Pic credit: Fiba

It was the biggest game in the lives of German top players Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach as they were battling team USA for the U-19 World Cup Gold. It hadn´t even been 2 years since Germany won the 2023 Gold at the World Cup over USA. Could Germany pull a similar upset like Dennis Schroeder and Franz Wagner did then? Team Germany gave all they had in the first half to stay close to team USA, but on this summer night in Lausanne, they had to settle for a Silver which was an incredible accomplishment. Last summer Germany won the Euro U-18 Gold and now winning the silver shows just how well the German youth is still continuing to develop. “It’s a massive achievement—especially coming off last year’s European Championship win. To follow that up with a silver medal on the global stage shows real consistency and growth in the program. This run gave the players exposure to elite international competition, and they showed they can compete with anybody. Silver might not be the ultimate prize, but after winning Europe and now finishing runner-up to the USA, this marks another major milestone in the rise of German basketball”, warned ratiopharm Ulm U-19 youth coach Florian Flabb. Team Germany played well with Team USA for a quarter, but after that team USA´s deadly athleticism and transition game did them in. “Germany came out strong, responding to a 4-0 deficit with a 13-3 run, led by Christian Anderson’s early scoring and control in the halfcourt. They attacked mismatches, executed well in pick-and-roll, and slowed the tempo to keep the USA out of transition. But once the USA settled in, their defensive pressure, athleticism, and depth completely shifted the game. They began switching screens, speeding up possessions, and forcing turnovers that led to easy transition points. Koa Peat dominated the paint, AJ Dybantsa (206-G/F-2007) consistently broke down defenders off the dribble, and the USA bench added scoring depth Germany couldn’t match. By the second quarter, the USA had taken control. Germany struggled to generate clean looks, and their offense stagnated under increased ball pressure. Over 40 minutes, the USA’s physicality and relentless pace wore Germany down”, stated Florian Flabb.

Team USA jumped out quickly leading 4-0 with Koa Peat and AJ Dybantsa buckets in the paint something that would plague team Germany all evening long. However it didn´t take Team Germany long to show that magical explosive scoring that they have shown all week long as they went on a 13-3 run to lead 13-7. In Germany´s massive run, it was as usual Christian Anderson who supplied the lethal punch as he scored 7 points while Hannes Steinbach, Declan Duru and Jack Kayil also scored. It was apparent just how focused Anderson was. He was playing his biggest game in his life and holding more than his own against potential 2026 #1 NBA draft picks Dybantsa, Brown and Peat. “His motivation looked very high—not just because he was facing three projected 2026 NBA first-rounders in Peat, Brown, and Dybantsa, but because a gold medal was on the line. The stage, the stakes, and the competition clearly brought out his best”, said Florian Flabb. But Team USA then bounced back and did it with their second unit taking a page out of team Germany´s book. Tyran Stokes added 6 points and Caleb Holt 4 points while pass first point guard JJ Mandaquit scored and giant Daniel Jacobsen also showed he owned the paint area. Team USA totally hurt team Germany with their quick passing and driving to lead 24-23 after one quarter. “Germany controlled much of the early first quarter through sharp halfcourt execution and disciplined tempo management. After falling behind, they went on a impressive 13-3 run by using early pick-and-rolls with spacing, and minimizing early turnovers. Defensively, they clogged the paint and forced the USA into contested jumpers, slowing down transition opportunities. Tactically, Germany’s early success came from controlling pace and forcing the USA into a halfcourt game, where their defensive structure held up well. However, in the final minutes of the quarter, the USA adjusted by increasing on-ball pressure, switching more defensively, and pushing the tempo off misses and turnovers. This shift disrupted Germany’s rhythm, leading to a few quick scores that swung the momentum”, commented Florian Flabb.

In the second quarter team USA took control of the game for good and never looked back again leading 56-47 at the break. Team USA came out with a swift 9-3 run to lead 33-26. Team USA played their game attacking the paint and running on transition as AJ Dybantsa and Jordan Smith Jr led the attack. Team USA remained very aggressive always getting to the free throw line. They continued to use their bench well as Morez Johnson Jr and Jasper Johnson combined for 6 points. Christian Anderson did all he could against an aggressive defense that was guarding him heavily. Anderson added 5 points to keep Germany in the game.” Germany struggled in three key areas. First, transition defense broke down—USA pushed the pace, and Germany couldn’t recover fast enough, leading to easy layups. Second, they lost control at the one vs one matchups. Once USA guards beat their man, help rotations were late. Finally, ball screen coverage was inconsistent—USA punished indecision with efficient looks around the rim. It was a tough stretch that turned the momentum”, said Florian Flabb.

The turning point of the final happened in the third quarter as team USA kept up their great offensive execution producing 28 points, but the big difference to the second quarter was that Team Germany wasn´t able to trade baskets as well and only scored 10 points as they were staring at a 84-57 deficit after 30 minutes. A big mistake by team Germany was that they didn´t come out of the break stronger. Once again they allowed a rapid run by Team USA that they couldn´t recover from. Team USA went on a 10-3 run to totally change the dimension of the game as they led 66-50 as they showed that they can also use the three as Brown Jr and Jordan Smith Jr connected. This swift run was like a new dagger into the hearts of team Germany that stifled their mentality. “It definitely hurt. Coming out of halftime, down nine, Germany needed urgency and cohesion—but their offense came out flat. There was little movement, ball circulation slowed, and USA immediately took advantage with a 10-3 run that pushed the lead into double digits. Mentally, that kind of start is tough to absorb, especially in a final. The third quarter has been a consistent weak spot for Germany throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, Team USA exploited that trend perfectly—upping the pressure, converting turnovers, and killing any chance for Germany to regain rhythm”, added Florian Flabb. Team USA noticed right away that team Germany was reeling and they didn´t let up, but just continued to be the aggressor and built their lead so high that team Germany couldn´t find an answer. They closed out the third quarter with an overwhelming 18-7 run. They didn´t just have a few guys that took over, but it was a whole team effort as the bench stepped up again. Stokes and Jacobsen showed what it means to score in bunches. “The third quarter was the decisive stretch. USA came out firing, hitting shots from multiple levels and pushing the pace. Their ball movement was sharp, and they capitalized on every defensive lapse. On the other end, Germany’s offense became too static—little off-ball movement, slow decision-making, and too much reliance on isolation or late-clock actions. This allowed the USA to impose their tempo fully. They turned stops into fast breaks. The energy shifted completely, and by the end of the period, the game had slipped out of reach. Tactically, it was the quarter where USA’s pressure, depth, and offensive rhythm overwhelmed Germany’s stagnation and fatigue. The game was over by the fourth quarter as all the damage had been done by team USA”, expressed Florian Flabb. Germany did give all they could scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter, but it was far than enough as team USA never let up, but closed out the game in style adding 24 points and winning the game fair and square. Team USA had 6 guys score in double figures as Morez Johnson Jr led the charge with 15 points. Mikel Brown Jr added 12 points and AJ Dybantsa had 11 points while team Germany was led by Hannes Steinbach with 19 points while Christian Anderson had another great game of 18/5/9/4 game and Eric Reibe had 18 points. Team USA shot 56% from the field and 33% from outside and had 50 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Team Germany shot 41% from the field and 28% from outside and 31 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Pic Credit: Fiba

Is there any team that can stop team Germany? So far no one can as they just keep being triumphant 6-0 and beat Slovenia for a second time in this tournament 84-72 to reach the World Cup final under the watchful eyes of German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki. The big difference to the second game against Slovenia was that this time, team Germany controlled the game from the first minute instead of having to come from behind to win like in the first game. Germany will face team USA in the final who easily knocked off New Zealand 120-64. Germany once again showed their excellent team play led by their 2 top guards Christian Anderson (188-G-2006) and Jack Kayil and under the boards the potent duo of Hannes Steinbach and Eric Reibe controlled everything. Once again team Germany also totally crushed their opponent on the boards. “Germany delivered a very mature and composed 40-minute performance. From an outsider’s perspective, what really stood out was their ability to control the tempo and adapt to the game’s momentum swings. They were strong on both ends of the floor—especially in the second quarter, where they built a double-digit lead through defensive pressure and smart execution in transition. Their rebounding, led by Hannes Steinbach, created second-chance opportunities and prevented Slovenia from gaining rhythm. Christian Anderson brought that offensive spark, showing great poise, while Eric Reibe´s and Jack Kayil’s clutch shooting down the stretch helped maintain control. Even when Slovenia pushed back in the third quarter, Germany didn’t lose their composure. That mental toughness, combined with depth and discipline, allowed them to close the game confidently. Overall, it was a well-rounded and professional effort”, stated Orange Academy head coach Florian Flabb.

In the first quarter team Germany wasn´t able to have a huge start like in previous games, but they still had the tight 19-17 lead after 10 minutes. It was a quarter of both teams having small runs. Team Germany was able to get away a bit leading 18-11 as Christian Anderson of Texas Teach (NCAA) as usual hurt team Slovenia with his lethal drive scoring 3 buckets in the paint. Ex Rasta vechta guard Jack Kayil also found his range dropping a trey.” Christian Anderson was absolutely central to Germany’s offensive success — not just in carrying the scoring load, but in orchestrating the tempo and spacing of their attack. While Germany established their inside game early through Hannes Steinbach, it was Anderson who elevated the offense. Importantly, he carried momentum from yesterday’s game against Australia, where he had a very strong start. That early confidence translated immediately today — he looked sharp from the first possession, aggressive off the dribble, and comfortable reading Slovenia’s pick-and-roll coverages. Tactically, he exploited Slovenia’s help schemes by using high ball screens to create separation, often drawing two defenders and making the right reads. His ability to attack gaps, and draw contact forced Slovenia to collapse defensively — which opened clean looks for shooters and created driving lanes. What makes him so valuable isn’t just his 27 points — it’s the fact that he makes the defense move. When Germany needed baskets during Slovenia’s third-quarter push, it was Anderson who settled the offense, slowed the game down, and got quality looks”, stated Florian Flabb. Team Slovenia didn´t hang their heads, but fought back in the last few minutes making good use of their bread and butter the three pointer and connecting twice as Mark Padjen and Urban Kroflic scored.

In the second quarter team Germany was able to heighten their game as they produced 26 points and had the comfortable 45-31 advantage at the break. After a few minutes of back and forth battle, team Germany absolutely exploded on a 23-9 run. Christian Anderson just took over in total brutal fashion scoring 12 of the 23 points. He has been a dog the whole tournament, but his game keeps growing with every new win. It seems like he is playing with a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove. “I don’t know Christian Anderson personally that well, but it definitely looks like he’s playing with something to prove. He didn’t win MVP when Germany won the European Championship last year, and maybe that’s part of what’s fueling him now. In that 23–9 run, he completely took over — 12 points, confident decisions, and real command of the offense”, said Florian Flabb. But it wasn´t only Anderson in the attack that sparkled, but as usual Hannes Steinbach contributed in his usual self adding 5 points while Eric Reibe and Keenan Garner also scored. “The turning point in that second quarter wasn’t just Germany’s offensive rhythm — it was the defensive shift they made that completely disrupted Slovenia’s flow. The most noticeable tactical adjustment was that Germany began switching more aggressively on ball screens, particularly on the perimeter. In the first quarter, Slovenia found ways to attack Germany’s show coverage by getting downhill off picks and forcing rotations. But once Germany started switching, it took away the driving lanes and neutralized Slovenia’s advantage in pick-and-roll creation. This forced Slovenia into more isolation-based looks, which played right into Germany’s hands. The switching also helped contain dribble penetration without over-helping, which kept their defensive spacing intact and allowed the weak side to stay home on shooters. Combined with more physical rebounding Germany turned stops into immediate offense. Their transition game kicked into gear off those defensive wins, fueling that 26-point second quarter”, commented Florian Flabb.

In the third quarter team Slovenia found back into the game as they trailed only 57-49 after 30 minutes. Team Slovenia attacked the inside better and got to the free throw line better. Kroflic and Bine made easy lay in´s, but they also got a key three from Zak Smrekar and free throws from Leon Zdravkovic. It was a quarter to forget for Christian Anderson who couldn´t hit shots and had 4 of his total 8 turnovers in the game. “In the third quarter, Germany lost a bit of their defensive sharpness — especially in terms of physicality in the paint. Slovenia made a clear adjustment by attacking the rim more directly, and Germany didn’t respond with the same level of interior resistance they showed in the first half.They were a step late rotating over, and the switches that worked so well earlier became less effective when Slovenia started slipping screens and cutting harder off the ball. Germany also didn’t protect the weak side as well — Slovenia capitalized with a few easy finishes around the rim and open threes. Offensively, Germany also got a bit stagnant, which allowed Slovenia to control the tempo and build some momentum”, expressed Florian Flabb.

Even if Zak Smreker began the fourth quarter hitting free throws to cut Germany´s lead down to 57-51, one never ever had the feeling that Germany would lose this game. Germany responded smacking team Slovenia with a crucial 8-0 run as Anderson made free throws and Reibe connected on consecutive three´s giving team Germany the 65-51 lead. Those three´s were like a dagger into the hearts of Slovenia. “Absolutely — those back-to-back threes from Eric Reibe were a real dagger. Slovenia had just cut the lead to six and had momentum on their side for the first time since the first quarter. Germany looked a little unsettled — and then Reibe stepped up and buried two huge shots. Tactically, it was a perfect response: spacing the floor, trusting the trail big in pick-and-pop action, and punishing Slovenia for collapsing into the paint. Reibe’s timing was huge — not just in terms of scoring, but in completely flipping the psychological flow of the game. From that moment on, Germany never looked threatened again”, expressed Florian Flabb. Team Germany had the momentum on their side again and now just played their game and found good offensive execution again. Steinbach and Declan Duru scored and Jack Kayil was clutch with 5 points as team Germany led 78-65 with 3,36 to play. As so often in this tournament, team Germany always had an answer. “That’s what makes this Germany team so hard to beat — they always seem to have an answer. Whether it’s Anderson breaking down the defense, Reibe stretching the floor in that game, or Kayil stepping up as a scorer, they don’t rely on just one option”, warned Florian Flabb. Team Germany closed out the game well as they got to the free throw line as Duru, Garner, Steinbach and Anderson made their free throws. Christian Anderson led team Germany with 27 points while Hannes Steinbach had a 14/16 game. Eric Reibe had another super game with 14 points and 5 rebounds while team Slovenia was led by Mark Padjen with 23 points. Team Germany shot 54% from the field and 36% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 22 turnovers while team Slovenia shot 35% from the field and 36% from outside and had 23 rebounds and 12 turnovers. Team Germany now face team USA: This game is the next big game in the history of German basketball since the 2023 World Cup final which team Germany won over team USA: The question is can Germany beat team USA at the youth level? “Against a high-powered team like the USA or New Zealand, the key for Germany will be controlling the tempo, protecting the paint, and staying disciplined defensively. Both potential opponents are very athletic and thrive in transition — so Germany can’t afford careless turnovers or rushed possessions. Rebounding will be absolutely critical. Germany has relied on Hannes Steinbach’s dominance on the glass all tournament, but in the final, it’ll take a full team effort to limit second chances and win the physical battles inside. Offensively, they’ll need to stay balanced and unpredictable. Christian Anderson will likely face more athletic perimeter defenders, so Germany’s ball movement and contributions from Kayil, Steinbach, Reibe and the supporting cast become even more important”, warned Florian Flabb.

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