A lot of fight, a lot of passion and even more emotions: The northwest derby between EWE Baskets and Rasta Vechta had a lot to offer on Saturday. In the end, Oldenburg had the better end.
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Vechta – Revenge succeeded: The EWE Baskets won the northwest derby in the Basketball Bundesliga at Rasta Vechta. In front of 3,140 spectators in the Rasta Dome, the Oldenburg team prevailed against their rivals from Oldenburger Münsterland with 88:82 (38:41) on Saturday evening. In an intense and racy 40 minutes, DeWayne Russell stood out for the guests with 24 points and six assists. At Rasta, Ryan Schwieger was his team’s top scorer with 22 points. Vechta clearly won the first leg in Oldenburg in November with 85:67.
Thanks to their success, the Baskets gained one place and climbed to ninth place. Places seven to ten mean participation in the qualifying round (play-ins) for the playoffs this season. For Vechta and coach Ty Harrelson, however, it was the third defeat in a row. This meant that Rasta slipped from sixth place to seventh place and thus also out of the direct playoff places.
DiLeo is missing and injured
Returnee Max DiLeo, of all people, had to sit out due to a muscle injury. The Oldenburg captain played under coach Pedro Calles in Vechta from 2018 to 2020 and was looking forward to the derby in the Dome. With the Hamburg Towers, for whom he was then under contract for two years like Calles, he played a game in Vechta, but in the middle of the corona pandemic and without spectators. Now he could have played against Rasta again in front of a sold-out house for the first time – but nothing came of it.
DERBY OLDENBURG AGAINST VECHTA What Oldenburg captain Max DiLeo appreciates about his former club
In addition to DiLeo, Kenneth Ogbe (load control) and Charles Manning Jr. (advanced training) were also missing. Baskets coach Calles also left Brekkott Chapman out as the seventh foreigner (six import players are allowed in the squad). Alen Pjanic and Ebuka Izundu, who were injured in last Saturday’s home win against MBC Weißenfels (95:88), were back on board. The hosts, however, had to do without their top performer and playmaker Tommy Kuhse.
Racy northwest derby
There was immediate fire in this northwest derby. After four quick points from Vechta, Oldenburg countered with a 10:2 run and led 10:6 after three minutes. The Baskets put enormous pressure on Rasta’s build-up game. After six minutes, playmaker Geno Crandall provided the first spectacular highlight with a smashing dunk over his opponent. But Vechta stayed in the game. After ten intense minutes, the hosts led by two points at the start of the second quarter (23:21).
VECHTA VS. OLDENBURG This basketball player knows his derby rivals very well
And it continued to be so competitive in the second section. It was a tough derby. Every point had to be earned hard. Oldenburg initially gained a small advantage and usually led by one or two points. The momentum only changed shortly before the break. Rasta fought for a five-point lead (40:35/18 minutes). Both teams went into the dressing room with a score of 41:38 for Vechta.
VECHTA VERSUS OLDENBURG These stories are delivered by the northwest derby
Oldenburg hits important throws
After the break, the home team continued to have the upper hand – even if only just. The Baskets equalized three minutes before the end of the quarter (50:50/27th). The guests then took the lead again and extended it to five points (59:54/28th minute). Oldenburg continued with this lead into the final quarter (61:56).
Even in the last section it remained incredibly tight. In the middle of the fourth quarter, the Baskets were in the lead with 70:64 – but Derby was still far from being decided. Because Vechta came back to two points. Oldenburg defended itself against the stubborn attacks of the hosts and was able to increase the gap again. In the last few minutes, the Baskets finally converted the important shots – and so the guests won the northwest derby.
2024-04-13 20:11:51
#Basketball #Bundesliga #team #revenge #Rasta #Vechta
