SC Rasta Vechta

Sports Club Rasta Vechta is a German basketball club based in Vechta, Lower Saxony. The club plays in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), following their promotion from the ProA in 2022–23.

Rasta Vechta
LeaguesBasketball Bundesliga
Founded26 June 1979 (1979-06-26)
HistorySC Rasta Vechta
1979–present
ArenaRasta Dome
Capacity3,140
LocationVechta, Germany
Team colorsOrange, Black
   
PresidentStefan Niemeyer
Head coachvacant
2020–21 positionBasketball Bundesliga, 18th of 18
Championships3 ProA
Websiterasta-vechta.de

Founded in 1979, the club has spent the majority of its history in the lower-tier German leagues. In 2012, the team was promoted to the second-tier ProA and ever since has been balancing between relegation from the BBL and promotion from ProA.

History

Foundation

The club was founded on 26 June 1979 as the basketball team of the Antonianum Gymnasium, with former students playing in the team. The name of the club, "Rasta", is a tribute to reggae music because Bob Marley's Rastaman Vibration was playing when the name was decided.[1]

Recent years

In the 2012–13 season, Vechta won the German second-tier ProA after beating Gloria Giants Düsseldorf in the finals. This season, they entered their new home arena, the Rasta Dome. After winning the ProA in its first season in the new arena, Vechta was promoted to the first-tier Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). In 2013, the arena, which had an original capacity of 2,000 spectators, was expanded to accommodate 3,140 fans in order to meet minimum size requirements for the Basketball Bundesliga.[2] However, the team finished last in the 2013–14 season and were immediately relegated back to the ProA. In the 2015–16 season, Rasta once again promoted to the Bundesliga.[3] Just like the previous BBL adventure, the team would relegate again in its first season back.

National playoffs and European debut (2018–2020)

In April 2018, Vechta promoted to the BBL for the third time, after defeating PS Karlsruhe Lions in the ProA semi-finals, 3–1.[4] In the 2018–19 Basketball Bundesliga, Vechta had an incredible season under Spanish head coach Pedro Calles. Vechta claimed the fourth place in the regular season to advance to the BBL playoffs for the first time in club history. In the playoffs, it eliminated Brose Bamberg with a 3–1 score. In the semi-finals, Vechta was swept by title favorites Bayern Munich.[5]

In the 2019–20 season, Rasta made its debut in Europe as it qualified for a spot in the Basketball Champions League (BCL). In Group B, the German team finished in the 5th place.

Rasta Vechta won their third ProA titlte in 2022-23, tying the record hold by Mitteldeutscher BC for most championships.

Honours

Players

Current roster
Rasta Vechta roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
F 6 Van Slooten, Luc 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 22 – (2002-04-17)17 April 2002
G 15 Schwieger, Ryan 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 25 – (1999-05-18)18 May 1999
SF Onyejiaka, Justin 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 20 – (2004-06-06)6 June 2004
Head coach
  • Hendrik Gruhn
Assistant coach(es)
  • Harm-Ubbo Horst
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: June 15, 2024

Notable players

Season by season
Champions Runners-up Playoff berth Promoted Relegated
Season Tier League Finish Wins Losses Win% Playoffs BBL-Pokal European competitions Head coach
Rasta Vechta
2012–13 II ProA 1st 31 9 .775 Won quarterfinals (Ehingen Urspring), 3–0
Won semi-finals (BG Karlsruhe), 3–2
Won finals (Düsseldorf Giants), 2–0		 – –
2013–14 I BBL 18th 6 28 .176
2014–15 II ProA 10th 12 18 .400 – – –
2015–16 II ProA 2nd 34 4 .895 Won quarterfinals (Nürnberger BC), 3–0
Won semi-finals (Oettinger Rockets), 3–0
Lost finals (Jena)		 – –
2016–17 I BBL 17th 3 30 .091 – – –
2017–18 II ProA 1st 34 5 .872 Won quarterfinals (Phoenix Hagen), 3–0
Won semi-finals (Karlsruhe), 3–0
Won finals (Crailsheim)		 – –
2018–19 I BBL 4th 27 14 .659 Won quarterfinals (Brose Bamberg), 3–1
Lost semi-finals (Bayern), 0–3		 – – Pedro Calles
2019–20 I BBL 9th 12 9 .571 – Round of 16 3 Champions LeagueRegular Season Pedro Calles
2020–21 I BBL 18th 7 27 .206 – Group stage – Thomas Päch
2021–22 II ProA 12th 16 16 .500 – – – Vladimir Lučić
2022–23 II ProA 1st 27 7 .794 Won quarterfinals (Phoenix Hagen), 3–0
Won semi-finals (Gießen 46ers), 3–1
Won finals (Tübingen)		 – – Vladimir Lučić
Ty Harrelson
2023–24 I BBL 6th 21 13 .618 Lost quarter-finals (Chemnitz), 1–3 Quarterfinals – Ty Harrelson

    European record
    Season Achievement Record Notes
    Basketball Champions League
    2019–20 Regular Season 6–8 5th place in Group B with Włocławek, Antwerp Giants, Hapoel Jerusalem, Élan Béarnais, Burgos, AEK and Bandırma

    Head coaches
    Period Name Honours
    2000–2001 Matthias Weber
    2001–2003 Thorsten Doeding
    2003–2004 Michael Canisius
    2004–2005 Kai Deitermann
    2005–2009 Geschilderde Scheper
    2009–2014 Pat Elzie
    2014–2015 Stephen Arigbabu
    2015 Pat Elzie
    2015–2017 Andreas Wagner
    2017–2018 Douglas Spradley
    2018–2020 Pedro CallesBBL semifinalist (2019)
    2020–2021 Thomas Päch
    2021–2022 Vladimir Lučić
    2022–2024 Ty Harrelson

    References
    1. "Reggae, Kult und Basketball: RASTA Vechta überrascht alle". fr.de. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
    2. "RASTA-DOME wird bereits nach einem Jahr erweitert". SC Rasta Vechta. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
    3. Rasta Vechta macht Bundesliga-Aufstieg perfekt
    4. "Basketball Bundesliga: Rasta Vechta macht Aufstieg perfekt!".
    5. "Sweet Sweep! München steht nach 95:80 gegen Vechta im Finale / 38 Zähler von T.J. Bray zu wenig". easycredit-bbl.de. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
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