Vechta, Germany – RASTA Vechta’s third team is facing a challenging stretch in the 1. Regionalliga Nord, Germany’s fourth-tier basketball league. After a pair of losses this past weekend, the team finds itself firmly in the relegation battle. A Friday night derby defeat against TuS ADEMAX Red Devils Bramsche (72-82) was followed by a more decisive loss on Saturday to Eisbären Bremerhaven II (75-109), leaving RASTA III near the bottom of the standings.
The weekend’s struggles highlight the challenges facing a young RASTA Vechta III squad. According to reports, ten of the eleven players who took the court against Bremerhaven were 19 years old or younger. Veteran Malte Giljan, with 22 points and nine rebounds, provided a significant contribution, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a dominant performance from the hosts.
Head Coach Jan Schneider acknowledged the team’s fatigue following the Friday night contest in Bramsche. “Some of our players already showed signs of being tired from the very intense game in Bramsche on Friday evening,” Schneider said, as reported by RASTA Vechta. “We were often a step too late, too gradual in our thinking. Bremerhaven took advantage of that very well.”
The game against Eisbären Bremerhaven II quickly slipped away, with RASTA III trailing by five points within the first five minutes and ultimately falling behind by a substantial 34-point margin. Bremerhaven’s shooting efficiency proved crucial, connecting on 46% of their three-point attempts. They also controlled the boards, winning the rebound battle 41-27, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 21 points off 15 offensive rebounds. They also forced 15 turnovers.
Anton Meyer, a 20-year-old player from Bremerhaven’s ProA squad, led all scorers with 24 points. His teammate, 18-year-old Lukas Stelmokas, recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The disparity in physicality was a key factor in the outcome, according to Schneider.
“We were dominated for 40 minutes,” Schneider stated. “Bremerhaven solved the task with physicality and experience. They showed a good team performance, moved the ball well – that was strong. We didn’t match their physicality, were outrebounded, made too many simple mistakes, and weren’t good enough defensively. It wasn’t a good day for us.”
The losses exit RASTA Vechta III in a precarious position. With seven wins, they currently occupy the 15th and final place in the 1. Regionalliga Nord standings. Eisbären Bremerhaven II, meanwhile, improved to ninth place with nine wins.
The upcoming schedule presents a difficult challenge for RASTA III. They will face two of the league’s top teams in consecutive weeks: SG Braunschweig (currently third with an 18-6 record) and TSV Bargteheide Bees (second at 21-4). Both games are scheduled for 3:00 PM local time on the next two Saturdays, March 14th and March 21st, respectively. The season concludes on March 28th with a 7:15 PM matchup against Buchorn Bau Twisters Rendsburg (13th, 8-17). Whether that final game will be a crucial relegation playoff decider remains to be seen.
The team’s roster includes a mix of youth and experience, with players from Germany and Poland. Key players include Malte Giljan, a veteran presence, and a core of younger players like Louis Behrendt, Alen Blakaj, and Moritz Grüß. The full roster is as follows: Louis Behrendt, Alen Blakaj, Alan Chojnacki, Felix Christiansen, Etinosasere Ehioghae, Malte Giljan, Philip Grothe, Moritz Grüß, Tristan Gutersohn, Johannes Hellmann, Leon Herges, Malik Herges, Epke Kruthaup, Jonas Langermann, Teo Manoilov, Jordan Mola, Michel Schillmöller, Kevin Smit, Emilian Spreckelmeyer, Peja Strobl, and Louis Sutor.
The next few weeks will be critical for RASTA Vechta III as they fight to avoid relegation. The team will need to locate a way to overcome their physicality disadvantage and improve their consistency on both ends of the court. Fans can follow the team’s progress and find official updates on the RASTA Vechta website.
The team’s next confirmed match is against SG Braunschweig on Saturday, March 14th at 3:00 PM local time. Stay tuned to Archysport for further coverage of RASTA Vechta III’s battle for survival in the 1. Regionalliga Nord.
What are your thoughts on RASTA Vechta III’s chances of staying up? Share your predictions in the comments below!
