Medi Bayreuth notches up seventh win in a row

If you could choose between ending up losing a really good game narrowly or finishing a rather weak game with a victory, then it would doubtless not only be medi’s Head Coach Raoul Korner who would pick the latter. So it was understandable that the Austrian was not unhappy after his team’s hard-fought 95:92 (55:44) victory against Mitteldeutscher BC on the 10th matchday of the easyCredit German Basketball League.

medi Bayreuth faced off against the decimated Wolves from Weißenfels and an evenly poised game ensued in the first period. Whereas Bayreuth’s players impressed with good shooting percentages, the MBC scored in some cases easy points by stealing possession on many occasions. Consequently, Bayreuth ended the quarter with just a narrow 27:26 lead.

The game continued as it had left off in the first four minutes of the second period. The MBC was even able to establish a small lead (35:31). However, Bayreuth then stepped up a gear and turned the game around with a run of 11 points without reply – and then managed to stretch its lead further with impressive shooting percentages. Since the MBC was not quite able to maintain the standard of play it displayed in the first quarter, medi went in at half-time 55:44 in front and everything seemed to point to a certain victory for the home side.

medi kept up the pace after the break. The team continued to exploit its advantages well, especially through Hassan Martin, and at times was up to 18 points in front. Yet its greatest shortcoming on the evening – turnovers – allowed the visitors to get back into the encounter and keep the third period evenly poised (66:77).

The gap between the two teams initially gyrated around the ten-point mark. Yet the MBC suddenly began catching up point by point midway through the final quarter. Bayreuth’s luck with its shots deserted it increasingly and that, together with the fact that the home side repeatedly conceded turnovers, meant the visitors were able to slash the deficit to 83:85 with just over two minutes remaining. Mitteldeutscher BC were even within one point of medi Bayreuth with 30 seconds left on the clock. However, the home team now showed what strong nerves it has, running out winners by 95:92 to capture its seventh successive victory.

Source: www.medi-bayreuth.de