ALBA Berlin edge Bruchsal in two-point thriller for U16 girls title

ALBA Berlin captured the German U16 girls championship in the narrowest of fashions, edging TSG Bruchsal 48-46 in a tense, low-scoring final to claim the title at the season-ending Final Tournament.
The decider was a defensive battle decided by a single possession, with ALBA holding on for a two-point victory over a Bruchsal side that had topped Group A. ALBA had cruised through the group stage in Group B, beating TG 48 Wurzburg 81-44, WINGS Leverkusen 83-44, and MTV Stuttgart 74-66 to reach the final as clear favorites but Bruchsal pushed them to the wire in the title game.
"That was a great event, superbly organized, with many close, exciting, hard-fought games," said Heiko Czach, the national youth coach for the women's program. "Despite the warm summer weather, the girls gave everything and showed strong performances."
In the third-place game, TS Jahn Munchen beat MTV Stuttgart 70-66. BASS Berlin claimed fifth with a 53-44 win over TG 48 Wurzburg, while VfL AstroStars Bochum took seventh, edging WINGS Leverkusen 61-57.