In what better situation could a Pro B finalist be in then what the EPG Baskets Koblenz found themselves on June third? They had won the first game in Vechta by 20 points and now were at home for the final game? Vechta would have to win by at least 21 points and they were in the packed CGM arena in Koblenz that was full with dream Green fans. Unfortunate for Vechta was that in the absolute most vital game of the season, they were a pooped club who simply had had too many guys playing NBBL and Pro A during the season. It was a mild Saturday night in Koblenz were the troops of head coach Pat Elzie were ready to conquer the Pro B title. They had worked very hard for 9 months and now finally the moment was there where they could celebrate it with their own die-hard fans. Vechta came in with pressure having to perform while the EPG Baskets Koblenz could do a lot except panic and instead played the basketball everyone expected of them dominating from the get go and winning in usual EPG Baskets fashion with 81-60. Once again the EPG Baskets Koblenz had some down phases during the game, but overall defended with passion and aggressively never allowing their opponent to get a groove. It would also be Brian Butler (196-PF-1991)’s last game as he will be playing elsewhere next year. It was a great farewell with the Pro B title. ‘This wasn’t a cake walk, but a lot of hard work tonight. We showed why we should be the champion with how we played. I’m very proud of my team and we showed this season how far we can go with hard work’, warned ex easyCredit BBL allstar dunk champion Brian Butler. For Rasta Vechta 2, it was a game where they came in as the major underdog, but they gave all they had. ‘I have to give credit to Koblenz. They are a very good team. But we also fought hard. There was a big difference with the physicality and we had problems matching it. The biggest difference today was the energy level’, stressed Rasta Vechta 2 guard JJ Culver.

Niclas Sperber for 3

The EPG Baskets Koblenz jumped all over Rasta Vechta 2 taking the 8-0 lead as ex BBL player Dominque Johnson drilled home 2 three’s and captain Marvin Heckel made a lay in. The guests finally got on the board with baskets from Germans and ex Cologne guard Leon Okpara and top German prospect Johan Gruenloh with a tip in dunk. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz just kept putting on pressure at both ends and extended their lead to 20-6 going on a 12-2 run. In the run top Pro B center Moses Poelking took advantage of his physicality and just dominated the zone with 3 baskets and overall the team was sharing the ball around nicely as ex Temple (NCAA) guard Alani Moore hit a jumper after breaking an ankle, Heckel made a runner and Johnson a lay in. ‘It was a super start by us. We were very focused. We played the way we should and like we were a league higher’, said EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein. After back to back buckets by Roman Bedime and Okpara, Koblenz closed out the first quarter with a 5-0 run to lead 25-11 after 10 minutes. Alani Moore made free throws and ex Bremerhaven forward Niclas Sperber nailed a three pointer. ‘With the exception of two minutes, it was a good quarter. We were brutally focused and very efficient. You could see that there was an unbelievable difference in physicality in our favor’, commented Thomas Klein.

Johan Grunloh at the FT line

The EPG Baskets Koblenz had a few ups and downs in the second quarter, but overall were in good control of the game and led comfortably at half-time 40-28. Rasta Vechta 2 began the second quarter strong with a 6-2 run as they received back to back three’s From Okpara and ex easyCredit BBL player Kevin Smit. Koblenz had little flow as their ball movement stalled. The guests had little scoring options at that time and had to rely a lot on Kevin Smit who carried his team as best he could as he hit two three’s, but they couldn’t make any ground. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had good offensive execution as their combination of good team basketball and individual class was simply too much for the young Vechta team. Three’s by Heckel and Moore and a dunk on transition by Brian Butler kept Koblenz ahead 37-23. Koblenz upped their physicality again and allowed little entries in the paint. Plus the overall experience was also a factor as the roster of Vechta was half filled with NBBL (U-19) players and at times looked totally mismatched in the skills department. Koblenz fell asleep at the end allowing two easy Bedime baskets as the 1-1 defense was beat without much resistance. ‘We had a lot of ups and downs. We were too unconcentrated. Vechta did a good job upping their defensive intensity and physicality giving problems’, expressed Thomas Klein.

JJ Culver from outside

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to keep up the pressure at both ends and led by as much as 20 points and 58-44 after 30 minutes. The EPG Baskets Koblenz came out of the locker room pumped and raced out on a 10-2 run to extend their lead to 50-30. In the run, Koblenz got easy baskets in the zone as Poelking scored twice and Johnson threw down a hard dunk. Alani Moore always showing total calmness hit a trey and also made a pretty touch ball off a loose ball ala Larry Bird that found Poelking for the easy basket. ‘Alani Moore is my MVP of the Pro B. He does it all. He is such a good player’, raved Thomas Klein. The guests then found some energy going on a 8-1 run to trail only 51-38. In the run the gang of head coach Hendrik Gruhn got 2 three’s from 2022 NBBL champion Kaya Byram and Okpara and a hard one handed dunk by Johan Grunloh on transition. Poelking and 2023 NBBL finalist Noah Jannen traded buckets as Koblenz still led 55-41. The guests got a few more extra chances as the EPG Baskets Koblenz had problems on the defensive rebound. Rasta Vechta lost a bit of energy as fatigue was setting in disallowing them to get over the hump and get the score under double figures. 100 point man JJ Culver and ex Breitengussbach center Leo Saffer traded baskets to close out the third quarter. ‘We played strong defense. We knew they were young and had to be physical. We gave them no chance inside as we didn’t want anybody to get hot so we relied on contested three’s’, stated Brian Butler. ‘We tried comeback, but were getting tired. They are really talented and it was hard to stop them 1-1. We tried different things on defense, but couldn’t stop them’, said JJ Culver.

Marvin Heckel from the corner

The EPG Baskets Koblenz had no more serious let downs winning the fourth quarter easily and coasting to the Pro B title. The EPG Baskets Koblenz began well getting baskets from German Moritz Huebner and another trey by Alani Moore for the 63-45 advantage. After an offensive rebound and put back, it was Brian Butler who made a turn around shot and brutal throw down dunk for the 67-47 lead. ‘That dunk is near the top in my career. That was a nice was way to close out my time with Koblenz. I will be back, but now it’s time for more focus on my family’, added Brian Butler.

Brian Butler and Niclas Sperber hug after Butler leaves the court after his last game for the EPG Baskets Koblenz

Grunloh then added a tip in dunk that looked so easy. ‘This kid has incredible athleticism. He is so versatile and flexible something very rare for his age. He is so aggressive at both ends of the court. He is a great player. I love to watch him’, stated Thomas Klein. Grunloh finished with 9/7 stats and is appreciated by all. ‘He is an amazing player. He is a great shot blocker. He will make up for your mistake with his defense and presence in the zone. It was a pleasure playing with him’, said JJ Culver. With a few minutes left, it was apparent that Rasta Vechta wouldn’t get over the hump on this night. It was time to get some special love for his team by the creator. ‘My biggest joy this season was how the team always stuck together no matter what especially through the immense pressure. I also liked how the top players accepted their roles and it was all about team and not self’, warned Thomas Klein. Down the stretch the guests got baskets from Jannen and German Killian Brockhoff while the Pro B champion closed out the win with a transition three pointer by Yasin Turan and lay in by Leo Saffer. ‘We shut the door on them well. We enjoyed the atmosphere. It was the first title for many guys’, stressed Brian Butler. ‘We gave our best until the end. They stayed mentally strong and always applied pressure on us. They were prepared very well and always had an answer’, stressed JJ Culver. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Alani Moore with 20 points. Moses Poelking added 16 points and Dominque Johnson 13 points while Rasta Vechta 2 were led by Leon Okpara with 15 points. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 53% from the field and 42% form outside and had 38 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Rasta Vechta 2 shot 36% from the field and 28% form outside and had 30 rebounds and 13 turnovers.