Ricardo Artis II (198-F/G-1993, college: Wiley) is a 30 year old 198cm forward from Texas that is playing his second season in Germany and first with the bringiton Ballers Ibbenbueren (Germany-ProB). Last season he tore up the Regionalliga with SV Hagen-Haspe 70 (Germany-Regionalliga): 30 games: Score-2 (29.3ppg), Reb-3 (11.5rpg), 2.7apg, Steals-4 (3.2spg), FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 81.1%. Before coming overseas, he played back at home for TBL teams Dallas Skyline, and the Enid Outlaws and the Potawatomi Fire. He also played with the North Texas Prowlers (PBA) and Newfoundland Rogues (ABA). He played at 4 schools with Eastfield College (JUCO), McLennan Community College (JUCO), North Lake College (JUCO) and Wiley College (NAIA). He teams up with germanhoops.com each week to talk basketball.

Ibbenburen suffered their third loss in as many games. In the first 2 games, the club defended well but had problems scoring and in the third game against Herford finally scored, but lost a shoot out. How disappointing was this loss?

It was very disappointing especially since this is the third straight game that was a winnable game for us.

It seemed like the team made a step forward finding their offense but also a step back giving up their highest total of the season.

We have a lot to work on both offensively and defensively. It’s been a tough three games for us to begin the season but I have the upmost faith in this team that we will eventually figure it out.

It was a close game for 40 minutes. In the fourth quarter it seemed like Herford raised their offensive game another level. Why was it so difficult to slow them down on offense?

They executed and got the stops they needed to seal the game. It wasn’t really a raise in the offense in the fourth. It was a shootout all game. They just got more stops in the end to seal the game and come out with the win.

In the fourth quarter Herford got key production from Luca Michels. It wasn´t only their 2 key guys Harper and Gulley who combined for 62 points in the game but were kept quiet in the fourth quarter. Was Michels off the team radar?

Michels stepped up when it mattered the most. We had a scouting report for everyone just like any other game. No one is ever left off the radar but Michels did step up and made some big plays in the end to help his team get the win. I actually called him a role player to his face earlier in the game when he was struggling. That maybe had added some fuel to the fire. But it shows that we have to give respect to everyone in this league on any given night.

Ibbenburen had 19 offensive rebounds but the game was lost at the free throw line as the team missed 13 shots. If you would of made 6-7 you probably would have won the game?

Free throws played a part but it’s many of other things that we could have done better to win the game. We will watch film and try to correct the mistakes we made to get our first win.

You had another great game with 37 points. How content ere you with your game?

I’m very content with my game and I know the type of player I am. I have the upmost confidence in my self and what I can contribute to a team. I was involved more in the offense and I took it upon myself to be more aggressive today. 37 is cool but the reason I play this game is for wins. I´m content with my game but I’m not satisfied with my performance because it didn’t lead to the win for my team.

After another tough loss, with what kind of mind set do you go into the lab on Monday?

We have to continue to trust the process. Trust the coaching staff and trust everything we do on a weekly basis.

You next face 1-2 Lok Bernau. Ibbenburen needs a win badly. How will the mind set be for this game?

The mindset is to win the game just like it’s been the previous games we played this year. We have to figure it out. So far we played 3 very winnable games. We just have to figure out how we can execute our game plan and finish these games with wins.

Thanks Ricardo for the chat.