After a long summer vacation, it was finally time for basketball again in the CGM arena for Koblenz, but now under the name Guardians. The name is perfect as the Koblenz team want to guard their home court as best as possible with strong basketball. They couldn´t have awaited a tougher opponent that the VFL SparkassenStars who opened up the season. Who could forget the bitter 2 point loss in Bochum or the thrilling 95-92 win at home last season where despite the loss, Koblenz witnessed a massive shooting clinic as Bochum nailed 20 three´s. Both teams were rebuilt and were looking for a very successful start into the new season. On paper it sure looked like the Guardians were the favorite as Bochum was without their top guard Niklas Geske and Killian Dietz but that didn´t deter them from giving all they had and surprising Koblenz by stealing one on the road 81-64. The EPG Baskets Koblenz began well, but Bochum stepped up their defense and from the second quarter until the end, Koblenz could never find a sound rhythm again. The EPG Guardians dug a hole for themselves in the second quarter and could never escape it. “We didn´t play like ourselves. That what you saw for 40 minutes tonight wasn´t Guardians basketball. We have to play our game in order to be successful”, warned American Ty Cockfield. The VFL Sparkassen Bochum were a few men short, but made super adjustments and found to their offense better in the second quarter which they held on to until the end. They fought and simply played like an underdog team. “We all knew how tough last season was. We came into this game seeing it as a second chance. We definitely played like an underdog and have that chip on our shoulder. We communicated well and never got too high or too low. We picked up our defense and when we are locked in, then we are a good defensive team”, warned Keith Braxton (196-G-1997, college: SFU).

TJ Cockfield at the FT line

The EPG Guardians didn´t waste any time jumping on the VFL SparkassenStars leading 13-4 in the first few minutes. What Guardian fans saw then was Guardians basketball. The basketball show was led by ex BBL player Dominique Johnson who drilled home 2 three´s and ex Alabama State (NCAA) great Ty Cockfield added 7 points. Cockfield showed quickly that he could take the league by storm and Johnson was his own usual self. “DJ was as physical as usual and you could see he is moving better than last year. As usual he held the team together”, stressed EPG Guardians sport director Thomas Klein. Koblenz was playing good team ball and playing very physical on ball defense that overwhelmed the guests. Koblenz also did a great job keeping Braxton away from the ball and closing down the three ball line. Instead of getting discouraged Bochum got the ball inside and was led by ex TV Langen big man Tom Alte and also got some easy buckets on transition as Koblenz was napping. It also helped that Bochum went to zone that brought Koblenz out of their rhythm. But luckily for the EPG Guardians Koblenz, they still led 17-12 after 10 minutes. “We had a strong start. Bochum seemed overwhelmed by our physical defense. But Bochum then went to zone and also ran their plays better. We played strong defense keeping them off the three point line”, said Thomas Klein. “We came out flat, but we then communicated better and matched their physicality and brought more energy coming back into the game”, added Keith Braxton.

Keith Braxton jumper

In the second quarter came the turning point of the game where the VFL SparkassenStars went on a lethal 12-1 taking the double digit lead and never ever looked back. American Michael Bradley who last played at Mercyhurst (NCAA2) began the second quarter with a three pointer for the 20-14 advantage. However Bochum once again proved that basketball will always be a game of runs as they went on a 12-1 run to lead 32-21. In the run the guests got back to back three´s from German Lars Kamp who played 3 seasons with the Hamburg Towers and Braxton to get the run going. That stifled Koblenz as Bochum continued to play smart playing inside out ball and drawing 3 fouls and getting easy free throw points. German Emil Loch who last played with Iserlohn also connected on a trey. Bochum played strong defense forcing Koblenz to hold the ball to long and forcing them to more tough shots. Johnson stopped the run with a clutch trey and Cockfield used his quickness for an easy lay up getting Koblenz to 32-25, but Bochum just wouldn´t let up and just continued to execute well with the drive and mid distance shot as Braxton, Alte and ex Hillsdale (NCAA2) forward Peter Kalthoff scored for the 39-31 lead. Koblenz didn´t go into the break holding their heads, but finished strongly with 2 key three´s from American rookie Kasey Draper and Johnson to trail only 41-37 after 20 minutes. “We increased our energy in that run. Once we got more stops and went on transition, that also increased our confidence level”, commented Keith Braxton. “We totally lost our rhythm in that run, but we fought back. They scored a lot on 1-1 play and took our drive and passing lanes away”, expressed Thomas Klein.

Dominque Johnson jumper

One would of thought after only trailing by 4 points at the break, that the EPG Guardians would come out more focused, but instead totally lost track mustering only 5 points the whole quarter while Bochum sealed the win early with 22 points to lead 63-42 after three quarters. The VFL SparkassenStars threw a rapid 10-0 run into the faces of the Guardians and extended their lead to 51-37. In the run, they got buckets from Lars Kamp and ex Hagen point guard Jonas Grof while Braxton continued being dangerous making a lay in. On Kamp´s first basket, his turnaround shot looked something out of Steph Curry´s bag of tricks. “The clock was down and that was a momentum changer. He hits big shots, that was nothing new to me”, stated Keith Braxton. Bochum´s offense was calm and their execution rate was incredible as they just ran their plays with patience and got good results. Koblenz wasn´t able to come to terms with their physicality on defense as they were forced to numerous turnovers. Even after Draper stopped the run with a trey, Bochum didn´t quit, but just kept pushing forward and got 6 unanswered points from Keith Braxton who just strolled into the zone and did what he wanted to giving Bochum the 57-40 advantage. “I began slowly, but coach Banobre told me at the bench to calm myself down and recollect myself. My teammates did a good job finding me and instilling confidence in me. My confidence rose with every new shot I made”, stressed Keith Braxton. Ex PS Karlsruhe center Maurice Pluskota stopped the Braxton run with a lay in on transition, but Bochum just kept executing going on a 6-0 run as Kalthoff and Alte scored and ex Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA) guard Matthew Strange dropped free throws for the 21 point advantage. “We played a really strong quarter. We continued to score pilling it up and increasing our lead”, said Keith Braxton. “We became frustrated and got on ourselves unable to regain our composure. Our energy was down and they did a great job capitalizing on our mistakes”, stressed Ty Cockfield.

Matthew Strange at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the EPG Guardians executed better on offense, but couldn´t get stops as Bochum continued to execute well on offense as well. Cockfield got back to back baskets in the first few minutes, but Bochum always had an answer with a Kamp lay in and hard Alte dunk as Bochum still led 68-46. Dominque Johnson continued to show that he can take on responsibility scoring 5 points, but Koblenz just couldn´t get stops. Bochum just continued to move the ball well and get to their spots as Grof made a pretty turnaround shot, Braxton a lay in and Alte another dunk for the 77-61 advantage. Bradley added a lay in late, but the guests got more insurance baskets as Kalthof made free throws and Alte a turnaround shot. “Basketball is a game of runs. We played better in the fourth quarter. We fought hard, but dropped this game. We have to watch video. We will be ready next Sunday for Dresden”, warned Ty Cockfield. “I´m proud how well we ended the game despite being up by 21 points. We remained focused on the game plan and executed to the end”, stressed Keith Braxton. The VFL SparkasseStars were led by Keith Braxton with 26 points. Tom Alte added 14 points while Lars Kamp and Jonas Grof added 11 pointsa apiece while the EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by Ty Cockfield with 20 points while Dominque Johnson added 19 points. The VFL SparkassenStars Bochum shot 51% from the field and 26% from outside and had 26 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 40% from the field and 36% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 24 turnovers.