The Fraport Skyliners and EPG Baskets Koblenz closed out 2023 with massive wins stopping their losing streaks of 1 game beating the favorite Kirchheim Knights and the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Koblenz did a superb job in their own living room getting back to stellar Koblenz defense while Frankfurt grinded out a tough win in OT in Bremerhaven with the help of crucial buckets by Canadian Aiden Warnholtz. Both wins were key as it gave both clubs must needed self confidence going into 2024. The EPG Baskets Koblenz met the Fraport Skyliners for the first time in their history and who would of thought that only 4 years ago the EPG Baskets Koblenz were competing in the Regionalliga and Frankfurt in the easyCredit BBL. Both teams came into the New Year pumped and the game turned out to be a defensive showcase and a tale of 2 halves. Koblenz controlled the first half while the Fraport Skyliners controlled the second half and increased their defense a few notches in the fourth quarter allowing only 5 points and winning another come from behind win on the road this time 69-54. “We played with a lot of grit in the second half. We matched their intensity and then increased it over theirs. We took over the game with our defense. We were very physical and rebounded the ball well”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Kevin McClain (190-G-1996, college: Belmont). The EPG Baskets played a great defensive first half, but offensively couldn´t find a rhythm in the second half and couldn´t buy a field goal in the last frame. “It was a very defensive game. Both teams defended well, but we switched better in the first half. They found better solutions in the second half and hit their shots better. We didn´t make good decisions and had too many turnovers that led to easy Frankfurt baskets”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Marvin Heckel.

Maurice Pluskota at the FT line

The EPG Baskets Koblenz came out on fire taking the rapid 10-2 lead over the Fraport Skyliners. Koblenz came out aggressive on offense and displayed nice inside out play using the bigs and superb guard play of Heckel and Sloan who connected while top Pro A center Maurcie Pluskota scored twice. Each score made the CGM arena a bit louder as their defense was their staple totally stifling Frankfurt. Frankfurt´s drive was totally taken away and their contested three´s didn´t fall. Even if the Koblenz bigs controlled the paint area, Frankfurt did get an offense rebound and put back from 2018 NBBL champion Lorenz Brenneke. Koblenz could of led by 10 points, but they also had difficulty against the Frankfurt switch defense and let them back in as German Jacob Knauf hit a trey to trail only 14-9. Little used German Leo Saffer brought energy from the bench hitting 2 free throws, but ex Indiana State (NCAA) guard Cameron Henry was also aggressive nailing a left handed lay in at the buzzer as the Fraport Skyliners trailed only 16-11. “We had 10 points too little and Frankfurt 4 points too much. We defended great against the drive, but lost rhythm when Heckel was out”, stated EPG Baskets Koblenz CEO Thomas Klein. “We had problems figuring out their defensive schemes. We were thinking too much instead of just playing”, stressed Kevin McClain.

Cameron Henry turn around shot

The second quarter remained a defensive battle, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz kept the edge going into the break with a slim 5 point lead. Leon Friederici and Aidon Warnholtz traded three pointers to begin the second quarter. Then the game became wild in the next few minutes as no team could buy a bucket. Frankfurt did a good job securing offensive rebounds as Knauf made a put back as Koblenz led only 19-17. “The offensive rebounds kept Frankfurt in the game at that point”, stressed Thomas Klein. But sometimes things go so fast as the EPG Baskets Koblenz exploded on a 9-0 run as 2 crazy deep three´s by Friederici and Sloan blew open the game as Koblenz led 28-17. The up and down phases of Koblenz appeared again something that has accompanied them all season long. As quickly as they could celebrate their little run, Frankfurt punched back with a swift 7-1 run to trail only 29-24 at half-time. In the run the guests got vital support from ex Alba Berlin guard Nolan Adekunle with a runner off the glass and a clutch three pointer from Minnesota native Booker Coplin. “We lost our rhythm. We played great defense, but 29 points was too little for us. If the three´s of Frankfurt began to fall, then the score would have looked different”, added Thomas Klein. “We played good defense. Eventually the offense will come. Our aggressive defense led to good offense”, commented Kevin McClain.

Marvin Heckel from outside

The third quarter showed the best combined offense of both teams as 43 points were scored, but at the end of 30 minutes, the Fraport Skyliners still couldn´t get over the hump as Koblenz led 49-47. The Fraport Skyliners were better prepared at the start cruising out on a 12-4 run to get the lead at 36-34. It was probably the best 3 minutes of offense by Frankfurt as there was a real flow and better decisions made and guys picking their spots better. Frankfurt got key three´s by Warnholtz and Henry and also mixed it up inside getting a lay in and thunderous dunk by Brenneke. Frankfurt got the needed run to turn the game around as their aggressive defense finally paid dividends as their offense execution finally clicked. Both teams then traded leads with Sloan and Henry baskets, but basketball wouldn´t be basketball without another run as Koblenz was prepared and served up the counter punch with a 10-2 run to grab the more comfortable 47-40 advantage. In the run the EPG Baskets Koblenz got lay in´s by American Robert Hall and Moses Poelking while Rytis Pipiras hit a trey. Koblenz increased their physicality and their guard play led the charge while good defense led to transition play. But Koblenz couldn´t hold the momentum as Frankfurt closed out the third quarter with a swift 6-2 run with baskets from David Muenkat, Warnholtz free throws and a buzzer beating lay in by McClain. “We did a good job not thinking so much anymore. We made the right passes and shots”, stated Kevin McClain. “We didn´t play our game. We got away from our principles. Frankfurt pressured us better and we couldn´t find to our game”, expressed Marvin Heckel.

David Muenkat at the FT line
It was a 2 point game going into the fourth quarter and the game was up for grabs. But instead of the contest being a back and forth tug of war, the EPG Baskets Surprisingly totally fell apart in their own living room amassing only 5 points and no field goal. The Fraport Skyliners began with a lethal 7-3 run to lead 54-52 and would never look back. Kevin McClain took matters into his own hands scoring 7 unanswered points showing his brutal 1-1 qualities. “I´m still finding my rhythm. If I don´t think too much eventually all will click. I was able to get to my spots and not think too much”, added Kevin McClain. “McClain did a good job using his 1-1 qualities against the switch. He was tough to control. He is a good player”, stated Marvin Heckel. Everything clicked for Frankfurt as their aggressive defense continued to wreck havoc and on offense Frankfurt executed the way they know how. A Knauf three, Cooplin fade away jumper and Muenkat basket gave Frankfurt the 61-52 lead. Frankfurt did a great job reading the Koblenz offense and got steal after steal. Koblenz got over their 5th team foul which led to Muenkat, Henry and Coplin free throws and the undisputable 66-52 lead. McClain added a trey for good measure and Poelking free throws to end the game. “We took our defense more personal and played even more aggressive”, added Kevin McClain. “We fell apart. It was tough moving the ball inside on the switch defense. When you can´t do that then it´s tough to get into a flow”, stressed Marvin Heckel. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Kevin McClain and Jacob Knauf with 13 points a piece while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by David Sloan with 14 points and 12 points from Leon Friederici. The Fraport Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 30% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 31% from the field and 21% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 27 turnovers.