Quakenbrueck. If you expect little, you often achieve a lot – the Young Rasta Dragons experienced this against NBBL opponents Leverkusen. Reduced to eight players, the YRD boys surpassed themselves, even coped with more failures and won the thriller with 75:70.
Concerns about the health of the players overshadowed this second leg. Perhaps the young dragons also fought for their teammates who were prevented from doing so, because commitment and morale remained exemplary, even when Hendrik Gruhn’s team fell back to 2:12 at the start.
Rolf Kamper Tim Reumann (with ball) and Co. proved moral.
The Bayer Giants drew from the full with exactly twelve players, put pressure on, grabbed the first quarter (25:19), but then stood in the Rasta Gym, puzzled, in front of a Dragons wall, which caught a whopping 16 rebounds and was close at the break (37:40).
Rolf Kamper Kilian Brockhoff (in white) tanks up.
It would be unfair to single out someone from a homogenous YRD team. Strong commitment from captain Noah Jänen and playmaker Tim Reumann, two “double-doubles” from Kilian Brockhoff (14 points/10 rebounds) and Johann Grünloh (11/11), great performances from Emilijus Peleda and everyone else. After being 43:48 behind, the Young Rasta Dragons started a rapid 12:0 run and won the third quarter with 24:16. They now led 61:56.
Rolf Kamper The Young Rasta Dragons started with only eight players.
Nervousness and volume on the Leverkusen bench continued to mount as the hosts had boosted their confidence and formed a high-intensity conspiring formation at either end of the field. They duped the opponent up to 66:56, but shortly afterwards lost center Kilian Brockhoff as a rock in the surf and Jegor Cymbal with five fouls each. The Giants took advantage of the moment and shortened to 71:70. Despite the wear and tear, the YRD showed nerves of steel: Peleda’s spectacular layup to make it 73:70 made Leverkusen resign.
Bernard Middendorf Johann Grünloh (YRD) grabs a rebound.
With the 75:70 success, the YRD pushed the Rhinelanders out of second place – and that before the top game on January 23, 2022 against Alba Berlin. “I’m impressed with the attitude. That all players put in such a performance, fight like that, fight back like that after falling behind – that just makes me proud of this team”, praised YRD coach Hendrik Gruhn.
Statistics
Played for the Young Rasta Dragons:
Karl Bühner 7 points / 1 three, Kilian Brockhoff 14/2, Julius Bronnert, Jegor Cymbal 6/2, Johann Grünloh 11, Noah Jänen 18/1, Emilijus Peleda 11/1 and Tim Reumann 6.
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