Just seeing the schedule of the Frankfurt Skyliners and their upcoming games over the Xmas time could give some players a rude taste in their mouths and lead to no appetite, but not a good idea shortly before Christmas. The Frankfurt Skyliners had Ulm, Ludwigsburg and Munich left in 2024 and needed to win as much as possible, but that was easier said then done. After a brutal loss in Wurzburg, an even nastier followed against Braunschweig. Frankfurt had 10 days to prepare for ratiopharm Ulm as all they could hope for was a merry merry game against the top BBL team. Ulm had their 5 game winning streak halted with a tough 69-67 loss in their own living room to rising team MLP Academics Heidelberg. The Frankfurt Skyliners faced a must win and I´m sure some of the most faithful Skyliner fans had produced some sort of praying going into the game. On a mild Monday night, a day before Xmas, the Frankfurt Skyliners played 40 minutes of punching back and forth basketball and saved their best for last as Booker Coplin (191-G-1997, college: Augsburg, agency: BIG) made an incredible buzzer beater winning shot that shocked ratiopharm Ulm and ruined their Xmas. “We came and played a great game. We came out strong fighting on defense. We knew that they had some talented bigs that liked to crash the boards, but we knew that if we could get back on transition and play our game that we would have a chance. I think that the basketball God was on our side tonight”, smiled Jordan Theodore. Ratiopharm didn´t have their A game, but were always ready to punch back when Frankfurt punched. Ulm had control late, but let the game fall out of their hands. “I´m very disappointed how we played. But a lot of credit to Frankfurt. They played a great game. It was a great atmosphere. We weren´t ready to play and didn´t start to play until the second quarter. We need to improve finishing games”, stated ratiopharm Ulm head coach Ty Harrelson.

Isaiah Roby at the Ft line

The first quarter was a tight affair as there were 7 lead changes, but Frankfurt was able to make some ground in the latter part and led by 4 points after 10 minutes. In the first minutes talented Israeli guard Ben Saraf who is a huge 2025 NBA draft prospect scored twice showing his IQ and being able to make quick decisions. Frankfurt got a big spark from Einaras Tubutis who added 8 points including 2 three´s while ex Seton Hall guard Jordan Theodore also added a three pointer for the 14-10 Frankfurt lead. The guests had opted mostly for the drive, but they then finally nailed a trey as ex Boise State (NCAA) guard Justinian Jessup scored to pull Ulm to 14-13. Walking bucket Malik Parsons who won the double in Denmark last season scored 6 unanswered points as his aggressiveness took over as Frankfurt led 19-13. Ratiopharm Ulm didn´t look that fresh on the court like they usually do which gave Frankfurt the opportunity to heighten their intensity and dictate the game. Frankfurt would keep the lead, but Ulm kept punching back as French junior national player Noa Essengue made a tough shot in the paint and 2017 NBBL champion Nelson Weidemann dropped a trey, but Frankfurt led 25-21 after one quarter. “Tubutis shot great for us. Parsons also did his thing. He is a walking bucket. It really felt like everyone was scoring and contributing”, stressed Jordan Theodore. Frankfurt was shooting very well with over 60% from the 2 point range and from outside and had 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 44% from the 2 point range and 20% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Jordan Theodore from outside

In the second quarter The Frankfurt Skyliners struggled a bit to start, but came back and then had a back and forth punching match until the break. Ratiopharm Ulm began with a 7-0 run and stopped Frankfurt 5 times. In the Ulm run, they attacked the paint area and were successful as they got a lay in from ex NBA player Isaiah Roby and a lay in and free throws by ex Munich forward Karim Jallow. The Ulm press annoyed Frankfurt and Frankfurt opted for more 1-1 play. Jallow was a real spark plug doing it at both ends. Ex Boston College German Patrick Heckman stopped the run with a sweet trey as Frankfurt tied the game at 28-28. Frankfurt´s offense executed better again with a fade away jumper from ex Wright State guard Trey Calvin and a trey by Booker Coplin as the game was tied at 33-33. Essengue and Parsons traded baskets and Ulm then went on a mini 4-0 run to lead 40-35 as Essengue scored on transition and Karim Jallow made a thunderous dunk. The dime was made by Ben Saraf who made a beautiful cross over and then made the shovel pass for the basket. Frankfurt always stayed calm and ready and punched back with a mini 4-0 run as Theodore and Parsons split the defense with lay in´s. Jallow closed out the second quarter with a lay in as ratiopharm Ulm had the slim 42-40 lead. “They tried to speed us up with their press. We turned the ball over. However Parsons still made big shots. He kept us in the game”, added Jordan Theodore.

Noa Essengue with the lay in

In the third quarter ratiopharm Ulm gave up the lead briefly in the first minutes, but then stole it back, but never led by more than 6 points as the Frankfurt Skyliners continued to execute very well on the offensive end. Frankfurt came out of half-time with a bang as Minnesota native Booker Coplin hit a trey and Tubutis made a lay in with Theodore tip toeing through the defense and giving him the shovel pass for the 46-45 lead. “I created for him and he made the bucket. I still have speed. I´m not that old yet”, expressed Jordan Theodore. But ratiopharm Ulm fought back and went on a 7-0 run as they kept hurting Frankfurt inside with their bigs as Essengue made 5 points and Roby a lay in for the 51-46 advantage. But then came the Jordan Theodore show as he supplied 13 points. It was like the good old days. He was showcasing his inside out game as he hit 3 three´s, made a 20 footer and lay in. ratiopharm Ulm also got some vital support from ex Illinois (NCAA) guard Alfonso Plummer who nailed 2 crazy off balance three´s. Parson´s also added a tough off balance shot and dunk down the stretch. Theodore´s third trey of the quarter was a buzzer beater, but ratiopharm Ulm still led 65-64 after 3 quarters. “I made a good play and got the ball to Muenkat who then got it back to me. I knew it was going in”, smiled Jordan Theodore. “Theodore gives Frankfurt a lot of experience. He made some big plays and some tough step backs and drives”, stated Ty Harrelson. “I started to catch fire. The first 2 games, I had no legs, but with the 10 days of practice, that really helped me. I was really feeling it with my shot. I finally got my number 25 again”, stressed Jordan Theodore. The Frankfurt Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 57% from the three point line and had 18 rebounds and 11 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 50% from the field and 29% from three point line and had 29 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Malik Parsons at the FT line

The fourth quarter was a solid offensive display as both teams executed well and no team could get away from the other and decide the game early. Frankfurt began with a key 7-3 run to lead 72-68 as Calvin added 5 points and Parsons as usual showed his crazy athleticism with a hard dunk. Jessup and Jallow gave Ulm some support with baskets, but they still trailed 74-73. After Saraf and Coplin traded baskets, the game was deadlocked at 78-78. Isaiah Roby who played for the Oklahoma Thunder during Covid made a clutch three pointer for the 81-78 Ulm advantage. Then was a golden opportunity for the guests to decide the game as they stopped Frankfurt 3 times, but they made no ground as they were also stopped 3 times. Roby then added a lay in late as ratiopharm Ulm led 83-78 and had the chance to decide the game again. However Frankfurt kept fighting and got a huge trey from Coplin to trail 83-81. Saraf made free throws with the 85-81 lead with 1,20 to go. Ulm was in the drivers seat, but wouldn´t score again. Frankfurt got Tubutis free throws to trail 85-83. On the next possession, David Mjuenkat made a steal which led to free throws from him and the game was 85-85. Ratiopharm Ulm didn´t have that killer instinct as Jessup took a jumper which was a good look, but it didn´t fall. “The game went back and forth with both teams making big shots. So many shots at the end of the shot clock”, stated Jordan Theodore. Then came Booker Coplin time. He attempted a trey with a few seconds from the corner that missed, but Tubutis got the offensive rebound and got the ball to Coplin. Coplin must have had an idea that there was about nothing left on the clock as he just tipped the ball towards the basket that fell through which left the arena in total bedlam and the Xmas win. “That was a hell of a rebound by Tubutis. That was big balls. He had the awareness to kick it back to Coplin. I never saw a shot like that before. I knew it was going in”, smiled Jordan Theodore. “We had a 4 point lead and then shot it with 7 seconds and ott the foul. We have to be more aware on defense. We could of reduced one possession. That one more possession gave them the win”, added Ty Harrelson. The Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Jordan Theodore and Malik Parsons with 18 points a piece. Booker Coplin added 14 points and Einaras Tubutis 13 points while ratiopharm Ulm was led by Isaiah Roby with 19 points and Karim Jallow and Ben Saraf added 13 points a piece. The Frankfurt Skyliners shot 46% from the field and 50% from outside and had 30 rebounds and 13 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 51% from the field and 35% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 17 turnovers.