One thing the Fraport Skyliners haven´t seen much this season has been back to back blow out wins as they did at the start of the season against Paderborn and Munster and now did it again beating Vechta at home and Bochum on the road. Were Rosier days back for the Fraport Skyliners? Apparently so as their offense was back scoring many points and they were tightening up their defense as they allowed on average only 64 points. But they had to be ready and sharp for their next opponent the EPG Baskets Koblenz who had won a massive game on the road in Paderborn and came to Frankfurt with very high self-confidence. Plus they had super much revenge on their hands. Only a little more than a month ago, they had lost a bitter game against Frankfurt where they had controlled the game for 3 quarters only to fall apart in the fourth quarter. Head coach Pat Elzie was fired the next day as the club drama this season continued. But the EPG Baskets Koblenz came to Frankfurt with a new head coach with experienced Marco Van Den Berg and were a completely new team and fought from start to end, but after 50 tough minutes, they had to tip their caps to birthday boy Aiden Warnholtz (188-G-2000, college: Carleton) that nailed the game winner with only a few seconds to play as Frfankfurt won 74-71 in2OT. For American Ryan Richmond the game was definitely one to remember even if the outcome wasn´t appetizing for him and his teammates. “This was a great game. This is what we live for. It was definitley my game of the year. The last week was challenging as we had to juggle a lot with a new head coach coming in. I felt like we played good defense for most parts of the game. I´m really proud of how my teammates stuck together through out the game even in tough phases”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Ryan Richmond. For Aiden Warnholtz, the win and his game winner was a treat as it happened on his birthday and in front of the eyes of his 2 parents Cathy and Craig. He won 6 titles at Carleton and has seen many incredible games, but this one ranks also high on his list of best games. “This was one of the more exciting games that I have been a part of. I only have played in 2 double OT games. Our defense got us the win. It was a challenge playing against their bigs. Our biggest strength was just being on the same page defensively. We also did a good job winning other battles like the loose balls”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Aiden Warnholtz.

Justin Onyejiaka at the FT line

3,370 fans came to witness the double OT game and were entertained by a hard fought grind out game in the first quarter as both teams showed up to play defense. Physical Dominique Johnson got the guests on the board first with a trey, but Frankfurt grabbed their first lead of the game 4-3 with an acrobatic Justin Onyejiaka basket on transition and free throws. The game was tight as no team gave away any gifts. Both teams executed with difficulty, but here and there got big plays as Warnholtz got an offensive rebound and put back with a reverse lay up, while the guests got a Richmond three pointer and Maurice Pluskota 20 footer as Frankfurt trailed 8-6. Koblenz controlled the boards while Frankfurt sought out the drive instead of playing too much long ball. Koblenz continued to use their bigs very well playing the high low as ex Rhondorf center Gabriel De Olveira made the extra pass to Moses Poelking for the 2 points. Cameron Henry added a three pointer while ex Central Michigan guard Caleb Huffman a trey at the buzzer as Koblenz led 13-11 after 10 minutes. “We knew that it would be a physical game, but didn´t expect it to be so low scoring. They had a coaching change so you never know what to expect. They came out aggressive from the start”, said Aiden Warnholtz. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 36% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 25% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Marvin Heckel at the FT line

The second quarter continued to be a grind out fest as defense ruled and no team could get away on a run. Leon Friederici who has 29 easyCredit BBL games on his resume began with a trey as Koblenz led 16-11. Frankfurt returned to the long ball and found their range as ex Oldenburg guard Kevin Mcclain hit as did ex Duesseldorf guard Booker Coplin, but the guests still led 19-17. Frankfurt continued to stay with the 3 ball as Coplin made a trey, but Pluskota added a running hook shot and Frankfurt still trailed 23-20. Then came a crazy faze where 4 in your face three pointers were made by Warnholtz, Johnson and 2 by Ryan Richmond as Koblenz kept the 32-27 advantage. Koblenz is a team that often has breakdowns in games, but not so much on this day as their self confidence was staggering at both ends. “I´m a player that will make shots off the bounce. That is nothing new for me. When shots begin to fall for me, all opens up. I got hot”, said Ryan Richmond. Ex Indiana State guard and defensive specialist Cameron Henry hit a three pointer late which was matched by Richmond free throws as Koblenz had the slim 34-31 lead at the break. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 39% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 38% from the field and 43% from outside and had 18 rebounds and 8 turnovers. “There were many in your face shots, but it´s something that you have to live with. You can´t worry about it. Richmond is a guy that can score. We later did a good job controlling him better. We did a better job handling the physicality of Koblenz as we got more bodies on people”, stated Aiden Warnholtz.

Cameron Henry from outside

In the third quarter, both teams celebrated runs, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz made the last punch and had their biggest lead of the game after 30 minutes. Koblenz began the second half strong going on a 6-0 run as they forced Frankfurt to 2 turnovers and shared the ball nicely as Poelking scored inside, Friederici hit the long ball and reliable captain Marvin Heckel made a lay in to lead 40-31. Frankfurt was unable to match Koblenz´s intensity and were in a rut offensively not making good shot selections. Frankfurt continued to have problems executing on second chance points something the guests did better. But basketball is a game of run as Justin Onyejiaka displayed scoring 5 unanswered points with a floater from the baseline and a trey as Frankfurt trailed 40-36. But the guests continued to execute well as Leon Friederici hit a trey and Gabriel de Oliveira made a lay in for the 46-40 lead. Friederici was a real spark plug off the bench something he had shown last season as well. “I love Leon. I had been teammates with his brother Vincent and played against Leon in the past. I have a lot of respect for him. He is a great pro with an incredible work ethic. It was great to see him get into the groove. His shots kept us in the game”, warned Ryan Richmond. After a thunderous Jacob Knauf dunk, the guests closed out the third quarter with a 6-1 run to lead 53-43. In the run, Marvin Heckel made a off balance shot, Richmond free throws and Poelking an offensive rebound and put back. “We were down 10 points mainly due to unnecessary errors. This is something that we have to clean up. Runs always occur and you need to cut down on unforced errors”, warned Aiden Warnholtz. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 44% from the field and 53% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 32% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Leon Friederici from the FT line

The Fraport Skyliners left it all on the floor in the fourth quarter as they buckled down on defense and allowed only 4 points in making a comeback and forcing OT. Frankfurt had a prosperous start going on a 5-0 run to trail only 53-48 as ex Alba Berlin center Lorenz Brenneke made an offensive rebound and left handed put back and Coplin connected on a catch and pop trey. Heckel then made a lay in with an extra pass from Poelking as Frankfurt trailed 55-48. The Fraport Skyliners continued to grind and battle and just chip away as Mcclain made a runner to trail 55-50. Pluskota followed with 2 free throws as Koblenz led 57-50. All the missed free throws by Koblenz throughout the game would bite them in the butt now, because with 4-5 more shots made, they would never have lost this game. Frankfurt continued their comeback with a Brenneke tip in who was extra aggressive in the stretch run and a Pluskota technical foul led to a Warnholtz free throw and Frankfurt trailing 57-53. Frankfurt would score no more field goals, but take the game to OT with Muenkat free throws and a Brenneke field goal. Incredible team defense led by Cameron Henry who was the X-factor paved the way as Richmond missed the last shot for the win. “We got juiced up with stops and some shots made. The crowd was behind us which really helped”, commented Aiden Warnholtz. “Mentally we were there, but we just didn´t execute. Frankfurt did a great job taking our inside game away. They made it hard on the entry balls and for us to execute”, expressed Ryan Richmond. The Fraport Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 29% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 40% from the field and 47& from outside and had 31 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Ryan Richmond from downtown

The first overtime was a continued grind out as only 12 points were scored. Friederici made the first basket of OT with an off balance shot for the 59-57 advantage. Brenneke missed a free throw while Friederici answered with 2 free trhows and Frankfurt trailed 61-58. Henry who can be a streaky shooter saved his best for last making a shot from the left corner for 2 points as Koblenz led 61-60. Koblenz could of iced the game in OT, but Heckel and De Oliveira missed one free throw a piece to lead only 63-60. That set the stage for the first Skyliner heroics as Cameron Henry sent Frankfurt to the second OT with a three pointer and game dead locked 63-63. “I knew it was going in as he released it. He plays at 100% at both sides. He is a great defender and gets to his spots on offense. He was our MVP this game”, stated Fraport Skyliner Kevin Mcclain. “We had a mental lapse on Henry´s shot. They set a perfect screen for him. He is a good player and made the wide open shot”, said Ryan Richmond. “Henry´s shot looked good when he released it. We as a team are always confident when he shoots the ball”, warned Aiden Warnholtz. In the second OT, the Fraport Skyliners jumped all over the guests leading by 6 points only to see them fight back and dead lock the game once again. Frankfurt began strong going on a 8-2 run to lead 71-65. In the run, they received an acrobatic circus shot by Booker Coplin, 4 clutch points by Jordan Samare and free throws by Henry. But Koblenz never gave up punching Frankfurt back with a lethal 6-0 run to tie the game at 71-71. In the run, Ryan Richmond contributed 4 points and Poelking made free throws. With 9,7 seconds to play, Frankfurt had possession and Warnholtz made the game winner with a clutch trey from the top of the key to win the game. “The original play wasn´t for me. I got open and it was an in rhythm shot. It was an easy shot I usually make”, smiled Aiden Warnholtz. “We were outnumbered on the last play. DJ was hit and got a bloody nose which left Warnholtz open. Hats off to Frankfurt. They made tough shots. What I liked about how we played today was our consistent dog mentality. That is something that new coach Marco has instilled in us in the short time. We never took off plays and locked in today”, stated Ryan Richmond. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Cameron henry with 18 points while Booker Coplin contributed 13 points while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Ryan Richmond with 17 points while Leon Friederici and Marvin Heckel added 12 points apiece. The Fraport Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 29% from outside and had 43 rebounds and 21 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 35% from the field and 38% from outside and had 43 rebounds and 26 turnovers.