The playoff hopes of the Skyliners Juniors have been dwindling more and more the last weeks and now are in danger of not reaching them. On Feb 13, Frankfurt had a record of 10-8 and life looked good, but a current 5 game losing streak put them at 10-13 and in 11th place. The good news was that they were only a win away from the last playoff spot, but there were also only 3 games left in the regular season. Basketball life didn’t get any easier for them as they had to battle top Pro B South team BG Leitershofen who had a great record of 18-5. They also had been playing very good hard nosed basketball as they had a 5 game winning streak coming into the game. This was an absolute must win situation for the Skyliners Juniors. On a cool spring afternoon, it was experience against youth as the Skyliners were without 3 key players with Bruno Albrecht, Malik Kordel and Chuku Chukwuma all out with injuries against top Pro B South team BG Hessing Leitershofen who overpowered Frankfurt in the second half enroute to a easy 86-70 victory on the road. The guests took control of the game in the second quarter and in the third quarter dominated leading by as much as 24 points and never looked back. ‘We came out strong and knew that they would have a young roster for the game. We never underestimated them and kept our focus for 40 minutes. We always stayed composed and played through each other. Our zone was amazing and on offense we shared the ball well, ran transition and hit open shots when we needed to’, stressed BG Hessing Leitershofen guard Asa Williams (198-SF-1999, college: Montana Tech). Frankfurt only had 3 guys 20 or older with Felix Hecker, Fabian Baumgarten and Leo Cosic while the others were all teenagers. Frankfurt fought for 40 minutes, but their lack of experience showed in the second half as the guests executed at ease on offense. ‘Despite the loss, I’m still proud of the young guys. We fought the whole game, but you noticed our lack of experience. They were prepared really well and knew our sets. It is tough for young players to make adjustments on the fly. The best thing that we did today was our transition’, warned Skyliner Junior Felix Hecker.

Felix Hecker at the FT line

BG Leitertshofen didn’t waste any time jumping all over Frankfurt in the first minutes going on a big run, but the Skyliners Juniors did a great job not wilting like a flower and punched back to remain in the game. The guests led rapidly 9-2 as they shared the ball and love as 4 different players scored. Leitershofen got 3 lay in’s from ex Rhondorf Dragon Ference Gille, Romanian guard Dragos Diculescu, German Jannik Westermeier and a trey from New York native Christian Hinckson. Frankfurt had problems moving the ball and were slow in their sets as they were still trying to find their rhythm. Young German Leo Cosic gave Frankfurt supreme energy with a thunderous 2 handed dunk and young German Joscha Zentgraf also gave energy with a lay in from the bench, but they couldn’t gain any ground on Leitershofen as ex Iserlohn forward Elias Marei made an old school hook shot and Ohio native Asa Williams hit a trey to lead 14-8. Unorthodox, but highly talented Dragos Diculescu added an off balance jumper for the 16-8 lead. Dikulesku is one of those players that can’t only hit from any inch of the court, but also do it with hands in your face or in extreme traffic. Frankfurt remained tough going on a mini 5-0 run as ex Kronberg guard Felix Hecker connected on a trey and young German Dusan Nikolic used his strength the drive to get a easy lay in as Frankfurt trailed 16-13. Frankfurt forced Leitershofen to tough shots and relied more on their individual qualities then playing team ball. BG Hessing Leitershofen had too many weapons and closed out the first quarter with a 7-2 run to lead 23-15. In the run the guests continued to get top production from Diculescu who added another difficult off balance shot and Williams added a trey and free throw while Frankfurt’s glue guy Marvin Esser made a lay in as BG Hessing Leitershofen led 23-15 after 10 minutes. ‘I think that we showed a lot of courage and class coming back so well after being down in the first minutes. We fought well and countered with a run. We wanted to play well despite having the injuries and losing that tough game against Orange Academy last weekend’, stressed Florian Dietrich. BG Hessing Leitershofen shot 53% from the field and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 38% from the field and 25% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Dragos Diculesku to the hole

In the second quarter BG Hessing Leitershofen continued to play well and keep the lead, but the Skyliners Juniors did a good job staying with them. Both teams began executing on their first possession as 17 year old German Jamie Edoka hit a 15 footer and ex Trier big man Ole Theis scored on transition as Frankfurt trailed 25-17. Both teams had good offensive rhythm and when one team scored, the other punched back and scored. After Williams scored on transition after getting the perfect touch down pass from Tim Udovicic, Frankfurt struck back with a burst of energy as the universal genius Ivan Crnjac connected on a trey and Hecker made a lay in to trail 28-24. But BG Hessing Leitershofen always had an answer as ex IBAM guard Bastian Maerz dropped a trey to lead 31-24. Frankfurt was doing a super job on the offensive glass and got added energy from Leo Cosic and Joscha Zentgraf who made back to back tip in’s as Frankfurt trailed 31-28. Cosic came into the game having only played 2 Pro B games this season, but last weekend left a lasting impression in Ulm as he netted 13 points. His self-confidence was high against Leitershofen and he had another great game as he finished with 12/4/2/3 stats in 25 minutes. ‘He waited so long for his chance and he really deserved it. He always works hard in practice and also plays in the Regionalliga 2. He showed again that he belongs in the Pro B. He handled himself very well under the basket using his physicality and athleticism’, stressed Floran Dietrich. After a Diculescu lay in, Frankfurt countered with a Nikolic lay in and massive 2 handed dunk by Crnjac on transition as Frankfurt trailed only 33-32. However BG Leitershofen was always threatening on offense with their weapons as there was no holding them now as they went into half-time with a 14-4 run to have the commanding 47-36 advantage. In the run, it was Dragons Diculescu who was a one man wrecking crew scoring 7 points. It doesn’t look pretty what he does, but he is extremely efficient. ‘He is very tough to stop. He has a lot of experience. He plays a lot older than his 25 years. He isn’t athletic, but his game is all smartness and skill’, warned Florian Dietrich. The guests also got a trey from Williams, a lay in by Gille on transition and a beautiful fade a way jumper from Marei. ‘We went on some runs and got easy points to stay in the game. But they always had an answer and hit us back with easy points. We weren’t able to close the zone better’, stated Florian Dietrich. BG Hessing Leitershofen shot 56% from the field and 45% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 41% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Felix Hecker from downtown

In the third quarter came the turning point as BG Hessing Leitershofen scored 25 points and turned an 11 point lead at the break into a 20 point advantage after 30 minutes. The guests began well again going on a 8-3 run to extend their lead to 55-38. Leitershofen had rapid ball movement that led to a lay in by Marei and back to back three’s by Westermeier and Hinckson. Frankfurt got some baskets from Cosic and Hecker in the paint as 1-1 play is what Frankfurt was displaying. The guests countered with 4 points by Marei and an offensive rebound and put back by Theis as Leitershofen had the giant 60-42 advantage. It didn’t matter who had the ball, every Leitershofen player wanted part of the action. After a few minutes rest, Diculescu was back and added 5 unanswered points as the guests had their biggest lead of the game at 65-42. Frankfurt was looking at a steep trek back and only had young kids who had to turn it around. Frankfurt got some baskets from Nikolic and versatile Marvin Esser with a reverse lay up, but they just couldn’t get over the hump as Leitershofen always had an answer. Williams was aggressive whenever he had the ball and connected on a fade away jumper and lay in as Frankfurt trailed 72-52 after 3 quarters. ‘We kept our focus and made adjustments. We came out more aggressive and physical. We pounded the ball in the paint and forced them out of their game. Our zone worked really well where they had no idea how to go against it’, said Asa Williams. ‘We weren’t prepared for their zone which took us out of rhythm. When your back so much, it is difficult to come back’, warned Felix Hecker. BG Hessing Leitershofen shot 56% from the field and 41% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 42% from the field and 15% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

Elias Marei at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the Skyliners Juniors had their best quarter outscoring BG Hessing Leitershofen 18 to 14. The Skyliners Juniors wanted to end the game as best as possible as began great going on a 8-2 run to trail only 74-59. In the run Frankfurt was aggressive on defense getting some steals and getting into passing lanes while also heightening their intensity on the boards and were rewarded with 2 three’s by Hecker and Edoka and Nikolic scored on transition. But Frankfurt was unable to keep that momentum as BG Hessing Leitershofen punched back with a 6-0 run to lead by 21 points as Frankfurt was right back to where they were before their run as fatigue was setting in. Bastian ‘don’t leave me open or you will pay’ Maerz heaved up another trey that only saw net and Hinkson added 3 points. Felix Hecker then showed that he is so much more than just a 3 and D player as he showed his passing magic on consecutive plays. He found Leo Cosic with the perfect bounce pass while sprawling to the ground for 2 points and on the next play spun to the hoop and then dished nicely to Joscha Zentgraf for 2 easy points as Frankfurt trailed 80-63. ‘I have to be honest but I was surprised I made those passes. They definitely were not planned. I saw my teammates in the corner of my eye. There was some luck involved’, smiled Felix Hecker. Frankfurt finished strong in the last minutes getting 5 points from Edoka and a lay in by Cosic while the guests received another Williams trey and Udovicic made a lay in as the game ended. ‘We maintained our focus to the end while getting some other guys involved. We finished strong’, said Asa Williams. ‘We fought to the end, but they were simply too strong today. We still have a chance for the playoffs, but need to ‘win in Munich’, stressed Felix Hecker. BG Hessing Leitershofen was led by Dragos Diculescu with 21 points while Asa Williams added 17 points and the Skyliners Juniors were led by Felix Hecker with 16 points while Jamie Edoka and Dusan Nikolic added 10 points a piece. BG Hessing Leitershofen shot 52% from the field and 35% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the Skyliners Juniors shot 42% from the field and 17% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 19 turnovers.