Encouraging defeat

Carl Mbassa is still hoping to reach the quarter-finals. "The fact that a win was possible naturally gives us courage," said the Head Coach of Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer after the 80:87 (48:41) defeat at SC Rist Wedel in the first playoff game for promotion to the second German Basketball League ProA. The club from the cathedral city is hoping to turn the tide in front of its home crowd in the Nordhalle on Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and then achieve its goal in a third encounter with the sports club.

The BIS team was at least on a par with the club from North Germany for a long time in the Steinberghalle. After leading by eleven points at one stage, they led 68:64 before the final period. It was only in the final two-and-a-half minutes that the home side pulled away thanks to an 11:0 run. "We had to commit tactical fouls in that spell to gain possession and preserve our chances," said Mbassa.

The most striking players in the Steinberghalle were the two US-Americans and the captain. DJ Woodmore (25 points/4 threes) grabbed nine rebounds, for example, while Kelvin Omojola (16/2) had eight assists after the final buzzer. Darian Cardenas (25/4) was also on hand with eight rebounds.