Two games kicked off Saturday evening’s Bundesliga action: Bamberg celebrated a clear away win in Braunschweig, while Rasta Vechta proved its strength at home against MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Bamberg got off to the better start and pulled further and further ahead as the game progressed. The visitors laid the foundation for their eventual 98:75 victory in the third quarter in particular, which they won 29:16. De’Shawn Demonia was the outstanding player with 21 points and eleven rebounds. He was supported by Crowley (18 points) and Watson (15 points).
Braunschweig managed to keep the game open in the first half, but had little to counter the visitors’ pace after the break. Benedikt Njie and Brandon Schröder each scored 16 points, but were the only consistent scorers. In the end, Bamberg underlined its claim to be back among the frontrunners this season with a cohesive team performance.
Vechta surprises semifinalist Heidelberg
In Vechta, the game was evenly matched in the first half, before the hosts picked up the pace in the third quarter and pulled away 24-11. Rasta defended aggressively, capitalized on its opponent’s mistakes and ultimately secured an 86-75 victory. Armoni Verge Jr. led his team with 22 points, while Tommy Kuhse impressed with 16 points and a strong shooting percentage. Heidelberg, which surprisingly reached the semifinals last season, struggled to find solutions against Vechta’s defense after the break. Marcus Weathers (21 points, 9 assists) and Williamson (12 points, 10 rebounds) fought hard to avoid defeat, but the high number of fouls and poor shooting from the three-point line (6/25) ultimately cost them the win. It was a setback for Heidelberg at the start of the season, while Vechta sent a strong signal to its rivals.
