When was the last time, you had 2 undefeated teams battling against each other in the Suwag Energie arena? It for sure didn´t happen the last 2 seasons as Frankfurt was losing on a regular basis. But after a few weeks in the Pro A, the Fraport Skyliners continue to excite their fans as they raced out to a 3-0 record. But they didn´t have some amateur team as foe, but the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim hadn´t been too shabby either as they came to Frankfurt with an identical 3-0 record. Kirchheim had pulverized teams with their explosive offense while the Fraport Skyliners had found an early identity on the defensive end as they had only allowed only 62 points per game. It wasn´t only the duel of the 2 clubs, but also the 2 coaches Denis Wucherer and Igor Perovic who shared a very rare incredible trait in that they had both produced triple doubles as players in the BBL. On a cool Sunday afternoon, 2 undefeated clubs met and no fan was disappointed as after 40 minutes they witnessed a very exciting game that went down to the wire as the Fraport Skyliners stayed undefeated beating the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim79-72. It was a game where Frankfurt was challenged for 40 minutes, but when it came down to making the big plays and shots, they were the team that made them at the end. “We played hard and matched their competitiveness. They were one of the best teams that we have faced this season. We did a good job keeping up our energy and stayed positive which helped us not getting down in difficult phases”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Cameron Henry (198-G-1999, college: Indiana St.). For Kirchheim, it was one of those results you hate, because they could and should of won this game. They had the last play but couldn´t get the job done. “We had a rocky second quarter. We didn´t play our best basketball, but we turned it around in the second half. We found our rhythm. After our bigs Muszynski and Dorn carried us in the first half, our guards Miller and Flowers carried us in the second half. We just came up a bit short at the end”, stressed Kirchheim guard Demetrius Ward.

David Muenkat at the FT line

Both teams found their rhythm well in the first minutes. The Fraport Skyliners did a fine job getting 2018 NBBL champion Lorenz Brenneke into good position to score twice while Kirchheim received a deep three pointer from the Main river from Michael Flowers and ex Orange Academy center Antonio Dorn was banging on the boards getting offensive rebounds. Especially Dorn´s presence and intensity carried Kirchheim on the boards as Kirchheim would grab 7 offensive rebounds. After trailing early, Frankfurt got the lead back with a trey from rookie Aiden Warnholtz to lead 11-10 who would finish with a dismal 3 points after getting in early foul trouble and never finding his rhythm. Frankfurt would keep the lead simply because they executed well and were spreading the ball around well. A Jordan Samare lay in and Cameron Henry three pointer gave Frankfurt the 15-11 advantage. Ex Belmont center Nick Muszynski made 2 late baskets with his beautiful old school play while Kayne Henry made a massive dunk, but a David Muenkat three secured the tight 20-18 lead for the Fraport Skyliners after 10 minutes. “We had problems slowing down the offense. Muszynski was really good. He kept them in the game. Once we eliminated their second chance points and contained Flowers better, we were able to control game better”, stated ex Indiana State guard Cameron Henry. The Fraport Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 29% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim shot 37% from the field and 20% from outside and had 13 13 rebounds and 3 turnovers.

Michael Flowers from down town

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners were able to make some adjustment slowing down Michael Flowers, rebounding better and whipping the ball inside and challenging their big men and winning many duels and getting easy baskets leading 43-34 at the break. Kirchheim actually had the better start as they went on a 5-2 run getting a pretty old school hook shot from Muszynski and a trey from Demetrius Ward to recapture the lead 23-22. But Frankfurt possibly then played their best 3-4 minutes of the game shocking Kirchheim with a 12-0 run to gain the lead back at 34-23. In the run, Frankfurt totally mutilated Kirchheim with their inside play scoring 5 lay in´s in a row. Brenneke began the run with consecutive lay in´s which was followed by a David Muenkat lay in and veteran Marco Voeller followed with a second left on the shot clock and Minnesota native Booker Coplin followed with a acrobatic shovel lay in. Frankfurt did a great job taking advantage of the mismatches and just exerting their physicality that Kirchheim was unable to match. Kirchheim lost their offensive rhythm and got away from their team basketball and relied a bit too much on the hero ball. The guests took a time out and came back refreshed and were able to match Frankfurt´s intensity and physicality as Antonio Dorn looked like a seasoned easyCredit BBl player as he scored 3 buckets. But Frankfurt also got special production especially from 34 year old Marco Voeller who made an incredible basket playing like a 25 year old guard making the lay up. “Marco is one of a kind. You wouldn´t believe his age if you didn´t know it. He has great speed and toughness. We are a young team, but he is one of us. He has that nice pump fake and then he explodes. He has done that against me before in practice. We need him so much on the team. He is like a big brother for us”, warned Cameron Henry. 19 year old German sensation Justin Onyejiaka added a three pointer as Frankfurt led by 11 points at half-time. “We slowed the game down and made better choices. We also played better as a team. Often when a key player is out like Aiden Warnholtz was because of foul problems, teams struggle, but we all came together and got the job done as a collective”, expressed Cameron Henry. The Fraport Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim shot 45% from the field and 22% from the three point line and had 18 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Cameron Henry with the step back

The Fraport Skyliners held the lead in the third quarter, but could never really shake KIrchheim as they hung around even tying the game but after 30 minutes trailed by 4 points. Kirchheim definitely listened to head coach Igor Perovic´s half-time words and stormed out in the third quarter with a lethal 10-2 run and suddenly washed out the double figure Frankfurt lead and trailed only 45-44. In the run, Kirchheim continued to get consistent support from Nick Muszynski who won a OVC title at Belmont as he scored twice. Kirchheim also tried to get the guard play cooking as Michael Miller made a pull up jumper and Flowers connected on 2 of 3 free throws. Frankfurt seemed a bit nervous and just lost their smooth flow form the second quarter while Kirchheim found back to their team play. But basketball is known as a game of runs and Frankfurt fired back with a 9-1 run to extend their lead to 54-45. In the run, Frankfurt went back to their dominant inside paly as Muenkat and Brennecke scored while Marco Voeller continued to play his game being aggressive and showing his nice inside out game as he made a left handed lay in and made an open three pointer. But once again Frankfurt couldn´t keep the lead as defensive lapses continued to surface as the next run was produced by Kirchheim as they came back with a 11-2 run to dead lock the game at 56-56. Michael Flowers who had been fairly quiet mainly because of Cameron Henry´s spot on defense, but in this phase dropped 2 three´s including making a 4 point play while Miller made a fade away jumper and Dorn a lay in. “Flowers was definitely hard to guard. He is a 3 level scorer. I tried to use my length and make everything difficult for him. When he makes that first easy one then come the next 3 or 4 shots. I just tried containing him as best I could”, said Cameron Henry. But Frankfurt reacted well stopping the run and closing out the third quarter with a 5-0 run as Jordan Samare nailed a trey and German Jacob Knauff a tip in for the 61-57 advantage. “Kirchheim came back with their guard play. The third quarter was a game of runs. But we did a good job weathering the storm when they got on fire”, added Cameron Henry. “We came back because of our defense. We were able to get running. We got some easy baskets which gave us self-confidence to keep going”, stated Demetrius Ward. The Fraport Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 22 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim shot 47% from the field and 25% form the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Michael Flowers at the FT line

The fourth quarter promised to be a dog fight as the game would go down to the wire. Kirchheim came out storming getting continued superb play from Antonio Dorn with an offensive rebound and put back while Ward hit another three pointer as Frankfurt led only 63-62. Frankfurt remained calm and struck back with back to back three´s from Muenkat and Coplin to lead 69-62. But Kirchheim just kept chipping away and getting good looks. Miller made a lay in and 2 stops led to 2 more lay in´s from Flowers and Muszynski and suddenly Frankfurt had their lead shaved down to 73-70. A turnover by Coplin led to 2 free throws by Miller as Kirchheim trailed only 73-72. Cameron Henry made a pull up jumper, but Aitor Pickett made a clutch lay in to tie the game 75-75. Frankfurt them made a bad decision giving Voeller the ball in the corner as he stepped out of bounds. Miller added free throws for the 77-75 lead with 39 seconds to play. ”They began to play more together. We weren´t disciplined on defense”, stated Cameron Henry. “We were more physical and rebounded better. We got some easy baskets and got to the free throw line”, added Demetrius Ward. Brenneke then made a clutch shot to tie the game at 77-77. Frankfurt then produced a massive stop and Cameron Henry who had made clutch plays at both ends all day long made a huge shot with 5,8 seconds to go to lead 79-77. “We had 2 or 3 options. I told Book to get me the ball at 8 or 9 seconds, I came off a back screen for the big and Book had just told me to be aggressive and take what they gave me”, stressed Cameron Henry. “He made a tough finish and we just have to live with it”, commented Demetrius Ward. Kirchheim had one more attempt with 5,8 seconds, but couldn´t get a shot off. “We played good defense. He thought we would switch, but they tried to hit the big on the roll. I just tried to make it as difficult for him”, expressed Cameron Henry. “They hedged hard and we made a bad pass, But I think we still played a good game”, said Demetrius Ward. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Lorenz Brenneke with 16 points while David Muenkat added 13 points and Booker Coplin 11 points. The Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim were led by Michael Flowers and Antonio Dorn with 15 points a piece. Nick Muszynski added 14 points and Michael Miller added 13 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 27% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim shot 45% from the field and 25% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 15 turnovers.