Crailsheim succeeds after extension coup at Bayern

The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim caused another surprise in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and beat Bayern Munich for the first time. Exactly 35 years after the club was founded, the guests prevailed against the five-time German champions with 105: 103 (92:92, 44:46) after extra time. Crailsheim (26: 4 points) is still second in the table, Bayern (20: 6) are fifth after their third defeat of the season.

Crailsheim, which emerged from a school club in 1986, looked like the winner shortly before the end of regular time, but Bayern professional JaJuan Johnson grabbed the rebound after a free throw by his teammate Dennis Seeley and forced overtime with a lay-up. One second before the end of the additional five minutes, Merlins top scorer Trae Bell-Haynes (31 points) made the decision.

“I am very proud, it is the first time in our club history that we have won against Bayern,” said Merlins coach Tuomas Iisalo. His counterpart Andrea Trinchieri said: “In the end we just ran out of energy and players. We have six injuries and we have to see that they come back soon, because it makes it very difficult to play every other day and be competitive.”

Previously, Master Alba Berlin had solved his compulsory task against Rasta Vechta. The team of coach Aito Garcia Reneses won on matchday 15 with 86:70 (43:44) and consolidated fourth place in the table. Alba has eleven wins and one defeat.

Meanwhile, Telekom Baskets Bonn failed to win their second game under the new head coach Will Voigt. At the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, the guests had to admit defeat on Sunday with 79:84 (36:44). Bonn is 16 th in the table with 6:20 points, followed by only Vechta (6:24) and the JobStairs Giessen 46ers (4:26).]