The Lions Braunschweig continued their winning streak in the last home game of the year. For a long time, it looked like a sure win against Oldenburg, but it did get close late on. The second game of the evening between Bamberg and Chemnitz was also a thriller.
The winning streak of the Lions continues. In the last home game of the year, Jesus Ramirez’ team beat EWE Baskets Oldenburg 83:82. Thanks to their seventh win in eleven games, the Lions are now just one victory behind league leaders Würzburg.
The home side had the game under control for long spells. They took the lead right from the tip-off and were able to stretch it to 16 points at one stage. They still led by 11 points at the start of the final period.
Oldenburg’s comeback comes too late
But the visitors from Oldenburg did not give up and equalized with a three by Artur Konontsuk with 1:43 minutes remaining. Braunschweig’s top scorer TJ Crockett Jr. (22 points) hit back with a bucket from downtown, but the Lions were unable to secure the win.
Instead, Len Schoormann, Oldenburg’s top scorer with 21 points, tied the game at 82:82 with a bucket from outside with 20 seconds remaining. However, it was Arnas Velicka who was fouled by Norris Agbakoko on the final attack of the game. The point guard from Lithuania kept his nerve with the first free throw, missed the second, and so ensured a narrow victory.
It was also a close game in Bamberg
The Niners Chemnitz were the guests in the second game of the evening after four consecutive defeats in competitive games at the Baskets Bamberg – and it was once again a thrilling game. Bamberg went into the last home game of the year with the tailwind of three consecutive wins – in the cup against Berlin and in the league over Bonn and Heidelberg.
Anton Gavel’s team converted its accumulated self-confidence into a ten-point lead shortly before half-time. However, the visitors from Chemnitz quickly made up ground again. Although Chemnitz even pulled away by eight points in the final period, the game remained exciting to the end. The main reason for that was Bamberg’s top scorer Noah Locke (22 points).
Locke decides by And-One
So it’s no wonder that the shooting guard was on top form in crunch time, too. With 14 seconds left on the clock, he cut the deficit to two points with a lay-up. Bamberg then had a great chance when Chemnitz forward Aher Uguak twice fluffed his lines from the foul line three seconds later. The ball found Locke’s hands again, who went to the basket, scored after being fouled by William Christmas, and then added the free throw to make it 81:80. Bamberg leapfrogged Chemnitz into 11th place, while the home side remains in ninth.