Success after extra time against Thueringen
For the ninth time RSV Lahn-Dill will be competing in the Euro Cup Final, after they fought for their spot in a highly dramatic game with over time against German league competition RSB Team Thueringen. The triumph for Captain Michael Paye and his team came with the final score of 69:66 (6:11/23:30/41:45/60:60) and means now that the team will be fighting against Spanish Champions CD Fundosa ONCE Madrid at 12:15 on Sunday.
Same as before today the team was struggling to get into the game, their play obviously displaying the state of their nerves and their respect for the opposition. It was RSB-low-pointer Nerijus Venckus who scored the 6:4 after over six minutes. But Thueringen got into the flow a lot quicker than the Middle Hesse team, and lead the scoreboard 17:10 after 12 minutes. A three by Paye leading to 13:17 (13th min) and two important points by Joe Bestwick (17:25, 17th min) at least kept the team in the game.
After changeover it was noticeable that the Wetzlar team got more and more possessions and tried to make more of an impression. But little mistakes and slips, and a continuously low hit-ratio prevented the team from turning the tables. A three by Steve Serio lead to 37:36 (27th min), the first lead for his team.
Now the tough and intense game kept moving back and forth: fast break for Thomas Boehme leading to 52:51 (37th min), seconds later followed by a basket by Teemu Partanen (52:53, 38th min). In this phase the lead swapped sides five times, and 19 seconds before the final whistle it looked like the deal was done for RSV when they were leading 60:57. But with the siren Partanen scored a three, producing the 60:60-tie.
In overtime Wetzlar managed at first the 64:60-lead (42nd min), but Thueringen evened. After the 66:64 (44th min) by calm old dog Dirk Koehler, Steve Serio managed to make three of four free-throws and put the lock on the happy ending.
“This was an incredible game, absolutely dramatic. We’re not only super happy about the final tomorrow, but also have to admit that luck was on our side today.” said RSV-coach Nicolai Zeltinger after the game, hoping that his team will have the needed energy tomorrow after these four very tough games. Hope is there that the batteries will be recharged by the “final-feeling” to be ready to stand up against Spanish Champions Fundosa, who are yet to lose a game in this tournament. The Madrid team have won the title once so far, in 1997, whilst RSV would like to take their sixth European title home.
Thüringen: Raimund Beginskis (14), Alex Halouski (13), Dan Highcock (13), Nerijus Venckus (8), Teemu Partanen (7/1 Dreier), Sebastian Magenheim (6), André Bienek (5/1), Jens-Eike Albrecht, Bart Nulens (n.e.), Marvin Malsy (n.e.).
Lahn-Dill: Michael Paye (19/1), Steve Serio (18/1), Thomas Böhme (16), Dirk Köhler (8), Joe Bestwick (6), Annabel Breuer, Jan Haller (n.e.), Christopher Huber (n.e.), Björn Lohmann (2), Nico Dreimüller (n.e.), Felix Schell (n.e.), Marco Zwerger (n.e.).
(n.e.).