Germany hope to grow as a team following gripping derby with Austria

SCHWECHAT (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - When it comes to emotionally charged games, there is nothing quite like a derby between neighbours and Saturday night's clash in Schwechat between hosts Austria and visiting Germany went one step further as it turned out to be one of the most thrilling and unpredictable encounters so far in the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers.

"Maybe we needed a game like this to grow together even more closely as a team." - Germany forward Paul Zipser

The two teams entered the clash carrying a 1-0 record in Group B and during the first 35 minutes Austria looked destined to register their second victory in the group and their first success in an official senior game over their famed neighbours in the last 47 years. Powered by yet another excellent showing by Rasid Mahalbasic, who took on the German frontcourt and came up with a game-high 18 points, the hosts led by as many as 16 points.

But Germany turned on the screws on defence in the final frame, held Austria to just 6 points in that period and scored 19 of their own as German captain Robin Benzing hit the go-ahead basket with 30 seconds left for the visitors to escape with a 61-59 win, breaking the hearts of 1,800 local fans.

"We had a real chance of winning today but we struggled to score in the final quarter," said Austria head coach Kestutis Kemzura. "If we had committed one turnover less, we could have made one basket more," he added, in reference to his team's 16 turnovers.

"I would have liked us to show a better performance at the start, but the team will surely grow from such games." - Germany head coach Chris Fleming

Meanwhile, Germany's Paul Zipser admitted that Austria played a great game and his team 'were a bit lucky at the end' but also saw a very positive side to having gone through this demanding test and live to tell the story.

"We still have time ahead and maybe we needed a game like this to grow together even more closely as a team," the new Chicago Bulls forward said.

Germany are the established powerhouse who participate almost uninterruptedly in the Final Round of EuroBasket every two years, while Austria are trying to return there for the first time since 1977. So at first glance one might not see why the German side would need to grow.

But part of head coach Chris Fleming's mission statement is to build a post-Dirk Nowitzki Germany and discover the key figures that will steer the nation to every major tournament in the coming years and ultimately achieve qualification for the 2020 Olympics.

"I would have liked us to show a better performance at the beginning, but the team will surely grow from such games," Fleming said. "My compliments to Austria, they showed more toughness and will to win during three quarters. Nevertheless, we always stayed focused, although we did not show our best side today. Our perseverance was then rewarded at the end."

FIBA