The BBC produces emphatic display in the battle to avoid relegation

BBC COBURG can not only win, but also play impressive basketball at the same time. It turned in a flowing display to defeat RheinStars Cologne 102:78 (47:40) and so send out an emphatic signal in its fight to remain in the BARMER ProB South 2nd German Basketball League.

The home side was able to rely in particular on Kevin Franceschi in the opening minutes in front of a crowd of almost 600 in the HUK-COBURG Arena, as the shooting guard from France notched up nine of Coburg’s first 11 points. Then the evening of the BBC’s long-distance shooters began: Apart from Franceschi, Daniel Krause, Christopher Wolf, Dino Dizdarevic and Chase Adams were also in accurate form and, with a combined total of twelve buckets from beyond the arc in the game, ensured that the club from Upper Franconia finished up with a strong 3-point field goal percentage (41%) for the first time this season. In particular Tucker Haymond put up stiff resistance for Cologne. The U.S. forward was mainly responsible for the fact that his side’s deficit at half-time was tolerable (47:40).

Not a few BBC fans were worried and skeptical after the break – after all, an inexplicable slump in the third period had resulted in a needless defeat at the hands of Basketball Lions Erfurt. However, Head Coach Ulf Schabacker’s players proved to be far more alert, stable and focused against a weakened RheinStars. Mistakes did happen, but they were immediately ironed out by a teammate. Center Max von der Wippel beavered away laboriously in the paint and benefited repeatedly from Chase Adams’ excellent passes. The new point guard’s calm was also reflected in the turnover statistics: six, the lowest so far this season.

The outclassed visitors were forced to watch as the home side pulled away midway through the third period and were also not able to stage a comeback. An impressive 102:78 victory now means BBC COBURG is right back in the battle to avoid relegation.