It was do or die in the Dragon Dome as the Dragons Rhondorf returned back into their own living room down 1-0 against the 26-1 Giants Leverkusen. Everybody in Dragons country were just happy to have made the playoffs at the last second and knew that beating Leverkusen was a brutal challenge to master. A game has 40 minutes, but in game one the Dragons Rhondorf held strong for 1 quarter, but then lost total control by the knock out punch and couldn´t recover losing 98-66. Rhondorf was crushed on the boards and couldn´t match the solid shooting percentages either. The only positive note was taking care of the ball. Did the Dragons Rhondorf have anything left in their gas tank to equal the series at 1-1? On a mild early spring evening, Dragons fans came out one more time and were hoping for a miracle. Before the game commenced, fans were predicting a 30-40 point win for Leverkusen, but instead witnessed a total rebirth from the Dragons Rhondorf as they had the halftime lead and trailed only by 3 points after 30 minutes, but in the end just didn´t have enough as Leverkusen swept the series winning game 2 73-62 ending the Dragons season. Rhondorf were without Kelvin Omojola and Kenan Reinhart, but they didn´t give 100%, but 180% and gave all they had for 40 minutes and went out strong keeping their heads held high. “The first half was our best this season. Our energy was so high and we defended really well. I think that we could have been up 15 points, but we missed some easy shots. We fell apart to begin of the second quarter and weren´t focused. We didn´t take as good shots as in the first half and they didn´t fall. We were at a disadvantage against Heinzmann and got tired and got quick fouls”, stressed Dragons Rhondorf guard Janne Muller. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen didn´t play their best game, but had enough experience and individual qualities that allowed them to win the game. “It was a tale of 2 halves. I think that we played trying to hard to win in the first half. We were too aggressive and forced too much. In the second half, we settled down and took a breath and played our game”, stressed Bayer Giants Leverkusen forward Donte Nicholas (196-G/F-1987, college: Fresno Pacific).

Tim Smith Jr form downtown

The first quarter was similar to the first quarter in game 1 in that both teams found an offensive rhythm and were scoring at ease. Both teams played at a high intensity and there were 4 lead changes as Leverkusen led by 3 points after 10 minutes. Rhondorf defended with an extreme high intensity and forced Leverkusen too early turnovers while getting their mid range and inside game going as Tim Smith hit a 20 footer, Mueller made a 15 footer and ex Frankfurt guard Alexander Lagerman a lay in as he was his aggressive self, but trailed 7-6. Leverkusen was trying to get Heinzmann involved and did as he scored 3 times including one massive dunk. When the big 216cm center was near the basket, it was usually an automatic basket. With Leverkusen up 12-9, the Dragons Rhondorf got a spark with a 6-0 run as Smith Jr and Mamadou Diallo stroked home consecutive three´s for the 15-12 advantage. But the Dragons defense wasn´t spot on yet as Leverkusen recovered well going on a 8-2 run to close out the first quarter to lead 20-17. In the run, they received clutch three´s from ex Iserlohn forward Moritz Huebner and ex BBL player Soren Urbansky. Nicholas also added an offensive rebound and put back. The Dragons Rhondorf had forced 6 turnovers with their aggressive defense while shooting a portent 71% from the 2 point range, but only 25% from outside while the Giants Leverkusen led the rebound battle 11-6, but shot only 43% from the 2 point area and 33% from outside. “Our offensive flow wasn´t really there. We didn´t do a good job taking care of the ball. They had nothing to lose and we gave them way too many opportunities”, stressed Donte Nicholas.

Dennis Heinzmann at the FT line

In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf played their best quarter of the season allowing only 8 points as they totally stifled Leverkusen and forced an incredible 16 turnovers to lead 36-28 at half-time. Pilipovic began with 2 free throws, but Urbansky then added a lay in for the 22-19 advantage, but ex BBL player Marco Rahn was quick to answer with a trey to dead lock the game 22-22. Rhondorf then really stepped up their defensive game going on a 12-2 run to lead 34-24. In the run, Leverkusen coughed up the ball 5 times including 2 turnovers by Heinzmann as the Dragons were flying around the court as the help defense was spot on and getting in the passing lanes worked really well. Rhondorf executed well on offense getting a transition dunk from Danas Kazakevicius and 2 baskets a piece from Smith Jr and Mueller as they let their mid range game sparkle. Some missed Dragons free throws and shots diminished their lead a bit and a hook shot at the end from Urbansky kept the Dragons lead under 10 points. “We executed very poorly. They seemed to have scouted us well and knew our plays. But that can´t happen. We had second and third options, but we couldn´t execute the way we should of. But we didn´t panic. We were still in the game”, warned Donte Nicholas. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 65% from the 2 point area and 25% from the three point line and had 9 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Bayer Giants Leverkusen shot 43% from the 2 point area and 20% from the three point area and had 23 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Janne Mueller at the FT line

In the third quarter the Bayer Giants Leverkusen punched back in a very annoying way going on a 18-0 run to regain the lead at 46-36, but the Dragons Rhondorf didn´t collapse, but fought back to trail only 53-50 after 3 quarter. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen didn´t waste anytime, but punched back right away with a gigantic run and produced 12 stops before the Dragons could muster their first points. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen found back to their game and got Heinzman going as he scored 5 buckets as the Dragons couldn´t contain him. Leverkusen continued to attack the paint area and also got a lay in by versatile Donte Nicholas and 2 baskets by quick German Sebastian Brach. Leverkusen heightened their defensive intensity and aggressiveness, but Rhondorf had some good looks, but just couldn´t execute. But the Dragons Rhondorf rebounded well from this shock ending the third quarter with a spirited 14-7 run to trail only by 3 points. Smith Jr stopped the Leverkusen run at the 3,31 minute mark with a trey and Mueller added 5 points and Lagermann 4 points as his aggressiveness paid off. Leverkusen didn´t have that killer offense as at times they were a bit hesitant. “Coach Koch wasn´t pleased at the break. We came back refocused and cut off their water. We communicated better on defense and switched better. On offense we calmed down and got Heinzmann involved more. He is a walking mis match nightmare”, stressed Donte Nicholas. “Leverkusen was more aggressive, but didn´t really defend any different. It was more on us. We didn´t come out focused and just didn´t hit shots. I think if we would have seen a few go in early, then it would have been a different third quarter. Their experience hurt us”, added Janne Mueller. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen shot 48% form the 2 point area and 20” from the parking lot and had 36 rebounds and 21 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 64% from the 2 point area and 23% from the parking lot and had 15 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Sebastian Brach from outside

In the fourth quarter the Bayer Giants Leverkusen continued to execute well and began with a 16-5 run which decided the game as the hump to get back was way to massive for the Dragons Rhondorf. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen commenced with a rapid 5-0 run as Nicholas dropped a trey and Serbian guard Dimitrijie Djordevic a lay in to lead 58-50. Lagermann answered with a lay in, but Leverksuen always had an answer and their experience helped them get to the free throw line as Urbansky and Nicholas scored for the 61-52 lead. Mueller added a trey to trail 61-55, but then came the ultimate punch from Leverkusen. They ran off a lethal 8-0 run to decide the game. In the run, the Bayer Giants Leverkusen got 4 free throws from Heinzmann, free throws from Nicholas and a lay in by Moritz Huebner at the buzzer to lead 69-55. Rhondorf responded with a 5-0 run as Marco Rahn added 4 points to trail 69-60, but it was too little too late with 2 minutes to play. Marco Rosic added a lay in in traffic and Sebastian Brach ended the game with a trey. “We were more physical and got to the free throw line. We punched first and they didn´t punch back”, stressed Donte Nicholas. “We weren´t as clear with our decision making and half hearted on offense. It may have been a closer game had we been able to punch back”, stated Janne Mueller. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen were led by Dennis Heinzmann with 24 points while Donte Nicholas added 16 points and Sebastian Brach 14 points while the Dragons Rhondorf were led by Janne Mueller with 19 points and Tim Smith had 14 points. The Bayer Giants Leverkusen shot 36% from the field and 26% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 22 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 43% from the field and 26% from outside and had 24 rebounds and 13 turnovers.