DBB Falls Short In Comeback Bid Against The Flames
The Season ending Final 4 was being hosted by the Timberwolves and the temperatures outside made the T-Mobile Dome a sauna for the Teams. During the season, DBB had lost 2x’s against the Flames and were looking for their first win to advance to Sunday’s Title game. The Flames came into the game having finished second during the regular season.
Winkler opened the scoring for the Flames and her basket was quickly answered by Milovanovic from DBB. After Kandelhart made 1-2 at the line, the Flames behind Popp and Rehberger opened a 6-3 lead. From the 4th to the 8th minute, the home side from Wien ran off a 10-3 run and increased their margin to 12-6. The Offense from DBB was getting looks, but could not convert. But, to end the quarter, the Upper Austrian side ran off eight straight points behind the defense of Voithofer, as DBB squeezed in front 14-12.
In the previous two meetings, the 2nd quarter had been the undoing for the side from DBB. Today, the 2nd quarter proved friendly for the DBB side which got stellar play from Captain Lisa Ganhör and Valerie Voithofer on both sides of the ball. Ganhör would score 11 of her Teams sixteen in the quarter as DBB maintained a slim margin at halftime 30-27.
In the 3rd quarter, the Flames came out quickly and in the first 3:00, they erased the three point defiict and opened a 36-32 lead. Vukicevic and Popp led the way during a 9-2 run which immediately prompted a timeout. Out of the timeout, the wheels fell off for the girls from DBB as nothing was falling and the Flames took advangtage of their height advantage inside to score on putbacks and ended the quarter on a 12-3 run. 21-5 overall gave the Flames a 48-35 advantage heading into the final quarter.
DBB fought back in the final stanza and got the lead down to nine points, but could not overcome the 25 offensive rebounds and 25 second chance points of the Flames. In the end the duo of Rehberger and Vukicevic combined for 31 rebounds & 28 points leading the Flames to a 63-51 victory.
Coach Beszczynski after the game: “First off congratulations to the Flames on reaching the Finals. The result is disappointing as we won three of the four quarters, but as has been the case against the Flames, one quarter was the difference. We talked about rebounding all week in practice, but were not able to get the job done today. Less than 24 hours and we’ll take the court again against a very familiar opponent in the 3/4 game and we must be mentally & physically ready.”
1. Viertel 12-14
2. Viertel 15-16
3. Viertel 21-5
4. Viertel 15-16
Werferin Flames: Vukicevic 18, Popp 18, Rehberger 10, Winkler 6, Brunner 6, Augustin 3, Rödhammer 2
Werferin DBB LZOÖ: Ganhör 23, Voithofer 13, Kandelhart 7, Milovanovic 4, Jelinek 2, Mendl 2
“DBB LZOÖ Linz-Wels Take Home Hard Fought Bronze Medal”
The disappointment of the day before for both Teams could not be taken into the Bronze Medal game on Sunday. 11:00 start time and both Teams looked ready in the warm-ups.
The start was better for DBB as Ganhör and Führer brought the Upper Austrian side to a 7-2 lead. After a Schaber basket cut the defiict to 7-4, Milovanovic scored making it 9-4. The teams traded baskets and Lena Schönthaler would hit back-to-back three’s keeping her team in touch with the leaders from Linz/Wels. Ganhör and Mendl would give the guests a 7-2 spurt to end the Heiss, the lead shrunk to 33-30 for DBB. After Emma Kienesberger hit 1-2 at the FT line, Milonvanovic scored maintaining the Upper Austrian’s advantage in the game. Schönthaler & Schaber would score 5 quick points and suddenly it was a one point game 36-35. Führer and Kienesberer would score the next six points, as the DBB side would continue to have an answer for the continuous challenge of Vienna United. Voithofer scored the final four points of the quarter for DBB who led 45-40 going into the 4th.
As in the 3rd quarter, United came out strong in final quarter as well. Livia Popp scored four points in a 6-2 run which again brought the advantage for DBB to one point 47-46. Ganhör strung together four quick points in succession boosting the lead to 51-46.After Kalaydjiev scored making it 51-48, Ganhör again drove the lane and scored making it 53-48. Two quick baskets from Popp cut the lead back to53-52 with 3:00 to play. Ganhör answered back again willing her team to stay in the lead 55-52. Kalaydjiev hit 1-2 at the FT line 55-53. Schönthaler hit a mid-range jumper to even the score at 55-55. Ganhör again with the ball in her hands drove the lane, hit the basket, but could not convert the FT, score 57-55. On the ensuing play, DBB fouled putting Heiss at the line with a chance to tie, she hit 1-2, 57-56, the ball was recovered by DBB. Führer would hit a tough shot off the glass making it 59-56. With a chance to tie the game, Vienna United would lose the ball, Führer had it in her hands only to lose it, United with the clock ticking down had the ball and another chance to tie, but a turnover fell in Ganhör’s hands and she hit 1-2 at the line to seal the victory 60-56.
Coach Beszczynski after the game: “We played solid in the opening half and built ourselves a cushion. In the 2nd half, maybe it was nerves, being tired, or just a combination of both, but United as they’re known to do, made a furious rally and kept coming at us. But, my Team showed character and withstand everything they threw at us to seal the victory. I’m very proud of our Bronze Medal and my Girls. We have a lot to be happy about for our first season as DBB LZOÖ Linz-Wels. And extra thank you to our Parents who made the trip to Vienna to support us, they were great.”
1. Viertel 13-20
2. Viertel 10-13
3. Viertel 17-12
4. Viertel 16-15
Werferin Vienna United: Schönthaler 19, Popp 12, Schaber 12, Kalaydjiev 7, Heiss 6
Werferin DBB LZOÖ Linz-Wels: Ganhör 24, Führer 15, Voithofer 6, Mendl 6, Milovanovic 4, Kandelhart 2, Lounova 2, Kienesberger 1