John Murry (192-G-95, college: Austin Peay) is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Indianapolis, Indiana that is playing his third professional season in Germany with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga). Before that he had experience with the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. He played two years at Owens Community College playing 63 games and two years at Austin Peay State University (NCAA) playing 56 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 16.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 81.1%. He and Miles Schmidt-Scheuber talk weekly about basketball.

How positive was the mentality going into the game against losing team BG Dorsten? You must have had some confidence going in without being to cocky?

Yes we are just learning so much about ourselves as a team, we beat ourselves sometimes so the key is just staying focused for 40 min with us.

Talk a little about the first 4 quarters. What didn’t allow you to get this win in regular time? Perhaps not being able to slow down Brevard and Cica who combined for 60 points?

Like I said previously, Just mentally staying focused for 40 min and grinding out a win. It’s in us to do that we just have to prepare our minds to stay locked in for the whole 40.

Grevenbroich was able to force overtime. What was key in the last 5 minutes that allowed BG Dorsten to get the win?

One of their players made 8 3’s and that took the momentum going into overtime. Just making sure we stay committed to shooters and not let them get their feet set.

Guarding the three point line and turnovers were the main problems once again. Have you ever been hit by 18 three’s by a team?

Never in my life but we are working to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

Talk about the vital energy that Thabiso Mkwanazi gave with 12 points in 14 minutes. Is this kid still raw?

Yes but Thabiso has so much potential to be a good player in this league, with growth and experience he can be a strong offense tool.

You had a massive game with 35/8/4/5/4. Do you ever remember combining for 9 steals and blocks in a game in your career?

This is probably the first time since high school I’ve had a combination of 9 blocks and steals.
I’ve been studying myself on the defensive end trying to get better and better each opportunity I get.

If you would have connected better on the three you could have had 50 points. How disappointing was your 2/13 shooting?

I just kept saying the next one is going in, especially shooting shots I normally make but I got back in the gym and fixed it for the next game.

You have one on one talks with the other guys? What are you doing to combat this losing streak?

Yes, and most of the guys are young so mentally you can’t do too much but just trying to be positive and let them know certain situations and timing during the game so they can understand the game better.

Congrats on the first win over BG Hagen. How good does it feel finally getting the money off your back?

Felt great, the guys were happy to get this first one so we are looking forward to building on top of this win and hope to create a lot more.

Maybe you should keep playing games within 48 hours. What was key in getting the win?

That would be something mentally everybody would have to key in on, but we just took our time and took care of the ball, making our free throws down the stretch and just being solid on defense.

The team also coughed up the ball only 11 times. You had always stressed the last weeks that you would make this change and it did. What did you guys do better this time?

We just buckled down on offense, took our time and got what we wanted instead of forcing a play that’s not there and it leading to a TO and 2 points on the other end. We are growing in this area very rapidly

Veteran Bastian Becker had 23 points. How vital was his play and he finally showed what he could do every night.

Basti is our X factor, and played an amazing game for us last game. We will have to find him a lot more in catch and shoot situations so he is effective in the games to come. Super proud of the Veteran.

Next you have another must win against the 3-4 Miners from Essen. What will be key in getting the win?

Just locking in on defense, making sure we box out and play smart.
Giving the extra effort on defense will take us farther then we can Imagine.

Thanks John for the chat.