That was not for the faint of heart: The BG Göttingen got a big point in the fight to stay in the league. Against Brose Bamberg, the hosts won the early home game of the basketball Bundesliga on Friday evening with 87:80.
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When the Brose Bamberg team came to the Sparkassen-Arena, nine men were there, for whom the hall was once their living room. First and foremost head coach Johan Roijakkers, who was in charge of the violets for eight years. Co-trainer Hylke van der Zweep, fitness coach Domenik Theodorou, team manager Enzo Neck and Julian Meier (statistics / analysis) also know the hall like the back of their hand. But for them, despite their good local knowledge, things were different – as were for the players Alex Ruoff, Bennet Hundt, Dominic Lockhart and Joanic Grüttner. Not only did they have to sit “on the wrong side”, they also experienced the arena almost as quietly without spectators – as it was during training. Both sides – fans and former Veilchen staff – were looking forward to seeing you again. But there was still a lot of pat on the back, handshakes and conversations before the game – the atmosphere was warm. Rarely has Roijakkers appeared so relaxed during his time in Göttingen, he stood smiling on the sidelines when he threw in, and he kept waving to someone.
After the start of the game, however, the Dutchman didn’t have so much to laugh about at first, because the BG did what they actually – according to the previous season statistics – are not able to do very well: They scored from a distance. The first twelve points of the violets were threesomes from Dawkins (2), Nelson and Booker. In the fourth minute the BG led 13: 7, but Bamberg came up and took the lead (23: 18/9.), Also because Bennet Hundt managed to put his fellow men in the limelight. The ex-BGer had previously described the game as a “must win”. “We want continuity in the game, we have had too many ups and downs with a few slips.” At the end of the quarter, after the BG was 21:23 behind out of eight attempts ended up in the basket).
BG Göttingen – Brose Bamberg, BBL 2020/21
BG Göttingen – Brose Bamberg, BBL 2020/21
© Porter
The second quarter was evenly balanced for a long time, in which violet captain Akeem Vargas met twice in a row. The three-way festival at the beginning of the game has now turned into a brisk game with quick finishes and a slightly sloppy defense. Finally, the teammates found Tai Odiase, who won twice in a row under the baskets. Rihards Lomazs made his first points for the BG in the 18th minute when he safely sank two free throws. Shortly before the end of this section, on the other hand, Alex Ruoff also scored his first BBL points for Bamberg in the third game – also with a free throw. Until then, Harper Kamp had no luck at the end, he could have shortened it to 38:43 at the break. With a seven-point deficit, it went into halftime (36:43).
The Göttingen team had the better start into the second half: Nelson, Booker and Dawkins scored from a distance, and a little later Mönninghoff too – the BG was back in the game (50: 52/24). Odiase had a difficult position under the basket, the Bamberg Defense had it under control. However, he now hit the free throws that he had missed in the first half. Even if not every whistle from the referees was understandable, the BG did not let up, fought. The body language stayed positive. Aubrey Dawkins scored 63:65 with a buzzer beater. The exciting final quarter began.
With a cracking dunk from Odiase, the violets took the lead again in the 32nd minute (67:65). The game became more intense, every ball was fought for. Mönninghoff increased completely free to 70:65 (33rd), Booker added from the “parking lot” (73: 68/34.) And then continued to score (78: 72/37.). Both teams were getting more and more nervous, only Booker seemed indifferent. He also hit the free throws, took responsibility and made the game slow again and again when the Göttingen were in possession of the ball. At 82:78 Mönninghoff hit both free throws – 29 seconds were left to play. Dawkins added just as confidently, Mönninghoff again – and then came the releasing final siren. The all-important victory was wrapped up – collective sigh of relief.
