Schneider saves Berlin / Shorts shines for Bonn / Braunschweig finally win again

This week’s biggest storyline was Tim Schneider draining a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds left to give ALBA BERLIN a hard-fought victory at Würzburg Baskets and extend their winning streak to eight games. TJ Shorts made his own headlines as he poured in 30 points in a Telekom Baskets Bonn blowout of EWE Baskets Oldenburg. And what a week for Basketball Löwen Braunschweig, who ended their months of misery with two victories to snap a nine-game losing streak and now move out of last place.

In this section, we break out our English language skills and inform you about the latest news from the German easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. If you’re short on time but still want your fill of Germany’s top basketball league then you are in the right place. Every week David Hein (www.heinnews.com) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:

Berlin survive in Würzburg with Schneider game-winning three

ALBA BERLIN survived a battle at Würzburg Baskets with Tim Schneider’s three-pointer with 1.4 seconds left giving the reigning champions a 79-76 win and extending their winning streak to eight games. Berlin were never able to grab control of the game with nine points being their biggest advantage and the game seeing 10 lead changes and 7 ties. Four points was the biggest lead off the fourth quarter and Filip Stanic evened the game with 21 seconds to play before Schneider’s heroics as Berlin moved to 14-1 and Würzburg fell to 8-8 but still among the playoffs teams. Berlin survived 17 turnovers by shooting 48.2 percent from long range. Louis Olinde made 4-of-4 from deep and poured in a season-high 23 points - one point short of his career best - to lead Berlin, whose only other double digit scorer was Yanni Wetzell with 10 points. Stanley Whittaker collected 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and CJ Bryce poured in 20 points in the loss.

Shorts shines as Bonn bounce back, blast Oldenburg

Telekom Baskets Bonn brushed off their loss last week to ALBA BERLIN and raced past EWE Baskets Oldenburg 108-79 at home thanks to TJ Shorts torching the guests with 30 points. After a high scoring first quarter (30-29 for Bonn), the hosts wrestled control of the game with a 15-0 second quarter run to coast to the win. Bonn improved to 14-2 and Oldenburg fell to 10-6. Bonn shot a blistering 62.9 percent from the field including 72.4 percent on two-pointers and 54.6 percent from long range while holding Oldenburg to just 28.6 percent on three-pointers. Besides Shorts, five other Bonn players scored in double figures including Finn Delaney with 13 points and Sebastian Herrera with 12 points and 5 assists. MaCio Teague was Oldenburg’s leading scorer with 17 points and DeWayne Russell picked up 13 points and 7 assists in the loss.

Braunschweig snap 9-game losing skid in Round 18 game in Bamberg

Basketball Löwen Braunschweig showed that they can win a game as they snapped a 9-game losing skid with a 92-83 victory over Brose Bamberg, whose four-game winning streak was stopped. Just four days after winning 85-83 in Braunschweig, Bamberg built a 10-point lead early in the second quarter and after a back and forth Braunschweig used a 13-2 run to take control and finally win for a 3-13 mark and Bamberg fell to 7-9. Braunschweig committed only 8 turnovers and shot 59.0 percent on two-pointers. Braydon Hobbs paced five Braunschweig players in double figures with 19 points with David Krämer scoring 18 points and Dustin Sleva picking up 14 points and 8 rebounds. Patrick Miller collected 17 points and 6 assists and Jahomir Bohacik chipped in 12 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.

Braunschweig make it two in a row, grab road win in slumping Hamburg

Basketball Löwen Braunschweig grabbed their second straight victory as they downed struggling Veolia Towers Hamburg 92-83 on the road to move out of last place in the standings. Braunschweig led multiple times in double digits in the first three quarters - topped by a 13-point margin early in the third, but Hamburg snuck ahead early in the fourth. Braunschweig finished strong, giving up just two points in the final 3 minutes to improve to 4-13 with Hamburg dropping to 6-10 with a third straight defeat. Braunschweig forced Hamburg into 20 turnovers leading to 19 fast break points while also making 80.0 percent of their free throws compared to 60.9 percent for Hamburg. Dustin Sleva was Braunschweig’s top scorer with 20 points and David Krämer helped out with 19 points and Braydon Hobbs added 15 points and 7 assists. Kendale McCullum led all scorers with 26 points and James Woodard had 15 points but the rest of Hamburg’s starters contributed just 7 points combined in the loss.

Bayern rebound from Ludwigsburg loss, down Bamberg on road

FC Bayern Munich rebounded from their disappointing loss last week to MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg by fighting past Brose Bamberg 94-87 on the road. Bamberg stayed close for much of the game but Bayern were up 11 points after three quarters and the lead grew to 16 points early in the final frame. Bayern staved off any comeback attempt to move to 12-4 and Bamberg dropped to 7-10 with a second straight loss. Bayern committed only 9 turnovers and dominated their offensive glass for a 21-2 advantage in second chance points. Augustine Rubit evened his season high with 23 points to lead Bayern with Cassius Winston adding 16 points and 6 assists and Niels Giffey scoring 11 points. Patrick Miller collected 23 points and 8 assists and Solomon Young picked up 15 points and 11 rebounds for Bamberg in the loss.

Bayern bring back D.J. Seeley until end of season

FC Bayern Munich responded to their lasting run of injuries and illnesses and signed D.J. Seeley until the end of the season. The 33-year-old American played a major part of the 2020-21 season with Bayern and helped the club win the 2021 German Cup. He had played this season with French club Gravelines-Dunkerque.

Late run carries Crailsheim past Ludwigsburg to fourth straight win

HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim are knocking on the door of the playoffs after using a late run to roll past MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 106-87 at home for a fourth straight victory. Ludwigsburg fell behind by 17 points after 10 minutes but fought back to take the lead late in the third quarter. Crailsheim blew the game open with a 20-2 start to the fourth quarter to jump to 7-9 while Ludwigsburg have lost three of the last four to fall to 9-6. Crailsheim committed only 8 turnovers and shot 53.7 percent for the game including 46.9 percent from long range while keeping Ludwigsburg to just 27.8 percent on three-pointers. Edon Maxhuni was brilliant with 24 points, Arunas Mikalauskas poured in 22 points off the bench and Jaren Lewis contributed 15 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Jonathan Dunn scored 24 points and Prentiss Hubb had 23 points but they did not get enough help from the rest of Ludwigsburg.

Caboclo, strong finish help Ulm past Weissenfels

ratiopharm ulm fought back from a 15-point deficit and finished strong to escape SYNTAINICS MBC with a 91-87 road victory and remain in the playoffs hunt. The hosts looked like they controlled the game with a 15-point advantage late in the third quarter. Ulm slowly fought back and ended the game with a 15-2 run to improve to 7-9 and SYNTAINICS MBC dropped to 6-10. Ulm won the game by shooting 69.7 percent on two-pointers and connecting on 15-of-19 free throws compared to just 4-of-6 foul shots for the hosts. Bruno Caboclo showed why he used to be in the NBA with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Thomas Klepeisz scored 14 points with 5 assists and Yago dos Santos chipped in 13 points. Kostja Mushidi hit 4 three-pointers in scoring 23 points and Martin Breunig had 15 points in the losing effort.

Chemnitz avoid letdown against Frankfurt, stay in fight for home court advantage

NINERS Chemnitz remained in the running for home court advantage in the playoffs with an 89-76 win at home over FRAPORT SKYLINERS. Chemnitz broke the game open with a 31-14 third quarter and improved to 9-5 in fifth place and Frankfurt fell to 4-12. Frankfurt shot just 38.1 percent for the game including 30.6 percent from long range and Chemnitz turned 17 offensive rebounds in 21 second chance points. Mindaugas Susinskas paced Chemnitz with 22 points and Wes Clark and Marko Filipovity both chipped in 12 points. New signing Isaiah Washington poured in 27 points and Laurynas Beliauskas scored 21 points but they were not enough for Frankfurt.

Chemnitz waste big lead but run away from Rostock again in Round 15 win

NINERS Chemnitz wasted a 22-point lead but ended up running away for a blowout 96-81 victory over ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES in a Round 15 battle of eastern German clubs. Chemnitz raced to a 22-point lead in the second quarter but watched as Rostock went ahead midway through the third quarter by one point with a 22-0 run. Chemnitz responded with a 31-11 surge to blow the game open and improve to 8-5 while Rostock fell to 6-9. Chemnitz shot 54.4 percent for the game including a white-hot 75.0 percent on two-pointers. Marko Filipovity poured in 31 points as one of five Chemnitz players in double figures including Mindaugas Susinskas with 13 points and Arnas Velicka with a double-double of 11 points and 12 assists. Derrick Alston scored 20 points and Jordan Roland added 17 in the loss.

Rostock stop four-game losing streak, send Bayreuth to last place

ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES snapped their four-game losing streak as they knocked off medi bayreuth 92-83 on the road. The promoted side Rostock took a 14-point lead early in the second quarter but the rest of the game was close. The guests finished the deal with an 8-1 spurt in the final 2 minutes for a 7-9 record and gave Bayreuth their fourth straight loss for a 3-13 mark in last place. Rostock held Bayreuth to just 28.1 percent from long range and dominated the glass 39-27. Tyler Nelson paced the winners with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Derrick Alston had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Brandon Childress was outstanding with 25 points and 9 assists and Ahmed Hill picked up 15 points in the losing effort.

Player of the Week

TJ Shorts has been a MVP candidate all season and he showed why once again for Telekom Baskets Bonn in a big win over EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The playmaker registered an efficiency of 42 as he scored 30 points on 11-of-12 shooting - including 5-of-6 three-pointers - and 3-of-4 free throws to go with 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.

German Top Five of the Week

F: Kostja Mushidi, SYNTAINICS MBC

Mushidi knocked down 4 three-pointers in scoring 23 points to go with 3 rebounds and 3 assists against ratiopharm ulm.

G: David Krämer, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig

Krämer has been outstanding since his return from injury and he had two big games in two Braunschweig wins. He collected 18 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist against Brose Bamberg and then had 19 points with 4 three-pointers, 3 rebonds, 1 assist and 1 steal versus Veolia Towers Hamburg.

F: Niels Giffey, FC Bayern Munich

Giffey came off the Bayern bench and hit 3 three-pointers in scoring 11 points and added 5 rebounds and 1 assist versus Brose Bamberg.

F: Jonas Richter, NINERS Chemnitz

Richter helped Chemnitz win two games this week as he picked up 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES and had 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block versus FRAPORT SKYLINERS.

F: Louis Olinde, ALBA BERLIN

Olinde rounds out a small-ball lineup this week as he led Berlin with a season-high 23 points - including 4-of-4 on three-pointers, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks against Würzburg Baskets.

Young Guns

Sananda Fru, 19, PF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig

Fru started both games for Braunschweig and helped the team to two wins. Against Brose Bamberg, the big man had 3 points on 1-of-1 shooting and 1-of-2 free throws, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks in 16:28 minutes. Fru then picked dup 4 points on 2-of-2 shooting plus 4 rebounds and 3 steals in 15:06 minutes versus Veolia Towers Hamburg.

Luc van Slooten, 20, SF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig

Va Slooten had two solid games for Braunschweig as he tallied 5 points on 2-of-7 shots (1/5 threes), 1 rebound and 3 assists in 21:48 minutes against Brose Bamberg and then had 8 points on 3-of-7 shooting (2/5 threes), 1 rebound, 3 assists and 1 steal in 27:42 minutes versus Veolia Towers Hamburg.

Jason George, 21, SG, NINERS Chemnitz

George continues to play solidly on loan at Chemnitz from FC Bayern Munich. The shooting guard did go scoreless and miss all five of his shots against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES but he grabbed 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 9:42 minutes. He then had 5 points on 2-of-3 shots (1/2 threes), 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 15:40 seconds against FRAPORT SKYLINERS.

Germans Abroad

Real Madrid’s U18 team was in Munich this past weekend and won the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich event to book a ticket to the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Kaunas in May. Star German 2007-born talent Declan Duru was also on hand but he could not play for Los Blancos because of an injured knee. Scouts around the world have raved about the youngster and Duru said he expects to be back on the court in about two months. He has played twice this season in the Spanish fourth division EBA for Real’s second team, totalling 12 points, 12 rebounds and 4 steals in 45 minutes. Hopefully he will be fully back and at top health for the ANGT Finals.