It could have been a happy end in Rostock in Game 2 for the Dragons Rhondorf, but their come back attempt simply began way too late as they lost the crucial game 2 on the road 84-81. Now it was time for the classic do or die game 3 back in the Dragons Rhondorf living room. These are the moments that players live for and fans also love to witness as the tension builds and it basically comes down to win or go home. After the desolate performance by Rostock in game one, they definitely wanted revenge for their poor showing while the Dragons Rhondorf were back in familiar territory and wanted to find their groove again from the parking lot. On a untypical Sunday afternoon game with very cold temperatures for mid April, it was do or die in the Dragon Dome and the Dragons Rhondorf simply showed no mercy coming out strong from the get go and controlling the game for 40 minutes and easily beating the Seawolves Academy 103-77. It was a game where every player on the squad gave 180% and wanted to reach the next round and just showed no mercy. The Dragons showed once again when there at home, they are tough to beat and their depth is just unmatchable. ‘We did show no mercy. We were so ready to go today. Our sense of urgency and intensity was so high. We would have played at 5Am if needed. It all started with our defense which led to our offense. We paid attention to the little details on offense and had a high intensity on defense’, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola. The Seawolves Academy played a great season and exceeded all expectations, but in this do or die game, they just couldn’t match the intensity or depth for 40 minutes. ‘They had a lot of more experience. That added a lot of pressure on me. We fought very hard for 40 minutes, but it was just one of those days where we didn’t hit shots. They on the other hand did hit shots’, stressed Seawolves Academy guard Branden Maughmer.

Toni Nickel at the FT line

The Dragons Rhondorf went into the game without big man Ferenc Gille who hurt himself in game 2 in Rostock. The Dragons Rhondorf came out of the blocks focused leading 10-4 quickly. It was especially Las Vegas native Kelvin Omojola who was extra motivated in that he scored 2 baskets using his extreme quickness and Texas Native Avery Sullivan and Badu Buck also scored. Rhondorf didn’t use their three in this run, but concentrated on the drive and also got some offensive rebounds and made hustle plays to help their cause. Rostock fought back and received some energy and production from ex Dragons Oshane Drews and 2022 JBBL finalist Gustav Kringel as they also relied on getting baskets inside with their athleticism as they only trailed 17-13. The Dragons 1-1 defense was weak something they have struggled with all season long. The Dragons Rhondorf didn’t let that Rostock comeback rattle them as they held the lead and remained aggressive getting into the lane. Ex Bamberg guard Tyreese Blunt (191-PG-2002) added 3 points on free throws while reserve player Mamadou Diallo dropped a trey and Sullivan registered a massive dunk that rocked the gym. Rhondorf did a fine job keeping Rostock top scorer Branden Maughmer to only 2 points. ‘I was on a mission. I would of played at 5am. It was a do or die game and we just brought the urgency and intensity from the start. Rostock did a good job sticking with us’, stated Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 50% from the field and 14% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Seawolves Academy shot 37% from the field and 20% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

Avery Sullivan with the lay in

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf maintained a healthy lead, but then allowed the guests to storm back only to stroll into half-time with a run and 13 point advantage. Rhondorf stepped up their defense getting stops getting early scores from ex Ulm guard Marco Rosic with a floater and another Sullivan dunk for the 30-19 lead. Blunt remained aggressive getting a basket for the 33-23 lead. However Rostock came back going on a 8-2 run as Maughmer got going getting 5 points and just leading their offense with timely baskets. Daniel Lopez also made a floater to trail Rhondorf 35-31.’Maughmer is a great 3 level scorer. He can score and create for others. He is the best guard that I played against this season. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him’, stated Kelvin Omojola. However a close game became a comfortable game again for the Dragons Rhondorf as they closed out the second quarter with a lightening 9-0 run to lead 46-33 at the break. In the run, it was the magical play of Janne Muller who sparked his team as his brutal aggressiveness and nonstop attack mode stifled the guests and sparked his teammates. He scored twice including a coast to coast run and lay in while Omojola was also hot with 2 baskets on lay in’s. ‘We were trying to take advantage of the mismatches. And right when Muller came in, we ran a play for him. He scored right away. His energy and self-confidence is so high at a young age. He has zero fear’, warned Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 50% from the field and 20% from the three point line and had 22 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Seawolves Academy shot 36% from the field and 8% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Oshane Drews with the jumper
In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf broke the game wide open exploding for 32 points and leading by 26 points after 30 minutes. The Dragons Rhondorf jumped all over Rostock with consecutive three’s by 2018 NBBL champion Badu Buck as they led 52-33. The guests did react well with a mini 4-0 run as Maughmer and Sydnee Bijlisma scored as the Dragons 1-1 defense was suspect again. But that little spurt of scoring didn’t scare Rhondorf as they punched back with a lethal 10-2 run to lead 62-39. In the run, Rhondorf spread the scoring around as Sullivan scored twice including a sweet old school hook shot while Muller, Dialo and Omojola all scored inside. Rhondorf continued to execute well as Buck scored twice and Omojola again who would take advantage of any crack in the zone defense as Rhondorf led 71-45. Rhondorf also played their best defense in this phase getting 6 steals to help preserve the big advantage. Rhondorf got continued valuable bench help as ex Tuebingen center Jekabs Beck scored 2 baskets while Rostock got 2 baskets from Bijlisma, but the Dragons Rhondorf had the overwhelming 78-52 lead after 3 quarters. ‘I think that our depth is the deepest in the Pro B. Everyone wants to play and we have great players. When both units are playing well, it just makes everybody’s job easier. Teams just can’t combat that. I feel like we have 10 guys that could start in the Pro B’, commented Kelvin Omojola. ‘The 2three’s by Buck to start the second half were a huge momentum switch. You can’t let something like that happen in a big game like this. It was even tougher to come back after that’, said Branden Maughmer. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 52% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Seawolves Academy shot 39% from the field and 13% from the parking lot and had 33 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Janne Muller at the Ft line

In the fourth quarter both teams executed well, but the Seawolves Academy couldn’t make any ground as their deficit was simply too large. The guests came out strong with a mini 4-0 run as Maughmer and Aidenojie scored inside to cut the Dragons lead to 78-56. However the Dragons Rhondorf then totally put the game out of reach with a brutal 11-0 run to lead 89-56. In the run, the number 1 ranked team was led by Tyreese Blunt with 7 points that had this crazy aggressiveness that is so infectious while Omojola and Buck also scored. The game was long decided now and both teams took a foot off the defensive gas pedal as both executed well on offense. Rostock got good production from big man Toni Nickel (7 points) and Oshane Drews (9 points) that controlled the offense while Rhondorf played their young German Dyami Janeck who supplied 4 points. Janne Muller supplied points 97-100 and Beck added a late three pointer to end the game. ‘We finished the game strong. We knew that we wanted to carry over to the next series well. We kept out fundamentals on defense, kept rebounding and executed well on offense’, added Kelvin Omojola. ‘We always tried to come back. I know that the game is never over until the buzzer sounds. I tried to be a good example for the young guys going all out until the end. They have to know to never give up’, stressed Branden Maughmer. The Dragons Rhondorf had 5 guys in double figures as Tyreese Blunt had 22 points. Kelvin Omojola added 16 points and 10 assists while Badu Buck added 14 points while the Seawolves Academy were led by Oshane Drews with 18 points and Branden Maughmer had 16 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 53% from the field and 29% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Seawolves Academy shot 43% from the field and 13% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 20 turnovers.