The Skyliners continued to be in a fight for the 2026 easyCredit BBL playoffs. Only 2 wins separated them from the last playoff spot. They definitely wanted to rebound after their poor showing against 2026 cup winner Bamberg. They didn´t have an easy task as they welcomed 2009 BBL champion EWE Baskets Oldenburg into their living room who like Frankfurt also boasted 10 victories. Oldenburg´s season has been up and down as they started the season losing 4 of their first 5 games, but then found a groove winning 8 of 9 games, but as of late had fallen into a rut having lost 3 of their last 4 games. This was another big test for the Skyliners. Fans were able to see the Frankfurt debut of ex NBA player Chris Clemons as well who had eclipsed the 50 point mark this season in the BBL. After 40 minutes, the scoreboard read 79-73 for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg and one could say that it was a game that Frankfurt allowed to get away, because they controlled the game for the most part, but just couldn´t finish it. Oldenburg didn´t need a big night from Chris Clemons who had a poor shooting day at 3/16, but had enough other bodies like Brian Fobbs (196-G-1998, college: Towson), Michale Kyser and Tomislav Zubcic who filled the slack combining for 46 of the 79 Oldenburg points. “We had a really bad first quarter, but we came back and played better in the second half getting stops and rebounds and made a push. We stuck together at the end and were able to pull out the win”, stressed EWE Baskets Oldenburg guard Brian Fobbs. Frankfurt led by 10 points going into the fourth quarter, but allowed Brian Fobbs to get hot early netting 10 points that allowed the guests to get over the hump. “We played 35 minutes of good basketball. We had spurts where we gave up too many second chance points. We did a good job on the glass at both ends. However it´s all about execution down the stretch which we didn´t do”, stressed Skyliner forward Ryan Hawkins.

Till Pape at the FT line

Fans saw no scoring in the first 2,56 minutes of the first quarter as there were 11 possessions and no points. The first points were finally scored at the 7,04 minute mark from German Till Pape who made a back door cut and was fed nicely by ex Artland Dragon Will Christmas for the easy bucket. Soon after Pape added free throws for the 4-0 lead. Oldenburg couldn´t find a rhythm and focused too much on individual plays than getting the team aspect involved. Then sometimes basketball moves so quickly as Oldenburg finally got on the board at the 5,31 minute mark as Croatian big man Tomislau Zubcic made a runner and then followed with 3 more points as the guests registered their first lead of the game at 5-4. Christmas then made a lay in giving Frankfurt the lead back, but that was short lived as ex Braunschweig German Nicholas Tischler made free throws for the 7-6 lead. However Frankfurt then took control closing out the first quarter with a lethal 13-4 run to lead 18-11 after 10 minutes. Frankfurt did a great job defensively packing the zone and not allowing Oldenburg inside opting for outside shots that weren´t falling. On offense, Frankfurt used a mix out of team play and individual play as super efficient German Radii Casin dropped a trey while Americans Isaiah Swope from the University of St Louis and ex G-League player Logan Johnson used their brilliant individual skills for easy lay ups. Frankfurt also were the aggressor on the glass getting key rebounds. “Frankfurt defended well. They were stunting well not allowing us in the paint. We knew it would be a long day if we didn´t make shots. Our lack of offensive execution hurt out confidence”, stated ex Towson University (NCAA) guard Brian Fobbs. The EWE Baskets Oldenburg shot19% from the field and 0% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 4 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 42% from the field and 17% from outside and had 13 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Chris Clemeons from downtown

The Skyliners continued to control the game in the second quarter and led by as much as 13 points and at the break led 40-33. The Skyliners came out of the gates quickly going on a 6-2 run to lead 24-13. Key were two lays by ex Creighton (NCAA) forward Ryan Hawkins and Pape. But that basketball is a game of runs is nothing new as the EWE Baskets Oldenburg rode out on a 8-3 run to trail only 27-21. Oldenburg finally became more aggressive and found the space and attacked the rim getting two baskets from ex Louisiana Tech (NCAA) center Micahle Kyser and a 20 footer by ex NBA player Chris Clemons which was his first bucket of the game. A little lack of focus and sloppiness led to Frankfurt caving in a bit. The game of runs continued as now it was the Skyliners turn as they cruised out on a 9-2 run to up their lead to double digits leading 36-23. In the run, the Skyliners got a big trey from ex St Johns (NCAA) guard Nahiem Alleyne and they stayed aggressive getting inside and got free throws from Australian big man Jacob Holt and Casin and Swope also added a pretty fade away from the corner in Fobbs face. “We see those kind of shots every day in practice. He is just one of those guys that feels really comfortable taking those kind of shots”, added Ryan Hawkins. However the EWE Baskets Oldenburg didn´t wilt as they punched back closing out the first half with a 10-4 run to trail only by 7 points. In their run, it was Kyser who was super instrumental throwing down three dunks and adding a lay in as Frankfurt couldn´t deny him the ball. His experience of 11 seasons and having played in 9 countries was overwhelming. Fobbs also snuck onto the offensive glass getting an offensive rebound and making the putback. “Kyser is a real presence down low. He is our glue guy that is always fighting and keeps us together. He always plays with energy. He is one of the reasons why we won today”, warned Brian Fobbs. The Skyliners shot 40% from the field and 19% from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the EWE Baskets Oldenburg shot 37% from the field and were at 0% from outside at 0/10 and had 17 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Logan Johnson from outside

The Skyliners had ups and downs in the third quarter always allowing the EWE Baskets Oldenburg to retaliate and once trail only by 2 points, but after 30 minutes, the Skyliners were leading comfortably again at 61-51. Frankfurt came out sluggish into the third quarter allowing 4 unanswered points as Zubcic and ex University of Florida (NCAA) guard Kyle Lofton hit a pull up jumper as the guests trailed 40-37 and were threatening. But Frankfurt at this point always had an answer going on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to 45-37. Pape showed his classic inside out skills drilling home a trey and Logan Johnson gave the arena chills with an amazing explosive dunk as he came flying through the air with extensive hang time which looked similar to Cooper Flags thunderous dunk in the NBA the night before. “Logan always plays so hard and is attacking the rim. He is always aggressive and has that attitude that nobody can stop him. He punched the ball home”, smiled Ryan Hawkins. Both teams now punched back and forth as Zubcic and Johnson hit three´s, but Frankfurt still led 49-43. Frankfurt kept some distance again as Swope connected on a pull up jumper for the 51-41 lead. However the Skyliners were never able to totally put away Oldenburg as they kept fighting and finding ways to execute. A few buckets here and there by ex Utah (NCAA) American Dakarai Tucker and Tischler and suddenly Oldenburg was in striking range again trailing only 51-49. But Frankfurt once again was able to douse the fire and overpower the guests with a 10-2 to lead by 10 points after 30 minutes. Frankfurt had shot the ball badly from outside, but in the run finally found some fortune getting three´s from Alleyne and Pape. Pape also added a lay in for insurance. “I really liked our mindset coming out of the break. We did a good job with the tempo, moving the ball and getting out on transition”, commented Ryan Hawkins. “Frankfurt is a good team and continued to play really well. We still weren´t clicking and didn´t get out on transition”, added Brian Fobbs. The Skyliners shot 40% from the field and 26% from the parking lot and had 32 rebound and 11 turnovers while the EWE Baskets Oldenburg shot 38% from the field and 6% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Michale Kyser at the FT line

The Skyliners had a comfortable lead going Into the fourth quarter, but were incapable of managing the lead and allowed the EWE Baskets Oldenburg back into the game and to get over the hump. The Skyliners got on the board first as ex Bremerhaven guard Garai Zeeb hit a trey for the 64-51 advantage. Frankfurt was in control but the tide and fortune then turned drastically against Frankfurt as Oldenburg who couldn´t hit the ocean from outside for the first 30 minutes now let it rain three´s with 3 and a 11-0 run to suddenly only trail 64-62. Fobbs began getting hot as he added 5 points while Clemons and Tischler also connected from outside. Frankfurt was able to recover from this offensive shock and got three´s from Casin and Alleyne, but Oldenburg punched back as Fobbs added another 5 points including a crazy three ball bank shot to trail 70-67. “Clemons had a bad shooting day so I stepped up. My defense kept me going. It is always defense first for me. Then my offense clicks”, said Brian Fobbs. Oldenburg found some extra energy to up their defensive pressure and aggressiveness which led to 2 transition baskets from Clemons and Tischler to dead lock the contest at 71-71. “We got good looks, but just didn´t make them. We gave up 2-3 shots leading up to the tie game that we took away all game long and now they capitalized on it”, warned Ryan Hawkins. Swope then hit a jumper for the 73-71 Skyliners lead, but that would be their last lead. The EWE Baskets Oldenburg stayed sharp and had nerves of steel closing out the game with a lethal 8-0 run to win the game. Swope did his 1-1 thing and was stopped which led to Tischer and Clemons free throws. Oldenburg then stopped Christmas which led to a Kyser free throw and the 77-73 lead. Swope then missed another shot and Fobbs closed out the game with free throws. Sometimes Swope wins you a game and sometimes he doesn´t. “We have a lot of experience and we had a really bad start to the season. We know what it´s like to be down. We had revenge from the first loss against them in our place. We wanted it more than they did at the end”, stressed Brian Fobbs. “We have to find a way to close out games better”, said Ryan Hawkins. The EWE Baskets Oldenburg had 4 guys score in double figures and were led by Michael Kyser and Tomislav Zubcic with 16 points a piece while Nicholas Tischler and added 15 points and Brian Fobbs 14 points. The Skyliners were led by Till Pape with 14 points and Isaiah Swope had 11 points. The EWE Baskets Oldenburg shot 41% from the field and 21% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 38% from the field and 28% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 17 turnovers.