BG Leitershofen/Stadtbergen conceded the second painful defeat with a difference of two points in Coburg after extra time. Coach Emanuel Richter is harsh on his team.
For the second time within a week, BG Hessing Leitershofen/Stadtbergen lost a match by two points in the 2nd Bundesliga basketball league. On Sunday afternoon they lost to BBC Coburg 89-91 after extra time. The defeat was almost more bitter than the 73:75 against FC Bayern Munich a week ago.
“Against Bayern it was definitely a matter of luck and bad luck,” coach Emanuel Richter said harshly about his team: “Especially in the fourth quarter we failed in the end because of our inability. You have to say it so bluntly. We gave away the win and actually destroyed a good performance up to that point ourselves. That was completely unnecessary. We can keep up in the league, but we have to correct certain mistakes very quickly.”
Replacement Kangaroos
The Kangaroos had to travel to Upper Franconia, weakened by replacements. Captain Max Uhlich and Mario Hack-Vazquez were out due to illness, while Marco Hack-Vazquez and Nino Tomic were injured. Marc Kaufeld returned to the team for the first time after almost ten weeks of injury. The Coburgers had summoned their best band. BBL cooperation partner Brose Bamberg was free to play, you could bet on all double license players. And started furiously, immediately putting in a 13:3. However, the Leitershofers kept their nerve, came into play better and equalized by the end of the first quarter to 18:18.
As a result, a lively game developed. Usually the locals were a few meters ahead. With a 38:32 half-time lead, Coburg pulled away to 54:43 (27th). Then the best phase of Stadtberger followed. A 17:2 run in between made sure that after the third quarter you were suddenly in the lead with 60:56. In this phase the ball went well, the throws found their target and the defenders were very focused and intense.
The game seemed decided with 90 seconds to go
This lead lasted until 90 seconds before the end (76:69), the game seemed almost decided. After that, however, pretty much everything went wrong for the guests. With unbelievable ball losses – including when throwing in – and lack of concentration, the Coburg team were formally invited to return to the game. Even 25 seconds before the end, the BG still held all the trumps at 79:74. A trio by Lorber and another lay-up ensured the almost impossible equalizer and the five-minute extension.
Anyone who had thought that the excitement was enough was wrong. Overtime increased in drama again. Again, the momentum seemed to be on the side of Coburg, who led 88:84 with their own ball possession. But the kangaroos countered again. Lucas Mayer brought his colors forward again with 29 seconds before the end with two free throws with 89:88, but then missed 23 seconds before the end from the line. Coburg remained a point behind an attack. Very difficult to defend for the people of Leitershof. In the end, however, it was a threesome from almost ten meters from Coburg’s best, BBL player Tyreese Blunt, who secured victory for the Franconians a second before the end of extra time to the cheers of around 400 fans.
With the fourth win in a row, Coburg underpinned its PRO A ambitions and moved up to fourth place in the table. The climber from Leitershofen, on the other hand, has to orientate himself on the play-off line after a bitter week in seventh place. Next Sunday there isn’t exactly a build-up opponent waiting when table leaders EPG Baskets Koblenz will be guests in the Stadtberger Sporthalle (kick-off 4 p.m.).
“Of course, Coburg is a top team, but we should have closed the sack anyway,” stated Kangaroos Managing Director Andreas Moser. “The last four games brought one clear victory and three extremely close and painful defeats. There would certainly have been more. But we remain calm and continue to work, against Koblenz next Sunday we should at least not feel any pressure and play loosely”.
BG Hessing Leitershofen/Stadtbergen: Scekic (19), Lagermann (22), Pal (12), Topalovic (3), Mayer (8), Londene (14), Tumbasevic, Kaufeld (2), Westermeir (9), März.
