If you asked every player of the Dragons Rhondorf what their New Years resolution might be, I´m sure from a team stand point many would say to clean up the team defense. So far this season, it hasn´t been up to par. They have allowed 100 plus points 5 times and began 2025 with a terrible loss in Erfurt where they allowed 108 points. They came back into their living room sporting a 7-7 record and were in ninth place. They had a difficult opponent with the TSV Tropics Oberaching who came into the contest in 5th place with a record of 8-6. They came to Rhondorf with added self-confidence after upsetting top team RheinStars in their own living room. Oberaching is one of those annoying teams that can beat anyone in the league powered with their superb team chemistry as guys have been together for years. On a cold Saturday night, it would seem like seeing the guests have only 6 players that it would be a cake walk, but no this was a hard fought game for the Dragons Rhondorf who were very lucky at the end to pull out the 93-89 victory despite Oberaching having a 10-0 run in the last 1,17 to trail by 2 with 7 seconds remaining. But a win is a win and in a few months few will remember this game. “This was a real hard fought win for us. We came out very slow. We knew they only had 6 people, but I still feel like we didn´t underestimate them. We just came out with little energy. I think we did a good job battling back after the slow start and getting through adversary. The support of the second unit and Marko Rosic was huge. They set the tone in the first and third quarters when we needed it badly”, stressed Drasgons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola. The TSV Oberaching Tropics played out their hearts for 40 minutes and played as best as they could with 6 players, but got killed on the boards and missed too many free throws. “We started well and hit our shots, but didn´t make our free throws as well in the game. In the second half, they began to hit their shots. They got way too many offensive rebounds. Bode and I had to do a better job rebounding”, stated Tropics guard Niklas Schueler.

Fynn Fischere at the FT line

In the first quarter the TSV Oberachimg Tropics came out in lightening fashion, but the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t surrender but fought back into the game and trailed only by 11 points after 10 minutes. Oberaching went on a 13-2 run and got incredible support from ex Regionalliga German Niklas Schueler who dropped 3 three pointers as his self-confidence rose with every new made shot. Ex 2017 NBBL finalist Fynn Fischer made a 20 footer and ex FC Bayern Munich 2 forward Maxwell Dongmo Temoka made free throws. The guests played with nothing to lose and had the right focus. Their zone stifled Rhondorf as they couldn´t hit shots and made too many turnovers. The Dragons were firing too many three´s and not playing more inside out basketball. The second unit of the Dragons Rhondorf came in led by Marko Rosic as he hit a trey to trail 13-5. But the Tropics kept the pressure up as Schueler hit his fourth trey and Philipp “white chocolate” Bode made a lay in for the 18-5 advantage. The Dragons didn´t give up, but kept up their intensity on offense and finished the last minutes strong as Rosic continued to execute his high rainbow trey and NBBL player Aurel Bucur hit a three pointer at the buzzer as the Dragons trailed 27-16. “We knew that they would play zone, but we had problems with it. Nobody wants to be unselfish. We have to show more assertiveness. The second unit with Rosic and Mueller set the tone”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 22% from the 2 point range and 33% from outside and had 13 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 50% from the 2 point range and 60% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Tim Smith Jr from outside

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued to pick up their offense bit by bit and defended better getting closer and trailing 44-37 at half-time. The Dragons Rhondorf began rapidly with a 7-2 run to trail 29-23. The Dragons got great support from their bench and severe energy from Mamadou Diallo who made 2 lay in´s and ex Drake (NCAA) guard Antonio Pilipovic drained a three pointer. Rhondorf played with more intensity and hustle and had calmed down more. The Dragons continued to chip away at the Tropics lead and showed that they have so many weapons. Rookie Tim Smith Jr couldn´t get anything to fall in the first quarter, but in the second quarter attacked the basket more instead of stepping out and trying a trey and made 8 points inside and suddenly the Dragons Rhondorf were on the Tropics door step trailing 36-35. Marko Rosic continued to let it rain making another trey as well. However the TSV Oberaching Tropics were still executing well and saved their best for last in that quarter getting 2 clutch three´s from Brooklyn native and 14 year veteran Omari Knox. Antonio Pilipovic made an off balance jumper to keep his team close. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 39% from the 2 point range and 30% from the three point line and had 28 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 43% from the 2 point area and 56% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 8 turnovers. “We found our flow in the second quarter. We played better against their zone despite them flying all around. We knew what to expect. Knox hit some tough shots at the end. He is a great player. He may be 38 and lost half a step, but he has such a high IQ and knows where his spots are”, stated Kelvin Omojola.

Maxwell Dongmo Temoka with the lay in

In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf totally broke open the game exploding for 34 points and keeping their defense consistent allowing only 17 points and had the 71-61 advantage after 30 minutes. Once the Dragons Rhondorf find their offensive rhythm, then they can be very difficult to stop. The Dragons exploded with a lethal 21-2 run to lead 59-46. In the Dragons run, it rained three´s as great ball movement led to open shots as Pilipovic hit twice, ex Jena center Marco Rahn connected as did JJanne Lasse Mueller (193-PG-2006). The TSV Oberaching Tropics had problems with the great ball movement and good spacing which led too many open shots. Rhondorf also mixed it up well not only with three´s, but also attacked inside. TSV Oberaching Tropics couldn´t execute as well anymore because the Dragons defended with more intensity and were aggressive and it seemed like the guests were always a step behind. The Dragons Rhondorf did a supper job executing well on offense keeping the double digit lead getting baskets from Omojola, Rahn and Pilipovic. TSV Oberaching Tropics had one main scoring option and that was Maxwell Dongmo Temoka who kept getting fed inside and executed. He scored 3 buckets while Fynn Fischer did a great job getting to the free throw line, but trailed by 10 after 3 quarters. “I think the start of the third quarter was our best sequence of the game. Everything worked in our game. Our rebounding was good, but we know that we can always improve in that area”, warned Kelvin Omojola. “They got the lead and then it was tough playing catch up. We kept fighting. They began to hit well against our zone”, stated Niklas Schueler. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 51% from the 2 point area and 34% from the parking lot and had 41 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 45% from the 2 point area and 36% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Janne Muelelr at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf did a good job managing the lead, but got sloppy at the end allowing the TSV Oberaching Tropics get very close in the waning seconds of the game. In the first minutes both teams punched back and forth executing as Smith nailed a trey while Kazakevicius made a tip in while Fischer scored twice and Knox made a lay in, but the Dragons Rhondorf still led 76-69. But then the Dragons Rhondorf pushed the gas pedal hitting 2 big three´s as Mueller and Rosic scored as the TSV Oberaching Tropics trailed 82-71. The guests continued to fight as Dongmo Temoka scored twice, but they couldn´t make any ground as Mueller and Pilipovic hit 2 three´s for the 88-75 lead. “Maxwell Dongmo Temoka is the best defender in the Pro B. He is so athletic and can defend 1-5. On offense he battles hard inside. He just needs to make his free throws”, stressed Niklas Schueler. Schueler and Kazakevicius then traded baskets, but Rhondorf led 91-79 with less than 2 minutes to play. The game seemed decided, but no the craziest things can happen in basketball. The TSV Oberaching Tropics surprised the Dragons with a lightening 10-0 run to trail 91-89 with 7 second to play. In the run Dongmo Temoka scored twice inside, while Schueler made a lay in and Knox a clutch trey. “We were ready to win the game”, stated Kelvin Omojola. With 7 seconds to play, the Dragons had possession and JJanne Lasse Mueller was fouled and hit 2 clutch free throws for the 93-89 lead. Knox attempted one last three pointer that didn´t fall ending the game. “In the last quarter we did a good job continuing to knock down three´s. We took our time and hit them. Oberaching was relentless. For them to still have so much energy at the end with 6 guys was impressive. They played a great game”, stressed Kelvin Omojola. “We knew we were close at the end. We supplied added pressure and got some steals and made some shots. It was a cool atmosphere”, said Niklas Schueler. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by JJanne Lasse Mueller with 20 points. Marko Rosic added 15 points and Antonio Pilipovic 14 points while the TSV Oberaching Tropics were led by Omari Knox with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 7 dimes. Niklas Schuler added 20 points and Fynn Fischer and Maxwell Dongmo Temoka had 19 points a piece. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 44% from the field and 41% from outside and had 52 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 44% from the field and 29% from outside and had 30 rebounds and 13 turnovers.