Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart secured a home victory against UBSC Graz with a score of 69:57, reclaiming the top position in the standings. Despite a slow start, the Gunners showcased strong defense and effective scoring, particularly in the second half. Key contributors included Robert Allen with 16 points and Edi Patekar with 12. Post-game, fans enjoyed an autograph session, and the team looks forward to upcoming matches against the Lions and Swans Gmunden.
Unger Steel Gunners Celebrate Home Victory
Following their away triumph, the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart secured an impressive win at home against UBSC Graz, delighting fans with an autograph session post-game.
A Thrilling Match at the Gunners Dome
On Friday, the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart triumphed with a solid score of 53:84 against UBSC Graz. Their next encounter with the Graz team took place on Sunday in the Gunners Dome, although Caleb Fields was absent once again. The match began with a slow pace, as it took nearly two minutes for Graz to score the first basket. However, Siegfried ‘Ziggy’ Reid quickly responded with a three-pointer. The opening ten minutes were marked by a lack of scoring, resulting in a slim lead of 12:8 for Oberwart.
The second quarter saw a turning point, as Jeremy Smith and his teammates took the lead for the first time. The Gunners managed to turn the game around, extending their advantage to twelve points (30:18). Yet, Graz fought back, reducing the gap to just four points before the quarter ended. With a jump shot from Elias Podany, the score narrowed to 32:29 just three seconds before halftime, leading to a far more productive second quarter compared to the first.
As the third quarter began, the Graz team took an early lead, establishing a five-point advantage (32:37). The Gunners responded from the free-throw line, and a three-pointer from Reid brought the teams level. Robert Allen and Jonathan Knessl then pushed the Gunners ahead, with Edi Patekar hitting another three-pointer to extend the lead to double digits (50:39). After 30 minutes of play, the score stood at 52:39 in favor of the Gunners.
Head Coach Matthew Otten praised the team’s defensive performance, stating, “It was a hard-fought defensive game. Keeping a team to 57 points is always a good performance. Offensively, we were good in the game despite a poor shooting percentage in the first half. The difference in this game was the defense. We saw that we can rely on our defense when our offense is not running well. I really liked that.”
The final quarter brought renewed excitement as both teams matched each other’s intensity. Oberwart initially increased their lead to 58:42 before UBSC capitalized on a brief phase of weakness. However, this was short-lived, as spectacular points from Patekar and Allen kept the guests at bay. The Gunners’ captain sealed the game with two free throws, ending the match at 69:55, while Nicholas Lynch added a late basket to finalize the score at 69:57. This victory allowed the Gunners to reclaim the top position in the standings, with player Magdy Abou-Ahmed commenting, “It was a very physical game. We tried to implement the game plan for over 40 minutes.”
Scorers for the Gunners: Allen 16, Patekar 12, Knessl 12, Reid 11, Diggs 8, Käferle 4, Abou-Ahmed 2, F. Köppel 2, D. Köppel 2.
Scorers for Graz: Johnson 18, Lynch 15, Smith 13, Grace 5, Patty 4, Podany 2.
After the match, fans enjoyed an autograph session with the players, and the friendly Gunners mascot, Gunnar, made an appearance. Looking ahead, the Gunners will face the Lions at home on Friday at 7 PM, followed by a game against the Swans Gmunden on Sunday at 5:30 PM.
Stay tuned for more updates on sports events in the Oberwart district!