Sandersdorf – Against all odds, the Dragons Rhöndorf secured a crucial 75-74 victory over the BSW Sixers on Saturday, bolstering their playoff hopes despite a severely depleted roster. The win, achieved with five regular players sidelined, marks the Dragons’ fourth consecutive success and sets up a dramatic final regular-season game next Saturday.
The Dragons entered the contest facing significant challenges, missing key contributors Juhwan Harris-Dyson, David Böning, and Dusan Ilic due to injury. Adding to the difficulties, Benjamin Sadikovic and Kenan Reinhart were unavailable as they joined the Telekom Baskets Bonn for an away game. Despite these absences, Rhöndorf managed to overcome a determined Sixers squad also dealing with injuries to Jarne Jürgens, Felix Zacharias, and Finn Erxleben.
The game began tentatively, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm early on, resulting in a 2-2 score after the first two minutes. The Sixers then implemented a more physical defensive approach, which proved impactful as Duje Dujmovic sustained a laceration requiring three stitches after the game. Capitalizing on this, Sandersdorf built a 20-12 lead, largely due to the challenges Rhöndorf faced in containing Robert Holmes.
Rhöndorf responded strongly in the second quarter, accelerating the pace of play and disrupting the Sixers’ transition game. A three-pointer from Tom Viehöfer tied the score at 22-22 in the 13th minute, and a subsequent basket by Lagui Diallo gave the Dragons their first lead at 31-29. Despite some turnovers, Rhöndorf managed to take a narrow 41-37 lead into halftime – mirroring the first leg’s halftime score, but with the teams’ positions reversed.
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams trading leads throughout the third and fourth quarters. Jorge Mejias stepped up as the offensive focal point for Rhöndorf, finishing the game with a team-high 27 points and seven assists. With just 24 seconds remaining, Robert Holmes leveled the score at 75-74. A crucial turnover by Mejias with 19 seconds left gave Sandersdorf a final opportunity, but Silver Bieling’s three-point attempt fell short, securing the hard-fought victory for the Dragons.
Dragons Overcome Adversity with Team Effort
Despite the numerous absences, Rhöndorf demonstrated remarkable resilience and teamwork. Duje Dujmovic contributed 15 points and seven rebounds despite his injury, while Carlo Schmid’s ten rebounds were instrumental in securing a 43-38 rebounding advantage for the Dragons. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Vuk Scepanovic, who delivered his best performance of the season with 14 points and three three-pointers.
Playoff Hopes Remain Alive
This victory keeps the Dragons’ playoff aspirations very much alive. They will face a critical showdown next Saturday, March 28th, at 6:30 p.m. In the DragonDome. Before that, the Dragons’ U19 team will compete in a crucial NBBL playoff game on Monday, hoping to draw strong fan support.
Dragons Rhöndorf Head Coach Max Becker praised his team’s effort, stating, “We knew today that there was only one chance to get this victory: We have to fight, from the first second. And that’s what we did. All the boys who were there today have surpassed themselves and we have proven that we are on fire. This team has found itself and we coaches are simply proud of what we showed today in this difficult starting position. Now it’s time for our U19 boys to win in the NBBL playoffs tomorrow, to take a breather on Tuesday and then from Wednesday it’s all over Focus on the Rostock game as we want to preserve our hard-earned chance of making the playoffs.”
The Dragons’ success hinged on a strong shooting performance, converting 17 of 31 two-point attempts (55%) and 10 of 29 three-point attempts (34%). They finished the game with a field goal percentage of 45% (27 of 60) and a free throw percentage of 65% (11 of 17). The BSW Sixers shot 40% from the field (19 of 47) and 28% from beyond the arc (7 of 25).
Dragons Rhöndorf Box Score: Schmid (2 pts, 10 reb), Dujmovic (15 pts, 7 reb), Völkers, Viehöfer (3 pts), Scepanovic (14 pts), Diallo (8 pts, 7 reb), Franzen, Mejias (25 pts, 7 ast), Pettenó (5 pts), Idbihi.
BSW Sixers Box Score: Ludwig (7 pts), Nwokedi, Bieling (12 pts), Amin (4 pts), Okkweteei (12 pts, 7 reb), Holmes (24 pts, 6 reb), Ozike (10 pts, 13 reb), Schwabe (3 pts), Raabe (2 pts).
Game Statistics: Two-point field goals: Rhöndorf 17/31 (55%), Sixers 19/47 (40%); Three-point field goals: Rhöndorf 10/29 (34%), Sixers 7/25 (28%); Field goal percentage: Rhöndorf 27/60 (45%), Sixers 26/72 (36%); Free throw percentage: Rhöndorf 11/17 (65%), Sixers 15/20 (75%); Rebounds: Rhöndorf 43, Sixers 38; Steals: Rhöndorf 3, Sixers 4; Turnovers: Rhöndorf 14, Sixers 4; Blocks: Rhöndorf 3, Sixers 3; Fouls: Rhöndorf 17, Sixers 15.
The Dragons’ upcoming game against Rostock will be pivotal in determining their playoff fate. With momentum on their side, and a potential return of injured players, Rhöndorf will look to continue their winning streak and secure a spot in the postseason.
What are your thoughts on the Dragons’ incredible comeback? Share your predictions for their final game in the comments below!
