The stretch run of the Pro B south regular season had arrived in it´s crunch-time and the Fraport Skyliners Juniors were in a real dog fight with the 2 Bavarian teams Coburg and Oberaching for the fight for the last spot for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs as all had 26 points a piece as below them there were 3 teams with 24 points apiece with Munich, Speyer and Ludwigsburg also looking to somehow sneak in. For Frankfurt to keep their win streak alive and have hopes for home court advantage, they had to withstand top team Rhondorf Dragons who had secured position 1 for the season with a home win over leitershofen. Rhondorf came to Frankfurt having won 3 of their last 4 games and wanted to sweep the season series while Frankfurt wanted to seek revenge for their bitter overtime loss in Rhondorf earlier in the season. Despite being a bit shorthanded missing 3 double license Pro A players, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors controlled the game for the first 3 quarters, but then allowed the Dragons Rhondorf to make it an exciting game in the last quarter as it looked like they would win it, but a game isn´t over until the fat lady sings as Trevian Bell (201-G/F, college: Lewis) proved with an incredible buzzer beater with 1,9 seconds to play to win the game. “This was a good old fashioned March madness type of game. Our mentality going in was to get rolling going into the playoffs. We showed a lot of resilience for 40 minutes playing a top team like Rhondorf”, smiled Fraport Skyliner Trevian Bell. The Dragons Rhondorf were also missing key big men Leon Bulic and Ferenc Gille and didn´t play their best game, but they never gave up and almost had the game won, but a game isn´t won after 39 minutes and 58 seconds. “We started off slow and had way too many turnovers. We had to fight an uphill battle. Our focus and energy was better in the second half. We had game as good as won until the buzzer beater. That was Bell´s shot”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola.

Nils Leonhardt at the FT line

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors came out punching with a superb intensity while the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t and rapidly trailed 10-3. Frankfurt was sparked by back to back three´s by Illinois native Trevian Bell. The Frankfurt defense was aggressive and quickly forced Rhondorf to early turnovers. Frankfurt had inspiring team play while the Dragons Rhondorf´s offense was static and little ball movement. Rhondorf had immense difficulty getting the ball inside as Frankfurt closed up the zone well. When Rhondorf did get some offense generated through Antonio Pilipovic and Badu Buck buckets it tended to be more 1-1 plays as they trailed 14-7. Frankfurt had a strong offensive rhythm and closed out the first quarter with a lethal 14-6 run to lead 28-13 after 10 minutes. In the run, Frankfurt continued to demonstrate a love for sharing the ball as ex Hanau guard Felix Hecker drilled home a trey and free throws, 2017 JBBL finalist Calvin Schaum made a lay in while 16 year old universal genius Ivan Crnjac poured home 7 points as his adult play continues to be amazing. He showed his 3 level scoring with lay in´s and a 15 footer. “His play is a testament to our hard work in practice. We push each other to get better. All the young kids are real competitors and Ivan recognizes that he is just like the rest of us”, stated Trevian Bell. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 71% from the field and 60% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 38% from the field and 0% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 8 turnovers. “Usually when we have a good start, we have a good game. Being able to build our confidence early was big for us. We knew they would make a run eventually”, said Trevian Bell.

Tyreese Blunt lay in

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf upped their intensity on the defensive end, but couldn´t keep it at a consistent rate as Frankfurt still had the sound 41-32 advantage at the break. Felix Hecker began with a three pointer for the 31-13 Frankfurt lead. However the Dragons Rhondorf found to their game finally rolling on a 14-3 run to trail only 34-28. In the run the guests finally hit some three´s from ex Bamberg guard Tyreese Blunt and Pilipovic while diminutive guard Marko Rosic added 4 points and 17 year old German Janne Muller made a three point play. The Dragons Rhondorf were playing better as a team and executing better while their defensive intensity heightened forcing Frankfurt to turnovers and more tough shots. Frankfurt stopped the Rhondorf run with a swift 5-0 run as Schaum nailed a three pointer and Leif Zentgraf made the 2 handed dunk as Nils Leonhardt made the extra pass for the Frankfurt 39-28 lead. Rhondorf had some defensive lapses and had some erratic offensive plays as they just couldn´t be consistent and hold their momentum. In the last minute, Las Vegas native Kelvin Omojola made a lay in and Muller free throws while Frankfurt got an offensive rebound and put back by Bell and then a buzzer beater at the break as he wasn´t done yet for the day with his crazy shots. “We played good team defense. We were playing honest and being in the right spots”, commented Trevian Bell. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 57% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 345 from the field and 17% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Calvin Schaum lay in

In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to heighten their offensive production scoring 26 points and trailed only by 4 points after 30 minutes. Ex Lamar (NCAA) center Avery Sullivan wasn´t at 100% as one could see that he had knee problems, but the Texas native fought every possession and was key scoring 8 points and really carrying the Dragons. “Sullivan is a big time player. He wasn´t totally healthy. It´s a long season”, said Kelvin Omojola. Rhondorf couldn´t get consistent stops as the Frankfurt offense was also cooking as Bell continued to be a menace scoring 2 three´s while ex Trier forward Nils Leonhardt was aggressive getting 6 points including a dunk as Frankfurt held the 59-50 lead. However the Dragons Rhondorf were strong enough to stay in the game and were just waiting to pounce on Frankfurt for that next run and did producing a 6-0 run as Sullivan who continued to attack in the paint made a hook shot and Pilipovic drilled home a trey and four point play to trail 59-56. The game now was a real dog fight as both teams offenses were cooking. Frankfurt did hold the lead as captain pass first point guard Alvin Onyia made a pretty lay in high off the glass and German big man Florian Dietrich made a free throw. Badu Buck ended the third quarter with a jumper as Frankfurt had the narrow 62-58 lead. “They are number one for a reason and are deep. They made adjustments against our defense and became more aggressive and got Sullivan the ball more inside”, expressed Trevian Bell. “We switched a lot and they killed our pick and roll defense. We moved the ball better and just had more pep. When we play good offense it effects our defense and vice versa”, commented Kelvin Omojola. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 54% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 47% from the field and 20% from the parking lot and had 24 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Avery Sullivan at the FT line

In the fourth quarter The game was a real nail bitter as the Dragons Rhondorf made their move and looked like they would pull away with the win, but Trevian Bell had other ideas. The Dragons Rhondorf were raising their game step by step and quickly got off on a 7-2 run at the begin of the fourth quarter to get their second lead of the game at 65-64. The Dragons run was sparked by a Omojola lay in, Pilpovic three pointer and Sullivan lay in where Omojola served up only his first dime of the game. Both teams would trade leads with a Dietrich lay in and Blunt free throws as Rhondorf led 67-66. Nils Leonhardt then supplied 2 clutch three´s while Omojola was hot getting 5 points and the game was dead looked at 72-72. Rhondorf then seemed to have a little better nerves as they went on a 9-4 run to lead 81-76 as they attacked the paint well getting 2 lay in´s from Blunt and one from Pilipovic. But Frankfurt didn´t sink their heads, but punched back with a swift 5-0 run with a Leonhardt dunk and clutch three pointer by sniper Dragon Crnjac to tie the game at 81-81 with 1,47 to play. ”It felt like March Madness. It is late in the season and all guys are in rhythm and hitting tough shots. It was that next play mentality”, added Trevian Bell. “We were executing well and once we saw shots going in, it got our defense more energized”, stated kelvin Omojola. Blunt then made a lay in for the 83-81 Rhondorf lead. After Dragons coach Stephan Dohrn got a technical foul, Trevain Bell made the free throw followed by a Schaum lay in for the 84-83 lead. Sullivan then coughed up the ball. Rhondorf fouled reliable free throw shooter Drago Crnjac, but he missed both. Rhondorf had 4 seconds and Blunt was fouled behind the three point line and made 2 of 3 for the 85-84 Rhondorf lead with 1,9 seconds to play. Frankfurt had little time. Nils Leonhardt had the ball and threw a touch down pass to the left corner caught by Bell and he hit the incredible buzzer beater for the win. “Trevian told me just to throw it up. It didn´t feel good when I passed it. Trevian caught and made an insane shot”, stated Nils Leonhardt. “I nodded my head to Nils. He made a perfect pass over my shoulder. I had 2 seconds and gave a pause to get Sullivan in the air. I waited until he was down and then shot it. I knew it was going in. I have been practicing extra hard as of late in order to be prepared for a moment like this”, warned Trevian Bell. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Trevian Bell with 24 points while Nils Leonhardt added 17 points and the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Tyreese Blunt and Avery Sullivan with 18 points apiece. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 55% from the field and 37% from outside and had 27 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 48% from the field and 26% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 15 turnovers.