Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheineStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.

Congrats on the big 86-84 win over the Ahorn Baskets. How giant was the desire to win after the tough crunch time loss against The Basketball Lowen last week?

It was a very much needed this win, wanted to get back in the winning column.

Did the team get out of the bed on the wrong side after allowing 31 points in the first quarter. What happened on defense and what adjustments did the team make to allow only 12 points in the second quarter?

We came out flat and wasn’t playing our aggressive and principal defense. We just had to up our energy and play harder and the results were drastically different from the first to the second.

It was an up and down on defense. In the third quarter they rebounded again for 27 points. They didn´t have one guy that stepped up but it was a team effort. What made it so difficult to slow that team down?

We came out again in the third flat and made some mistakes that shouldn’t have happened, and when we did play well, we didn’t finish with a box out. They were a good team and they all played hard so it made it very difficult.

The fourth quarter couldn´t have been more exciting as the RheinStars came from way down to make a 21-5 run to win the game? Talk a little about that amazing comeback?

That was a great quarter for us, I feel we all just locked in on defense together in the 4th. We picked up the intensity and just chipped away with the stops we were getting. Guys made big plays on both end of the court and felt great to come out with the win.

Ruppert Hennen was big as usual, but so was Janis Von Seckendorf who added 12 points. How valuable is his play at both ends?

Janis plays with a lot of energy and aggression so it’s great having that type of player on the court especially on our team. He is a very key player for us

You had a solid game with 17 points. You shot the three well but only 2/8 from the 2 point area. How much do those missed shots annoy you on a Sunday?

Yeah was very annoyed because most were layups that should’ve made, but just have to be stronger and focus more when attacking the basket. Those were easy points the team needed.

You also made 5 assists. How much of a playmaker can you be?

We have guys that can make shots so I just feeling made the simple pass to the guys that were open. I feel I can play make some but really was just not over doing it and just making the simple extra pass.

The next game is against Coburg who are 3-4. What will be key for the win?

Key will to come out with energy and keep good energy from start to finish. We need to really lock in on our defensive principles and play with urgency and intensity for a full 40 minutes.

Thanks Malik for the chat.