It was no secret that the first 3 games of the EPG Baskets Koblenz season wouldn´t be a cake walk as they had BG Goettingen and the Hakro Merlins on their menu. They couldn´t get the job done against BG Goettingen, but did their homework in Bayreuth wining with grace. Wouldn´t it be a great way to win their first home game against top team Crailsheim? They had started the season off with a bang 2-0. Crailsheim demonstrated a lethal offensive attack averaging almost 100 points in their first 2 games while defending solidly allowing only 78 points per average in the first 2 games. American Brock Gardner had exploded in the first 2 games showing his shooting touch with 72% from downtown with 8 three´s. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had shown a great team effort sporting 5 guys in double figures showing that lethal offensive attack in the win in Bayreuth. Their defense was still a work in progress as they had to find a way to slow down the Merlins attack. On a mild autumn day, the Hakro Merlins controlled the game form the get go, but always gave the EPG Baskets Koblenz opportunities to come back, but in the fourth quarter they stayed tough on defense and didn´t allow them to get over the hump winning 84-73 to go to 3-0. “We played tough defense and moved the ball well. We made tough plays down the stretch and made stops when we needed it most”, stated Hakro Merlins Crailsheim guard Anthony Gaines (193-G-1998, college: Siena). The EPG Baskets Koblenz played a solid game, but had too many phases where their 1-1 defense wasn´t spot on and offensively couldn´t execute when they needed to. “They came out with a lot more of intensity, but in the second half we played better. The difference were offensive rebounds, loose balls and tip ins. You have to give them a lot of credit. They are a very good team with chemistry already now”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Garrett Hicks. Despite the loss, the EPG Baskets Koblenz showed that they still have a lot of work to do, but stayed with one of the top teams in the Pro A. “We showed that we can stay with a top team in the Pro A. It wasn´t good the way we lost the game. We continue to show that we can play a better role in the Pro A than the last 2 seasons”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

Aleksa Kovacevic at the FT line

The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim came out strong, but the EPG Baskets fought back and only trailed by 4 points after 10 minutes. Crailsheim jumped all over Koblenz in the first few minutes taking the rapid 7-0 lead. In the run, they got a trey from ex Rhondorf Dragon Tyrese Blunt who wanted to wipe away his 1/14 three point shooting in the first 2 games, Gaines made a lay in and ex FC Bayern Munich center Marvin Onunsipe made a turn around shot. Koblenz was over excited and made easy mistakes which Crailsheim jumpepd all over. The EPG Baskets finally got on the board at the 6,41 minute mark getting a lay in from ex MBC guard Alexsa Kovacevic. Koblenz upped their aggressiveness which led to free throws from ex Schwenningen guard Badu Buck and Kovacevic and suddenly the score was 9-6. But the EPG Baskets couldn´t take the momentum they had gained as they made some costly turnovers which led to 7 unanswered points from ex Butler (NCAA) guard Charles Harris to lead 14-6. He showed his 3 level scoring qualities with free throws, a trey and lay in on transition. The first quarter really was a quarter of runs as Koblenz struck back with a 7-0 run to trail only 17-13. Hicks scored in transition and ex Wurzburg guard Calvin Wishart scored 5 points with a trey. His individual qualities are unmatched and he can always take responsibility into his own hands when his team needs it most. “Both teams had runs and were searching for their rhythm. Both teams were defending hard and it wasn´t a beautiful game. Calvin Wishart kept us close”, stated Thomas Klein.

TJ Madlock with the lay in

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets exploded in the first 2 minutes, but couldn´t hold their momentum and allowed the Hakro Merlins to steal the lead back and lead by 9 points at the break. Koblenz cruised out on a lethal 11-2 run to lead 24-19. In the run, they let it rain three´s as Wishart connected once and ex Leipzig forward Jonas Nidermanner scored twice and ex G-League player DJ Jeffries was aggressive and scored on the penetration. Koblenz played nice inside out on offense and on the defensive end doubled the post well giving Crailsheim massive problems in the set play. Koblenz slowed down Keyshaun Langley nicely and the Merlins didn´t have the classic playmaker to control their game. However Koblenz was unable to keep their momentum as Crailsheim found ways to execute better on offense again. Tyrese Blunt was on a mission and scored at ease with free throws, a lay in and three pointer while others also produced with ex Ludwigsburg guard Nico Santana with the back door cut and lay in and Langley made a jumper for the 36-30 advantage. Once again the EPG Baskets were playing catch up basketball. However Koblenz stayed close getting lay in´s by ex Oldenburg center Marko Bacak and Jeffries to trail 38-34. Ogunsipe then scored 5 unanswered points as the EPG Baskets couldn´t defend properly 1-1. Nidermanner nailed a clutch trey at the end to prevent a bigger deficit with a trey as Crailsheim led 46-37. “This deficit was totally unnecessary. We lost our physicality, didn´t defend well 1-1 and were inconsistent on the rebound. They did a good job taking our drive away”, added Thomas Klein. The Hakro Merlins Crailshein shot 45% from the field and 38% from outside and had 17 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the EPG Baskets shot 45% from the field and 33% from outside and had 19 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Marko Bacak with the lay in

In the third quarter the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim did a fine job managing the lead and never allowed the EPG Baskets to get over the hump even if Koblenz did tie the game once. Tim Smith came out aggressive in the second half scoring twice while Niedermanner hit a trey to trail 49-44. However Nico Santana was a real menace always finding a way to score as he hit a trey and made a lay in for the 51-45 advantage. Koblenz found their physicality again especially with ex Rhondorf Dragon Alex Moeller who scored twice and Tim Smith made a trey as Crailsheim only led 53-51 as the CGM arena got loud again. Koblenz did a better job attacking the rim now while defensively made things a lot tougher for the guests to get off good shots. But once again, the EPG Baskets once again couldn´t keep up the intensity, but allowed a devastating 10-2 run as Crailshiem led 63-55. In the run, Crailsheim got big production from ex Alabama State (NCAA) guard TJ Madlock who scored 4 points while Santana hit another three pointer. Koblenz got some fortune on their last possession as Bacak made a three pointer to keep them close down 63-58 after 30 minutes. “They came out strong and took care of some opportunities. But we stepped up our defense and were more aggressive and talked more. We also attacked the glass better”, stated Anthony Gaines. “We came out with more intensity and the game was back and forth. We were more physical, but just couldn´t take it into the fourth quarter”, commented Garrett Hicks.

Gianni Otto to the rim

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets continued to play catch up basketball and just couldn´t get over the hump. Madlock began with a trey for the 66-58 Crailsheim lead, but the EPG Baskets still had some energy in their tank as they went on a 7-3 run to trail only 69-65. Smith Jr continued to be aggressive and found his spots hitting a trey while Hicks scored 4 points. But Koblenz were unable to to get closer as Crailsheim struck back with a 10-4 run to lead 79-69 and decide the game. The Hakro Merlins played very smart getting to the free throw line getting 8 easy points on free throws from Ongusipe, Langley and Gaines. With time running down, Alex Moeller made a lay in to trail 79-71. However then came the final blow by the guests as they grabbed 2 offensive rebounds which led to a Gaines lay in and 81-71 lead. Santana then added a jumper for the 83-71 lead and that was it. The EPG Baskets lost their second game, but showed again a solid performance against a top team. “We were unconcentrated and didn´t use our chances. It was unnecessary to lose this game”, said Thomas Klein. “We got stops and did a good job taking care of the ball. We did a good job keeping the lead and not giving it up”, said Anthony Gaines. “We were too tied up with the refs. Our 1-1 defense could have been better and our rotations weren´t good”, said Garrett Hicks. The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim had 6 guys score in double figures as Marvin Ongunsipe and Charles Harris had 13 points a piece while the EPG Baskets were led by Jonas Niedermanner with 14 points while Tim Smith Jr had 12 points. The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim shot 40% from the field and 35% from the three point line and had 40 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the EPG Baskets shot 41% from the field and 32% from the three point line and had 33 rebounds and 13 turnovers.