The Trier’s best thrower was Dan Monteroso with 27 points. Next game on Wednesday in Nuremberg.
Without center Kalidou Diouf, head coach Marco van den Berg sent Chase Adams, Dan Monteroso, Thomas Grün, Matt Freeman and Robert Nortmann as starting five onto the floor against Phoenix Hagen. The veteran Dominik Spohr from Hagen quickly found his way into the game and scored the first six points for the firebirds. On the Trier side it was Dan Monteroso who scored the first points of the gladiators with a three. In the middle of the first quarter, Trier were behind 10:19, especially Dominik Spohr caused a lot of danger and after five minutes already stood at 12 points (5th minute). The gladiators knew how to make better use of the last minutes of the first half of the game, hit threes by Jonas Grof and Thomas Grün brought the Moselans back into play one minute before the end of the first quarter (18:25, 9th minute). At 20:25 for the guests, it finally went into the first quarter break.
In the second quarter, too, the gladiators did not manage to find their offensive rhythm. Too often one looked for one-on-one situations that ended in difficult conclusions. The Hagener now had increasing problems to let the ball run and sink their throws. In the middle of the second quarter, the Trier then increased the defensive pressure and were able to record several ball wins including a simple finish. After five minutes in the second quarter it was only 29:32 from Trier’s point of view. Even in the first half, the last actions belonged to the hosts. Thanks to improved hit rates from the field, the Trier team managed a 43:42 lead with the final siren. The gladiators’ defense was now much more aggressive and snappy than at the beginning of the game.
After the break, the gladiators kept the pace high and quickly increased to 48:42 (23rd minute of the game). The Hagen team also had a small run early in the third quarter, but due to the significantly improved defense, the Trier team were able to stop it and increase it to 53:48 in the middle of the third quarter (27th minute of the game). Especially on the offensive board, the gladiators rebounded well and often developed second chances. Although the throwing rates on the part of the guests stabilized again as the game progressed, the hosts took a four-point lead into the last quarter break (62:58).
The home side were able to bring this high speed to the stage right from the start in the last quarter. So the gladiators were able to extend their lead and after seven minutes led in the last quarter with 73:66. Again and again Rupert Hennen and Dan Monteroso looked for the way to the basket and scored highly. At this point, Jonas Grof grabbed one rebound after the other and thus got many second litters for his teammates. Phoenix had great difficulties finding their way back into the game, the Trier defense was still safe and the rebound duel clearly went to the hosts. At the end of the game there was a deserved 83:75 from Trier’s point of view. Thanks to a strong team defense and a clear increase in performance in the second quarter, the gladiators bring victory under one roof.
Marco van den Berg, Head Coach RÖMERSTROM Gladiators Trier: “I can’t remember when one of my teams got 28 offensive rebounds in one game. This shows that we are doing a lot of things right in rebounding. You have also seen that some of our boys are slowly taking the next step and getting to where we need them. An important victory, especially when it comes to the playoff spots. We have to build on that on Wednesday against Nuremberg ”.
Played for Trier: Chase Adams (10 points), Dan Monteroso (27), Kevin Smit (0), Rupert Hennen (8), Jonas Grof (9 points / 13 rebounds), Thomas Grün (15), Jonathan Almstedt (0), Kalidou Diouf (DNP), Ole Theiss (DNP), Matt Freeman (12), Robert Nortmann (2) and Kevin Kollmar (DNP).
Best thrower Phoenix Hagen: Dominik Spohr and Zach Haney (17 points each) and Jermaine Bishop (13).
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