With the down swing of the 25-26 Pro B south in full swing, the race for the playoffs was in high gear. However the playoffs were becoming less and less of a reality for TV Langen as they were riding a 3 game losing streak going into the home game with the Fellbach Flashers. Their standings situation could have looked a lot better had they been able to win the last 2 games which were nail bitter loses. Basketball life didn´t get any easier for them as 10-9 team Fellbach arrived in their living room. However they hadn´t been playing good basketball in 2026 either as they had lost 4 of 6 games. On Valentines day TV Langen had to play catch up basketball for most of the game and just couldn´t get over the hump as Tyseem Lyles (185-SG-1992, college: Mercy) made clutch shots in crunch-time to preserve the well deserved 88-80 victory. “We demonstrated strong character the whole game. Nik Schlipf carried us in the first half and in the second half, our defense carried us in important phases. Even when TV Langen hit three´s and executed on transition, we were able to power through these moments. We began to move the ball really well at the end of the third quarter and through the fourth quarter. We got easy baskets and Jonathan Gerlinger came up big for us”, stressed Fellbach Flasher Tyseem Lyles. “We were able to generate many good opportunities for shots in the first half, but weren´t able to do that on the switch in the second half. We were solid on defense, but always suffered easy mistakes”, stressed TV Langen guard Drago Crnjac.

Nik Schlipf at the FT line

The Fellbach Flashers had a rapid start in the first quarter, but TV Langen found their offense rhythm and it became a high scoring first quarter with 50 points, but the guests had the 27-23 lead after 10 minutes. Young German Nik Schlipf who has made a rapid progression in the last 2 years going from 5-9 to 14,0ppg began scoring 5 quick points for the 5-0 lead. TV Langen rebounded with easy lay in´s from ex Skyliner Junior Alex Lagerman and California native Jacob Washington to trail 5-4. After Swiss guard Mateus Rodriguez hit a trey, it was Jacob Washington that continued to be aggressive and scored twice in the zone, but Fellbach led 10-7. Fellbach continued to keep control as they had sound offensive execution getting three´s from ex Koblenz guard Jacob Hanzalek and Nic Schlipf for the 16-10 advantage. Fellbach was getting support from many areas as Rodriguez remained aggressive and spot on with his shooting as he produced 5 points with a three pointer and the 23-13 advantage. TV Langen had great difficulty stopping the drive and with their help defense. But sometimes it can go bang bang in basketball as TV Langen found some daylight nailing back to back three´s from ex Pro A player Risto Vasiljevic and ex Limburg guard Drago Crnjac to trail 23-19. However the momentum was still with Fellbach as they continued to attack the rim as Tyseem Lyles and Rondriguez chipped in with lay in´s Vasiljevic continued to fire away and hit one more trey as TV Langen trailed by 4 points after 10 minutes. “The high scoring didn´t surprise me. It was a big game for both teams for the playoffs. Both teams were focused. Nik Schlipf was aggressive and didn´t shy away from the moment. Jeremy Kolev was inured for a long time, but was fearless and Rodriguez hit big three´s and got to the free throw line”, stressed Tyseem Lyles. The Fellbach Flashers shot 67% from the 2 point area and 50% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 3 turnovers while TV Langen shot 46% from the 2 point area and 45% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

Risto Vasiljevic from outside

In the second quarter TV Langen fought back and stole the lead back, but couldn´t keep it and trailed 43-42 at half-time. TV Langen found their touch from outside as Lagerman and Vasiljevic scored from the parking touch, but Fellbach also found their offensive rhythm well getting another trey from Schlipf and a lay in by ex IBAM forward Jeremy Kolev for the 32-28 advantage. But TV Langen was playing with more confidence and then went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game with 35-32. In the run it was walking bucket Jacob Washington again who scored consecutive baskets in the paint and the heart and soul of the team Henk Droste dropped a three pointer. TV Langen upped their defensive intensity and aggressiveness stopping the Fellbach drive better and continued to contain Lyles well. But TV Langen´s lead didn´t last long as Schlipf once again showed that he isn´t a role player anymore which he was 2 years ago, but a dominnat scorer in 2026 and leader as he scored 5 points in a row for the 39-35 Fellbach lead. Schlipf was in constant attack mode, but also demonstrated in the game that he can be a great distributor and guy with a huge Iq. Drago Crnjac also proved that he can score in bunches adding 5 unanswered points to give TV Langen the lead back at 40-39. The game was going back and forth and at eye level. But TV Langen couldn´t hold the lead as Fellbach went on a 4-0 run as Lyles made a lay in as did Jonathan Gerlinger who gave super support from the bench. Niklas Pons who posted a triple double in Fellbach earlier this season ended the first half with a lay in. “TV Langen hurt us in transition and with second chance points. That helped them stay in the game”, stated Tyseem Lyles. The Fellbach Flashers shot 52% from the 2 point area and 38% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 5 turnovers while TV Langen shot 50% from the 2 point area and 41% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Jeremy Kolev with the lay in

TV Langen was able to gain the lead back once in the third quarter, but overall the Fellbach Flashers controlled the game and TV Langen continued to practice catch up basketball. Lagerman began with a rapid 4-0 run to give TV Langen the 46-43 lead with a dunk and lay in, but they were unable to string along some stops. Fellbach struck back right away as Tyseem Lyles who had been 2/7 from the field in the first half, got hot making a step back shot and a trey for the 48-46 Fellbach lead. It was a lead that they would never give up again. After Washington tied the game with free throws 48-48, it was Fellbach again that got some momentum going on a lethal 7-0 run to lead 55-48. Lyles continued to find his spots hitting a trey while Kolev continued being fearless with a lay in and Gerlinger was aggressive in the paint getting an offensive rebound and put back. TV Langen continued to fight and stay close, but they just couldn´t get over the hump. Pons added a three pointer and ex Aschaffenburg forward Aminiu Abibu made a lay in to trail 59-58. Fellbach remained aggressive and closed out the third quarter strong getting a lay in from Schlipf. It was total isolation and good defense, but he simply hit a tough off balance bank shot and Gerlinger made a clutch tip in with a few second remaining as Fellbach led 63-59 after 30 minutes. “We were a lot more physical and that was a game changer for us. We also had better rotations taking their three away”, added Tyseem Lyles. The Fellbach Flashers shot 53% from the 2 point area and 39% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 11 turnovers while TV Langen shot 50% from the 2 point area and 34% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Jacob Washington at the FT line

The Fellbach Flashers managed the lead well in the fourth quarter never allowing TV Langen to get over the hump. TV Langen received big three´s from Washington and ex Skyliner Junior Philip Hadenfeld, but Fellbach punched back with a Lyles mid range jumper from Lyles and tip in from Gerlinger for the 67-65 lead. Lyles has always been a 3 level scorer, but this season has been concentrating a lot more on his mid range game again after not being allowed to take it during his Erfurt years. TV Langen continued to fight in their come back, but Fellbach continued to execute well keeping that 4-7 point lead cushion. Schlipf continued to show his smooth 3 point shooting stroke scoring twice as Fellbach led 77-70. After a Washington offensive rebound and put back to trail 77-73, it was Fellbach again that had the usual answer as Lyles made a lay in and Hanzalek for the basket on transition for the 81-73 lead. Abibu made a big basket on transition as TV Langen trailed 81-75 with 1,32 to play. But Lyles then slammed the door shut on TV Langen with a jumper, steal and transition bucket for the 85-75 advantage. “I never think that I have to take over. I just did what I felt was right. Coach Borisov has encouraged me to take the mid distance jumper again”, stressed Tyseel Lyles. Time was running out for TV Langen, but they showed heart getting a Abibu lay in, Kolev turnover and a trey from Washington to trail 85-80 with 17 seconds to play. Washington missed a trey and Hanzalek closed out the game with a lay in for the win. “We stuck to our game plan on the defensive end. We did a good job on the switch and rotated well”, stated Tyseem Lyles. The Fellbach Flashers were led by Nik Schlipf with 28 points while Tyseem Lyles added 20 points while TV Langen was led by Jacob Washington with 22 points while Drago Crnjac had 14 points. The Fellbach Flashers shot 52% from the field and 39% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 15 turnovers while TV Langen shot 42% from the field and 38% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 12 turnovers.