Wuerzburg. After the 92:86 win over the MHP giants Ludwigsburg and their last home game of the season, the fans and team of s.Oliver Würzburg started straight into party mode. Giant coach John Patrick and his coaching team still spoke to the referees. “It wasn’t anything big. I just said thank you and had a question,” said Patrick after the game and quickly found reasons for the defeat. It had nothing to do with the referees. “Concentration and intensity were clearly on the Würzburg side. They played harder, they wanted it more.”
Farewell to Alex King
There were standing ovations before the game. In his last home game, BBL record player Alex King was bid farewell. Both teams and all spectators applauded the 37-year-old for minutes while the veteran stood in the middle of the field, touched.
Despite the pleasantries exchanged, things went straight to the point after the jump ball. Both teams played at eye level. There were 13 lead changes up to half-time alone. Jordan Hulls, Tekele Cotton and Tremmel Darden were again absent from Ludwigsburg. It lasted until the 15th minute before Würzburg opened up a little at 30:22. The giants had had difficulties until then, but now they defended themselves with a furious 10:0 run. Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann with a three-point game and another goal, Johannes Patrick and James Woodard with a three-pointer increased the score to 32:30 from the guests’ point of view.
It remained exciting. Shortly before the break, Craig Moller unfortunate injured his knee. The game was interrupted for several minutes at 38:38 before Moller was carried out of the hall by paramedics on a stretcher to encouraging applause from the fans. Unfazed by this, Jonah Radebaugh then sunk a three to give Ludwigsburg a 41:38 half-time lead.
In the third round, the giants came under pressure again. Würzburg increased the intensity, well aware of the tight program that the Swabians are currently having to endure. Ludwigsburg only won against Crailsheim on Saturday with 77:57, on Thursday they go to Bayreuth and on Sunday Oldenburg comes to Ludwigsburg.
After Radebaugh lost the ball, the Franconians increased it to 51:46. But Ludwigsburg did not let itself be shaken off and fought bravely. Wobo, Rawle Alkins and Justin Simon brought the Giants back (52-51 lead). The guests kept this one point lead until the final quarter (58:57).
Strong ex-giant Rodriguez
Woodard kept his team in the running with two important threes (69:69, 33rd minute). Among other things, the strong ex-giant Desi Rodriguez made things difficult for the guests again and again. With a three-point game he gave Würzburg a lead of 80:76 four minutes before the end of the game. In the end he got 23 points. The equally strong Filip Stanic added a little later to 82:76. Patrick took a break, the spectators in the s.Oliver Arena were already celebrating their team. The giants didn’t give up, but didn’t have enough strength to come back a third time.
