The season of the Frankfurt Skyliners just keeps trudging along slowly as they are sort of in noman´s land. They won´t make the playoffs again in the easyCredit BBL this season and they won´t move down either as BG Goettingen will need a game winning streak miracle which is about as likely as Alba Berlin winning the BBL title this season. Last weekend, Frankfurt stunk up the Ulm arena allowing 115 points and 19 three´s and coughed up the ball 24 times. It didn´t get any easier as the 2024 Fiba Europe cup winner Niners Chemnitz came to town hanging on strongly to position 4 in the standings. They had been playing solid ball as of late having won 3 of their last 4 games. The Frankfurt Skyliners were seeking revenge after their 85-66 loss on the road. On a mild Sunday evening, fans saw a game that showcased numerous runs, but the Niners Chemnitz had the last run securing the 70-65 win on the road. It wasn´t the best performance by the 2024 Fiba Europe Cup winner, but in the end a win is a win. “I honestly think that we played terrible. Both teams had a bad start. For us it was our defense that set the tone. We showed what kind of a team that we really are after Kevin Yebo was thrown out. We stuck together as a team and played for one another”, stressed Jeff Garrett (201-F-1994, college: LSUS, agency: Players Group). The Frankfurt Skyliners did a good job punching back after Chemnitz punched and had their chances, but just unlucky for them that they couldn´t pull out the win against a Chemnitz team that wasn´t at their best. “They turned up their defense in the second half. They made big plays at the end and hit big shots. I thought we did a good job matching their physicality, we rebounded well and got out on transition well. We were just unlucky with out shooting percentages”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliner Garai Zeeb.

Lorenz Brennecke at the FT line

4,760 fans showed up for the basketball clash and saw the Niners Chemnitz race out to a quick 8-2 lead. In the run, the Niners caught Frankfurt off guard as they were not quite awake attacking them as 2024 Pro A champion Victor Bailey Jr produced the first 5 points. German Nicholas Tischler also added 3 points with a tap in and free throw. Frankfurt punched back with a 8-2 run as they banged the ball inside whenever possible which resulted in baskets from ex Schweinningen big man Jacob Knauf and ex Boston College forward Patrick Heckmann. Heckman then displayed an incredible pass as he drove from the right flew under the basket and whipped a bullet pass to ex Bremerhaven guard Garai Zeeb who sunk the trey. German Kevin Yebo then countered with 6 points as he displayed his excellent inside out game with a trey and made free throws after attacking the rim for the 17-10 advantage. Frankfurt was up and down as their rhythm wasn´t fluid yet. American Malik Parsons dropped a trey late and a free throw as the Niners Chemnitz led 17-14 after 10 minutes. “We didn´t have a good first quarter. Our defense dictates our offense so when were aren´t aggressive of defense and aren´t flying around, It carries over to our offense. We didn´t move the ball well”, commented Jeff Garrett. The Niners Chemnitz shot 27% from the field and 13% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 26% from the field and 20% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

Victor Bailey Jr from the baseline

The Frankfurt Skyliners upped their game in the second quarter finally finding their offensive rhythm, but so did the Niners Chemnitz as the contest was deadlocked at 35-35 at the break. Tischler got the Niners their first points of the second quarter with a trey and German Jonas Richter made a lay in for the 21-14 Niners lead. However that didn´t faze Frankfurt as they rattled off back to back three´s from Parsons at the shot clock buzzer and from Zeeb to trail only 21-20. That shooting energy brought the arena back to life. Both teams were executing at ease on offense, but Frankfurt was unable to get over the hump as they got a step back jumper from Parsons and an offensive rebound from Knauf and put back, but Chemnitz always had an answer. Kevin Yebo was a one man wrecking crew as he scored twice always getting inside with his athleticism for the 30-24 advantage. “Kevin is so important for us. He is solid on defense always bring energy, but he is at his best on offense. He is a mismatch nightmare and can do it all for a big man. He is one of the best bigs in the league”, said Jeff Garrett. But the Niners couldn´t get away and add to their lead as Frankfurt always bounced back as ex Euroleague player Jordan Theodore made a lay in as did Parsons to trail 30-28. The Niners then got a lay in from Garrett to lead 32-28. Frankfurt really had a lot of guys ready to produce as now it was time for ex G-League player Marcus Domask as he showed again that he can score in bunches making a lay in and turn around shot for the 33-32 lead. Ex NBA player Jacob Gilyard then added a trey and Knauf free throws as no team could break away from the other. “Frankfurt did a great job executing seeing that we were slow and looked for the direct pass. They got easy baskets and were having fun”, stated Jeff Garrett. The Niners Chemnitz shot 31% from the field and 20% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Jonas Richter at the FT line

In the third quarter, the Frankfurt Skyliners went on the game´s biggest run and produced their biggest lead of the game, but couldn´t build on it as the Niners Chemnitz rallied and trailed 49-45 after 30 minutes. Frankfurt got out slow from the gates allowing the guests to cruise out on a 6-0 run to lead 41-35. On the run, the Niners were being aggressive attacking the rim and glass as Yebo made a tip in and Bailey made free throws and a turn around shot. Even if Chemnitz had individual plays, it worked for them while Frankfurt was forcing too much on the offensive end. Then came a turning point in the game as Kevin Yebo got a flagrant foul and a technical followed which caused his ejection. That must of given Frankfurt extra energy as they cruised out on a lethal 13-0 run to lead 48-41. In the run, Frankfurt shared the basketball nicely getting baskets from Domask, Parsons and an incredible off balance shot by Heckman while also remaining aggressive and getting to the free throw line getting 7 points. The Frankfurt zone presented Chemnitz with problems as they could generate no offensive rhythm. The Niners did close out the third quarter with a little momentum as Gilyard hit a three pointer. “I think that Yebo´s ejection sparked them. One of our best players got kicked out and that motivated them. We just went bit by bit and stayed with them”, expressed Jeff Garrett. “The ejection of Yebo helped us, but perhaps them as well. They wanted to play better and win for him”, stated Garai Zeeb.

Malik Parsons down low

In the fourth quarter the Niners Chemnitz came out and simply overpowered the Frankfurt Skyliners with a 13-3 run to get the 6 point lead and be in good control. Ex Louisiana State University at Shreveport (NAIA) player Jeff Garrett was instrumental in the run as he scored 4 baskets as he demonstrated his ability to get to the hole including a massive 2 handed dunk. Tischler also added a trey as the Niners led 58-52. But Frankfurt never gave up as their own walking bucket Malik Parsons took matters into his own hands scoring 2 lay in´s and also dropped a three pointer as Frankfurt trailed only 62-61. Jeff Garrett often had the annoying task of guarding him at the top of the key. “He is really tough to guard. He is so shifty and like a slinky. It was a great challenge guarding him”, added Jeff Garrett. Parsons was on fire and scored again on transition giving Frankfurt the 63-62 advantage in crunch-time. However the Niners Chemnitz were ice cold as they then slapped a 5-0 run in Frankfurt´s faces as Mr money ball Jeff Garrett connected from down town and Gilyard hit an off balance shot from the corner for the 67-63 lead with 36 seconds to play. “We moved the ball well and my teammates helped me get good looks. That 3 ball was a big shot and sealed the win for us”, stressed Jeff Garrett. Heckmann did make free throws, but ex Michigan (NCAA) forward Olivier Nkamhoua closed out the win with a dunk and free throws. “Our good defense got us the lead which led to easy baskets. We took good care of the ball, flew around on defense and were just sharper”, stated Jeff Garrett. “In crunch-time, we had 2 mental slip ups which led to them making 2 big shots”, said Garai Zeeb. The Niners Chemnitz were led by Jeff Garrett, Victor Bailey and Kevin Yebo with 13 points a piece while the Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Malik Parsons with 23 points. The Niners Chemnitz shot 39% from the field and 19% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 21% from outside and had 440 rebounds and 14 turnovers.