That Serbia would be an incredibly tough opponent to crack was no secret before the game started, but that Germany would lose a U-17 game at the Albert Schweitzer tournament by 63 points and only muster 35 points was an extremely tough pill to swallow. Germany came into the difficult game with a 0-3 record as they had only averaged 59 points per game and had coughed up the ball way too much while Serbia was 2-1 and were super strong on the boards getting 20 offensive rebounds on average. Germany would have to be extra physical on the boards, but simply couldn´t match Serbia´s intensity or physicality for 40 minutes and were crushed 98-35. The deficit grew every quarter from 15 to 30 to 40 and to 63 points as the horn sounded. If one observed head coach Dirk Bauermann on the sidelines, you could see a guy that was angry inside, but didn´t show it as much on the sidelines. These are 16 and 17 year old boys who are still young and are allowed to make mistakes. Serbia on the other hand were at another level and the ex Leverkusen super coach totally accepted that. “This was an extremely important learning lesson for my team. They witnessed a tough aggressive physical Serbian defensive team and very clever offensive team. It was a great experience where the boys had to get out of their comfort zone. It was an aha experience where they can get new motivation. They saw today that what they have been doing until now wasn´t enough. We have 6 guys missing that will probably play in the world cup and I think with them, this game would have looked a lot different”, stressed Germany head coach Dirk Bauermanm. Serbia played an incredible game from start to finish with little down phases and despite the big win head coach Branislav Ratkovica didn´t flash that massive winners smile, but was humble in the win. “We were older and had a lot more experience. Our focus going in was to play tough for 40 minutes and get on transition and get easy baskets. We knew that if we play good defense, our offense will follow. I was a little surprised by the end result. Germany is talented and have big bodies. The score didn´t show their real face”, warned Serbia head coach Bransilav Rathkovica.

Lukas Klein

Germany was without key players Declan Duro, Mathieu Grujicic, Fynn Lastring and Davi Remagen while Serbia was without captain Mitar Bosnjakovic who plays with Real Madrid and had won 3 Adidas Next Generation tournaments. Serbia didn´t waste any time jumping all over Germany. Serbia came out instantly with a high intensity as their best shooter Andrej Kostic connected twice once from the parking lot and high energy guard Savo Derzgic made free throws. Germany couldn´t come to terms with their aggressive pressure and didn´t score until the 6,29 minute mark as Ulm´s Jervis Scheffs made a lay in. Germany then saw some light at the end of the tunnel and got a 4 point play by Alba Berlin´s big man Nevio Bennefeld and a lay in by MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg guard Julis Baumer as suddenly Germany trailed only 10-8. But that didn´t faze the versatile and deep Serbian squad as they punched back with a 16-3 run to lead 26-11 after 10 minutes. In the run, Serbian was fortified by 5 different players in the points department as Aleksa Stanojevic, the son of ex Alba Berlin great Jovo Stanojevic showed his dunking qualities while defensive specialist Marko Tofoski showed he can attack scoring twice in the paint while Ognjen Srzentic made a steal and dunk and high energy guard Aleksandar Vojinovic (196-F-2006) dropped a trey for the damage. “We knew going in that we had to be focused. Sometimes a game can become difficult if you let the opponent play. We came in very concentrated and played like we were”, said Branislav Ratkovic. Serbia shot 52% from the field and 44% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 5 turnovers while Germany shot 33% from the field and 40% from outside and had 3 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Milos Sojic at the FT line

In the second quarter Serbia was able to heighten their game at both ends especially on defense as Germany almost went 7 minutes without scoring as they held them to only 5 points. Serbia continued to play with incredible on ball pressure and produced stop after stop while on offense they continued to execute at an efficient rate. Serbia stopped Germany 6 times and in this period got buckets from Srzentic, free throws from Milos Sojic, a massive dunk by Kostic and a offensive rebound and pretty hook shot by Aleksa Vlajic for the 34-11 advantage. Germany couldn´t hit the ocean including the non contested shots which was very bitter especially on a day where little was falling. Serbia was making good decisions in the set play. There could have been more damage, but Serbia was in a phase now where they weren´t executing as well. After 10 Serbian stops, Germany finally got on the score board in the second quarter with a trey from Ludwigsburg guard Julis Baumer at the 3,25 minute mark. But that instant spark by Germany didn´t faze Serbia as they ended the second quarter with a swift 12-3 run to lead 46-16 at the break. Stanojevic continued to be an offensive force as he scored on transition and also made a big dunk while Aleksa Dimitrijevic nailed a three pointer as did Drezgic. “We played our best defense of the game in that 7 minute span. Our aggressiveness and long arms were key. When we raise our arms, there isn´t much space. They did miss open shots, but when your constantly being pressured and using energy, even those shots are tough to make”, said Branislav Ratkovica. Serbia shot 52% from the field and 40% from the three point line and had 26 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Germany shot 23% from the field and 25% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

In the third quarter the dominating play of Serbia continued as their offense remained consistent and there was little change on defense they continued to play with high intensity not giving Germany anything easy. Both teams had problems executing in the first few minutes as both teams were stopped 4 times a pierce. Stzentic finally put Serbia on the board which was followed by a Tofosci lay in as Serbia led 53-16. Germany then finally got on the board for the first time in the third quarter as Ivan the universal genius Crnjac made a lay in. Germany then had some positive possessions as Bennefeld made a crushing dunk and lay in as Germany trailed only 57-22. Germany now was definatley more relaxed and got better looks and made better decisions. Serbia continued to score when they wanted to as Duric and Stanojevic scored, but Germany was aggressive as Ivan Crnjac who had been cold in the first half got to the free throw line twice and Scheffs made a beautiful finger tip roll in ala Tiny Archibald as Germany trailed 65-27. However Serbia simply had too many weapons and showed how anyone can go off at any time as Vojinovic got going in the last minutes scoring and getting to the free throw line twice as Serbia led 69-29 after 30 minutes. “We never let up. We continued to be tough mentally. I always push them to be consistent with no let ups”, added Branislav Ratkovica. Serbia shot 50% from the field and 31% from the parking lot and had 38 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Germany shot 25% from the field and 14% from the parking lot and had 22 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Andrej Kostic from outside

In the fourth quarter Serbia continued to march down the court as if they owned it as Germany seemed to be counting down the seconds until the fiasco was finally over. Serbia once again began with a lightening strike going on a 20-0 run to lead 89-29. In the run Serbia was led by the always aggressive Aleksandar Vojinovic as he had his most potent stretch of the game contributing 9 points. With most Germans already pooped, he just seemed to be like the Duracell energy bunny as he ran up and down the court as if it was only the third minute of the first quarter. As usual Serbia was aided by everyone as Sojic scored and Tofoski added a trey while the bench also came up big as Andrija Duric scored as did Stefan Pilsnic on transition. Germany was always a step slow or maybe 2 or 3 steps to slow and just were on 1-2 levels lower than Serbia with the intensity and physicality. It really looked like a game of men among boys. Young 15 year old raw talent Killian Duck of FC Bayern Munich finally got Germany´s first points of the fourth quarter with a lay in. Baumer added that with a dunk and Germany had had their first and only 4-0 run of the game to trail 89-33. But there would be no more German runs, but Serbia slammed the door shut on Germany for good with a 9-2 run to end the game. In the run Serbia was sparked by Stefan Pilsnic who looked anything like a boy with his shaved head producing 7 points as he scored from all areas from the near, mid and long distance. “We know that we have good players. We just want to be the best with what we have. We know that we are talented offensively, but if we also step it up on defense then we know that we can beat anyone”, warned Branislav Ratkovica. “Today everyone saw a game of men vs boys. My boys saw how intense the game is internationally. Now we have to get used to it. It was a great experience for them to see what they still have to do to get better”, warned Dirk Bauermann. Serbia was led by Aleksandar Vojinovic with 16 points. Savo Drezgic added 14 points while Aleksa Dimitrijevic had 12 points while Germany was led by Nevio Bennefeld with 8 points and Ivan Crnjac had 7 points. Serbia shot 53% from the field and 34% from outside and had 53 rebounds and 18 turnovers while Germany shot 23% from the field and 9% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 24 turnovers.