanian club did not give up so easily. Its best player on the evening, Jerai Grant, helped it reduce the deficit to eight points in this spell. However, Raoul Korner’s team only conceded three turnovers up to half-time and was also a little better in rebounding than its opponents, with the result that it went in at the break with a solid ten-point cushion.
One player now really came into his own in the third period. Adonis Thomas went into overdrive, adding 12 points just in this quarter and topping that with two assists and two rebounds – without missing a shot or conceding a turnover. Whatever Neptunas Klaipeda’s defense tried, it had no effect. Bayreuth pulled away point by point and impressively confirmed its strong form. As a result, Steve Wachalski was also able to celebrate his return to duty in the Oberfrankenhölle cauldron after a lengthy break through injury. It was only toward the end of the period that the team of Head Coach Kazys Maksvytis was able to put a slightly better complexion on the scoreline and keep its hopes of a comeback alive. medi Bayreuth went into the final quarter leading 78:60.
Yet Bayreuth nipped every attempt to stage a comeback in the bud. It repeatedly had the right response up its sleeve and was even able to stretch the gap to more than 20 points again. Bayreuth finally ran out deserved winners in this Champions League home game by 102:78.