The up and down weeks of the EPG Guardians Koblenz continue last week in Hagen as they couldn´t follow up the massive win at home against Tuebingen which was possibly the biggest victory for Koblenz up to that stand point in the season. The next opponent on paper was ex easyCredit BBL team Hakro Merlins who surprisingly were only at 6-6 in the standings and dumpling around in no man´s land of the standings at one spot higher than the Guardians. Crailsheim is a team filled with unending offensive power, but on the defensive end at times can be beaten if attacked correctly. Once again Koblenz was home again looking for a massive answer after a loss and after beating Tuebingen were very focused to be that next BBL spoiler. Ex Guardian big man Gabriel De Olveira was back in his old stomping ground and extra motivated looking to mix it up with his ex teammates. On a very mild Monday night the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim jumped all over the EPG Guardians and dominated the game for 40 minutes with their physicality, brutal 1-1 qualities and three point efficiency. “We played a good game for 40 minutes. Our aggressive defense did a good job not letting them get to the free throw line. We are a great offensive team, but our emphasis is defense. When we do that well, our offense takes care of it´s self. We are now chasing the top teams. Every win is important”, stressed Crailsheim guard Devon Goodman (184-PG-1997, college: Pennsylvania). The EPG Guardians had problems all night getting into their sets and getting good shots. The tough Merlins physicality haunted Crailsheim all night long. “They are a big tough team. Their physicality was tough. We played until the end and gave our best. Whenever we punched, they punched back and then all started hitting three´s. We have to live with it”, stressed Koblenz guard Allin Blunt.

Ty Cockfield at the FT line

In the first quarter the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim got going quickly and got a big lead and never looked back leading easily 28-15 after 10 minutes. Crailsheim took the rapid 10-2 lead as ex Rhondorf guard Tyreese Blunt added 5 points while ex Nurnberg Forward Anthony Gaines made a lay in and ex Tuebingen center Danniel Keppler made a lay in. Koblenz had massive problems containing their physicality and athleticism on the drive. Crailsheim´s aggressive and good 1-1 defense didn´t allow Koblenz into their sets and the Guardians were unable to get them more often into the set play, but allowed them to run. Ty Cockfield was the only Guardian that was somewhat aggressive as he got 4 points on the free throw line. The Merlins continued to be aggressive attacking the paint as Keppler continued to execute with a hard 2 handed dunk and runner for the 14-4 advantage. Koblenz finally began to execute going on a 6-2 run to trail 16-10 as they were aggressive and were rewarded with 3 buckets inside from Adi-Eri, ex BBL player Leon Friederici and Czech Republic forward David Boehm. But that punch didn´t rattle Crailsheim as they closed out the first quarter strong with a 12-5 run to lead by 13 minutes after one quarter. In the run, the guests received got super support from their bench as ex Liberty University (NCAA) forward Brock Gardner supplied 5 points with a three pointer while ex Arizona Christian University (NAIA) player Callum Lawson also added 5 points with a trey. Koblenz got little support except from American Michael Bradley who supplied 5 points and a trey. “We were unable to match their physicality at both ends. They have great 1-1 qualities”, stressed EPG Guardians sport director Thomas Klein.

Allin Blunt from downtown

In the second quarter the EPG Guardians picked up their game at both ends, but still were far away from getting over the hump as Crailsheim led by 13 points at the break. Koblenz was wide awake in the first 3 minutes going on a 6-0 run to trail 28-21 as the guests were stopped 5 times. The EPG Guardians were aggressive attacking the rim and getting 2 buckets from Friederici and one from ex Canadian and ex Laurier big man Ben Stevens. Koblenz did a good job getting past the first pass which then gave the Merlins problems as Koblenz was in the set play. Ex FC Bayern Munich NBBL player Mohammed Sillah finally got the Merlins on the board at the 6,57 minute mark with an offensive rebound and putback to lead 30-21. Koblenz continued to execute and hang in there going on a 7-3 run to trail only 33-28. In the run, they got support from Allin Blunt with a trey and 4 points in the paint by Stevins. But there is only so much time a team like the Merlins can´t be in total offense mode as they struck back fiercely and closed out the second quarter with a lethal 16-6 run to extend their lead to 48-34 at half-time. In the run the Merlins got three pointers from Tyreese Blunt and ex North Dakota State (NCAA) Vinnie Shahid and a floater by Keppler and another lay in by Tyreese Blunt. “We played better, but missed to many easy shots. We could have had at least 10 points more. We still gave up too many transition baskets and allowed them to often to the free throw line.

Ladarian Griffin at the FT line

In the third quarter the EPG Guardians had a solid scoring quarter with 21, but couldn´t make any ground allowing 29 points as the Blunt and Goodman show took over giving the Merlins the comfortable 77-55 advantage after 3 quarters. Before the Blunt and Goodman show could commence, it was actually the Leon Friderici show that took off. The ex Heidelberg sniper erupted for 8 points nailing 2 three´s and making a thunderous 2 hand dunk after making a steal. The EPG Guardians were still in striking distance trailing only 56-44. Friederici was without a doubt the best Guardian on this night as he carried the club on his shoulders. Crailsheim then went on a 13-6 run to lead 69-50 as Devin Goodman took over. He had shown these explosions in the Pro B with Rhondorf 2 seasons ago and did again in this run scoring 11 of the 13 points including 2 three´s. Goodman then turned over the scoring to Tyrese Blunt who closed out the third quarter with 8 points and 2 three´s. He especially liked the left corner. “Goodman is a great man creator and shot maker while Blunt just knocks down three´s. It hurt us mentally whenever they punched back. We just tried to stay positive. We just have to take the best out of this game we can. It was a real learning experience”, stated Allin Blunt. “We shot well as a team. They were hard hedging a lot so the corners were open. We did a good job with the extra pass”, added Devon Goodman.

Tyreese Blunt from outside

In the fourth quarter both teams executed well as the EPG Guardians continued not being able to match the Merlins physicality on the defensive end. Koblenz began with 3 stops, but only got rewarded with one bucket by Ben Stevens to trail 77-57. Ex Sienna (NCAA) forward Anthony Gaines got Crailsheim on the board at the 7,54 minute mark as they led 79-57. Koblenz had a good phase again getting a trey by Friederici and lay in by Adi-Eri and a floater by Stevens to trail 82-65. Crailsheim then put a lid on the game going on a brutal 12-4 run to lead 94-69. In the run, they continued to let it fly from outside as Keppler and Gardner nailed three´s while Goodman made a lay in. The game was long over with a few minutes to play as both teams traded baskets as ex St Bonaventure (NCAA) forward Ladarien Griffin made a lay in and Keppler a floater while Friederici made a lay in and David Boehm closed out the game with a deep three. “We controlled the game until the end. We did a good job containing Cockfield. We made him finish over the bigs. We wanted to close out the game strong”, commented Devon Goodman. “The game was physical and we were tired. We just wanted to keep pushing until the end, rebound and fight despite being tired”, expressed Allin Blunt. The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim were led by Devon Goodman with 23 points while Tyreese Blunt added 21 points and Daniel Keppler 15 points while the EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by Leon Friederici with 19 points. The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim shot 54% from the field and 39% from outside and had 30 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 41% from the field and 43% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 13 turnovers.