It is never nice losing the home opener to a season at home, but what´s even more worse is stinking up the own living room. But that exactly what happened to the EPG Guardians Koblenz getting hammered by Bochum last weekend. They didn´t stay true to their new name Guardians as they didn´t protect their own home court, but rather allowed the guests to trample all over them. They needed a positive response in their second home game, but that didn´t get any easier with the Dresden Titans. They are an up and coming program that paid their dues for many years in the Pro B, but since arriving in the Pro A have really played well and just barely missed the playoffs last season. They are a team led by up and coming German head coach Fabian Straus that has a knack for bringing in the right Americans and for stressing team basketball. The EPG Guardians Koblenz had to be on top of their game to reach 500 for the season and were at least for a half as after a poor first half turned the game around 180 degrees in the second half finally showing their fans what Guardians basketball really is winning a come from behind nail bitter 79-76 over the Dresden Titans. Team leader Ty Cockfield Jr. (183-PG-1996, college: Arkansas St., agency: BIG) led all scorers with 28 points and took over the game in the fourth quarter scoring 3 buckets in a row to get the momentum and get the massive win. “In the first half we had our minds too much on last game and worried too much about it. In the second half, we played Guardians basketball. We frustrated them and tapped in as a unit”, stressed ex Arkansas State (NCAA) guard Ty Cockfield Jr.. The Dresden Titans controlled the game in the first half, but couldn´t come to terms with the Guardians heightened physicality in the second half and couldn´t sustain a good offensive rhythm and 8 missed free throws that didn´t help their cause either. “It was a tale of 2 halves. We had a great first half where we did everything right. In the second half, we got to confident and took our foot off the gas pedal. They punched us back in the face. We got away from our principles”, stressed Dresden Titans forward Wes Dreamer.

Maurice Pluskota at the FT line

The Dresden Titans were without their floor general Grayson Murphy while the EPG Guardians were without Bryce Workman who was back in USA due to personal reasons and Alin Blunt who is still out. The Dresden Titans got off to a hot start and totally shocked the Guardians taking the rapid 8-2 lead as their defense was spot on. Their very physical on ball defense was brutal as they got 3 steals in a row which led to 3 transition baskets by Sapwell who scored twice and nifty speedster Daniel Kirchner. But Dresden also got good execution on offense from their German role players as Lucien Schmikale nailed a trey and Lukas Zerner made a lay in for the lethal 13-4 advantage. The only Guardian who was spot on was Cockfield who showed his incredible 1-1 skills scoring twice. The Titans execution continued as ex Florida AtlanticUniversity (NCAA) guard Pablo Bertone got a perfect back door pass from ex Skyliner Aaron Kayser who obviously learned passing in Frankfurt. But the Guardians finally found some energy nailing back to back three´s from ex BBL player Leon Friderici and Pro A veteran Maurice Pluskota as suddenly they only trailed by 3 points. But Dresden didn´t relinquish the lead as they kept the lead continuing to execute well getting production from everyone. Schmikale scored in the paint and rookie Adam Paige who played at the University of Alberta hit a clutch trey. Cockfield continued to keep his team in the game with 4 points, but Dresden still led 23-17. Then with a few seconds remaining, Daniel Kirchner heaved up a bomb ala Tom Brady that was right on the money as Bertone got the easy lay in. “We don´t practice that. They were guarding the front side, so we could do it. Plus Kirchner has a high IQ and we communicated well as a team”, added Wes Dreamer. The Dresden Titans led 25-17 after 10 minutes. “It was an up and down quarter for us. We had no stability and had many turnovers. We had problems on 1-1 defense. It looked worse than it really was”, stated EPG Guardians sport director Thomas Klein.

Sebastian heck floater

In the second quarter the Dresden Titans continued to play their game while the EPG Guardians had to play pick up basketball. Dresden began with a quick 6-2 run as Kayser, Bertone and Kirchner all got in the paint easily and scored easy lay up´s to lead 31-19. Now there was a phase of a few minutes where both teams went back and forth executing very well. The 3 ball was falling well as Dreamer connected twice while ex BBL player Dominque Johnson scored as did ex MercyhurtsNCAA2) guard Michael Bradley, but Dresden still led comfortably 37-27. Dresden then upped their defensive intensity a bit while still executing well on offense with a 7-0 run as Kirchner and Kayser scored easily in the zone and American Matthew Ragsdale who played at Black Hills State University (NCAA2) made a big three pointer for the 44-27 advantage. But Koblenz held their composure and continued to fight, but just couldn´t get stops. Ragsdale hit another three pointer while Lukas Zerna made a big dunk. The EPG Guardians had their moments as ex Assumption (NCAA2) guard Kasey Draper connected on a trey while big man Moses Poelking made a lay in and Cockfield continued to be productive with 4 points, but Dresden led 50-36 at the break. “Dresden shot really well. We didn´t really defend that bad, but when our first guy was beat then they got a three pointer and they were all spot on. We still weren´t physical enough and gave up too many offensive rebounds”, stated Thomas Klein.

Ty Cockfield with the fade away

In the third quarter came the turning point of the game as the EPG Guardians finally played their game with protecting their home court. Dresden did have the better start going on a 5-2 run to lead 55-38 as Dreamer scored with ease inside and Kirchner nailed a trey. But the EPG Guardians then finally had their first run of the game of 12-3 as they crept closer trailing only 58-50. Koblenz was more aggressive on the boards getting 2 offensive rebounds and put backs from Pluskota and Cockfield while Bradley added a three pointer. Cockfield carried his team scoring 2 more times with a jumper and massive slam dunk. “We were more physical on defense and played better 1-1 defense while on offense we found a flow”, stressed Thomas Klein. But Dresden recovered well from that run making 3 stops and getting 4 points from Bertone and Kirchner and 62-50 advantage. Koblenz didn´t let up, but played Guardians basketball finishing the third quarter with a 9-3 run. Koblenz shared the ball well and got hot shooting from Leon Friderici who scored 5 points while Bradley made a runner and Cockfield free throws. “We played more as a team and were more physical. We played better 1-1 defense which gave ús more self-confidence”, commented Thomas Klein. The EPG Guardians trailed only 65-59. “We didn´t come out ready. They were more physical and did a good job getting offensive rebounds”, expressed Wes Dreamer. “Our goal coming into the second half was to switch our defense wanting to get 3 stops in a row. On offense we played our game and found a rhythm”, said Ty Cockfield Jr..

Daniel Kirchner at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the come back attempt of the EPG Guardians continued as their defense was top as after allowing 50 points in the first half allowed only 26 points in the second half. Koblenz jumped all over Dresden to start the fourth quarter as they went on a 7-0 run to get their first lead of the game of 66-65. In the run Dominque Johnson hit a trey while Draper and Pluskota added free throws. Now it was a dog fight as both teams would change leads 4 times. Sapwell scored with a lay in as Dresden led 67-66, but Bradley struck back with an off balance shot for the 68-67 advantage. The guard play of Dresden found some daylight as Kirchner dropped free throws and Sapwell made a lay in for the 71-68 lead. But Ty Cockfield Jr. had seen enough. A competitor like him doesn´t like to lose as he led his Guardians on a brutal 10-0 run to extend their lead to 78-71. Cockfield just took control and it seemed that with his 3 buckets, he was taking on the whole Dresden team and there was no stopping him. Friederici added a put back and free throws for insurance. But the game wasn´t over as the Dresden Titans led a late comeback as Schmikale made a clutch three pointer to trail 78-74. After another stop, Schmikale made free throws to trail 78-76. Pluskota made one free throw to seal the win and the CGM arena was in pandemonium. “We played Guardians basketball and just kept hammering them. It is my job to lift the team when we need it. If I can give energy at both ends then I´m happy. I will do whatever it takes to help my team win”, warned Ty Cockfield Jr.. “Cockfield is a great player that is fast and shifty. We had trouble controlling him”, stated Wes Dreamer. The EPG Guardians were led by Ty Cockfield Jr. with 28 points. Leon Friederici added 12 points and Maurce Pluskota had 11 points while the Dresden Titans were led by Lucien Schmikale with 14 points while Wes Dreamer added 13 points. The EPG Guardians shot 46% from the field and 38% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Dresden Titans shot 47% from the field and 29% from outside and had 26 rebounds and 11 turnovers.