RSV Lahn-Dill fails in its „Mission +15“

RSV Lahn-Dill failed on Saturday evening with their "Mission +15" in the second and decisive final match for the German championship. According to a league record of five championships in the series from 2004 to 2008, the title now moves to Zwickau. This is the second German championship of the club’s history and well deserved after winning the two game final series with scores of 76:62 and 64:56.
Over 1,700 spectators showed up at the August-Bebel gym on Saturday night to cheer on their team. The hosts started the game powerful and determined, and after 7 minutes had a 15:6 lead. After losing the first game of the series by 14 points Zwickau held an advantage over the RSV Lahn-Dill. It seemed like this big point spread was melting away and a turn was in the air. However, the confident Zwickau team made an immediate comeback. After an RSV turnover Piotr Luszynski hit a three pointer and then only ten seconds later a fast break layup. This was to be the scene for the rest of the game. 
The title holders from Wetzlar were not discouraged and in the second quarter they mounted their next attack, the result was a score of 29:21 by the 17 minute mark. Due to the high intensity of the game, two of the RSC snipers Rostislav Pohlmann and Mateusz Filipski were charged with their third fouls.  RSV team captain to Joey Johnson sensed now was their big chance. But this was not to be as Zwickau went on a 6:0 run and the score was tied at 31 at halftime. 
"Our defense was absolutely ok, we held the trio of Luszynski, Filipski and Pohlmann to under 40 points. Unfortunately we had to concentrate on those three players at the cost of leaving their low point players open, and Marcin scored several points" said the dejected RSV coach Nicolai Zeltinger after the game . The final defeat was bitter and ultimately resulted not from their defensive performance, but from the weak RSV attack on offense. From the beginning they seemed extremely nervous. "The bottom line you have to say is that we have lost the playoff finals. In the playoffs you have to be better physically and mentally, and play hard for 40 minutes." said the disappointed 37-year-old trainer.

RSV Lahn-Dill used every possible tactic to try and change the momentum but Zwickau played hard until the final buzzer, and clearly deserved the victory. In the middle of the fourth quarter Kai Gerlach hit a highly contested three pointer to put the score at 50:54 in favor of Zwickau, but the RSV Lahn-Dill ran out of time. "Of course it is very bitter, when you complete the regular season undefeated, then lose the crucial playoff games for the title" expressed the deeply disappointed RSV manager Andreas Joneck. The bottom line is one of thanks to the RSV Lahn-Dill’s fantastic audience, as the “sixth man” in the championship they fully deserve congratulations. As do the new German champions, RSC Zwickau.
Lahn-Dill: Michael Paye (22), Richard Peter (14), Joey Johnson (7), Dirk Köhler (6), Kai Gerlach  (3/1 three pointer), Gesche Schünemann (2), Annika Zeyen (2), Thomas Gundert (n.e.), Jan Kampmann (n.e.), Britta Kautz (n.e.), Felix Schell (n.e.), Marco Zwerger (n.e.).
Zwickau: Marcin Balcerowski (18), Piotr Luszynski (17/1), Mateusz Filipski (16), Rostislav Pohlmann (7), Matthias Heimbach (6), Mehmet Hayirli, Günther Mayer, Frank Oehme, Rainer Müller (n.e.)