Bitter 58:70 defeat against RSB Thuringia Bulls
The same as last year RSV are facing Thuringia Bulls in the Playoff final for the German Championship 2016, and are behind 0:1 after being defeated in the first game in this best-of-three series. On Saturday evening the team suffered a bitter 58:70 (13:21/29:40/37:62) defeat at home, in which only the last quarter seemed to work out for the team, but the impressive comeback sadly came too late.
The score was already at 37:62 after three quarters, before the team basically exploded after facing their biggest home defeat in 15 years. Centre Felix Schell started the last quarter straight away with a basket, which was topped with a three-point-play by Serio and finally with a three by Capain Michael Paye, leading to 56:63 (38th min). But this 19:1-run sadly came way too late, considering their previous mistakes, and could not turn the game around.
In the three quarters before RSV Lahn-Dill did not pose a threat to their opposition, especially in their offence, and had to work really hard for every attempt to score against a very strong Team Thuringia Bulls. Those did not appear to have the right mental strength, but also worked confident and with routine. Especially Andre Bienek, who had been kept under control the week before, now scored from every position, four threes among those hits. The best performance for RSV was the Wetzlar fans, who did their best to support their team, despite the desperate situation.
At 6:6 (4th min) and 11:15 (9th min), both scored by old dog Dirk Koehler, it was not to be foreseen yet, what should happen from the middle of the second quarter onwards. Even though Bienek had pushed his team forward with three threes within 180 minutes to 21:13 (10th min), but generally both teams were still playing pretty evenly. After a free-throw by Joe Bestwick leading to 19:23 (14th min), RSV seemed to be losing the control over the game more and more, whilst Thuringia Bulls were working together like a Swiss clock work.
But even after the score being 32:41 (21st min) RSV and their fans were still hoping for a turn of events. These hopes were crushed by an unbelievable 18:3 run by the opposition. Whilst the Bulls continuously fought off the RSV offence, it looked like the Middle Hesse team were going to face their biggest defeat in a very long time.
Just when the noticeable mental insecurity of the hosts seemed to be at its high, and no one would have bet on their team anymore, the game turned around. RSV seemed to have found their fighting spirit again, played physically, and the game finally became an actual Playoff fight. Now there was nothing left to lose, which seemed to have lifted a weight off their shoulders, and the Wetzlar team finally dictated what was happening on court. Point by point they got closer, whilst the Thuringia Bulls could not wait for the final whistle.
But in the end the number of previous mistakes was way too big to change the outcome of the game. Four points by Beginskis topped off the Thueringen performance, and set the final mark. Thuringia Bulls got the first win in the best-of-three series and won well deserved as well.
"It obviously meant a lot for us, and for the course of this series of games, that we managed to fight back in the last quarter of the game, to prove to ourselves that we can do it" said Zeltinger after the final whistle. Now RSV have to pick themselves up, focus on their strength and go into the next game with confidence and courage. "Of course, what lies ahead is tough, two wins away in Elxleeben. But it's neither hopeless nor impossible. We still have two opportunities, which we will make use of with all our power."
Lahn-Dill: Michael Paye (20/2 Dreier), Dirk Köhler (13), Steve Serio (11/1), Joe Bestwick (6), Thomas Böhme (4), Felix Schell (4), Annabel Breuer, Björn Lohmann, Nico Dreimüller (n.e.), Jan Haller (n.e.), Christopher Huber (n.e.).
Thüringen: André Bienek (26/4), Raimund Beginskis (16), Aliaksandr Halouski (14), Joakim Linden (11), Teemu Partanen (3), Dan Highcock, Marcus Kietzer, Venckus Nerijus, Marvin Malsy (n.e.).