RSV Lahn-Dill brings the German Cup back to Wetzlar!
The Cup is back home! The RSV Lahn-Dill is successful in the lions cave of RSC Zwickau in taking back the German Cup. After the wafer-thin and bitter defeat last year, the team from Wetzlar went on a huge run in the third quarter and won the game 75:53 (19:13 / 34:32 / 55:39) giving them the 2009 German Cup title. Approximately 150 accompanying fans from central Hessen celebrated along with the team after the win – revenge has been achieved!
Pure drama prevailed from the first jump ball, after only 24 seconds Zwickaus captain Piotr Luszynski was charged with a technical foul for lifting. This was the opportunity for U.S. point guard Michael Payé to leave his mark on this game, the 25th Final for the DRS-Pokal. After nailing the two free throws the 26-year-old hit a triple giving his team a 5-0 lead in the first minute of the game. RSV-Lahn Dill extended their lead to 9:2 by the three minute mark and Zwickau was forced to make some substitutions and change their tactical approach.
Zwickau, the title defenders didn’t rattle the 5 time cup winners from Wetzlar when they came back and closed the gap to one point. Team captain Joey Johnson made a couple of easy baskets after Zwickau’s turnovers in the back court. The result was a 34:32 razor-thin lead at halftime.
After the break RSV Lahn-Dill gained momentum again, despite the fact that the foul count was an issue for both teams. Around the 25th minute Richard Peter and two Zwickau players, Rostislav Pohlmann and Matthias Heimbach, were charged with their third fouls. Lahn-Dill continued to build their lead (47:37) and Zwickau was forced to change their strongest line-up when Heimbach was charged with his fourth foul. At this point the Lahn-Dill team was physically and mentally stronger, RSV center Dirk Köhler and forward Joey Johnson took over and by the 34 minute mark they had extended their lead to 63:41. Zwickau’s accuracy rate decreased significantly, while Lahn-Dill continued to score, Richard Peter hit a sensational shot with his back to the basket. The only highlight for Zwickau was a triple from Polish player Mateusz Filipski to put the score at 63:48 at the 35 minute mark. In the end the German Cup returned back to Wetzlar, as the RSV Lahn-Dill earned the title for the sixth time.
Zwickau: Mateusz Filipski (16/1 Dreier), Piotr Luszynski (15/1), Rostislav Pohlmann (13/1), Marcin Balcerowski (5), Matthias Heimbach (4), Mehmet Hayirli, Günther Mayer, Frank Oehme, Rainer Müller (n.e.).
Lahn-Dill: Michael Paye (24/2), Joey Johnson (17/1), Dirk Köhler (14), Richard Peter (14), Annika Zeyen (4), Gesche Schünemann (2), Kai Gerlach, Thomas Gundert, Felix Schell, Marco Zwerger, Britta Kautz (n.e.).
DRS-Pokal Final Four 2009 in Zwickau:
Semi-Finals:
RSC-Rollis Zwickau – ASV Bonn 70:63
RSC Frankfurt – RSV Lahn-Dill 51:67
For 3rd/4th place:
RSC Frankfurt – ASV Bonn 57:60
Final: RSC-Rollis Zwickau – RSV Lahn-Dill 53:75.