In the Basketball Champions League, the Baskets Bonn showed a reaction to their recent weak performances and secured their quarter-final ticket early. Bonn impressed with a committed performance against Dijon.
On Tuesday (March 12, 2024) the Baskets prevailed 89:74 (20:17, 24:18, 19:17, 26:22). The best thrower for the defending Champions League champion was Sam Griesel (17 points). Thanks to the victory, the Rhinelanders are already in the quarter-finals one game day before the end of the “Round of 16”, and in the last group game against the giants Ludwigsburg the group victory is still at stake.
The giants Ludwigsburg had previously narrowly lost their game at Galatasaray Istanbul in Group J in the evening (18:28, 24:26, 23:24, 26:15). With a Ludwigsburg victory it would be Bonn Although they were certainly further ahead, the people of Bonn were challenged themselves.
Furious start to baskets against JDA Dijon
And head coach Roel Moors probably chose the right words in his speech before the start of the game. Because Bonn got off to a furious start: Sam Griesel got the game off to an ideal start with a goal from outside.
The home team showed a clear reaction after the weak defensive performance against BBL bottom team Heidelberg (87:92) with a lot of will, the effort in defense was right. Bonn forced a turnover on their first attack. This scene is also significant: Harald Frey defended strongly, then Griesel dunked to make it 7-0.
Griesel was outstanding, he also put Noah Kirkwood in the spotlight, who scored from outside to make it 15:2. Bonn set off fireworks, 15 points in just four minutes – Dijon was forced to take their first time out early on. Ultimately, one of the best defensive teams in the basketballChampions League overrun.
Dijon finds its way back to strong defense
Towards the end of the first period, the Bonner drive fizzled out, the baskets took too many forced shots and the three-pointers would no longer fall. Dijon actually got back to three points with a run. And it remained a close affair in the second quarter. Bonn lacked a bit of offensive rhythm against the disciplined French, who increasingly found their way into the individual duels.
An interim spurt from Bonn was therefore all the more important: Glynn Watson Junior scored from outside and was allowed to convert free throws due to a foul, a little later Chris Sengfelder assisted Till Pape strongly in the zone – 30:23.
Bonn keeps offensively limited Frenchmen at a distance
The fact that Bonn was initially able to maintain this comfortable distance was also due to the somewhat limited offensive qualities of the guests. The French simply missed a lot of chances. On the other hand, Bonn also took advantage of their second attempts – Griesel grabbed a rebound and increased the lead to 36:27. And Watson ensured the perfect end to the second quarter with a converted three-point throw.
Kirkwood then turned up the heat in the third quarter, scoring twice in a row from distance to restore Bonn’s double-digit lead. Things went quite well on offense, Thomas Kennedy scored two more points in a strong pick-and-roll, and leader Griesel also continued to score diligently. And Bonn only had a few turnovers against the guests, who were notorious for their defensive work.
Kennedy turns up the heat, Bonn stays ahead
But the French couldn’t really be shaken off; Bonn’s lead fluctuated quite consistently between single and double-digit points. This balance of power remained the same in the final quarter. After Cameron Hunt reduced Dijon’s lead to 62:69 with six and a half minutes left on the clock, Bonn coach Moors took a precautionary time out.
But Bonn continued to play with concentration and didn’t just limit themselves to running down the clock. Important: Kennedy played himself into the spotlight, he scored points in the zone and was also allowed to convert a free throw due to a foul. Shortly afterwards he restored the double-digit lead with a cracking dunking after an assist from Frey. In the end it became even clearer that Bonn deservedly had the upper hand.