Even if the Fraport Skyliners were facing a do or die situation in their own living room, one has to be clear that they were lucky that they were still in the semi-finals series against ex BBL team Gladiatiors Trier. The Gladiators had controlled the first 3 games and Frankfurt had been fortunate to come off with a win in game 1 with a three point come back. However when the three doesn´t fall, then the Fraport Skyliners have extreme difficulty to win. Matching Trier´s physicality and limiting their shifty and crafty guards also hasn´t been an easy thing to tackle. The Fraport Skyliners had 2 games left within 48 hours that they had to win if they wanted to fulfill their season goal of returning back to the easyCredit BBL, but no mater in their living room or not, they had to finally find more in game consistency something that they couldn´t master this season for longer lengths. But as usual the Fraport Skyliners put themselves in a hole in game 4 and had to play catch up basketball in the fourth quarter only to be saved once again with a last second shot like in game one this time by Aiden Warnholtz (188-G-2000, college: Carleton) propelling the Fraport Skyliners to 74-73 win over the Gladiators Trier. Frankfurt showed again that they have that we believe feeling in crunch-time. “Trier is a really good team. We play hard defense for 40 minutes and try to force them to tough shots. We just know that no matter what if we play tough defense we can come back. Hustle plays, rebounds and big defensive plays at the end got us the win”, stated Fraport Skyliner Aiden Warnholtz. The Gladiators Trier played another very convincing game where they were in control, but once again gave up a big lead to lose at the end. “This whole series has been very exciting with 2 teams going at it. We were up 10 points in 2 games and lost at the end. We just have to keep our defensive identity and play good defense and execute on offense”, stressed Gladiator Trier guard Clayton Guillozet. Ex Fraport Skyliner Garai Zeeb was in attendance and was already taking a look at his next opponent as he and PS Karlsruhe await who will be in the final. “Frankfurt usually wins when they keep teams to under 80 points. Trier did a good job controlling the game, but like in game 1, Frankfurt came back and forced them to tough shots and hit bigs shots at the end”, stressed PS Karlsruhe guard Garai Zeeb.

Justin Onyejiaka

The Fraport Skyliners had a potent first quarter where they led, but allowed Trier to come back in the last minute with 2 timely shots to lead 22-21. Frankfurt began strong getting their three ball to fall as Canadian David Muenkat connected twice while ex Vechta guard Justin Onyejiaka scored on transition while high energy player JJ Mann scored from outside and Maik Zirbes made a lay in as Frankfurt led 9-5. Frankfurt had a healthy offensive rhythm and continued to execute as Canadian Aiden Warnholtz supplied 5 points as Frankfurt led 14-9. Frankfurt was relying on the bomb, but then began to go into the paint area more as California native Ife Ajayi added 6 points including 4 free throws as Frankfurt led 20-14. It looked like Frankfurt could add their lead into double digits, but Trier showed just how lethal their game can be closing out the first quarter with a 7-2 run. Ex Indiana State guard Jordan Barnes made a runner and buzzer beater shot while Guillozet a trey to trail 22-21 after 10 minutes. The Fraport Skyliners shot 46% from the field and 60% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Gladiators Trier shot 39% from the field and 38% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 2 turnovers. “We came out strong. We played with a lot of energy and just tried to make them work hard for everything”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz.

Jordan Barnes from outside

In the second quarter the Gladiators Trier responded by taking control of the game in the second half of the quarter and taking a 5 point lead into half-time. Frankfurt kept the lead by executing well on offense getting a trey from Florida native Kevin McClain and extreme energy from 2 time NBBL champion Bruno Vrcic who scored twice inside using a mismatch and making a back door lay in to lead 32-27. Trier didn´t have a good offensive rhythm and forced too much. However Trier do have some guys who can take over a game instantly as did 2 time Iranian World Cup Participant Behnam Yakhchali who led his team on a 12-2 run to lead 41-34. In the run, he began making 2 buckets which was followed by 4 points from Guillozet and 4 points from ex Orange Academy forward Moritz Krimmer. Trier developed a nice flow in their offense and were more calm and just found their spots better. The Fraport Skyliners totally got away from their team play and wasted their offense execution with too much 1-1 play against an aggressive trier defense that stopped them time in and time out. “They tried to post up early against us. We stuck to our defensive plan and forced them to play to our hands. They had to make adjustment”, stated Clayton Guillozet. Lorenz Brenneke ended the second quarter with a lay in as Frankfurt trailed 41-36. “The ball did stick at the end. That reminded us that we do play our best basketball when we move the ball well”, stated Aiden Warnholtz. The Gladiators Trier shot 35% from the field and 21% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 44% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Kevin McClain from outside

In the third quarter there was less scoring as both teams were able to generate more defensive stops as the Gladiators Trier still led 55-48 after 30 minutes. Moritz Krimmer and Kevin McClain traded three pointers in the first minutes as Frankfurt trailed 44-39. McClain continued to be an energy spark form the bench adding 5 points including 3 free throws chipping away at the Trier lead trailing 48-44. Trier continued to keep the lead as they seemed to always have a new guy that could step up and now it was Missouri native Jordan Barnes who made 2 difficult step back jumpers one prettier than the other and in best Steph Curry manner for the 53-46 advantage. The Fraport Skyliners continued to have great difficulty moving the ball the way they were used to and continued to be forced to difficult 1-1 situations. Ajayi added 4 points in the last minutes of the third quarter, but couldn´t make any ground as the Gladiators Trier led 55-48. “Barnes really carried us and is our leader. He needs the ball is his hands and has been successful since day 1. The way he has responded to his role and carried us has been very special”, stated Clayton Guillozet. “Barnes is quick and has good handles. He made really tough shots. We have to do a better job as a team on him as well as with our 1-1 defense”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. The Gladiators Trier shot 35% from the field and 24% from the parking lot and had 27 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 33% from the parking lot and had 33 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Behnam Yakhchali

In the fourth quarter the Gladiators Trier were on the verge of making the ultimate punch, but hesitated too long allowing the Fraport Skyliners to make an incredible comeback. Bruno Vrcic began the fourth quarter with a lay in to cut Trier´s lead to 55-50. But that didn´t rattle Trier as they responded with back to back three´s by Krimmer and Guillozet to give Trier the 61-50 advantage. Trier simply had too many weapons and had 4 guys in double figures at that point to Frankfurt having one guy in double figures. Frankfurt got a 25 footer from Ajayi and trey from Muenkat, but Trier responded with Krimmer and Barnes free throws to lead 65-55. Frankfurt had fire in their eyes and still a lot of gas in their gas tank as Muenkat and Vrcic delivered 5 points to trail 65-60. But Trier always had an answer as JJ Mann nailed a crazy step back three pointer for the 68-60 lead. Frankfurt continued to have that we believe spirit as David Muenkat was on since the tip off after missing 2 games due to a suspension scored 5 points and Trier led only 69-65. Trier continued to have the next answer as this time it was time for the next crazy shot from Yakhchali who scored for the 71-65 advantage. Time was running down and Frankfurt knew it and responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 71-71. A trey by ex Artland Dragon center Jacob Knauf and a reverse lay up from Warnholtz supplied the damage. But Jordan Barnes seemed to supply the last punch with a tough off balance shot for the 73-71 lead with 12 seconds to play. Skyliners head coach Denis Wucherer took a time out and Frankfurt then responded as Aiden Warnholtz hit the big three for the 74-73 lead with 4 seconds to go. “The shot was similar to the Koblenz game. Coplin drew 2 defenders and got me the ball. The shot felt good when I released it”, smiled Aiden Warnholtz. “I was hoping it would come off the rim so I could get the rebound. But he made a big shot”, said Clayton Giullozet. The Gladiators Trier had 4 seconds remaining for one last shot, but Yakhchali coughed up the ball allowing Frankfurt to live another day. “We have been down 10 late before, but we always have that belief that we can come back no matter what”, stressed Aiden Warnholtz. “We had good looks that didn´t fall while they had good looks that feel. It really doesn´t get any more complicated”, stated Clayton Guillozet. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Ife Ajayi with 14 points. David Muenkat added 13 points while Bruno Vrcic and Aiden Warnholtz added 10 poionts a piece while the Gladiators Trier were led by Jordan Barnes with 19 points while Clayton Guillozet had 14 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 42% from the field and 42% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the Gladiators Trier shot 36% from the field and 31% from outside and had 35 rebounds and 7 turnovers.