2041 spectators were excited in the Sparkassen-Arena on Saturday: Basketball Bundesliga club BG Göttingen finally fulfilled the expectations placed on it and beat the highly traded Telekom Baskets Bonn after an inspiring final phase with 90:81 (42:38). The match winner was guard Kamar Baldwin, who was there in difficult moments and was the top scorer of the game with 27 points.
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The violets celebrate their victory over Bonn with a Humba
As feared, BG head coach Roel Moors had to do without Guards Zack Bryant and Haris Hujic. After a nervous start on both sides, including a step error by Kamar Baldwin, the hosts came first when Baldwin marked the 2-0 lead with a lay-up.
Concentrated performance of the BG center
Center Philipp Hartwich did not concede two quick fouls this time as in the previous games and showed a great performance in the first minutes. James Dickey also did a very good job – the BG Big Man delivered a concentrated performance.
BG Göttingen – Telekom Baskets Bonn, BBL 2021/22
BG Göttingen – Telekom Baskets Bonn, BBL 2021/22
© Swen gatekeeper
In the middle of the first quarter, to the delight of the audience, but also to the annoyance of the coaches, the teams swung into a veritable three-way festival. For the BG met Baldwin, Captain Akeem Vargas and a little later Jake Toolson, who represented Bryant and Hujic well. On the other hand, hardly anything went on both sides from close range – the best example was BG point guard Stephen Brown, who played very committed and often pulled to the basket, but initially rarely scored.
It was a meeting at eye level, in the 7th minute it was 13:12 for the violets, at the end of the quarter 16:15 for the Bonn team. In the second section it stayed the same: Brown did not hit anything at first – then, just like again later, he managed the three-point game. Marios Giotis was given working time, but he was nervous when a bad pass occurred.
At first hardly visible, the Bonn difference player Parker Jackson-Cartwright picked up speed, but it remained close. It was important that Baldwin, who acted well, was able to shorten at 31:35 (18th), the next “and one” from Brown and again the point guard and Baldwin let the violets lead at 42:38 at halftime. In the statistics, the BG was clearly in the front for rebounds and assists.
The entry into the third quarter was an optimal one, and the S-Arena was upside down for the first time in the trio of crowd favorite Mathis Mönninghoff at 51:40 (22nd minute). Bonn was clearly weaker against violets who acted quickly and precisely and dealt with a lot of fouls. A 10-0 run finally resulted in a three-pointer from Brown in a 55:40 (24th).
At 58:42, the BG even led with 16 points (25th), but then Bonn pulled out the fighter’s heart and slowly worked its way up. Unfavorable: Harper Kamp conceded his fourth foul shortly before the end of the quarter, and Bonn center Leon Kratzer really got into the game. His 56:63 points from Bonn’s point of view were synonymous with the intermediate result before the final round.
You can find the BG matchday magazine for the home game against Bonn here
The last quarter was then again exciting: First, Brown demonstrated leadership qualities and scored for three, but then the violets repeatedly bit their teeth on the now strong Bonn defense. When Tyson Ward was successful in the fast break by dunk to 64:66 (34th), it was quiet in the hall.
But this time the BG pulled itself out of the threatening mess – and how: A three from Baldwin to 69:64 made the hall shake, but was nothing against the noise level at the Alley-Oop-allusion from Vargas to Hartwich, who per Dunk the 73:66 marked (35th).
Bonn stayed on, shortened to 71:73, but with Cartwright after Justin Gorham already the second Bonn had to leave the floor with his fifth foul (37th). Two successful free throws from Baldwin, who now showed match-winning qualities, marked a reassuring 75:71 lead. Mönninghoff got the rebound, stepped to the line, and the hall chanted “Mönninghoff, Mönninghoff” – 77:71 (38th).
Four Bonn players have to leave the floor with five fouls
Then Jeremy Morgan had to go down as the third Bonn player, Baldwin hit both free throws and stood at 25 points. It got very hectic, and Bonn coach Tuomas Isalo conceded a technical foul because he complained about the foul whistle in favor of Dickey. All free throws were successful, the violets were leading 82:74, and the Sparkassen-Arena was boiling.
That was it in principle, because at the latest after the fifth foul against Jeremy Morgan (altogether, to the chagrin of Isalo, the referees expelled four Bonners prematurely) the Bonners had nothing more to add. In the end, the BG had won 90:81 and Baldwin scored 27 points. Behind them were Brown at 19, Toolson at 14 and Dickey at 12. The Sparkassen-Arena celebrated – finally again!
