The EPG Guardians continue to hang on a very thin thread in the Pro A standings as only 1 victory separates them from maintaining one of the last spots to move down for next seasons as only Artland is worse. After a tough loss to Phoenix Hagen where the Guardians zone caved in on them in the third quarter, they were back at it in their own living room only 48 hours later. It didn´t get any easier with the 18-11 Eisbaeren Bremerhaven who were resting in 5th place and fighting for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They are a team that is striving to get back to the easyCredit BBL and always have competitive teams. They arrived in Koblenz having won 3 of their last 4 games, but had suffered a brutal 63-62 loss to KIrchheim at home last weekend. It was another do or die game for Koblenz as they were hoping to finally win again as their 1-13 record in 2025 was nothing to be proud of. The EPG Guardians Koblenz Hung with Bremerhaven all the way to crunch-time, but there allowed a lethal 8-0 run as the guests sealed the deal 92-83. “It wasn´t a great game by us, but we got the job done. We knew that they would eventually get tired. We picked up our game in the second half. We stuck together as a team well. They had their runs, but it was just a matter of time before we had the better run”, warned Eisbaeren Bremerhaven forward Carlos Carter (197-G/F-1999, college: Shippensburg). The EPG Guardians defended well in the first half, but in the second half allowed way to many three´s and in crunch-time just couldn´t get consecutive stops. “We overall played a good game, but we gave up way to many offensive rebounds. We fought until the end, but second chances hurt us the most”, stressed EPG Guardians guard Jakob Hanazlek.

Anzac Rissetto at the FT line

The Eisaberen Bremerhaven didn´t waste any time getting going as they led quickly 9-2. The guests pushed the ball inside as ex The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NCAA) (NCAA) big man Anzac Rissetto scored 3 times and ex BBL player Adrian Breitlauch hit a trey. The Guardians were totally unconcentrated and just way to hectic in their offensive sets. They finally settled down and began to claw themselves back into the game going on a 10-4 run to trail only 13-12. In the run the EPG Guardians lived off individual plays as David Bohm scored inside and American Michael Bradley connected on a pull up jumper and young French talent Alexandre Bouzidi dropped a trey. It was a game of runs as Bremerhaven struck back with a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 22-14. The guests received some instant energy from ex Montana State University Billings (NCAA2) forward Zharon Richmond who added 5 points and Breitlach hit another trey. Koblenz had problems with the great Bremerhaven team play, but punched back one more time as they ended the first quarter with a strong 5-0 run as Bouzidi connected for his second three pointer and Georgia native Ty Cockfield conquered the paint area as usual with his drive with a lay in. The EPG Guardians Koblenz were in striking distance trailing only 22-19. “We weren´t consistent enough on the defensive end. They got a few runs which gave them a little momentum at the end”, said Carlos Carter.

David Bohm at the FT line

The second quarter was the strongest defensive quarter as only a total of 28 points was given up, but the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven still had the slim 37-34 advantage at the break. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven always punched first with the Guardians finding an answer. The Eisbaeren got some three´s from Swiss army knife Carlos Carter and ex Shippensburg University (NCAA2) sniper Jake Biss for the 30-24 advantage, but the Guardians remained strong on offense finding ways to execute as Cockfield and Canadian Ben Stevens scored inside as the guests led 32-30. The EPG Guardians Koblenz were defending a lot better sticking to their game plan of taking away Bremerhaven´s team play and forcing them to individual plays. They didn´t only do that, but they forced them to really tough shots. In the last few minutes, the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven got some fortune getting 2 easy buckets as Biss hit another three pointer and talented young German Peter Hemschmeier who played 1 Fiba Europe Cup game for BG Goettingen and once averaged 30,7ppg in a season in the NBBL made a 20 footer for the 37-30 lead. The EPG Guardians Koblenz didn´t let down their guard as they punched back one more time closing out the second quarter with a 4-0 run as ex University of Alabama at Birmingham (NCAA) forward William Lee made a lay in and David Bohm made an old school hook shot. “We didn´t take them lightly. They fought hard. We had some mis reads and didn´t play our game of playing together. That helped them stay with us”, added Carlos Carter. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven shot 47% from the field and 38% from outside and had 22 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 36% from the field and 30% from outside and had 17 rebounds and 3 turnovers.

William Lee with the runner

The third quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game as both teams combined for 56 points as both teams found their offensive rhythm, but after 30 minutes the EPG Guardians Koblenz still couldn´t get over the hump and trailed 67-60. Walking bucket Ty Cockfield really got going as his slick dribbling and pretty cross over moves was giving Bremerhaven fits as he scored 3 times, but Koblenz still trailed 44-42. Both teams then traded three´s twice as Bremerhaven got baskets from Hemschmeier and Carter while the Guardians got buckets from ex BBL player Leon Friderici and William Lee as Koblenz trailed 50-48. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven had finally found their game and it continued as this crazy unselfishness was in full swing as great ball movement and the extra pass led to a trey by ex PS Karlsruhe guard Daniel Norl while Richmond made 2 more three´s as the guests led 61-53. In this phase, the Guardians received incredible support from their bench as Hanzalek hit treys and played excellent defense to help his team trail only 61-57. “I´m getting a lot of trust from coach and my self confidence is high. I try to help by letting Johnson and Friderici get some rest so when they come back in can perform at a high level. I don´t hesitate anymore. I feel like a real shooter this season”, warned Jacob Hanzalek. Bremerhaven continued to execute well getting the first bucket in the game from their season leading scorer Elijah Miller and another trey from Mr reliable Adrian Breitenlauch to lead 67-57. Dominique Johnson then closed out the third quarter with a massive offensive rebound and acrobatic three pointer to produce some bedlam in the EPG arena. “Coach Esterkamp told us to pick up our game. We got back to playing our game which is team ball. We knew that if we played out style, we would hit shots again”, commented Carlos Carter. “Little things hurt us like bad calls and offensive rebounds that we allowed. I felt like our defensive pressure was good, but they still hit three´s “, expressed Jakob Hanzalek.

Hendrik Warner at the FT line

The fourth quarter was a real dogfight as the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven always had their heads slightly ahead, but in crunch-time, the EPG Guardians allowed that last run that broke their necks. The EPG Guardians began quickly getting key three´s from Johnson and Carter, but couldn´t gain any ground as ex Paderborn American Carlos Carter remained aggressive making a lay in and dunk as Bremerhaven led 71-66. Bremerhaven kept punching getting free throws from Hemschmeier and a trey from Richmond, but the Guardians countered with back to back baskets from Bouzidi as the Eisbaeren just couldn´t shake the Guardians leading only 76-73. Both teams then went on mini 5-0 runs as Bremerhaven began with a three pointer by Hemschmeier which was benefited from an offensive rebound and a thunderous Carter dunk, while the Guardians got a huge trey from Johnson and a lay in by Cockfield to trail only 81-78. But then came the turning point of the game as the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven was as cold as ice going on a ruthless 8-0 run to extend their lead 90-78 and decide the game in their favor. Bremerhaven stepped up their defensive intensity one more level as the Guardians were tired and were aggressive on the glass. Ex Alba Berlin youth player Hendrik Warner who had been relatively quiet in the game saved his best for last with 6 points while Breitenlauch made an offensive rebound and put back. Friderici added a trey and Johnson a lay in in the last minute, but it was too little too late. Bremerhaven showed that any guy can step up this season at anytime with Warner. “We knew that they would get tired. We knew that if we continued to stay focused on our game that we could be successful. We punched last. We made good stops and made our shots”, said Carlos Carter. “It was the little things that cost us the game at the end. We weren´t as focused mentally and gave up offensive rebounds which hurt us the most”, added Jakob Hanzalek. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven had 5 guys score in double figures led by Anzac Risseto and Peter Hemschmeier who scored 15 points a piece while Carlos Carter added 14 points while the EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by Ty Cockfield and Dominque Johnson who combined for 18 points a piece. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven shot 55% from the field and 45% from the three point line and had 42 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz who 42% from the field and 40% from the three point line and had 29 rebounds and 7 turnovers.