Suspense up to the last second: No victory for BG Göttingen, but decided the direct comparison

A game with a playoff character had been predicted, and the game on Tuesday evening fulfilled these predictions: BG Göttingen lost the duel between the table neighbors and their direct competitors for a place in the playoffs at Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. It was 80:86 (40:37) in a game played with commitment by both teams, in which there were repeated runs that one team or the other used to keep the match open until the final phase.

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The first points came from free throws on both sides: while Mike Caffey only hit one, Jeff Roberson did better on the other side and sank both to give the violets a 2-1 lead. Nothing fell out of the field for either team. Both sides had problems in the end, the defense was always attentive. However, there were ball losses, step errors and inaccurate passes for the violets. The hosts then came into play better and put on a 9-0 run (10-2/6th). BG head coach Roel Moors was furious on the sidelines and conceded a technical foul. Everything was possible in this game – just no BG points from the field until the ninth minute. Harald Frey scored from outside to make it 8:12, all five previous points had fallen from the free-throw line. At a meager 9:12 we went into the first quarter break.

The people from Göttingen got off to a better start in the second period – with three threes from Frey (2) and Mathis Mönninghoff to take the lead (18:15). Merlins trainer Sebastian Gleim had already taken a break after 51 seconds. The game kept picking up speed – also because throws were now being made on both sides. Especially with Frey. The Norwegian, who initially had some unfortunate situations in the first quarter but didn’t let that deter him, sank more three-pointers. At the break he had 19 points. When Frey had to sit on the bench after a foul, Stephen Brown took over. The American scored his first points to 32:27 (17 th ), immediately after that he added three free throws. The Violets went into the break with a 40:37 lead.

With three free throws by the experienced Maurice Stuckey, the Crailsheimers equalized at the start of the second half (40:40). Roberson, who had previously missed a layup, ensured with two points that the Göttingen team didn’t have to wait as long for the first points from the field as at the beginning of the game. It remained balanced, both teams scored from distance in this phase. With an unsportsmanlike foul on the offensive, Philipp Hartwich did his team a disservice. Crailsheim used the free throws and ball possession to pull away to 60:51 (28th). The hall was now behind the Merlins, it was difficult for the Goettingen, who went into the final quarter with a deficit of 55:64.

Since they were no longer able to play within striking distance again. The advantage of the Crailsheimers was double digits, for the BG it was “only” about the direct comparison. The violets went into this game with a seven-point lead, 53 seconds before the end the hosts were nine points ahead, followed by the usual time-outs and fouls on both sides. The free throws made the difference, since Crailsheim had the calmer hand. But Stephen Brown had his nerve again, scored 80:86 and thus secured the direct comparison. – Points BG: Martin (5), Frey (25), Roberson (6), Vargas (3), Hartwich (0), Mönninghoff (10), Kamp (18), Brown (10), Grimes (3).