I can´t remember coming into the Dragon Dome as excited to start a season as I was before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. It is often that a Pro B team starts 2-0 with 2 massive road victories, but the Dragons Rhondorf did just that and have displayed early season success with beautiful team basketball and a roster that already has a very good chemistry. Granted they didn´t play their best basketball the whole time in both wins, but they played their best when it counted most. They returned back into their living room sprouting with enormous self confidence and had to battle the always young, but competitive Fraport Skyliners Juniors. They have had some real intense battles over the years and who could forget Kameron Taylor´s buzzer beater almost 6 years ago? This time Rhondorf met the 1-1 Frankfurt team who had won their first game at home over TSV Troester Breitengussbach, but had a very poor showing in Leitershofen amassing only 50 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors wanted to give a better showing than last weekend and the Dragons Rhondorf wanted to keep the momentum going and stay unbeaten. On a rather mild early Autumn day, 2 teams met and probably nobody could have predicted at tip off that the game would go an exciting 50 minutes, but it did as the Dragons Rhondorf prevailed winning a wild 106-99 game in double OT to go 3-0 while Frankfurt fell to 1-2. The Dragons Rhondorf allowed Frankfurt to hang around all night long, but in the second OT it was Marko Rosic that came up big to seal the win. “It was a tough game. We showed again how well we can close out games. We had too many leads where we allowed them to come back. We need to learn to build on the leads. I´m proud how we stuck together and played as a team in the last 10 minutes. Our biggest strength was our offense. We kept finding solutions and that makes us very difficult to defend”, warned Dragons Rhondorf guard Marko Rosic (174-PG-2005) The Fraport Skyliners Juniors came severely weakened into the game without Jordan Samare and captain Alvin Onyia who were playing in Munster at the same time with the Frankfurt Pro A team while Justin Onyejaika and Drago Crjnac were out with injuries, but they fought until the last buzzer. “I´m really proud how we stuck together in this hostile environment. We always fought and never hung our heads. The ending isn´t how we wanted it, but these are the type of games early in the season that you learn from”, warned Fraport Skyliner American Trevion Bell.

Trevian Bell Ft

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors arrived into the game highly motivated and shocked the Dragons Rhondorf early taking a rapid 10-3 lead. Trevion Bell had had a tough game in Leitershofen and came out with vengeance scoring 7 points showing his classic inside out game. Frankfurt was the more aggressive team out of the gate and quickly ran and ran on transition while Rhondorf came out with lack luster play and were rushing their offense. But their offense finally got going as they went on a 8-3 run to trail only 13-11. They showed their lethal inside out offense getting a lay ins from ex Bamberg guard Tyrese Blunt and ex Orange Academy guard Marko Rosic while ex Drake (NCAA) forward Antonio Pilipovic dropped a trey. The Dragons Rhondorf were in the game, but Frankfurt kept the slim lead mainly because they got massive contribution from their bench. Ex Regionalliga player Felix Feilen and NBBL player Marvin Esser made huge buckets to conserve the lead. Blunt made a late lay in as his aggressiveness and energy gave Frankfurt big problems in keeping him tamed while ex Bamberg big man Leon Bulic made a lay in at the buzzer, but Frankfurt led 22-19. Bamberg controlled the boards and were shooting over 50% from the field and from outside. “Frankfurt began well and were very motivated while Rhondorf came out flat. They weren´t able to let the game come to them until later”, stressed Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Brian Fobbs.

Matej Silic three pointer

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf were able to gain the lead and then have control until halftime leading by 7 points. Frankfurt got the first score of the second quarter as top NBBL player Dusan Nikolic caught Rhondorf napping on defense scoring on transition giving Frankfurt the 24-19 advantage. But the tide would turn quickly and in the direction of the Dragons Rhondorf as they showed just how dangerous their offense can be as they constructed a nasty 15-1 run to take command leading 33-26. In the run their lethal guard trio of Blunt, Buck and Omojola demonstrated why they have to be considered to be the best German guard trio in the Pro B as they combined for 8 points. Matej Silic also contributed a trey. Rhondorf showed their beautiful sharing off the ball and upped their intensity while Frankfurt had no rhythm and showed how weak their offense is when Trevian Bell isn´t on the court. Bell stopped the run with a dunk, but Frankfurt couldn´t guard the three point line well enough as the Dragons let it rain three´s as ex Alba Berlin Guard Badu Buck, Silic and Pilipovic scored for the 41-30 advantage. Frankfurt could find answers especially from the highly motivated Feilen who scored twice to cut the Dragons lead to 41-37, but Rhondorf always had an answer as Pilipovic hit a trey and Silic made a dunk on transition. Ex Kronberg center Florian Dietrich made a put back to end the second quarter as Frankfurt was in striking range trailing 46-39. “That guard trio of the Dragons is really strong. They can shoot and drive and makes the game easier for everyone. That helped them take the lead. They were very physical and were unselfish. When you do that things go well”, stressed Brian Fobbs. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 47% from the field and three point line while Frankfurt shot 54% from the field and 29% from the three point line. Rhondorf rebounded better down only 18-17 and had 5 turnovers while Frankfurt had 8 turnovers.

Nils Leonhardt lay in

In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to have control, but could never totally shake the Fraport Skyliners Juniors as they always stayed in striking range trailing 64-53 after 30 minutes. The Dragons German guard trio continued to do their thing scoring baskets and keeping Rhondorf ahead 54-43 as Frankfurt just couldn´t make any ground despite baskets from Dietrich and Bell. Frankfurt continued to fight and always have a knack to cut the lead down to a few points as Dietrich and Feilen made key baskets to trail 54-50, but Rhondorf always had an answer. A Bulic dunk made it 56-50, but ex Wurzburg forward Nils Leonhardt made a lay in as unselfish Marvin Esser made the extra pass to trail 56-52. Frankfurt was inching closer, but Rhondorf´s offense was simply too much as Silic made 5 points and Bulic dropped a trey. Esser played great defense on Silic´s three pointer, but Frankfurt simply had to many bad spurts and little mistakes like transition defense. Dusan Nikolic closed out the third quarter with a transition basket, but Frankfurt just couldn´t get over the hump as they trailed 64-55 after 3 quarters. “Our 3 guards showed just how good they are. Some have Pro A experience and all can score. We just have so many options and execute well. That makes us hard to defend”, added Marko Rosic “Those guards were really tough to handle. We loved that challenge and it made us better”, stated Trevian Bell. The Dragons Rhondorf continued to shoot very well over 40% from the field and down town while Frankfurt shot 47% from the field and a dismal 14% from downtown. Frankfurt still had the slim 33-29 rebound edge, but 10 turnovers to Rhondorf´s 6.

Avery Sullivan at the FT line

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors upped their game in the fourth quarter and this time were able to get over the hump to force overtime. But it didn´t look like there would be any come back in the first few minutes as The Dragons Rhondorf went on a 4-0 run with Bulic and Pilipovic buckets gave the Dragons Rhondorf their biggest lead of the contest at 70-55. It seemed like that could have been the game as Frankfurt seemed broken having been stopped in their first 5 possessions. But then came new life into the Fraport Skyliners Juniors as they went on a forceful 12-2 run to trail only 72-65. In the run, it was Bell again who produced netting 5 points while veterans Nils Leonhardt made a lay and 2016 Albert Schweitzer winner Philipp Hadenfeldt nailed a three pointer. Frankfurt was more calm on offense and added intensity while the Dragons Rhondorf got away from their team play and played more 1-1. Frankfurt continued chipping away at the Dragons lead and got a trey from Bell and then 2 baskets from big man Dietrich who both times was served up perfectly from Hadefeldt and suddenly the Dragons lead had shrunk down to 74-72. Felix Hecker who had been cold most of the game made a clutch mid distance shot to trail 75-74 with 1,24 to play. Frankfurt continued to pressure on defense forcing a turnover. Frankfurt had one more possession and Trevian Bell was the hero with the floater to send the game into OT 76-76. “We just continued to stick together. I thought of taking the three, but no one was in the lane, so I figured I can´t pass up the runner”, commented Trevian Bell. “Our main focus was to slow down Bell. They made big shots at the end. We played too much 1-1. We have to learn to stick with team play in those moments”, added Marko Rosic The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 50% from the field and 28% from the parking lot and had 40 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 41% from the field and 38% from the parking lot and had 35 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Mamadou Diallo three pointer

The Dragons Rhondorf once again had more energy and controlled the OT period, but couldn´t shake the Fraport Skyliners Juniors as they forced a second OT. Rhondorf went on a quick 6-0 run as Blunt and Bulic scored in the paint and Texas native Avery Sullivan made free throws. Even if Frankfurt seemed down and out, they continued to show heart and have answers. Despite a clutch three pointer by role player Mamadou Diallo who had played 39 minutes earlier in the day in a Regionalliga game for Bonn 2, Frankfurt made vital three´s from Hadenfeldt and Bell to trail only 85-84. Blunt made a tip in for the 88-84 lead, but 2017 JBBL finalist Calvin Schaum who had been injured last season and had had much misfortune with free throws in this game made a massive lay in in traffic to cut the lead to 88-87. After only one free throw from Silah, it was Felix Hecker who was the hero this time with an offensive rebound and put back. “We slept not getting the rebound. You can´t make a mistake like that in that phase”, warned Marko Rosic “Felix has a short memory. We always tell him to keep shooting. Nobody gets mad when he misses. We always try to put him in position to score”, stated Trevian Bell. But the luck of the Fraport Skyliners Juniors ran out in the second OT. Marko Rosic didn´t play in the first OT, but was inserted in the second OT and came up big netting consecutive three´s to extend the Dragons lead to 99-96. He then added 2 more free throws for the 100-96 advantage. A technical issued to Frankfurt head coach Sepher Tarrah and 3 free throws for Kelvin Omojola gave Rhondorf the 104-96 lead and sealed the win. Hadenfeldt sunk a trey with 53 seconds and Frankfurt trailed 104-99, but it was too little too late. Kelvin Omojola ended the game with a lay in. “I personally need the self confidence from coach. I appreciate that and wanted to give something back. I know that I can make those shots”, expressed Marko Rosic “The technical foul didn´t change the game. That is part of the game. I felt we were strong mentally, but a little tired”, said Trevian Bell. The Dragons Rhondorf had 6 guys in double figures led by Matej Silic with 20 points. Tyreese Blunt added 16 points while Badu Buck and Kelvin Omojola added 15 points apiece while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Trevian Bell with 31 points while Florian Dietrich ahd 14 points and Felix Hecker 13 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 43% from the field and 38% from outside and had 48 rebounds and 14 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 49% from the field and 35% from outside and had 48 rebounds and 18 turnovers.