Hemenitz 99ers saw off Braunschweig 102-75 in the German Cup on Sunday evening. The visitors ran out comfortable winners at home, a result that leaves the hosts third in the table after three games. We had backed the home side, though the confidence sat at a modest fifty-two percent. By then you know the game rarely goes to plan.
The visitors took control early and never looked back. Hemenitz moved the ball with purpose, while Braunschweig found themselves chasing shadows from the opening quarter. To be fair, the home side had moments — a couple of quick breaks, a few shots from distance — but they couldn't string anything together. The visitors simply cut them open at will.
What struck me watching was how the visitors switched gears when it mattered. Braunschweig had been competitive in their last outing against MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, losing 107-98, and before that a narrow 87-87 draw with Wehda. This felt different. The visitors found a way through the defence that the hosts couldn't match, and one mistake ended any hope of a comeback.
The numbers tell a straightforward story. Hemenitz outscored Braunschweig across every period, with the final tally of 102 to 75 reflecting the gap in performance. The visitors have now won two of their last five, while Braunschweig sit on one victory from three matches. It is not an auspicious start for the hosts.
The result shifts something in the table, though the standings are still fluid. Braunschweig remain third, but the gap to the leaders is closing. Hemenitz, meanwhile, have shown they can compete with anyone on their day. The old head settled them down in the second half, and that is what separated the two sides.
