Unclouded triumph in Vechta - Chemnitz advances to the semi-finals with ease against Alba.
Chemnitz moves on to the semi-finals of the Easycredit Basketball Bundesliga after a dominant 84-67 win over Vechta. This marks their third win in the best-of-five series. They now face off against Alba Berlin, who have already beaten Bonn 3-0. This season, Chemnitz lost both games against Berlin.
Vechta surprised many with the inclusion of Tommy Kuhse, who had been recovering from an ankle injury. The playmaker had been out for the 76-84 defeat in the previous game. Now, with his ankle taped, Kuhse's mobility was noticeably limited. His shooting percentage at half-time was 27%.
Is this farewell game for Vechta coach Ty Harrelson, as he moves on to Ulm? With the way his team was playing - static, with no ideas and relying on individual actions - it certainly seemed so. Kaden Anderson recorded the first assist for Vechta after 18 minutes. The defense was lacking at the back, with no significant rebounds. With such a performance, it's difficult to challenge a strong team like Chemnitz.
Meanwhile, Chemnitz looked very composed offensively. They also boasted the best defense of the regular season at the back.
Even at half-time, Vechta's boss Stefan Niemeyer conceded that he didn't expect his team to win. Speaking to the mic, he mentioned the impending coaching change (Martin Schiller replacing Harrelson): "We were disappointed about it. And what really annoyed me was that it came out during the season. But Martin Schiller will be involved starting next week."
In the third quarter, Vechta appeared to show some signs of life, narrowing the deficit to eight points (40-48). However, Chemnitz quickly regained their composure.
Kuhse improved as the game progressed despite his pain. His 18 points in 30 minutes were impressive. But even Kuhse couldn't alone pose a serious threat to the powerful Chemnitz side.
Chemnitz's Jeff Garrett spoke on the mic: "Making it to the semi-finals feels good. But we know we can do better."
Vechta's coach Ty Harrelson also expressed pride in his squad and their achievements in their first year in the Bundesliga.
Top scorers: Tommy Kuhse (18 points/ Vechta), Jeff Garrett (19/ Chemnitz)
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Source: symclub.org
