FIT/One Würzburg Baskets picked up another victory in the German Basketball League on matchday 13. The team from Main-Franconia came out on top at Telekom Baskets Bonn thanks to a strong fourth quarter. Ludwigsburg had no problems with Frankfurt. Rostock beat the Towers by a clear margin.
For a long time, the Bonn team was able to rely on the cushion it had built up in the first quarter (29:20), but the longer the game went on, the more problems the hosts had with scoring. Bonn led by as many as 14 points thanks to hot shooting by Bodie Hume (21 points, 5/9 from beyond the arc), after which Sam Griesel (15) and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (12) also added to the score. However, Fleming Jr. fouled out early in the fourth period, leaving Bonn without the best guard defender.
That was a problem for the home side, who produced a 15:3 run in this spell and took the lead for the first time through free throws and a slam-dunk by Zac Seljaas. The forward not only scored 21 points, but also set a new BBL season record with six steals. Bonn, on the other hand, did not score any more buckets from outside and in particular Darius McGhee (5, 2/12 FG, 7 assists, 5 TO) did not have much of an effect this time.
Würzburg was more clinical in the final phase and Nelson Phillips and Tyrese Williams (11, 3/6 three-pointers) drained important shots. In addition to Seljaas and Williams, Jhivvan Jackson (21, 6/18, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and Maxwell Lewis II (12) also scored in double digits for the visitors. Würzburg won the final period 29:12.
Ludwigsburg trounces Frankfurt
Ludwigsburg also secured a playoff spot, as the league newcomers proved no problem for John Patrick’s team. The best defense in the league held Frankfurt to 61 points and once again dominated the opposing side’s board in offense (19 offensive rebounds!).
Ezra Manjon was the top scorer for Ludwigsburg with 16 points (6/16 FG), while Justin Simon (9, 4/15) did not score as many points, but instead contributed eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Frankfurt shot significantly better from the field (almost 49 percent), but took a whopping 32 fewer shots than the home side. Patrick Heckmann was the most prolific scorer with 12 points.
The Towers, on the other hand, suffered a setback after failing to get a foot on the ground in Rostock. The Seawolves were without point guard Ainars Skele, who is about to move to Poland, but got enough production from DeShawn Schwartz (20) and Bryce Hamilton. Elias Baggette (12, 4 assists) and Robin Amaize (15, 6 rebounds) also played their part in the win.
By contrast, the Towers only scored 38 percent from the field and, as against Ludwigsburg, again conceded too many offensive rebounds (16 this time). Only three players – Brae Ivey (18, 8 assists), Johnathan Stove (16) and Kur Kuath (15, 6 rebounds) – scored in double figures.
