The pre-season of the EPG baskets Koblenz continues to roll along smoothly as despite having a walking wounded list as high as the empire state building, the club continues to play impressive basketball. Their next foe were BBC Herford a team that will be playing their second season in a row in the Pro B this season. With only a week before the new season began, both teams wanted to continue to tweak their plays as well as test how well their team chemistry was developing. On a cool friday evening, the CGM arena had the die hard fans in attendance as it wasn´t even half full, but those that were there were treated with good EPG baskets basketball and many spectacular plays. The team also had to get used to playing almost 3 quarters without their heart and soul point guard Marvin Heckel who suffered a brutal foot injury in the second quarter. It looked bad at first, but at the end of the game, the good news was that it wasn´t a fracture. Despite this blow, the team regrouped and played well until the end disposing of BBC Herford 78-60. “We played well, but still have plenty to learn and grow from this game. We played hard and good defense. We are starting to click on offense better. Guys are still figuring each other out. It is a growing process”, stated EPG Baskets guard AJ Plitzuweit (188-G, college: S.Dakota). BBC Herford fought hard, but had problems with the aggressive Koblenz defense and constant pressure and disadvantage under the basket. “We didn´t find well into the game. In the second quarter one could see we had real difficulty. They were more physical, were faster and hit way more shots. They all defend so well. It was hard getting the ball. Still this was a good test for us. It is ok to lose by 20 points in Koblenz”, stressed ex FC Schalke forward Shawn Gulley.

Moses Poelking at the FT line

Both teams had difficulty finding an offensive rhythm at first, but the guests did get on the board first with a three pointer by 38 year old ex Missouri (NCAA) forward Vaidotas Volkus. But the EPG Baskets did a good job using their inside out game and exploiting the mismatches and being able to get some open looks for ex South Dakota (NCAA) guard AJ Plitzuweit and German Nicolas Sperber as they took the 5-3 lead and would never trail again. Koblenz also got easy baskets off their pressure defense as steals by ex Cameron (NCAA2) guard Trey Hall and ex Wurzburg forward Rytis Pipiras led to 2 big dunks by Pipiras. Despite a in your face trey by Gulley, Koblenz also got easy buckets inside by German Moses Poelking as he scored twice with a lay in and a dunk for the 13-8 advantage. BBC Herford was able to stay in the game mainly because they made wild shots despite constant pressure and aggressive defense by Koblenz. Koblenz continued to execute their offense in a fine fashion spreading the love around. Ex Rhondorf big man Gabriel De Olveira also got into the action and Plitzuweit continued to play at a high intensity on offense making 2 lay in´s while Hall also scored. Young German Ivksa Sola of BBC Herford connected on a deep three pointer at the buzzer as the EPG Baskets Koblenz were only ahead 26-23 after 10 minutes. “I felt our defense was exceptional by our guards. Our bigs weren´t as good. Herford made many contested shots. But I´m sure their luck will run out as the game goes on”, commented EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein.

Shawn Gulley at the FT line

The turning point of the game occurred in the second quarter as the EPG Baskets Koblenz took full control of the game outscoring BBC Herford 23-4 to have the overwhelming 49-27 advantage at the break. The second quarter began well for the Koblenz as Marvin Heckel dished out a sweet kick out pass to German Moritz Huebner who saw nothing but net from the parking lot. But then Heckle went down and wouldn´t return. Now the team had to perform without the team identity figure and did. They had no idea if his injury was severe. The EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to defend with passion and intensity as BBC Herford couldn´t run any good plays and had to live on tough desperation shots. Koblenz offense continued to execute as Pipiras made a runner and three pointer and De Olveira a lay in for the 36-23 advantage. After 8 Koblenz stops, the guests finally achieved their first field goal by Ivksa Sola at the 5,07 minute mark. Koblenz continued to sparkle on offense as German Leo Saffer also got into the action with an easy lay in as they dominated the paint area and Pipiras nailed another three pointer to lead 41-25. BBC Herford then scored their last bucket of the second quarter with a lay in by American Tristan Harper who played at Langston University, OK (NAIA) last season. The incredible pressure by Hall and Plitzuweit really set the tone and hurt BBC Herford. “Trey, Marvin and I are all really good offensive players, but we really pride ourselves on defense. We take it personally. We just try to help our bigs protect the paint area”, warned AJ Plitzuweit. The EPG Baskets then closed out the second quarter with a 8-0 run to lead comfortably at half-time. In the run, Koblenz continued to get easy baskets in the paint area as Poelking and Saffer scored and Moritz Huebner connected twice for easy scores. “We played very dynamic and athletic. We did a good job getting out on transition and our bigs also played better defense. Herford also got no more lucky shots”, stated Thomas Klein.

Moritz Huebner from outside

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets weren´t able to find to their dominating play of the first half. Perhaps the players had their minds more on Marvin Heckel and his injury. Koblenz actually began pretty well going on a 8-2 run as AJ Plitzuweit continues to prove that he is a sniper and could be that first option from down town this season as he delivered twice from the parking lot while Poelking made free throws and led 57-29. Koblenz continued to keep up the pressure at both ends as Plitzuweit continued to be red hot from outside hitting another trey and Leo Saffer made a tip in dunk and the EPG Baskets had their biggest lead of the contest at 63-33. But the EPG Baskets then let up a bit allowing a 10-4 run by BBC Herford to trail only 67-43 after 30 minutes. In the run the guests got a 3 point play by Harper and just good all around team support. Ex Dragons Rhondorf German Lars Brodisch made a lay in, Michil Margaritis made a left handed hook shot and Luca Michels a trey. “Our level of intensity dropped. I believe that Marvin was on our mind. His loss was a tough pill to swallow”, said AJ Plitzuweit. “We hit our shots better, but overall our inability to shoot better has hurt us this pre-season”, stated Shawn Gulley.

Luca Michels from down town

Inthe fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz gave extended minutes to Oluwadamilola Ade Eri and Tevin Schnable and overall the team was already in relax mode as their execution was off as they mustered only 11 points while BBC Herford scored 17 points. BBC Herford began well getting 5 points in a row by Shawn Gulley as the ex JUCO player executed a hard 2 handed dunk off his steal and a lay in and free throw to trail only 67-48.”I will be one of the go to guys this season together with Tristan Harper. But I do try to help get everyone involved”, stressed Shawn Gulley. Nothing was really working on offense for the EPG Baskets, but when all else fails, they can always still get the ball inside and let the bigs do their thing as Poelking drew 2 fouls and made easy work of an offensive rebound for the put back to lead 71-48. It was obvious that BBC Herford weren´t going to achieve a miraculous comeback, but they did fight to the end getting some baskets from Volkus and Gulley, but youngster Ade-Eru made a fine put back and later a big dunk as Plitzuweit made a steal and instead of finishing himself allowed the young kid the stage for the finish. Harper did score the last 4 Herford points, but it was too little too late. “I felt like we still did finish strong. We compete each possession. Our motto is always next man up”, warned AJ Plitzweit. “Koblenz had some of their young guys in, but they still closed out game strong”, stated Shawn Gulley. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by AJ Plitzuweit with 18 points. Moses Poelking added 12 points and Moritz Huebner had 10 points while BBC Herford was led by Tristan Harper with 18 points while Shawn Gulley contributed 14 points. The EPG Baskets shot 48% from the field and 28% from outside and had 43 rebounds and 16 turnovers while BBC Herford shot 32% from the field and 27% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 21 turnovers.