After the Fiba break the Pro A was back in action as 12th placed team EPG Guardians Koblenz wanted to get back on the wining track after losing a brutal 80-78 game in their own living room to Nurnberg. The 4-6 team had 11 days of soul searching to do as well as prepare for ex easyCredit BBL team Tigers Tuebingen who came to Koblenz sporting a strong 8-2 record and had won 7 of their last 8 games and had demonstrated their knack of winning the real nail bitters. Tuebingen was one of those teams that have a real good balance while the EPG Guardians Koblenz had the inside advantage. Both teams had their top point guards in action with Kenny Cooper and Ty Cockfield Jr. (183-PG-1996, college: Arkansas St., agency: BIG) who were tearing up the Pro A league. But on this day it was definitely Ty Cockfield that won that battle pacing the EPG Guardians Koblenz to upset the Tigers Tuebingen to the 80-73 victory. It was the best win and performance of the season for Koblenz as they had no real down phase in the game and came together as a team for 40 minutes. “This was our biggest win of the season. We had a great week of practice and we paid attention to details. We are all on the same page with coach Van den Berg and now can attack his philosophy. We were aggressive at both ends. We hit them first and kept punching. On defense were helping, rotating and just flying around on the court”, warned Ty Cockfield Jr.. The Tigers Tuebingen had been known for winning the close ones this season as they had done it 4 times already, but today, they were unable to execute the way they have done in previous weeks. “We weren´t able to execute coaches game plan. We didn´t rebound well for 40 minutes and gave them too many extra possessions”, stressed Tigers Tuebingen guard Miles Tention. “This was our best game this season. We had no down phase. We had problems finding our rhythm in the first quarter, but when we did in the second quarter, we pretty much kept it until the end. Coach Van Den Berg did a great job with a good rotation with the player subs in the gams. We got our bigs involved well and defended consistently”, warned Sport manager Thomas Klein.

Ty Cockfield at the FT line

The EPG Guardians Koblenz were without their identity figure Dominique Johnson while the Tigers Tuebingen were complete. The first quarter was a close affair that exhibited the Tigers having their 3 point shooting game cooking while Koblenz were more active inside. Ex St Peters (NCAA) forward Samuel Idowo was on fire in the first minutes nailing 3 three´s while the EPG Guardians were in attack mode getting a lay in by Cockfield, Lay in by German Moses Poelking and offense rebound and put back by ex Assumption College (NCAA2) guard Kasey Draper. California native and Andre Igudala friend Miles Tention got aggressive scoring 5 points for the 14-8 lead. Tentíon would finish with 11 points and 7 dimes as he came into the game averaging only 6ppg. “I made shots which was a long time coming and facilitated well”, said Miles Tention. However the Guardians also had another aggressive guard who executed well besides Cockfield with rookie Michael Bradley who produced 5 points to trail only 14-13. Tuebingen kept their nose ahead as in the last minutes Kenny Cooper who has a game like JJ Davison scored as did Cockfield, but the Tigers led 19-16 after 10 minutes. Tuebingen was shooting a prolific 57% from outside while Koblenz was at a dismal 20%. Koblenz was doing the work inside shooting 67% from the 2 point range and had the 6-5 rebound edge while both teams had extreme difficulty taking care of the ball with 6 turnovers a piece. “We were feeling each other out. It was like a boxing match as both teams were hitting hard. It is all about who takes the most punches”, stated Ty Cockfield.

Miles Tention from outside

In the second quarter the EPG Guardians kept fighting and took the lead in the last minutes to take the 43-37 lead at half-time. The EPG Guardians began with 2 three´s from Mr Microwave Leon Friederici to trail only 26-24 as Cooper who came into the game shooting 53% from outside also connected from the parking lot. Both teams continued to execute well on offense, but that was actually helping the EPG Guardians more simply because they hadn´t been used to being so consistent on the offensive end this season. Koblenz got a lay in from ex North Kentucky (NCAA) forward David Boehm and trey from Draper while the guests countered with Idowu who had missed some three´s since his game beginning explosions now went for the drive with 2 lay´s as the Tigers led 32-31. Koblenz´s self-confidence continued to grow with every new bucket and that helped them end the second quarter with a lethal 12-5 run to lead 43-37 at the break. In the run, the EPG Guardians were led by young German Adi Eri and Michael Bradley with 2 baskets. “Adi helped us so much. I won´t forget where he scooped down 3 offensive rebounds in a row. Even if it didn´t lead to a basket, it helped us get over the edge with his energy and secure the momentum Michael is my partner in crime. We feed off each other so well and are always locked in. ”, warned Ty Cockfield. The precise three point shooting of Koblenz had their percentage at 55% while the Tigers were also solid at 45%. Both teams had 13 rebounds a piece and Koblenz 9 turnovers and Tuebingen 9 turnovers. “We really flourished with our discipline. We made the right plays and read their defense, not forcing anything, but taking what they gave us”, commented Ty Cockfield.

Allin Blunt with the off balance shot

In the third quarter there was no Guardians let down, but they just continued to execute well at both ends and manage their lead well and led 63-55 after 3 quarters. The EPG Guardians Koblenz jumped all over the Tigers Tuebingen with a 8-2 run to extend their lead to 51-41. How often had one seen the Guardians in the past begin to produce an overflow of three attempts instead of attacking the rim. In the run, the team did a great job involving the bigs as Bohm made a lay in and Poelking a dunk. They also got buckets inside by Friederici and Cockfield. The Guardians offense were in another galaxy and had great body language and continued to stifle the Tigers with their aggressive pressure defense. Tuebingen got some vital baskets by Idowu and Tention, but Koblenz didn´t falter, but punched back getting 2 vital baskets by Canadian Ben Stevens who played at Laurier (U) in Canada made a lay in and dunk and block to carry the Guardians in that phase to the 55-48 advantage. “He is another big body for us. He gave great energy and got big boards. He also did a great job altering shots”, expressed Ty Cockfield. Both teams executed well until the end of the third quarter as Tigers big man Vincent Neugebauer who averaged 14/9 in his last 2 seasons in the Pro B with Ehingen made a reverse lay up and dunk while the Guardians got a dunk form Poelking and lay in by Bradley. “We found the big men well attacking the rim. Our bigs slipped and rolled well and when we found it, we exploited it”, warned Ty Cockfield. The EPF Guardiands Koblenz shot 68% from the 2 point range and 43% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Tigers Tuebingen shot 52% from the 2 point range and 38% from the parking lot and had 19 rebounds and 14 turnovers. “They attacked the switches well and got too many easy baskets. Our 1-1 defense wasn´t good. We have to help our bigs more”, stated Miles Tention.

Sam Idowu from the parking lot

In the fourth quarter the EPG Guardians Koblenz continued to execute at a high level at both ends and never allowed Tuebingen to go get closer than 6 points. The Tigers began well getting 3 stops, but couldn´t get more than a Marvin Heckel basket to trail 63-57. The EPG Guardians Koblenz then went on a lethal 8-2 run to extend their league to 71-59. In the run it was the unstoppable Ty Cockfield who scored three times with his potent attack game. Kasey Draper who has a game similar to a Grayson Allen also scored. Cockfield showed his incredible 1-1 play and his team followed him and also contributed doing the little things with offensive rebounds and steals. The Tigers still had some fight and energy going on a swift 6-0 run to trail only 71-65 as Idowu found back to his outside game drilling home a trey and Heckel also connected on a trey to trail 71-65. Heckel finished with 11 points and showed real heart as his minutes have dropped this season as he comes from the bench, but he is still a team player first. “Marvin played great. He is a huge plus for us”, warned Miles Tention. Boehm then punched back with a clutch three pointer to extend the Guardians lead to 74-65. The Tigers didn´t hang their heads, but fought until the end getting a key three from Idowu and Heckel lay in and free throw to trail 78-73, but Leon Friederici slammed the door shut with free throws for the win. “We capitalized off their mistakes. We have 3-4 guys that can make big shots every game. Anyone can step up. It doesn´t always have to be me”, warned Ty Cockfield. “We gave up too many second chances. You have to almost play perfect to win”, warned Miles Tention. The EPG Guardians were led by Ty Cockfield with 17 points. Michael Bradley and Leon Friederici shipped in with 12 points a piece while the Tigers Tuebingen were led by Samuel Idowu with 25 points while Marvin Heckel contributed 12 points and Miles Tention added 11 points. The EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 56% from the field and 37% from outside and had 30 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Tigers Tuebingen shot 47% from the field and 35% from outside and had 25 rebounds and 19 turnovers.