The brutal battle for the Pro B playoffs continued with only 5 games to play. It hasn´t been a great season for the Dragons Rhondorf as they are far away from the form that they had last season as Pro B champion and came to Frankfurt sitting in 7th place with a 10-11 record and having lost 2 of their last 3 games. The Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors were in 11th place also with a 10-11 record, but that didn´t mean much as the standings were as tight as could be with only 1 win difference between positions 5-10. Frankfurt came off a blow out loss in Erfurt where they only had 8 players available. Every game now was like a do or die game for both teams. On a cool mid March night, the Dragons Rhondorf stepped on the court seeking revenge after the tough 93-86 overtime loss at home which they should have won in regular time where German big man Malik Kordel punished them with a 16/21 monster game-. Not only did they seek revenge, but won for the first time ever in Frankfurt tearing apart the Skyliners Juniors 94-72. After an Ok start, the Dragons Rhondorf stepped up their game in the second quarter playing consistent basketball at both ends and continuing to make strides on the defensive end limiting big man Malik Kordel to only 9 points and 11 boards in the game. “The word of the day was consistency and team. Everybody contributed from 1-11 and it was a total team effort. A big emphasis was rebounding coming into the game and we did a good job with that and we controlled Kordel better who killed us the first time around. We were flying around on defense and it´s one thing to do that, but you also need to get the rebounds and we did that”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Kelvin Omojola. The Frankfurt Skyliners had to play pick up basketball from the second quarter on and just weren´t on the same page at both ends. “We weren´t prepared enough and didn´t do our jobs. We were too soft and played too much 1-1 instead of team play. We did play our game of passing and kicking and making good decisions. You won´t win with 7 assists”, warned Frankfurt Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka.

Felix Hecker at the FT line

In the first quarter the first five minutes was a close affair as both teams were missing shots, but in the last part of the first quarter, Frankfurt executed better and got stops to secure the 19-14 advantage. Frankfurt got the rapid 6-2 advantage as 17 year old German talent Jamie Edoka made 2 easy baskets with his big strength the drive and ex Hanau guard Felix Hecker hit a 20 footer. Rhondorf also went with the penetration as ex RheinStars guard Kenan Reinhart made a lay in and 2024 U-18 German European Championships guard Janne Lasse Mueller (193-PG-2006) also made 2 lay in´s. Frankfurt then went on a mini 5-0 run as Finish guard Chuko Chukwuma connected on a trey and young German Marvin Esser made a lay in for the 11-6 advantage. The Dragons Rhondorf remained tough going on their own 4-0 run as Lithuanian center Danas Kazakevicius made 2 lay in´s as Frankfurt led only 11-10. Frankfurt didn´t relinquish the lead yet going on a 8-4 run to lead 19-14 after 10 minutes. With sniper Bruno Albrecht still out, Felix Hecker had to take some responsibility and stayed aggressive adding 6 points while nailing 4 free throws and Dusan Nikolic made a lay in. Frankfurt shot 37% from the field and 14% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 2 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 37% from the field and 0% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 1 turnover. “They got easy baskets in the first quarter. We were still searching for our rhythm at both ends. We missed easy shots”, stressed Kelvin Omojola

Janne Muller from outside

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf struck back and got the lead and would never lose it again mid way through the quarter. Rhondorf began strong going on a 7-1 run to lead 21-20. In the run, the Dragons received 4 points from Marko Rosic all on free throws as his energy really sparked the Dragons. The Dragons also got a 25 footer from Reinhart and offensive rebound and put back from Ohio native Tim Smith Jr. Nikolic continued to be aggressive as his speed allowed him to get another easy bucket as Frankfurt led 22-21. However Rhondorf continued to heighten up their game step by step and now exploded for a 15-6 run to extend their lead to 36-28. In the run the Dragons got great production from ex BBL player Marco Rahn who supplied 7 points showcasing his fine inside out game while Muller made another lay in and ex Skyliner Junior Alexander Lagerman and Omojola made lay in´s. Rhondorf´s great team play was shining through as was their pick and roll defense. Frankfurt did a good job not losing control of the game, but finishing strong closing out the first half with a 8-4 run as Frankfurt trailed 40-36 at the break. In the run Frankfurt received potent support from their young NBBL guys as Ivan Crnjac dropped a trey, Namori Omog added a lay in and off balance shot and Jamie Edoka made a free throw. “Marko Rosic came in and set the tone and we followed his lead. He is a great player. Anything he does on the court doesn´t surprise me. Our game plan was to focus on Kordel, but really we focused on all”, stated Kelvin Omojola. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 415 from the field and 20% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors shot 40% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Marco Rahn at the FT line

In the third quarter the Dragons were able to up their lead a bit more and lead with 12 points after 30 minutes. They continued to execute well on offense and stay consistent on the defensive end not allowing Frankfurt to get over the hump. Both teams were punching back and forth in the first minutes as both clubs were scoring with ease. Rookie Tims Sith Jr who compares his game to Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum was efficient scoring 3 buckets and kept Frankfurt at bay. Frankfurt played more 1-1, but that suited rapid guards Jamie Edoka and Namori Omog as both scored, but Rhondorf still led 47-41. Both teams got good support from many sides as Muller hit a trey and Lagerman made a tip in while Ivan Crnjac made a tip in, but the Dragons led 51-45. The Dragons Rhondorf defended well throwing a zone at Frankfurt here and there and made it as tough as possible for the Frankfurt drivers. However Frankfurt continued to execute well staying with the Dragons as ex Kronberg guard Felix Hecker dropped a trey and Malik Kordel made a offensive rebound and put back and free throws as Frankfurt trailed only 53-51. But the Dragons Rhondorf then set the foundation for the win closing out the third quarter with a 12-2 run to lead 65-53 and Frankfurt would never get close again. In the run, the Dragons Rhondorf really stepped up their defense getting a block by Smith Jr and super on ball pressure by Omojola that led to a turnover. On offense the Dragons got a lay in by Marko Rosic in traffic and then free throws by Danas Kazakevicius. Omojola then added back to back baskets as did Kazakevicius. “Our big problem the whole season has been rebounding. I think that we found our pace in the game allowing only 1 shot. We also got easy baskets”, expressed Kelvin Omojola. “We didn´t do our jobs. They didn´t really do anything special on defense. At the end of the day when we are playing the way we should, we beat them”, stressed Jamie Edoka. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 48% from the field and 17% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 7 turnovers and the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors shot 38% from the field and 14% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Ivan Crnjac from outside

In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf saved their best for last scoring 29 points and not having any let ups on the defensive end and closed out the game in style. The Dragons got a trey from Kenan Reinhart and lay in by Smith Jr while Frankfurt got Edoka free throws and a lay in by Malik Kordel, but Rhondorf still led 71-58. After Edoka and Smith traded buckets, the Dragons Rhondorf ultimately shut the door on Frankfurt with a 12-4 run to extend their lead to 85-64. In the run, the Dragons Rhondorf remained cool as if they were in their own living room and just continued to execute their offense as they were led by Tim Smith Jr with 7 points. He displayed his 3 level scoring once again while Omojola nailed a trey and Muller made free throws. Omojola finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists after coming off a tough game at home against Leitershorfen where he had big problems taking care of the ball. He only had 1 turnover in this game. “I just try to give my all in each game. I feel like I stepped up my defense and was an impact”, added Kelvin Omojola. Down the stretch, there was no let up by the Dragons as they got added production from Janne Lasse Mueller with a trey and runner while Lagerman and Rahn made lay in´s while Frankfurt got 5 more points from Nikolic and a trey by Omog. “We played with pace and energy in the last quarter and everything went in. We moved the ball well, made lay in´s and made three´s. Our communication was our biggest strength on defense and we all moved like on strings”, warned Kelvin Omojola. “We weren´t awake on defense. We were to slow and not on the same page”, warned Jamie Edoka. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Janne Lasse Mueller with 19 points. Tim Smith Jr added 17 points and Danas Kazakevicius had 13 points while the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors were led by Dusan Nikolic with 17 points and Jamie Edoka added 14 points. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 52% from the field and 33% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors shot 39% from the field and 19% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 13 turnovers.