The EPG Baskets Koblenz rolled so nicely into 2026 with a 2 game winning streak, but since then have stunk up the building again having lost 5 of their last 6 games and were in 10th place with a 10-13 record and 2 wins away from gaining the last playoff spot. 3 of the next 4 games were all must wins for them, because they were against teams below them in the standings. It was 5 to midnight as they had to make a statement now for the run to the playoffs. They welcomed the SBB Baskets Wolmirstedt that had moved up from the Pro B and were in 16th place with a 6-16 record. The guests also hadn’t been playing great basketball as of late as they had lost 7 of 8 games in 2026 and had lost a few nail bitters so Koblenz had to be aware of a team that may have been low in the standings, but were still a dangerous foe. The guests were also coming off a tough 91-79 loss in Karlsruhe only 48 hours earlier. After 40 minutes the EPG Baskets Koblenz had prevailed and had controlled the game for the most part and made the right plays at both ends of the court in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory. ‘For us it’s all about confidence. We have a lot of confidence and multiple scorers and when were playing our game can beat anyone. We focused on locking in on defense and slow them down on the 1-1. At this point of the season, we’ll take any win’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz guard Calvin Wishart (188-G-1999, college: UCSB). The SBB Baskets fought hard, but just couldn’t get over the hump in the second half and had to witness guys like Calvin Wishart and Badu Buck producing big shot after big shot. ‘I felt like we played together well and moved the ball well at the start. However our offense became more stagnant and we were forced to play too much 1-1. We didn’t have the needed defensive intensity or energy and didn’t rebound well’, stressed SBB Baskets center Fabien Kondo.

Devonte McCall at the FT line

The EPG Baskets Koblenz were without versatile Tim Smith Jr who was still out after suffering a brutal concussion against Bochum. The EPG Baskets Koblenz rolled out to a rapid 7-2 lead as they showed solid inside out basketball as DJ Jeffries dropped a trey and had a thunderous dunk while Calvin Wishart produced a lay in. Despite both teams having the game plan to attack with the drive. Some three’s were attempted as ex Wake Forest (NCAA) guard Daivien Williams dropped a trey to trail 7-5. However Koblenz continued to attack the paint area well as new American Julian Larry produced 4 points as ex Phoenix Hagen guard Devonte McCall made a dunk on transition to lead 13-5. ‘Larry is an aggressive player and carried us early. He also can make an impact at the defensive end. That is why we got him’, stressed EPG Baskets sport director Thomas Klein. Even if Koblenz was aware of the drive, they did allow a trey every now and then as Modestas Paulauskas was open and scored for the 13-8 advantage. However Koblenz was in a groove and continued to execute well as Badu Buck scored twice and found his groove which would carry on to the end. The bigs also harmonized well on the high low as ex Trier forward Janis Sonnefeld found ex Bonn center Alexander Moeller for the easy lay in. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had the comfortable 19-12 lead after 10 minutes. I think that both teams began nervous. We were very athletic which they couldn’t match. We defended aggressively, but we allowed some easy drives to Williamson’, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz sport director Thomas Klein.

Devondre Perry to the hole

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz pushed away and led by as much as 9 points only to see the SBB Baskets fight back and dead lock the game, but Koblenz broke away again to lead 44-37 at half-time. Both teams found their rhythm early as the SBB Baskets got back to back lay in’s from ex Brigham Young (NCAA) guard Trey Stewart and Michael Hughes, but Koblenz countered with a Buck trey and Wishart lay in to still lead comfortably 24-14. However then came a down period for Koblenz as they allowed a 13-3 run to the SBB Baskets as suddenly the game was even at 27-27. In the run, the guests got to the rim well as Koblenz’s defensive pressure wanned which led to easy lay in’s by ex Ludwigsburg center Michael Hughes, ex Braunschweig guard Martin Bogdanovic and German big man Fabien Kondo. The SBB Baskets defensive pressure was also heightened which led to some turnovers by Koblenz. Koblenz halted the run with a mini 4-0 run as Wishart and ex Oldenburg center Marko Bacak scored on the drive to lead 33-29. However the guests remained alert and strong punching back with a jumper from ex Skyliner Junior Nigel Pruitt and a trey by Stewart to trail 33-32. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz closed out the quarter strong adding 10 points to lead by 7 points at intermission. Larry took on responsibility scoring 5 points while McCall and Bacak added free throws. ‘We had a better flow on offense. Larry carried us well at the end when we needed it most. Our 1-1 defense was better’, stated Thomas Klein. The EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 50% from the field and 29% from outside and had 18 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the SBB Baskets shot 48% from the field and 33% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Alexsa Kovacevic from the corner

In the third quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz held the lead and continued to execute well on offense and didn’t allow the SBB Baskets to get over the hump leading 66-56 after 30 minutes. Devonte McCall who is a defensive stopper, but can also get cooking on offense scored 5 points, but the SBB Baskets didn’t let up continuing to find ways to get inside as Williamson and Hughes scored as Koblenz led 51-43. After Perry and Wishart traded three pointers, it was then time for the Badu Buck show. The German who won the 2018 NBBL (U-19) youth championship with NBA player Franz Wagner then showed exactly how lethal of a scorer he can be when given the chance as he scored 8 of 10 Koblenz points for the 63-54 lead. He would finish with 18 points shooting 70% from the field and had Thomas Klein sporting a big smile. ‘That was Badu’s best game of the season. He carried the team. He has a good shot. He was also benefited in that the defense was sinking away’, added Thomas Klein. Kondo then added a lay in and ex Kirchheim forward nailed a trey for the 66-56 lead. ‘We played good 1-1 defense and were agile on the wings. Larry, Buck and McCall carried us’, said Thomas Klein. ‘That wasn’t a good quarter for us. We were lacking intensity and energy. Buck got open three’s and hit them’, expressed Fabien Kondo. ‘It was important to win the third quarter. We wanted the double digit lead. Buck led us and hit big shots. We need him to shoot the ball’, stressed Calvin Wishart.

Alieu Ceesay at the FT line

The fourth quarter had the most points in the game with 51 points, but the SBB Baskets couldn’t make any ground as the EPG Baskets Koblenz managed the game very well. The SBB Baskets actually still supplied energy despite having played 48 hours earlier and cruised out on a quick 7-2 run to suddenly only trail 70-63. Williamson found his spots very well and scored twice inside while ex Bamberg German Kevin Wolhrath hit a trey. But that burst of energy didn’t faze the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they found an answer and punched back with a 9-2 run to lead comfortably again 79-65. Wishart was a one man wrecking crew scoring 7 of the 9 points and showing why he is a MVP candidate. He almost registered a triple double as well just missing 1 rebound. ‘I always try to impact the game as much as I can. I got beat on the back door where I really could of kicked myself in the butt. I just try to do my best to lead my team’, warned Calvin Wishart. The SBB Baskets made one last push as crunch-time arrived as Perry added 5 points and Williamson a jumper as suddenly they trailed only 85-77. However the EPG Baskets Koblenz remained calm and slammed the door shut on their opponent as Wishart added 4 points and McCall a dunk with the exclamation mark. ‘We did a good job keeping our feet on the gas pedal and pushing the wind out of them’, stressed Calvin Wishart. ‘We weren’t able to get stops despite getting our baskets. They also were able to beat our press’, added Fabien Kondo. The EPG Baskets Koblenz’were led by Calvin Wishart with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. Devonte McCall added 19 points and Badu Buck 18 points while the SBB Baskets were led by Devondre Perry with 20 points and Daivien Willamson added 19 points.