The up and down weeks of 1-2 team EPG Guardians Koblenz continued as after a thrilling come from behind win in their own living room against the Dresden Titans, a week later lost by 18 points against top Pro A contender Trier where they easily understood that there was a class difference between both teams. Koblenz returned home, but didn´t have an easy task as they had to battle the 2-1 team Kirchheim led by head coach Igor Perovic that has demonstrated the last years of forming talented teams that compete for the playoffs. This season, they have another potent offense, but also have willing and talented defenders like Cameron Henry (198-G-1999, college: Indiana St.) and have held teams to an average of 68 points through out the first 3 games. On a cool Saturday night, the pretty CGM arena was packed and ready to observe Guardian basketball and as usual saw it for a half, but not for a second half as the Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchheim won 87-80. It was a hard fought game for 40 minutes, but in the fourth quarter a 5-0 run by the guests helped them get momentum and then manage the lead well until the buzzer sounded. “We did a good job rebounding and took advantage of the mismatches and got to the free throw line well. It helped we could contain Cockfield in key moments and were disciplined down the stretch”, stressed Knights guard Demetrius Ward. The EPG Guardians had their moments in the game, but couldn´t keep the intensity and physicality of the first half and were hurt badly with mismatches created by Kirchheim in the second half. “We fought hard, but not as hard as we could of. We didn´t implement what we wanted to from the week of practice until the second half. Our ball movement was good. We only had 8 turnovers. Our decision making wasn´t good and we didn´t make good reads”, stressed EPG Guardian Ty Cockfield. “We couldn´t match their physicality in the 1-1 and couldn´t control Cameron Henry. They were more consistent and deserved to win”, stated EPG Guardians sport director Thomas Klein.

Ty Cockfield at the FT line

The EPG Guardians were without German big man Moses Poelking who will be out until December, but new big man David Boehm form the Czech Republic made his debut. The first quarter was low scoring as the EPG Guardians Koblenz took the early lead only to see Kirchheim fight back and gain the lead momentarily until Koblenz stole it back and led by 6 points after 10 minutes. Koblenz played Guardians basketball early getting 2 steals that led to transition points from Cockfield and Boehm who balled at Northern Kentucky University (NCAA) made a thunderous dunk. Henry got the Knights their first field goal of the night at the 7,37 minute mark off a turn around shot. Koblenz got the quick 10-4 lead as American Michael Bradley who played at Mercyhurst (NCAA2) sunk a three and ex Assumption University (NCAA2) American Kasey Draper made a lay in. Kirchheim had to combat the physical and aggressive Koblenz defense and drew fouls and tied the game at 10-10 with Miryne Thomas free throws. Kirchheim kept getting to the free throw line and walking bucket James Graham who played with Munster last season made a fade away shot. “He is a very good 1-1 player. The fade away is his bread and butter shot”, stated Thoams Klein. That lead didn´t rattle the Guardians as they closed out the first quarter in style with a 9-2 run and 22-16 advantage after one quarter. In the run, the Guardians got good support from veteran Pro A player Maurice Pluskota and American Alin Blunt made his debut making a three pointer. “He has a quick release and shoots at a high percentage. He is also a physical defender”, added Thomas Klein. Graham also added a lay in as his energy was vital from the bench. “We got into early foul trouble due to our physical defense”, said Thomas Klein. “We couldn´t hits shots. The game was very physical and there were many fouls”, said Demetrius Ward.

Cameron Henry at the FT line

The game remained tight in the second quarter as Kirchheim fought back and regained the lead only to lose it at the end as the EPG Guardians Koblenz led by 3 points at the break. The Knights totally broke away in the first minutes going on a lethal 13-1 run to lead 29-23. In the run the Knights were led by team as every one chipped in. Ex Western Michigan (NCAA) guard Demetrius Ward who is in his 13th pro season struck with a trey, Graham continued his dominating 1-1 play with a left handed lay in, Chilean big man Aitor Picket scored twice while rookie Braden Norris made his first basket of the game and ex Indiana State guard Cameron Henry made a fade away jumper. Koblenz lost concentration and their intensity was down. Kirchheim found their spots better, but also made some tough shots. That basketball is a game of runs is no secret as the EPG Guardians punched back with a 16-5 run to regain the lead. Koblenz buckled down again and found their game again as they were led by Ty Cockfield who just flipped a gear up scoring 7 points. Bohm also hit a massive trey in the charge. Bradley and team identity figure Dominque Johnson iced free throws as Koblenz led 39-36 at half-time. “After that run we found to our game again. We were playing 50% Guardians basketball up to half-time”, stressed Thomas Klein. “We did a good job exploiting the mis matches in our run. Picket showed that he can be a great big man and Thomas gave great energy. We played tough, but then they came back taking the lead”, stated Demetrius Ward.

TY Cockfield to the rim

In the third quarter both teams started to find better offensive grooves. Koblenz got a lead, but couldn´t pull away as Kirchheim continued to execute well and stay with them as the Guardians led only by 1 point after 3 quarters. Both teams traded buckets early as Cameron Henry made a beautiful acrobatic lay in while James Graham proved twice that he is a genuine walking bucket making a turn around shot and 20 footer. “He already showed last year that he is a walking a bucket. 14/9 in 19 minutes says a lot”, added Demetrius Ward. Koblenz began to execute better and better and went on a 9-3 run to lead 51-45. In the run, Cockfield made a lay in as his speed to the basket was unstoppable. Blunt who played at the University of Lowell made a trey and Pluskota hit a wide open trey. But the Guardians couldn´t break away as their defensive intensity and physicality just wasn´t what it was in the first half. Kirchheim continued to execute really well getting a beautiful off balance shot from ex Guardian Lucas Mayer and an offensive rebound and put back by Thomas to dead lock the game at 53-53. Bohm then made a pretty left handed hook shot that brought back memories of a Kevin Mchale for the 55-53 lead. Norris who played at Loyola, Chicago (NCAA) made a clutch three pointer with less than a minute to play, but Kasey Draper made a shot at the buzzer to give the Guardians the 59-58 advantage after 30 minutes. “Our focus was to be the best defensive team in the first 5 minutes. If we can´t do that then it will be a tough game. We tried to swap baskets with them instead of getting good stops”, commented Ty Cockfield. “We did a better job slowing Cockfield down. We wanted other guys to beat us. We played good inside out basketball”, stated Demetrius Ward. “We didn´t have much rhythm. We had less intensity and played too much 1-1. Norris also found his game”, said Thomas Klein.

In the fourth quarter the game remained tight, but a 5-0 Knights run gave them enough room to maintain the lead until the end despite the Guardians never giving up and fighting until the end. Both teams continued to play 1-1 basketball. Kirchheim got key baskets from Thomas and Norris while Koblenz got key buckets from German ex BBL player Leon Friderici and Ty Cockfield to tie the game at 63-63. “Cockfield was keeping us alive”, warned Thomas Klein. Then came the turning point of the game as Kirchheim went on a 5-0 run to lead 68-63 and they wouldn´t look back. In the run, Henry made a fade away jumper and Demetrius Ward sunk a trey after Picket had made a massive block on a Cockfield drive. The Knights with mis match king Henry led the charge and good defense led to easy baskets. Kirchheim now managed their lead well as Norris showed his agility and quickness with a lay in and Henry made a reverse lay up in traffic for the 72-66 lead. You can never shut down a great player for 40 minutes as Braden Norris found his groove in the second half. “He has a great skill set. He didn´t have a great first half, but he never lost his confidence. He made tough shots”, stressed Demetrius Ward. Pluskota was key in crunch time scoring on 3 straight possessions on free throws, but they couldn´t make ground as the Knights punched back with baskets from Ward and Norris to keep the 78-71 lead. Koblenz kept battling down the stretch and cut the lead down to 83-80 with 28 seconds to go with a clutch Cockfield lay in. However Koblenz couldn´t get any closer as Henry and Thomas closed out the game with free throws and the 87-80 win. “We showed that we had experience down the stretch. We shared the ball well and we were lucky in certain possessions. We made key rebounds and got some calls. Credit to Koblenz for fighting back”, stressed Demetrius Ward. “They are a smart team that controlled the pressure. They exploited the mismatches. Henry did that really well and put team on his back”, stressed Ty Cockfield. The Bozic Estriche Knights Kirchhem were led by Miryne Thomas with 21 points while Cameron Henry added 20 points while the EPG Guardians were led by Ty Cockfield with 25 points while Maurice Pluskota added 15 points. Kirchheim shot 49% from the field and 25% from outside and had 35 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the EPG Guardians shot 41% from the field and 24% from outside and had 28 rebounds and 8 turnovers.