The Dragons Rhondorf spirted play continued the last weeks as they[NS1] came back into their smug living room in the Dragon Dome sporting a 4 game winning streak. The next game was a special one in Dragon country as it was the carnival game as there were many many fans dressed up in very interesting costumes. The Dragons Rhondorf next opponent was Orange Academy the ambitious farm team of 2023 easyCredit BBL champion ratiopharm Ulm who came to Rhondorf sporting a 11-7 record and were chasing the Dragons in the standings with their 15-3 record. Both teams had a very potent offense, but also allowed many points. It is always interesting to see what players would play for Orange Academy as Ulm had a game in Bonn the same evening only 20 minutes away. On a rather mild evening, Orange Academy arrived on the court missing a few key players, but that didn´t hinder them from coming together as a team as other guys stepped up like Jervis Scheffs who played very adult like leading his team past the Dragons Rhondorf 84-78. It was a game of ups and downs for both teams, but in crunch-time, it was Orange Academy that had the better nerves and better execution. “We were missing many guys, but our young guys made a step in this game. Every guy gave much energy and all they had for 40 minutes. We were well prepared and played a good zone not allowing them to attack as much as they wanted to and made them shoot more from outside. We moved the ball well and hit well”, stressed Orange Academy German Jervis Scheffs (192-G-2007) The Dragons Rhondorf fought hard, but had too many ups and downs in the game and just didn´t have the same kind of energy as the hungry guests. “We weren´t consistent enough for 40 minutes on defense. We didn´t play with the usual energy that we bring”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola.

Alec Anigbata at the FT line

The Dragons were missing young guard Marko Rosic who had injured his left leg, but had new German Ferenc Gille on board as he made his home debut. Orange Academy were missing Joel Cwik, Linus Stoll and Sebastian Pachucki who were all ill. The Dragons Rhondorf came out flat allowing Orange Academy to grab the rapid 7-0 lead. In the run, the guests got massive energy from 16 year old Dutch big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue who scored inside twice while ex FC Bayern Munich 2 forward Alec Anigbata hit a trey. Orange Academy stopped the Dragons first 4 possessions as it seemed like they underestimated the guests. But that basketball is a game of runs has always been present as Rhondorf slapped the guests with 7 unanswered points to dead lock the game at 7-7. In the run the Dragons received got solid input from Las Vegas native Omojola with a lay in, while Texas native Avery Sullivan produced an offensive rebound and put back and ex Bamberg guard Tyreese Blunt connected on a three pointer. Rhondorf calmed down and played faster and got good presence inside from the big man duo of Sullivan and Gille. But Rhondorf was unable to keep their momentum as Orange Academy roared back on a 13-6 run to lead 20-12. Orange Academy continued to play with high intensity and just shared the ball nicely. Ex NCAA guard Sigu Jawara got into the act making a trey and a floater. The ups and downs of Rhondorf continued as they had no defensive intensity and weren´t aggressive enough on the rebound. Down the stretch, Tyresse Blunt got going making 2 buckets, but couldn´t get close to Orange Academy as they continued to execute well getting baskets from Sceffs and Anigbata to lead 29-20 after 10 minutes. “We saw the same scenario in the first game. We like to run and just outran them. We did a pretty good job in the last minutes keeping their big men out of the zone”, stated Jervis Scheffs Orange Academy shot 56% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 47% from the field and 33% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Janne Muller runner

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf were able to make a come back and at the break the game was deadlocked at 45-45. Rhondorf began with a swift 8-0 run to trail only 29-28. In the run, the Dragons showed once again how valuable their depth is as any guy can step up as this time it was ex Ehingen forward Antonio Pilipovic who contributed 5 points and ex Paderborn guard Badu Buck made a lay in. Rhondorf had upped their intensity and made smart decisions while displaying nice inside out basketball. Rhondorf would take the advantage 33-31 with a pretty finger tip role lay in from Gille. Ex Weber State guard and Barcelona native Jawara tied the game with a step back jumper at 33-33. The Dragons Rhondorf then showed how lethal their offense can be when they want to as they erupted on a 11-0 run to lead 44-33. In the run, the Westbrook like player Tyreese Blunt supplied 8 points as he showed his 3 level scoring abilities. Orange Academy seemed to lose more energy with every new basket that the Dragons made. However a smart time out was called and then came the next run as Orange Academy punched back with a 12-1 run to tie the game at 45-45. Orange Academy simply played smart basketball. They didn´t do anything fancy, but just got to the free throw line and produced 9 free points from Scheffs, Holbach, and Philipp Hecker. Scheffs then put icing on the cake with a buzzer beater trey. “Coach told us during the time out not to hang our heads. We had led once before. He wanted us to play like how we started and we did that”, stated Jervis Scheffs “Orange Academy shot 41% from the field and 30% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot56% from the field and 45% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Jervis Scheffs runner

In the third quarter, it was Orange Academy´s time again to take control of the game and they would never look back again. Sullivan and Aiyamenkhue traded baskets to begin the third quarter, but Orange Academy had the 48-47 lead as the young 16 year old made an and one free throw. Orange Academy then showed how explosive they can be as they strolled out on a 13-1 run to take the commanding 61-49 lead. In the run it was the Sheffs show as he produced 9 points. He was no 16 year old kid, but simply a young man that played very adult like. He made a clutch trey and made 6 free throws showing his patience. Rhondorf had a horrible phase having 3 turnovers in a row and just didn´t play like a team. The Dragons were showing too much hero ball, something very frightening since one is used to usually seeing nice team play. The Dragons Rhondorf tried to stick together and got some important baskets from ex Wulfen guard Matej Silic and young German Janne Muller, but still trailed 63-54. Down the stretch, the Dragons got some big buckets from Tyreese Blunt to still be in the game trailing 68-60. Orange Academy continued to control the boards having the 34-25 rebound advantage and had the 12-6 offensive rebound edge. The shooting percentages were almost even and both teams had 12 turnovers a piece, but Orange Academy had the 8 point lead. “I and my other young teammates may be young, but we still already have a lot of experience. We have enough talent to be able to play well at this level. I showed what I could do. I play and give everything. That is just how I play”, warned Jervis Scheffs “Those young Players play very well for their age. Their energy was amazing. It was infectious on the whole team”, warned Kelvin Omojola.

Ferenc Gille at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to fight back, but there would be no happy end as they could only cut it down to 2 points before losing in their living room. Sullivan opened up the fourth quarter with a trey, but Anigbata responded with a trey as Orange Academy led 71-63. Janne Muller responded with quick instincts and snuck inside with a reverse lay up as the Dragons were pressing trailing 71-65. Rhondorf continued to battle and score as Omojola hit a 20 footer to trail 73-70, but they couldn´t ring up a string of consecutive stops. Orange Academy always had an answer as Anigbata made a three pointer and Hecker a free throw for the 77-73 advantage. Jamara then nailed a in your face three pointer for the 80-74 Orange Academy lead. Sullivan quickly made a tip with 1,21 to play to trail 80-76. Blunt made a huge lay in as Rhondorf trailed 80-78 with 5.2 seconds to play. But the Dragons Rhondorf couldn´t control their nerves getting a flagrant foul and Jawara and Hecker closed out the game with clutch free throws. “Rhondorf fought back and gave us problems in crunch time with transition, but we never gave up. Jawara made a big shot and we made our free throws”, added Jervis Scheffs “They executed better and just played harder than we did”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. Orange Academy was led by Jervis Scheffs with 21 points. Alec Anigbata had 17 points and Sibu Jawara supplied 13 points while the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Tyreese Blunt with 22 points and Avery Sullivan had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Orange Academy shot 40% from the field and 26% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 41% from the field and 21% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 13 turnovers.