“We did a very good job,” agreed Baskets head trainer Predrag Krunic. He was satisfied though a little reserved: “In the second half, the rhythm was not at the same level. Würzburg made it harder for us.”

The Bonn starting players Josh Mayo, Ryan Thompson, Bartolo, Ken Horton and Julian Gamble surprised the Würzburgers with their intensity and it was exactly this aggression from the start that allowed the Bonners to get into previous games.

A tip-dunk from Michael Cobbins brought ex-national trainer Dirk Bauermann’s team a 2:0 lead. It was their only one. Gamble levelled the score and then the Bonn storm swirled over the men in red. The quarter ended with Bonn leading 31:16. Lamonte Ulmer only got his first points after 13 minutes, highlighting the performance of the Bonn defence, which left the guests no room or time.

At the break the Bonners were superior in every department with Würzburg only in front in terms of number of ball losses and fouls. One could only imagine what went on in the guest changing rooms over halftime.

But the Baskets did not allow a comfortable lead and half time break to allow them to become sloppy. Würzburg did find a glimmer of hope from somewhere and a circus three-pointer from Jake Odum from the mid-line on the buzzer meant Würzburg won the third quarter by 29:26.

And because the Baskets are capable this season of shaking off a poor quarter without getting nervous, they secured a victory in which youngsters Alexander Möller and Valentin Blass also got to play. When Blass scored to make it 98:80, all his colleagues leapt up from the bench. The Baskets spirit is back in the Telekom Dome.

(Original text: Tanja Schneider. Translated by Kate Carey.)