The Fraport Skyliners Juniors came back home wanting to start a new winning streak after getting pounded in Munich by FC Bayern Munich 2 ending their 3 game winning streak. A poor shooting day, losing the rebound battle and a hot Ivan Khartchenkov gave Frankfurt a long ride home on a untypical Tuesday game day. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors definitely wanted to get back on the winning streak to keep their playoff hopes alive and met 12th placed club Team Ehingen who came into the BCM sporting a poor 4/11 record. Team Ehingen had lost 3 of their last 4 games and like Frankfurt is a club that houses many young talented players looking to make the next step. On a blistery cold evening, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were able to have 3 of their Pro A license players with Nolan Adekunle, Jordan Samare (202-PF-2002) and Justin Onyejiaka in uniform and when you have that luxury, the chances to win rise as rapidly as a gushing volcano in Iceland and they combined for 52 of the team 84 points totally destroying Team Ehingen 84-66. It also didn´t help the guests cause that their top import player Adam Thoseby was out with an injury. Frankfurt played great for 30 minutes and then let up in the fourth quarter, but all in all it was another normal day at the office for the Juniors. “We had a slow start, but then found our rhythm and got a nice lead and then built on it. We let up in the fourth quarter as our mentality wasn´t good, but overal we offered a good team effort and played well together”, stated Fraport Skyliner Junior Jordan Samare. Team Ehingen had to play catch up basketball for the most part of the game and just had no strong defensive intensity to be able to slow down the Frankfurt offense. “Our rebounding was really bad as we showed no effort. We defended with too little intensity and gave up too many drives”, stated Team Ehingen Urspirng forward Jared Grey.

Jordan Samare at the FT line

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were without Felix Hecker and Bennet Schubert, but had long injured Bruno Vrcic back in the lineup, but he didn´t play. Team Ehingen Urspring jumped all over Frankfurt going on the quick 10-4 lead as they tried to set the tone in the paint area as young German Vincent Neugebauer scored 3 times including 2 put backs off offensive rebounds. Ehingen was very active on the glass while Frankfurt couldn´t find a rhythm despite having some good looks. But then seemingly out of nothing the Fraport Skyliners Juniors showed how lethal their offense can be as they bolted out on a 13-0 run to suddenly lead 17-10. Jordan Samare led the charge with back to back three´s and veteran Nils Leonhardt who played youth basketball in Ehingen and was out with injury for a long time gave big time energy with a tip in and lay in on transition. Frankfurt´s athleticism and intensity was a few gears above Ehingen´s and the guests were unable to find a smooth offensive flow as they opted to much with individual play. German Jared Grey stopped the run, but Frankfurt held on to the momentum and continued to execute as they closed out the first quarter with a 10-4 run to lead 27-16 after 10 minutes. Sniper Drago Crnjac added a trey, Alvin Oniya 4 points, and Samare added 3 points. “When you have so many Pro A guys, it makes it a lot easier for everyone. They can supply power at any time. But the whole team contributed to the success in the comeback”, stated Jordan Samare. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 56% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 1 turnover while Team Ehingen Urspring shot 44% from the field and 0% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 3 turnovers.

Philip Schneck from down town

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners Juniors continued their offensive rampage while playing solid defense and led by 18 points at the break. The Fraport Skyliners began with a 6-2 run as Frankfurt presented the Jordan Samare show as he supplied 6 points. That he fancies running the break is no secret as he has the perfect athleticism and showed it 3 times off 2 steals and lay in´s and finished it with a massive dunk. The guests got the second basket from young 16 year old Pablo Estelle as he gave vital support and energy from the bench. “He gave us key energy and baskets and did a good job cutting into the open spaces. I like his game”, added Jared Grey. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors continued to execute and after the Samare show came the Justin Onyejiaka show as he was on fire scoring 3 times including a real acrobatic fade away put back. “He is a special player. He gave us a push with his play”, added Jordan Samare. Frankfurt was doing a good job forcing Ehingen to contested shots and took advantage by getting easy baskets on transition to lead 40-23. Ehingen had found a healthy offensive rhythm, but couldn´t get over the hump as Frankfurt continued to score at ease. Ex Tuebingen guard Daniel Zacek nailed a trey and big man Vincent Neugebauer made his third offensive rebound and put back of the game, but couldn´t make any ground as Nils Leonhardt was aggressive on the glass making a put back and Justin Onyejiaka hit a three pointer for the 49-33 advantage. Justin Samare would add another trey while Estonian guard Jorke Aav made free throws as Frankfurt led comfortably 53-35 at half time. “We concentrated more on the fast break. We continued to defend well building on our lead”, stated Jordan Samare. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 56% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Team Ehingen Urspring shot 40% from the field and 14% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Jordan Samare from outside

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were able to heighten their game another notch in the third quarter as they were able to lead by 30 points as they gave up only 11 points. Frankfurt got 3 stops to open up the second half, but could take advantage of it getting only a Nolan Adekunle free throw. Jared Grey finally made a three pointer to get Ehingen on the board who would finish with 16 points. “I got many touches at the start and helped me get into rhythm. It also helped that I got to the free throw line a lot which gave me confidence with my shooting. I could of done more, but overall was a good game”, stated Jared Grey. The guests got some solid support from Finish national player Valtteri Mervola who added 2 baskets while Frankfurt got the free throw line a lot after forcing Ehingen to the 5th team foul early and they still led 61-44. But Frankfurt simply had too much offensive fire power as they closed out the third quarter with a lethal 13-2 run to have the overwhelming 76-46 lead after 30 minutes. In the run, Frankfurt got most of the damage from Nolan Adekunle who added 5 points including a trey while Trevian Bell who had been quiet contributed 5 points with a three pointer and running hook shot and Drago Crnjac added a floater from the wing. “We had no intensity and just fell apart. We had no communication on defense”, added Jared Grey. “We did a good job taking away their drive as their three wasn´t falling anyway. On offense we did a good job on the offensive glass, moved the ball well and got 50/50 ball”, commented Jordan Samare. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 53% from the field and 39% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 8 turnovers while Team Ehingen Urspring shot 34% from the field and 13% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Vincent Neugebauer with the dunk

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors went into the fourth quarter with the masterful 30 point lead and simply lost intensity and were out scored 20-8, but were never in any real danger of losing the contest. Justin Onyejiaka began with a lay in that was met by a hard 2 handed dunk by Neugebauer. Young 16 year old Pablo Estelle continued to shine nailing a trey, but that was matched by a Adekunle three pointer as Frankfurt still led 81-51. Neugebauer added another dunk and 2017 JBBL finalist Calvin Schaum added an offensive rebound and put back as Frankfurt had their biggest lead of the game at 84-53. But that was the last points of the game for Frankfurt as the guests closed out the game with an impressive 13-0 run. In the run, Ehingen was led by consecutive three pointers by Daniel Zacek while ex Giessen big man Finn Doentgens added 4 points and Neugebauer a reverse lay up. “We let up a bit. We already had the win in our minds”, expressed Jordan Samare. “We played a lot better and got easier transition baskets. Zacek gave us a big push with his three pointers”, added Jared Grey. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Jordan Samare and Justin Onyejiaka with 18 points a piece while Nolan Adekunle added 16 points while Team Ehingen Urspring were led by Vincent Neugebauer with 17 points while Jared Grey added 16 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 49% from the field and 33% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 16 turnovers while Team Ehingen Urspring shot 37% from the field and 23% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 15 turnovers.