Both the Artland Dragons and EPG Guardians Koblenz were riding losing streaks and the most positive thing going into the game in the CGM arena was that one team would finally have ended their drought. The Artland Dragons had a horrible season last season that were saved at the end to stay in the Pro A and this season the same sort of turn of events have occurred again despite a great start to the season. The Artland Dragons began with a bang winning their first 4 games, but since had a 10 game losing streak under the guidance of ex Koblenz coach Pat Elze. The EPG Guardians Koblenz had riden a 3 game losing streak since their fantastic home win against the Tigers Tuebingen. The EPG Guardians had to find a way to buckle down on defense as they had given up an average of 93 points in the last 3 games. On a cold Sunday afternoon, the game was close at half-time, but in the second half, the EPG Guardians Koblenz stepped up their game finally hitting shots and getting stops helping them control the game. Basketball can be that easy. “This was a super game for us. This game was a lot different from the last one in Giessen. Everybody gave a great effort. We played good defense and shared the ball really well on offense”, stressed EPG Guardians Koblenz guard Jakob Hanzalek. The losing and blues continued for the Artland Dragons as a disastrous third quarter cost them the game. In the fourth quarter with the exception of a few minutes, it was a cake walk for Koblenz. “We began well as our zone worked well. Both teams went on runs. All was ok at the break. Our offense couldn´t execute in the third quarter. We played too wild. Scoring 3 points in 8 minutes won´t help you win”, stressed Artland Dragons assistant coach Markus Jackson. “It was an us week. We had a great week of practice. We didn´t even look at video of the Giessen game and didn´t watch film on Artland until a day before the game. We just focused on us. We looked like a team. We executed well and there was no selfishness. We all trusted each other. Bradley played a great game. We wouldn´t have won without him”, warned Ty Cockfield.

Allin Blunt away jumper

The first quarter showcased a good start by the EPG Guardians Koblenz, only to see the Artland Dragons go on a run to steal the lead at 19-17 after 10 minutes. Koblenz came out punching going on a swift 6-0 lead as Czech Republic forward David Bohm (205-F/C-2001, college: EWU, agency: Octagon Europe) and American Michael Bradly connected on consecutive three´s. Boehm continued to be aggressive and display his versatility scoring a lay in for the 8-3 advantage. Koblenz got sloppy on defense getting fouls allowing Artland to come back via the free throw line trailing only 10-8. Basketball will always be a game of runs as the EPG Guardians jumped out on a 7-2 run to lead 17-10. In the run, Koblenz received good support from their bench as energetic guard Yassin Mahfouz nailed a three point bank shot and Leon Friderici scored on the drive. However Artland didn´t wilt like a flower, but chipped back at the Guardians lead step by step drawing fouls. Young German Thorben Doeding scored as did German big man Robert Oehle. Artland stayed aggressive on defense getting stops and American Taylor Johnson who played at Dartmouth College (NCAA) drilled home a trey in the last seconds. They also did a super job keeping Cockfield to 0 points. “They came back by getting to the free throw line. Cockfield did too little. He had to drive more. We defended well at the guard position”, stressed EPG sport director Thomas Klein.

Tajh Green at the FT line

The second 10 minutes was a tale of 2 quarters as the Artland Dragons rushed out on a big run, but couldn´t hold the momentum as the EPG Guardians Koblenz fought back and stole the lead back leading by 4 points at half-time. Ty Cockfield got Koblenz on the board first finally making his first field goal nailing a three pointer for the 20-19 advantage. The Artland Dragons then had their best phase of the game going on a 10-0 run to lead 29-20. Ex Dragons Rhondorf guard Badu Buck who recently came from Pro B team Berlin Braves went on a scoring spree scoring 5 points. He had a good week of practice and gave big energy hitting a three and some free throws. Artland continued to be aggressive attacking the rim as ex Missouri State forward Lamont West scored as did ex Benedict College (NCAA) forward Tajh Green scored in the paint area. Artland did a great job keeping the Guardians out of the zone and keeping Cockfield at bay. The Guardians didn´t have Boehm on the court as he couldn´t take his momentum from the first quarter and just produced bad offensive decisions. However the EPG Guardians Koblenz came out of their funk after being stopped on 9 straight possession and went on a 19-4 run to lead 38-34 at the break. In the run David Bohm continued to execute at a high rate steering 8 points while Bradley nailed another three pointer and German big man Moses Poelking made a lay in. The most spectacular play of the game occurred on the last play with 5 seconds. Ty Cockfield went coast to coast and it seemed like he would finish himself, but at the last second kicked the ball to the left wing as Jakob Hanzalek made a buzzer beater trey. “At the last second help came for Cockfield as he was already in the air. He saw me in corner. It was a super pass on a great drive. My shot felt good”, stated Jakob Hanzalek. “Boehm got us back in the game. His game gave us more space on offense to open up things”, said Thomas Klein.

David Boehm at the FT line

In the third quarter came the turning point of the game as the EPG Guardians Koblenz broke open the game going on a massive run and led by 16 minutes after 30 minutes. Moses Poelking made a free throw and Top Pro A assist man Buzz Anthony made a pull up jumper to trail 39-36. Then out of seemingly nothing the EPG Guardians Koblenz shifted up a few gears and ran over the Artland Dragons going on a 17-1 run to lead 56-37. In the run the Guardians executed well from downtown getting 3 three´s from Bradley, ex BBL player Leon Friederici and Cockfield. The Guardians also played inside out basketball getting points in the paint from Boehm and American Ben Stevens while Bradley also added a pull up jumper. Koblenz was in a groove while Bradley continued to fill the Cockfield void who wasn´t as his best with his shooting percentages, but when shots aren´t falling,he simply created for others dishing out 8 dimes in the game. Koblenz also stepped up their defense closing down their bigs with no penetration and forcing many turnovers. Artland stopped the run with a Taylor Johnson trey, but couldn´t make any ground. “We began the third quarter the way we stopped the second quarter. I think like we did the same things, but just with more energy”, commented Jakob Hanzalek. “The third quarter cost us the game. We forced too much and didn´t play smart. When you get hit by a run like that, you lose a little faith”, expressed Markus Jackson.

Brandon Thomas with the drive

In the fourth quarter the EPG Guardians managed their lead well and with a few slip ups, finished the game strong and never let up and never allowed them to get under 10 points. Both teams executed well on offense and just punched back and forth. The Artland Dragons got some early three´s from Green and Anthony to cut the Guardians lead to 14, but Koblenz always had an answer. Boehm and Friederici added back to back lay in´s to lead 69-50. Then came a little lapse by the Guardians as they allowed up a 6-2 Dragons run as they were a bit passive. They got free throws from 40 year old Brandon Thomas and 2 lays from the freak athlete Tahj Green to trail 71-58. But the EPG Guardians escaped from their momentary down phase punching back on a 5-0 run to lead 76-58. You can´t totally shut down a Cockfield who contributed 4 points. The Artland Dragons were tired which led to a loss of concentration. Artland got 2 more three´s from Thomas and Doeding, but it was too little to late as Koblenz closed out 2024 with a victory. “We did a job staying focused even when up by 15 points. Bradley and Boehm really stepped up today and played great”, said Jakob Hanzalek. “The fourth quarter was ok for us. We got tired and just didn´t have the strength. We fought to the end though”, stressed Markus Jackson. The EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by David Bohm with 20 points. Ty Cockfield added 17 points and 8 assists while Michael Bradley also scored 17 points while the Artland Dragosn were led by Tajh Green with 16 points while Brandon Thomas added 10 points. The EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 38% from the field and 34% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Artland Dragons shot 33% from the field and 33% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 15 turnovers.