Great performance at the WK II district basketball tournament

After a series of high-level, closely contested games, Steinmühle finishes in 3rd place

The girls and boys from schools in the Marburg/Biedenkopf district put on a high-caliber performance at the basketball tournament held in the Kaufmännische Schulen gym on November 8, 2016. Five teams each from the 2000–2003 age groups competed. While the E-Schule secured a commanding victory in the girls’ division, the boys’ competition was much more exciting. Here, the Elisabethschule Marburg and the Alfred-Wegener-Schule Kirchhain entered the tournament as clear favorites.

Right in their first game, the Steinmühlen team faced off against the well-coordinated squad from Elisabethschule. They kept pace well until halftime (12–20), but then had to acknowledge the technical and physical superiority of the Elisabethschule team (17–38).

In the next two games, the boys really stepped on the gas and, thanks to strong performances, won 43–35 against Philippinum and 27–16 against Europaschule Gladenbach.

In the decisive match between the undefeated schools for the tournament title, Kirchhain defeated E-Schule 30–29. In the tournament’s final match, Steinmühle could still have secured second place with a victory over Kirchhain. It was an almost impossible task, given that their lineup included a player who towered over everyone else by at least a head and had already played in the 3rd Bundesliga.

Our guys managed to keep the game close for a long time and even tied the score at 23–23 at one point. Two missed free throws and a silly technical foul brought Kirchhain back into the game, and the tournament’s standout player single-handedly sealed the 26–33 final score.

However, the Steinmühlen students were able to leave the district basketball tournament with their heads held high after securing a fantastic third-place finish, having put up a great, spirited fight in every game.

Special praise is also due to the coaches, Theo Nauheimer and Tom Bartsch, who demonstrated a sure hand in leading the team and fostered harmony and enthusiasm among the players.