Basketball life doesn´t get any easier with every new loss as the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winner Fraport Skyliners began the season off on the wrong foot and entered the Telekom Dome in Bonn with a poor 0-3 record while the Telekom Baskets Bonn had  a very respectable 2-1 record. A big problem for Frankfurt has been at the point guard position and as a team that allows 91 points per game had their hands full with the leagues top scorer point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright. But then again does one really have a serious point guard problem when Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson is averaging 11,0apg. It is no secret that Tez has always enjoyed being a type of playmaker, but as a playmaker, some of his other duties get lost. The Fraport Skyliners desperately needed a win and a solution to the point guard position, but once again trailed for most of the game and never found a way to get over the hump losing 86-76 to the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Bonn did a superb job of controlling the game and not allowing Frankfurt to do big damage on their runs. After the big win top Bonn point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright reflected on the team´s third win of the season. “We locked in on our principles. We didn´t do that the last game. We knew that we had to be solid against Frankfurt who have guards that can give you trouble. We didn´t play exceptionally well, but were resilient. We didn´t play so well in the second half as Frankfurt did a few different things on defense to get us out of our rhythm. We played hard in the second half and our effort helped us when we had break downs”, stressed ex Arizona(NCAA) guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright. This was a must win for Frankfurt as they now have some real tough games coming up in the next weeks. Playing catch up ball is a matter that you don´t want to do for the most part of a game. “We didn´t start off very well. We played them even for most of the game, but when your always trailing against a team like Bonn, then it´s really tough to come back”, stressed ex wiha Panther Rasheed Moore as Frankfurt fell to 0-4. .

                In the first few minutes of the first quarter, there were four lead changes as both teams found their offense rhythm quickly. Frankfurt got some buckets from rookie Matt Haarms who continues to shine with his quick floater, a Brancou Badio pull up jumper and a trey from Rasheed Moore, while Bonn countered with two three´s with ex Crailsheim forward Jeremy Morgan, as Frankfurt had the slim 7-6 advantage. The Telekom Baskets Bonn then cruised out on a 10-2 run to take the commanding 16-9 lead. In the run Bonn really spread the ball around nicely as ex Bamberg guard Karsten Tadda connected on a trey, Jackson-Cartwright made a sweet floater, ex Fraport Skyliners Michael Kessens executed a left handed lay in and Morgan nailed another three pointer. Bonn did a good job upping their intensity and just let it rain three´s. Jackson-Cartwright demonstrated nicely his supreme knowledge of knowing exactly when to finish and when to be the facilitator as he ran the ship greatly. Fraport Skyliner guard Donovan Donaldson has showed his ability to score in other countries, but so far this season hasn´t been that aggressive. His aggressiveness was down at the start, but near the end he contributed 5 key points to cut the Bonn lead to 22-16. Bonn got a vital basket from ex Wurzburg player Tyson Ward and Jackson-Cartwright made a difficult off balance shot where he was aided by his quickness and non stop moves. Despite being down, the Fraport Skyliners were shooting over 60% from the field and from outside, but had 6 turnovers.

                In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners made a surge going on a 11-3 run to retain the lead at 27-25. The run was began by ex NCAA 2 player Donovan Donaldson who seemed  a lot more confident as he was finally shooting more and hitting a trey. Frankfurt also got production from 2017 JBBL finalist Len Schoormann with a lay in from the wing, a Matt Harms floater and a three from Badio. Bonn lost a bit of intensity as Frankfurt continued to gather more self-confidence and also finished their sets a lot quicker and just showed that commanding aggressiveness. But the Telekom Baskets Bonn are a high energy offensive team and once again found to their game going on a 21-10 run to go into the break with the comfortable 46-37 lead. Jackson-Cartwright gave Bonn the lead back 28-27 with a beautiful cross over and three pointer showing his sheer calmness and just letting the game come to him.  In the next play the American scored in transition for the Bonn 30-27 advantage. He finished with 18 points and 9 assists. “He is really quick and so far has blown by everyone he has played. He is so tough to stop on ball screens. There isn´t much you can do. You just have to try to stop him as good as possible”, stressed Rasheed Moore.  Badio who has only been with Frankfurt a few weeks and been up and down connected on a trey to dead lock the contest at 30-30. Bonn then banged the ball inside 4 times and were efficient getting 3 hard earned buckets from NCAA Final 4 player with Houston Justin Gorham and one basket from Kessens for the 38-32 lead. Down the stretch Frankfurt got some vital baskets from Moore and Haarms, but Bonn didn´t let up on offense showing consistency and versatility as Skyler Bowlin and Jackson-Cartwright hit three´s for the 46-37 advantage at half-time. The Fraport Skyliners were still shooting at a high percentage, while Bonn had 8 offensive  rebounds and had 3 turnovers as Frankfurt had 10.“Basketball is a game of runs. Quantez Robertson has a a lot of experience and been in  a lot of battles. Frankfurt was riding his toughness. Credit to us for withstanding it. We have a lot of fight and don´t get rattled”, stressed Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

                In the third quarter the Telekom Baskets Bonn continued to play their game and led by as much as 14 points as Frankfurt continued to play catch up basketball. Robertson and Morgan traded three pointers and Haarms made a lay in as Frankfurt trailed only 49-42. Bonn then went on a rapid 7-0 run to take the 56-42 lead. Bonn received good support from Gorham who hit a turn around shot, Morgan drilled home another trey and Kessens executed the pick and roll with Jackson-Cartwright. Seeing the Bonn offense operate was a picture of beauty. Three guys that really stood out and harmonized so well were Jackson-Cartwright, Morgan and Gorman. “Those two are high level players. Justin played at the NCAA Final 4 and shows an array of abilities. He can score, pass and crash the boards. When he is on he takes our game to a new level. Jeremy just knows how to play. He knows spacing and never forces anything. And he is a dangerous shooter”, stated Parker Jackson-Cartwright.  Frankfurt´s offense looked static at times while the Bonn high intensity offense just moved the ball around so nicely. Ex Wurzburg guard Skyler Bowlin hit a pair of three´s for the 62-49 lead. Even when Frankfurt cut the lead down under double figures, Bonn always had an answer. Kessens and Morgan hit buckets as the Telekom Baskets Bonn had the 67-57 advantage. “Bonn did a good job keeping the lead. They are a good team and there is a reason why they beat Alba Berlin. They played together and for each other”, stated Rasheed Moore. Both teams shot over 40% from the field and from down town, but Alba Berlin had the 11-5 offensive rebound edge.

                In the fourth quarter the Telekom Baskets Bonn began well with a 7-2 run as they got baskets from Kessens, Morgan and Gorham for the 74-59 lead. But the Fraport Skyliners made one more push going on a 7-0 run to clip the Bonn lead down to 74-66. In the run they received free throws form Len Schoorman, a trey from Badio and a runner from Donaldson. Then came a phase where both teams couldn´t execute on three possessions as this was a time where Frankfurt could of made some ground with better execution. The Telekom Baskets Bonn then got back to back baskets from Lithuanian 30 year old Saulius Kulvietis giving Bonn the 79-66 lead leaving the Fraport Skyliners shaken and still having that peak in sight, but really so far away to reach it and time was winding down. Frankfurt got some baskets from Robertson and Haarms, but Bonn always had an answer getting buckets from Jackson-Cartwright who always showed his electric speed scoring twice in the paint. The leading scorer of the BBL finished with 18 points and 9 assists and had an explanation for his personal success. “I´m not surprised with my success. I put in the work and know where I can be good. I´m never out of character. The team trusts my abilities. I´m playing off the confidence of my coaches and just try to get my teammates and myself involved. I always play with a chip on my shoulder. I may be the smallest, but I feel I have advantages on offense and defense”, warned Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Shortly before the buzzer sounded Fraport Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson landed on Jackson-Cartwright´s foot. He twisted his ankle and had to be helped on to the bus by Rasheed Moore. Skyler Bowlin closed out the game with free throws. “Frankfurt switched up things on defense and we got stagnant on offense which stopped our flow. I have to adjust when that happens. We then got aggressive again and did our main principle on offense which is attacking”, added Parker Jackson-Cartwright. “I thought that we took good care of the ball. We have a lot of young guards. I think we took a step in right direction. We have to learn to play a lot stronger”, stated Rasheed Moore. The Telekom Baskets Bonn was led by Jeremy Morgan with 22 points while Parker Jackson-Cartwright added 18 points. Skyler Bowlin had 12 points and Justin Gorham 11 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Rasheed Moore with 16 points while Quantez Robertson added 14 points. The Telekom Baskets Bonn shot 45% from the field and 36% form outside and had 34 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 35% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 19 turnovers.