With 7 games remaining in the Pro A regular season and the EPG Baskets Koblenz 2 wins away from the last playoff spot, it was a serious do or die situation for them as they faced Paderborn who had a poor 9-18 record needed a win for their fight to stay in the Pro A. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had been up and down the last weeks not being able to follow up a massive win against Wolmirstedt and Crailsheim with second wins. Paderborn came to Koblenz having lost 6 of their last 7 games. Paderborn was a must win for Koblenz as the next games following were against top 5 teams Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and BG Goettingen. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had to stick together as one of their most consistent players and leader Tim Smith Jr and guard scorer Aleksa Kovacevic were both out. Plus Koblenz also wanted to seek revenge after their loss in Paderborn earlier in the season. However the EPG Baskets couldn´t seek revenge and had to accept a tough 95-93 loss at the end as Danish national player Jonathan Klussmanm made a clutch lay in and free throws to seal the victory on the road. “The first half was really good for us, but the second half not as good. We let them come back. We made good decisions at the end and just kept attacking and executed well”, stressed Paderborn Basket guard Jonathan Klussmann (190-G-2002). The EPG Baskets showed their fight qualities especially in the second half and could have won the game at the end with a Wishart game winner, but the basketball God just wasn´t on their side this time as in Crailsheim some weeks earlier. “We had a slow start. I feel like we were nervous. We knew that a lot was at stake in this game. We fought well and at the end it could have gone either way. We defended really well in the second half”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz forward Jannis Sonnefeld.

Calvin Wishart at the FT line

893 fans arrived in the CGM arena on a mild Monday night to witness a horrible start by the EPG Baskets who quickly fell deep in the hole trailing 10-0 after a few minutes. Paderborn attacked the rim 4 times and got easy baskets by Klussmann twice, once by Tennessee native Grant Teichmann and from German youth national player Leonard Kroeger. Koblenz had zero energy and was exhibiting horrible 1-1 defense. However Koblenz finally found their groove after a time out at the 7, 20 minute mark and proved again that basketball will always be a game of runs as they punched back with a 12-4 run to trail only 14-12. Koblenz finally found their aggressiveness attacking the rim better as Minnesota native Calvin Wishart made free throws, Sonnefeld made a lay in as did ex Bonn center Alex Moeller and DJ Jeffries scored twice with his bread and butter mid distance shot. “Jeffries was so important in that come back. He did a great job. I like when he is aggressive. When he is aggressive, we automatically play better warned EPG Basket Koblenz guard Aleksa Kovacevic. Koblenz upped their defensive pressure and aggressiveness forcing a few turnovers as Paderborn couldn´t get into the zone as easily anymore. Paderborn got some vital support from ex UC Irvine (NCAA) guard Eyassu Worku who added 4 points. Jeffries remained consistent and hot nailing a trey to dead lock the game at 18-18, but Klussmann continued to find his spots making a shot to give Paderborn the 20-18 lead after 10 minutes. “We had a slow start. I saw some nervousness in us. But once we found our flow, we got into the game well. We upped our defense and communicated better and got stops”, said Aleksa Kovacevic. The Paderborn Baskets shot 45% from the 2 point range and 33% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 50% from the 2 point range and 25% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 3 turnovers.

Eyassu Worku from outside

In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz had highs and lows as they trailed by as many as 11 points and then cut the lead down to 4 points, but at half-time were down by 9 points. Like in the first quarter, the EPG Baskets had a horrible start allowing a 14-4 run to trail 34-22. In the run the guests got their offense going well and got great support from the bench from ex Rhondorf guard Matej Silic who added 7 points showing his 3 level scorer qualities with a trey, reverse lay up and mid distance jumper. He was really focused to play against his ex coach Stephan Dohrn as he didn´t play much for him a few seasons ago in Rhondorf. American Ohio native Branden Maughmer also gave good support adding 6 points as he was finding his spots well. The Koblenz defense had lost aggressiveness again and were giving up easy baskets in the paint. But Koblenz never gave up and began to chip away at the Paderborn lead and retaliated with a lethal 13-5 run to trail 39-35. Koblenz got great support from ex Oldenburg center Marko Bacak who scored 3 times in the paint, ex Munster guard Julian Larry added 4 points and 2018 NBBL champion Badu Buck stroked home a trey. But that was as close as Koblenz got as Paderborn always had an answer as Koblenz was unable to string along consecutive stops. Paderborn got good support from the bench from ex Skyliner Aaron Kayser with 4 points while Kevin Osawe hit a trey to lead 46-38. Alex Moeller added free throws to trail 46-40, but Paderborn kept feeding Klussmann the ball as he added 4 points and was perfect at the break at 4/4 from the field and 6/6 from the free throws line as Paderborn led 51-42 at the break. “We couldn´t get consecutive stops. We had one good defensive possession and then 2 bad defensive possessions. We turned over the ball too much and couldn´t get out on transition at all. We allowed too many easy baskets off the pick and roll”, stated Aleksa KJovacevic. The Paderborn Baskets shot 52” from the 2 point area and 63% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 58% from the 2 point area and 22% from the three point line and had 13 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Marko Bacak from outside

In the third quarter the Paderborn Baskets continued to control the game in the first 5 minutes, and lead by as much as 13 points, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz then staged a comeback and trailed only by 4 points after 30 minutes. Klussmann continued his hot shooting from the first half and nailed 2 more off balance shots that were tough to be 6/6 from the field up to that point and give Paderborn the 57-45 advantage. Little mistakes kept Koblenz from getting over the hump as Calvin Wishart was issued a technical foul while Paderborn´s bench gave good support from American Jalen Johnson who scored twice keeping Koblenz at bay leading 64-56. But Koblenz continued to fight and were led by Calvin Wishart who only had 4 points at the break, but 5 assists as he allowed his playmaking to shine, now stepped up as the scorer and took command and led his team on a 11-5 run to suddenly only trail 69-65. In the run he was supper aggressive finding his spots better and adding 4 points on free throws and a step back jumper. Ex Hagen guard Devonte McCall also added a lay in and Sonnefeld free throws. Koblenz was able to add a few stops after another and rebounded better. Wishart would add another trey, but Paderborn had the 73-69 advantage after 3 quarters as Jalen Johnson continued to get easy scores inside. “We knew what was at stake. We were more focused and didn´t want to lose at home”, added Jannis Sonnefeld. “We had some bad turnovers and also some misfortune. It happens in the game. They also hit more shots and had dome momentum going into the last quarter”, added Jonathan Klussmann. The Paderborn Baskets shot 56% from the 2 point area and 50% from the parking lot and had 21 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 56% from the 2 point area and 36% from the parking lot and had 16 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Jalen Johnson at the FT line

In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz supplied even more pressure and it was only a question of time when they would achieve their first lead of the game. Osawe would vanish for minutes and then make a big shot as he nailed a trey and Paderborn led 76-69. But then occurred the turning point of the game as the EPG Baskets exploded for 16 unanswered points in a row to get the commanding 85-76 lead. Wishart led the charge with 9 points while Larry added a pretty reverse lay up and Buck 5 points including a beautiful three pointer of the side step. “I wouldn´t compare that shot to a Shai Gillgeous-Alexander shot. I practice that shot very much and I have confidence taking it. I´m worlds apart from Shai´s game”, commented Badu Buck. “Our defense fell apart. They got easy baskets against our defense and off turnovers”, stated Jonathan Klussmann. Koblenz forced 4 turnovers in a row and demonstrated that they be a force on the defensive end when the aggressiveness and mentality is there. “I think that run was the best defense we played this season. We were all ready to play”, expressed Jannis Sonnefeld. Even if it took a few minutes, Paderborn had an answer and fiercely punched back with an annoying 6-0 run with back to back three´s by Maughmer and Worku as suddenly Koblenz led only 85-82. One could see that Koblenz was starting to fatigue as the absences of Smith Jr and Kovacevic hurt them. Paderborn would be benefited with some more stops, Koblenz turnovers and a Buck unsportsmanship foul which all led to 4 points form Maughmer as Paderborn led 88-85. With crunch-time arrived, both teams began to punch back and trade leads as Sonnefeld and Buck baskets gave Koblenz the 89-88 lead. But Paderborn continued to attack the tiring 1-1 Koblenz defense getting lay in´s by Maughmer and Klussmann for the 93-89 lead. Koblenz then got clutch buckets from Jeffries and Wishart to tie the game at 93-93. Klussmann then connected on free throws for the 95-93 lead. Koblenz had one more possession as Calvin Wishart had the ball and settled for a step back trey from the top of the key that fell short ending the game. “I think that we were a bit tired at the end. We allowed easy baskets. I watch Calvin´s last shot fly by. Unfortunately it was a little short”, said Jannis Sonnefeld. “I had to keep attacking at the end. I have a special touch to draw fouls. It´s all about feeling optimistic and finding the gaps. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn´t. I paid a ticket at the end to watch Wishart´s shot. He likes taking those shots. It´s still a tough shot. Teichmann played good defense on him”, said Jonathan Klussmann. The Paderborn Baskets were led by Jonathan Klussmann with 24 points while Branden Maughmer added 16 points and Eyassu Worku 14 points while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by Calvin Wishart with 27 points while DJ Jeffries added 15 points. The Paderborn Baskets shot 52% from the field and 56% from outside and had 27 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 53% from the field and 39% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 13 turnovers.,