Two easyCredit BBL legends had major moments this week as Per Günther had his jersey No. 6 retired by ratiopharm ulm and John Bryant moved past Chris Ensminger into fourth place in the league’s all-time scoring list. The Günther ceremony was spoiled later however as Tigers Tübingen shocked the reigning league champions by 21 points. The other main highlight was Basketball Löwen Braunschweig knocking off Bamberg Baskets in double overtime.
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:
Ulm retire Per Günther’s No. 6
The number 6 will never be worn again for ratiopharm ulm as the club honored the point guard legend and retired the number, hoisting it to the rafters of the ratiopharm arena. Günther retired in the summer of 2022 after 500 Bundesliga games and reaching two easyCredit BBL Finals. Günther is the first player in Ulm’s history who had his jersey retired. Günther was five times straight from 2012 to 2016 named as the most likeable player in the league.
Tübingen shock Ulm, rain on Per Günther’s ceremony
Tigers Tübingen spoiled a special moment for ratiopharm ulm as they collected a 97-76 road victory on a night when the hosts retired the number of club legend Per Günther. Tübingen led almost the entire game and was in control for most of it before conceding only 7 points in the fourth quarter to snap a 5-game losing streak for a 5-13 record. Ulm have lost two of their last three games for a 13-5 record. Tübingen knocked down 57.1 percent of their three-pointers and kept Ulm to just 22.2 percent. Jhivvan Jackson collected 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while Daniel Keppeler had a night to remember with career highs of 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals and Mateo Seric chipped in 15 points. Ulm big man Trevion Williams was dominant with 19 points and 7 rebounds while Tommy Klepeisz had 14 points in the loss.
John Bryant jumps to fourth place in league scoring list .
John Bryant added another major achievement in his storied career in the easyCredit BBL as he picked up 9 points for SYNTAINICS MBC against Telekom Baskets Bonn to move into fourth place on the league’s all-time scoring list since the start of data collection in 1998. Bryant now has 5,440 points to pass Chris Ensminger. The only three players with more points are Derrick Allen (6,173), Julius Jenkins (6,176) and Rickey Paulding (7,959).
Würzburg beat Berlin for first time in nearly 8 years, jump to fourth place
Würzburg Baskets snapped a 15-game losing streak to ALBA BERLIN dating back to nearly eight years by winning 76-75 at home to avenge a Round 16 loss in the German capital and jump to fourth place. Neither team could pull away with the biggest lead being seven points. Berlin trailed by five points with 95 seconds left but Martin Hermannsson’s free throw made it 75-74 for the guests. Darius Perry made two free throws with 4 seconds left to decide the game and give Würzburg a 12-5 record after eight wins in the last nine games. Berlin has lost five of their last eight games and fell to 10-5. Würzburg committed only 8 turnovers and made 42.3 percent on three-pointers. Otis Livingston and Zach Seljaas both scored 21 points in the win and Sterling Brown paced Berlin with 21 points and Yanni Wetzell had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Braunschweig win double-OT thriller thanks to Sylla buzzer alley-oop
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig prevailed in one of the most exciting games of the week, outlasting Bamberg Baskets 91-90 at home after two overtimes. The game went back and forth throughout with 14 ties and 18 lead changes. Braunschweig’s Amar Sylla tipped in an alley-oop at the buzzer of regulation to send the game to overtime and Ahmaad Rorie made a free throw with 3 seconds left for the hosts to make it a second extra session. Bamberg scored just 2 points in the final 2:58 minutes and Braunschweig have won two straight after a three-game losing streak while Bamberg are 6-12 after three consecutive losses. Bamberg made just 22.2 percent on three-pointers and committed 22 turnovers. Rorie was Braunschweig’s leading scorer with 23 points to go with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Nicolas Tischler had 15 points and Jilson Bango contributed 11 points. Zach Copeland tallied 27 points, Trey Woodbury had 17 points and 7 rebounds and Filip Stanic chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
Göttingen go to overtime again, beat Rostock at home in seventh OT game
BG Göttingen know a thing or two about overtime games this season as they out-lasted ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES 104-90 at home in extra time. Göttingen ran away in the third quarter for a 14-point lead but Rostock managed to tie it in the final period and Rostock’s Tyler Nelson scored a layup with 24 seconds to force overtime. Göttingen were not challenged in the extra session with a 17-3 start to move to 5-11 after their seventh overtime game in all competitions this season. Rostock fell to 6-11 with their fifth straight loss - the longest current losing streak in the league. Rostock managed only 18.2 percent on three-pointers. David DeJulius came off the Göttingen bench to lead the team in scoring with 26 points while Zach Ensminger had 18 points and 6 rebounds and Grant Anticevich picked up 13 points and 9 rebounds. Nelson collected 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a big showing in the loss.
Yebo sets career mark with 33 points in Chemnitz blowout of Heidelberg
NINERS Chemnitz bounced back from their loss to FC Bayern Munich to blow out MLP Academics Heidelberg 99-77 on the road thanks to a career night from Kevin Yebo. Chemnitz ran away in the game with a 25-3 surge spanning halftime in moving to 15-3 while Heidelberg dropped their second straight game since their first win under Ingo Freyer for a 3-15 record. Chemnitz shot 40.7 percent from long range and Heidelberg made just 31.8 percent of their three-pointers. Yebo was outstanding with a new personal high 33 points and 7 rebounds while Kaza Kajami-Keane had 11 points and 8 assists and Tylor Ongwae scored 11 points. Marcel Kessen was Heidelberg’s leading scorer off the bench with 18 points and 9 rebounds and Josh Gray picked up 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Bayern roll past Crailsheim, stay perfect at home and Crailsheim winless on road
FC Bayern Munich remained perfect at home and extended their winning streak to nine games after a comfortable 98-81 win over HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim, who still are winless on the road. Bayern blew the game open with a 31-11 second quarter to improve to 13-3 including 8-0 at home and Crailsheim lost their third in a row for a 3-15 record, including a 0-9 mark away from home. Bayern committed only 7 turnovers and used a 15-3 advantage in offensive rebounds for a 21-4 cushion in second chance points. Carsen Edwards was Bayern’s main weapon with 23 points with Vladimir Lucic scoring 13 points and Sylvain Francisco adding 11 points. Leo Westermann had 21 points in the loss - 15 of them in the first quarter.
Vechta beat Hamburg for fifth win in last six games
RASTA Vechta remained on a roll as they fought their way past Veolia Towers Hamburg 79-71 at home. Vechta came out of the break stronger and built a 10-point in the third quarter, which Hamburg trimmed to three points early in the final frame but the hosts held them off. Vechta have won five of six games for a 12-6 record and Hamburg have two straight losses and a 10-7 record. Vechta shot 48.2 percent on three-pointers and Hamburg connected on just 7-of-14 free throws. Tommy Kuhse collected 15 points and 6 assists and Joel Aminu had 12 points in the win. Aljami Durham tallied 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a losing effort.
Bonn use late run to down Wolves, spoil ex-coach’s 500th game
Telekom Baskets Bonn snapped a two-game losing streak by knocking off SYNTAINICS MBC 100-92 on the road, spoiling the 500th game in the easyCredit BBL for former head coach and hosts’ playcaller Predrag Krunic. The game was tight throughout until Bonn went on a 13-0 fourth quarter run to improve to 11-8 while SYNTAINICS MBC had won its last two games but fell to 6-12. Bonn survived 19 turnovers thanks to a 42-21 rebound advantage and shooting 71.4 percent on two-pointers while holding the hosts to just 45.5 percent from the field. Brian Hobbs was Bonn’s top scorer with 22 points off the bench while Glynn Watson had 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, Savion Flagg picked up 17 points and Thomas Kennedy added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Martin Breunig scored 19 points with 5 steals for the hosts.
Oldenburg fend off Ludwigsburg comeback for third straight win
EWE Baskets Oldenburg continued their positive march up the standings as they knocked off MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 91-85 at home for their third straight victory. Oldenburg controlled the game from the beginning and built a 19-point lead late in the third quarter. Ludwigsburg managed to close it within 6 points but could not finish the comeback and Oldenburg moved to 9-9 and Ludwigsburg fell to 11-7 after having won four of its last five games. Ludwigsburg shot just 20.0 percent from long range and Oldenburg made 71.4 percent of its two-point shots. DeWayne Russell collected 18 points and 6 assists, Ebuka Izundu had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Geno Crandall picked up 15 points and 6 assists for the winners. Jayvon Graves poured in 26 points and Yorman Polas Bartolo tallied 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in a losing effort.
Oldenburg add Estonian international Konontsuk to help fill injury gap
EWE Baskets Oldenburg have reacted to their lasting injury bug and signed Estonian international Artur Konontsuk until the end of the season. The 23-year-old power forward will help fill the gap after injuries to Brekkott Chapman, Deane Williams and Alen Pjanic. Konontsuk last played in the Spanish ACB for Fundacion CB Granada.
Tübingen add center reinforcements with Evan Maxwell
Tigers Tübingen added reinforcements in the low blocks with the signing of Evan Maxwell until the end of the season. The 28-year-old began the season with Argentinean first division side Comunicaciones Mercedes.
Player of the Week
The Player of the Week for Round 18 is Kevin Yebo, the NINERS Chemnitz center who was fantastic against MLP Academics Heidelberg. He scored a career hight 33 points on 10-of-12 shooting and 13-of-19 free throws and had 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 turnovers for an efficiency of 33.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Zach Ensminger, BG Göttingen
Ensminger nailed all three of his three-point attempts and scored 18 points off the bench against ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES and added 6 rebounds.
F: Nicholas Tischler, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Tischler’s twin brother Brandon was in the Top Five last week, but this was Nicholas’ week to shine with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals against his former club Bamberg Baskets.
F: Daniel Keppeler, Tigers Tübingen
Keppeler had a career night with personal bests with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals as well as 1 block against ratiopharm ulm. It was the 27-year-old’s 11th game in the easyCredit BBL.
C: Marcel Kessen, MLP Academics Heidelberg
Kessen had another strong game with 18 points and 9 rebounds in a loss to NINERS Chemnitz.
C: Kevin Yebo, NINERS Chemnitz
Yebo poured in a career high 33 points to go with 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block against MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Young Guns
Sananda Fru, 20, PF, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Fru scored 6 points on 2-of-3 shots (1/1 threes) and 1-of-2 free throws and had 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 26:03 minutes against Bamberg Baskets.
Len Schoormann, 21, SG, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Schoormann started and played 22:26 minutes and scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shots (1/3 threes) and 3-of-4 free throws to go with 1 rebound and 1 steal.
Martin Kalu, 19, SF, FC Bayern Munich
Kalu played in his eighth game in the league and scored a career high 7 points on 2-of-2 shooting (1/1 threes) and 2-of-2 free throws and 1 rebound against HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim.
Germans Abroad
Declan Duru is one of Germany’s biggest talents and the 2007-born forward helped Real Madrid to win the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Podgorica. Duru averaged 7.8 points on 45.5 percent three-point shooting, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in Real’s journey to win the qualifying tournament and reach the ANGT Finals in May at the EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin.
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Nachberichte
Auf emotionale Momente folgt die Enttäuschung: Tübingen sprengt Per Günthers historischen Abend
Nachberichte
Overtime-Abonnent Göttingen bezwingt Rostock: 17:2-Start in die Verlängerung als Schlüssel
Nachberichte
