Goettingen improved to 20-8 record defeating Phoenix Hagen 76:69. Rochestie Taylor netted 20, Oliver Chris posted 18 and Boone Jason nailed 17. Griffin Chase delivered 20 points in the losing case.
Goettingen became the second team to reach EuroChallenge Final Four. The German team held off FMP in Serbia to sweep the quarterfinal series. Taylor Rochestie once again shone for the visitors with 25 points. The first frame proved decisive in this one. FMP led 10:8 after five straight points from Jeremic. But Goettingen capped the period on a 17:2 run to take a 25:12 advantage. Taylor Rochestie and Jason Boone stretched the gap at 14-point mark midway through the second period. The visitors maintained the lead and entered the second half ahead by 14 points 42:28. Goettingen stayed confidently in front early in the third stanza but FMP managed to rebound late in the period. The hosts triggered a 12:0 run to get within one. Meeks and Jason Boone went perfect from the stripe to give some breathing space for Goettingen. However Nemanja Protic crowned the frame with a trey to drag FMP within two points 54:56 with ten minutes to go. Branko Lazic drew things level at 58 just over a minute into the fourth term but Chris Oliver and Taylor Rochestie exploded with 8 points in a row to restore a comfortable cushion for Goettingen. The seesaw action continued when Branko Lazic and Samardziski knotted things up at 68. Meeks followed with three free throws to put the German team back in the drivers seat. Nemanja Protic answered with a jumper but Jason Boone and Taylor Rochestie sealed the winning outcome in the dying moments. Chris Oliver produced 15 points for Goettingen. Jason Boone knocked down 12 points in the winning case. Nemanja Protic responded with 16 points, 6 assists and 4 boards for FMP. Branko Lazic had 14 points in defeat.
Goettingen made the first step towards EuroChallenge Final Four. They held off FMP in the opening game of the quarterfinal best-of-three series. Taylor Rochestie scored 24 points and pulled down 6 rebounds to lead the charge. The teams looked well matched in the starting frame. The lead changed hands for several times in the period before Antoine Jordan drew things level at 16 ten minutes into the encounter. Boone and Robert Kulawick helped the hosts gain a 7-point lead midway through the second stanza. Little drained a triple to ensure a 10-point advantage for Goettingen. But a pair of triples from Bojan Radetic triggered an 11:0 run from the visitors as they surged in front. Taylor Rochestie capped the half with a layup to give Goettingen a 41:40 advantage. The teams stayed close throughout the third quarter. Bojan Radetic and Jeremic allowed FMP to enter the fourth term ahead by one 56:55. Little and Chris Oliver quickly denied the deficit early in the fourth period and Goettingen jumped in front. Meeks and Taylor Rochestie ensured a 68:62 advantage for the home team with under four minutes to go. Protic and Raduljica cut the distance to minimal before Taylor Rochestie and Robert Kulawick exploded with 5 points and Goettingen ran away for good. Antoine Jordan delivered 11 points for the winners. Robert Kulawick and Chris Oliver were helpful with 9 points each. Predrag Samardziski notched 15 points and 11 rebounds for FMP. Bojan Radetic accounted for 13 points in the loss.
Telekom is with 19-8 record beating Goettingen 85:76. DuPree Ronald stepped up with 26 points, while Strasser Johannes followed him with 14. Rochestie Taylor ended up with 19 points in the losing case.
Since the beginning of the season when I first posted this blog a lot of things have changed. We're back to BG74, roster spots have been emptied and refilled and we are preparing for a new set of European Challenge games. Because the schedule is still sometimes hard to find online, and EuroBasket makes you pay, you can feel free to refer here for the (updated) season schedule. We just added six games for the Top 16 of EuroChallenge (underlined) and they are against another team from Russia, a team in Cyprus and a squad from The Netherlands. Keep an eye out for your boys.
Do you want to know what dedication is? It's setting an alarm for 6:00am knowing that we are leaving for Bonn at 7am just to write you guys a blog. Luckily I can sleep for the next three hours and I'm going to need it because it is All-Star weekend here in Germany (and I haven't been to sleep since we beat Dusseldorf). The festivities include a youth league game (like the NBA rookies/sophomore game), a three point contest (like the NBA), a dunk contest (like the NBA) and a North vs. South All Star Game (as opposed to the NBA East and West). My teammates Taylor Rochestie and Chris Oliver were selected to the 3-Point Contest and All Star Game respectively. John Little, our captain, has to be there for the Captains meeting (to discuss current/future plans for the league) and I'm just going to tag along. The plan is to create a video blog documenting the process but don't hold me to that.
By the way, the French video blog has been delayed due to some software compatibility problems. But it should be up soon (about a week..and it's going to be good).
Chris and Taylor were giving me a little crap last night about not making the All Star Team so for those two fools let me remind them that I've played an "All-Star Pick Up Game" with actual NBA All Stars for the upcoming movie "Just Wright" <--shameless plug
My Heat Teammate and All Star Teammate In The Film Dwayne Wade
Dwight Howard, Bobby Simmons, and Rashard Lewis Never Passed...I"m #35
NBA Players Are Only As Good As Their Supporting Casts...shoutout to the movie extras
Good Luck Taylor and Good Luck Chris (although I don't think he's playing)...let's come home with some W's
For up to the minute updates follow me on Twitter @blackhercules21 or look for them at the top of this blog
Do What You Do Hallelujah Hollaback ...blackhercules21...
Goettingen grabbed 4-1 record on top of Group A. The German squad outscored Gravelines 72:64 in France. Although the guests won the first period the game was tied at the halftime. Only with 21-9 in the third period allowed Goettingen to lead the game. Chris Oliver paced all the winners with 18 points and Taylor Rochestie netted 13. Jason Boone produced 11, while Dwayne Anderson notched 9. Johnson Trey ended up with 17 points for Gravelines that dropped at 3-2. Edwards posted 13 and Cyril Akpomedah chipped in 10.
