Göttingen’s BG Secures Victory in Overtime Thriller Against Hakro Merlins Crailsheim

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As of: October 8, 2023, 4:56 a.m

By: Helmut Anschütz

Split

Attack from behind: Göttingen’s Deondre Burns (on the ball) tries to throw, Crailsheim’s Keandre Cook tries to prevent it from behind. Karlis Silins in the background on the right. © Hubert Jelinek/gsd

What a start to the basketball Bundesliga for BG Göttingen! In front of 3,013 enthusiastic spectators, the Violets defeated Hakro Merlins Crailsheim – after the second extra time it was 110:104 (99:99, 90:90).

Göttingen – Huge cheers in the S-Arena after this Herculean task by coach Olivier Foucart’s team, which won after 2:33 hours.

There is already a lot of activity around the S-Arena more than an hour before the first tip-off. The fans accept the many inconveniences without complaint. Only half of the foyer is available because of the broken toilets (effects of the bomb explosion), as is the forecourt at the main entrance because the dozens of containers have still not been cleared away. Harper Kamp, who is still ailing, leads the warm-up program and gives his little son a hug every now and then.

Drum roll from the fans, the giant flags accompany the team’s entry. Of course, the biggest applause goes to record player Mathis Mönninghoff and returnee Philipp Hartwich.

The Merlins score the first basket, but after 65 seconds Deondre Burns scores the first two points for the BG. At 6:8 the Swabians lead again, but then the Göttingen team went on an inimitable run. Bodie Hume hits the first three-pointer of the season, Karlis Silins makes the first three-point game to make it 12:8. And the BG-express keeps rolling. Another three from Hume made it 21:9, the third BG three from celebratory Mathis Mönninghoff (350th BBL game) made it 26:9 – the biggest lead in the first quarter. Mo Stuckey dampens the euphoria with two Merlins three-pointers and two free throws to make it 26: 17 at the end of the quarter. Until then, a great performance by the violets…

… but Stuckey conceded the next three-pointer at the start of the second quarter. And another one from Crailsheim’s Wulff to make it 26:23 – Coach Olivier Foucart took a break in his first match as head coach of the BG after the guests’ 17-0 run. Was it going too well for the BG at the beginning?

The second quarter is the stark contrast to the first for the Göttingen team. In the 13th minute, Burns received his third foul, and coach Foucart took him off the floor as a precaution. And things are no longer going so smoothly for the hosts, Crailsheim has adjusted better to the BG, where “Flow” is gone. In addition, many degrees are also too imprecise. So the Merlins maintain their small lead, even if Hume makes it 32:35. Umoja Mo Gibson followed up with another one, shortening it to 39:41, before Crailsheim’s Euroleague-trained Leo Westermann sank three free throws to make the score 44:39 for the guests at halftime. When it comes to two and three points, the Merlins are slightly ahead at halftime.

After the break, the BG showed great fighting spirit. Grant Anticevich opens with a three-pointer, but the Merlins are still ahead. Then referee Lottermoser made his appearance, which clearly put the BG at a disadvantage in the playoff quarter-finals in Munich: a foul against Burns and another technical for complaining afterwards – stupid that it was the fifth for the BG playmaker. Quitting time! But the violets continue to fight. Hume and Ensminger hit more three-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to equalize or take the lead. The Lilacs are still sometimes too “green” in their actions. 21:21 in the third quarter, but at least that leaves everything with the overall score at 60:65 open to the final section.

The BG began the fourth quarter with three threes from Gibson, Mönninghoff and Hume. And Ensminger shows up even more: the next three-pointer from the son of Bonn’s basketball legend Chris Ensminger – the first BG lead in a long time. And Ensminger junior adds one more to make it 79:73. Merlin’s time out. “Ole, ole, Super-Göttingen ole,” the fans rage.

But it remains highly dramatic, exciting and pure thrills. The Merlins equalize again to make it 80:80. Hume made two free throws to make it 82:80. But then Crailsheim goes back in front. Murray-Bowles scored a three-pointer with Brett to make it 88:84 for the Swabians. Doesn’t bother Bodie Hume at all: His next three made it 87:88. However, Silins misses two free throws and then the BG defense doesn’t pay attention: Leo Westermann goes through freely, 87:90. But Silins can also do better: three with 15.7 seconds left to make it 90.90. Last attack Crailsheim. Without success. Extra time.

For the Merlins, Cook and Smith are eliminated with their 5th foul each. And the drama continues. 99:99 after the first five minutes of overtime. Second extra time, that gets on your nerves. At the end it is Hume (30 points, seven three-pointers) and Ensminger (22) who turn the game around for the BG – in conjunction with point guard Gibson (19). Coach Foucart: “I’m proud of my team, we never gave up. It was an incredible atmosphere. Details decided.”

BG: Burns 8, Ensminger 22, Gibson 19, Rich 6, Boakye, Hemschemeier, Anticevich 8, Hume 30, Hartwich, Mönninghoff 6, Zugic 1, Silins 10.

Crailsheim: Cook 22, Stuckey 13, Bagette 2, Townes, Wulff 3, Oduro 2, Bleck 11, Kindzeka 5, Murray-Boyles 11, Westermann 24, Smith 11. (Helmut Anschütz/gsd)

2023-10-08 02:56:00
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