The 2023-2024 season for the Dragons Rhondorf has been one to remember and the do or die games just don´t end. After thrilling series against Rostock and Wolmirstedt where Rhondorf had to go to the distance, they have to do it one more time against BG Berlin 2000 for their ticket to the Pro B final. After a disappointing 71-62 loss in game 1 in their living room, they were faced with a do or die game in Berlin, but withstood the pressure and a late Berlin comeback surviving for another day 86-82. The Dragons Rhondorf returned back home for another do or die affair and didn´t let down the home fans saving their best defensive performance of the season for almost last as they allowed only 21 points in the second half outlasting the Berlin Braves 2000 67-57 to reach the Pro B final against the Rhein Stars Cologne. “This is the farthest that I have ever gone in my pro career. It´s a great feeling. It is a blessing to finally have gotten here, but were not done yet. To be able to achieve our lowest scoring half with points allowed in such an important game is the best thing. We were all locked in”, warned Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola. The Berlin Braves gave it all they could, but in the second half were just completely stifled by the Rhondorf aggressive defense and their lethal on ball defense. “We weren´t always able to do what we wanted to on offense. Perhaps they had a bit more luck at the end and wanted it more than us. Despite the loss, I´m really proud of this team and their hard work”, stressed Berlin Braves 2000 guard Andrii Kozhemiakin.

Andrii Kozhemiakin at the FT line

The 2023-2024 season for the Dragons Rhondorf has been one to remember and the do or die games just don´t end. After thrilling series against Rostock and Wolmirstedt where Rhondorf had to go to the distance, they have to do it one more time against BG Berlin 2000 for their ticket to the Pro B final. After a disappointing 71-62 loss in game 1 in their living room, they were faced with a do or die game in Berlin, but withstood the pressure and a late Berlin comeback surviving for another day 86-82. The Dragons Rhondorf returned back home for another do or die affair and didn´t let down the home fans saving their best defensive performance of the season for almost last as they allowed only 21 points in the second half outlasting the Berlin Braves 2000 67-57 to reach the Pro B final against the Rhein Stars Cologne. “This is the farthest that I have ever gone in my pro career. It´s a great feeling. It is a blessing to finally have gotten here, but were not done yet. To be able to achieve our lowest scoring half with points allowed in such an important game is the best thing. We were all locked in”, warned Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola. The Berlin Braves gave it all they could, but in the second half were just completely stifled by the Rhondorf aggressive defense and their lethal on ball defense. “We weren´t always able to do what we wanted to on offense. Perhaps they had a bit more luck at the end and wanted it more than us. Despite the loss, I´m really proud of this team and their hard work”, stressed Berlin Braves 2000 guard Andrii Kozhemiakin.

Tyreese Blunt from outside

The Dragon Dome was sold out for the do or die game and witnessed the rainfall of three rapid three´s as Texas native Avery Sullivan (203-F/C-1999, college: Lamar) and ex Drake (NCAA) guard Antonio Pilipovic connected while Berlin got support from Philipp Daubner who had played 190 Pro A games in his career as Rhondorf led 6-3. But the Berlin Braves weren´t impressed by the quick Dragons start, but instead punched back hurling a 16-5 run into the face of the Dragons as Ukrainian guard Andrii Kozhemiakin began the explosion with 8 unanswered points as his shifty play and ability to chose his spots left the Dragons dumbfounded. “He is really crafty and knows how to change the pace well. It is difficult to stand in front of him. He does a good job attacking the mismatches”, stated Rheinstars Cologne guard Bryan Battle. The Berlin run continued as ex easyCredit BBL player Andreas Seifert made a lay in and ex EPG Baskets Koblenz sniper Marley Jean-Louis connected on 2 three´s for the 19-11 advantage. Andrii Kozhemiakin was ice cold in his play which seemed to shock the Dragons Rhondorf as they were fighting to construct an offensive rhythm. The Dragons Rhondorf got some fortune at the end of the first quarter as the guests got their 5th team foul allowing them to get 5 free points to trail 21-16 after 10 minutes. In the stat department the Berlin Braves shot 44% from the field and 45% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 30% from the field and 50% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers. “Both teams came out nervous. There was a lot on the line and both teams showed some nerves. The physicality of Berlin gave Rhondorf problems and Berlin is a team that profits off mistakes”, stressed Bryan Battle.

Martin Seiferth

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf fought back to retake the lead, but couldn´t hold it as the Berlin Braves 2000 led by 1 point at the break. Jean Louis began the second quarter with his third trey of the game giving the guests the 24-16 advantage. However the Dragons Rhondorf then got some massive support from their bigs as Fernc Gille added 7 points and Sullivan a bucket and a 11-1 run to grab back the lead 27-25. “This was the first time that I saw Gille play. He definitely passed the eye test. He is great close to the basket, but can also shoot”, added Bryan Battle. A flagrant foul by the Berlin Braves sparked Rhondorf as they stepped up their defense and just went inside and refrained on heaving the bombs from outside. It also helped Rhondorf´s cause that Andrii Kozhemiakin was on the bench in this phase as whenever he was out, their offense sputtered. However the Berlin Braves just continued to fight something they have done since their Regionalliga days and it was the powerful input by Andrii Kozhemiakin that helped them get the lead again at 33-32. Andrii Kozhemiakin kept attacking and got to the free throw line 3 times while Andreas Seifert also made a basket inside. Tyreese Blunt who had only had 2 points in this phase nailed a three, but Andrii Kozhemiakin closed out the second quarter with a lay in and 36-35 lead for Berlin. “Rhondorf made shots and momentum plays and open three´s killed Berlin´s run”, commented Bryan Battle. The Berlin Braves 2000 shot 38% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 9 turnovers and the Dragons Rhondorf shot 39% from the field and 36% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Badu Buck at the FT line

In the third quarter both teams struggled to score in the first 5 minutes, but in the latter half, the Dragons Rhondorf were able to gain control of the game and lead by 4 points after 30 minutes. Pilipovic began the third quarter with a trey and ex Wusterhausen guard Simon Paul made a 20 footer to tie the game at 38-38. Then came the biggest scoring dry spell of the game for Rhondorf as they couldn´t get points for a little more than 4 minutes. In between, American Seth Compass made an off balance shot for the 40-38 advantage. Both teams couldn´t muster anything on offense as turnovers and sloppy play dominated their play. An untimely technical foul by Berlin head coach Achmadschah Zazai sparked the Dragons especially Avery Sullivan who responded with an offensive rebound and put back and then made a 15 footer and lay in for the 45-41 lead. He brought life into the team as they were able to overpower the guests inside with their length and physicality. Both teams were defending at a high intensity as one could see that the importance of the game was on every player´s menu. Ex Kronberg forward Noah Litzbach made a runner which was matched by a clutch three pointer on transition by Blunt for the 49-44 Dragons lead. Janne Muller followed with a free throw and Andreas Seifert closed out the third quarter with a pretty old school running hook shot, but the Dragons Rhondorf led 50-46. “I don´t feel like we had nerves. Rhondorf increased their defensive pressure and did a good job. We had enough open shots”, said Andrii Kozhemiakin. “I hate to admit it, but I did feel a bit nervous at the start of the third quarter. We knew how much was on the line. Both teams wanted it too much. Avery Sullivan really stepped it up. I told him this week that we needed him to dominate and he did”, smiled Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 37% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the Berlin Braves 2000 shot 38% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 23 rebounds and 15 rebounds.

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to defend with passion and execute better on offense and never allowed the Berlin Braves to get over the hump. Rhondorf remained aggressive at both ends getting to the free throw line and getting a Gille lay in, but Berlin responded with buckets from Litzbach and Paul to trail only 55-50. However the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t let up with their defensive intensity and continued to allow only contested shots while they hammered the ball inside and got easy buckets from Gille and Sullivan to lead 59-52. 2018 NBBL champion Badu Buck then nailed a trey for the 62-52 lead with 2,32 to play. The Dragons Rhondorf had control of the game and now just had to overcome the crunch-time. Andreas Seifert added free throws, but the Berlin Braves hadn´t been able to get the big man the ball more and times was running down. Gille then added a furious alley-opp dunk which had the whole gym rocking as the Dragons led 64-54. “That was a nice dunk and such a great play. Everybody on the court touched the ball on that play. That just summed up our play as a team today. We all played as a unit”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. Blunt then added a trey from the corner for the 67-54 lead as the Dragon Dome was on fire. Andreas Seifert closed out the game with a lay in, but it was too late too little. “We got stop after stop and we had our best 5 on the court. We were all focused, all were aggressive and rotating. It was a masterclass on defense”, warned Kelvin Omojola. “Rhondorf had more energy than us. That was the difference in the fourth quarter”, stressed Andrii Kozhemiakin. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Avery Sullivan with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ferenc Gille added 15 points and Tyreese Blunt 11 points while the Berlin Braves 2000 were led by Andrii Kozhemiakin with 15 points while Andreas Seiferth had 12 points. e Dragons Rhondorf shot 37%from the field and 26% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Berlin Braves shot 35% from the field and 21% from outside and ahd 34 rebounds and 18 turnovers.