Gripping playoff thriller in Gießen: Science City Jena shows nerve strength away, the game turns after the half-time break-and crowned a strong season with the move into the final and return to the basketball Oberhaus.
The big goal is achieved! The basketball players from Science City Jena return to the Bundesliga after six years. The team of coach Björn Harmsen won the dramatic fourth semi -final game in the ProA at the Gießen 46ers with 97:95 (38:47) and won the series 3-1. Jena follows the Gladiators Trier in the highest division. The best throwers for the Thuringians, who had already completed the main round in the second highest German division as the first table, were Zachery Cooks with 30 points and Tyler Nelson with 23 points.
Rashed Moore (23, Science City Jena), Mladen Vujic (33, Gießen 46ers)
Intesive first round with many fouls
Gießen started the game powerfully and took control early. In the 6th minute, the 46ers set a first exclamation mark (11: 7) with a 5-0 run-carried by the mood in their own hall. Jena had a hard time, but then slowly found the rhythm over Alexander Herrera and Chris Carter. In the middle of the quarter, an intensive, partly torn exchange of blows with many fouls developed. The game became increasingly physical.
The result: Jena reached the team foul border early in the second quarter. Gießen took advantage of the clever, regularly scored from the line and pulled it to 32:25 (15th). Coach Harmsen reacted with two timeouts in no time, but Gießen remained dominant. Led by ex-international Robin Benzing, the lead grew to 47:34 (19th). Shortly before the break, Jena came back with a Buzzer-Beater from Carter (47:38)-an important signal.
Chris Carter (5, Science City Jena) in a duel with Robin Benzing (12, Gießen 46ers)
Jena lets the muscles play after the break
The Thuringians came out of the cabin much more alert. A faster 7: 2 run (22nd) showed that the game is still open. Cooks and Tyler Nelsen took over for the guests, while Gießen got into the stumbling. In the 28th minute, Nelsen put on 66:66 – Jena now had the momentum clearly on his side. With a 10: 1 run, the Baskets ended the third round and went to the final quarter with a 71: 67 lead.
Cooks becomes a hero
What followed was pure basketball drama. The tour changed several times, both teams fought for every ball. Gießen’s Luis Figge equalized to 95:95 by free throw. But then came the big appearance of Zachery Cooks. The American got the ball at the center line after the throw-in, passed his opponent and hit the board to 97:95-game winner, final and promotion in one.
SBO
