It had been a long summer without basketball with the Skyliners as the new season was finally alive. Frankfurt had closed out the 2025-2026 season with a rough long losing streak that slammed the door shut early on the playdowns. But despite last seasons dismal ending, the excitement for this season was massive as the team were signed up for Eurocup and had to really bolster their roster and had their strongest team in many many years. The team added great experience with guys like ex NBA player Ryan Arcidiacono, Judah Mintz and Race Thompson and kept durable veterans like Til Pape, Isaiah Swope (178-PG-2003, college: St.Louis) and Will Christmas. Their first mission was winning a cup game at home against Science City Jena who stayed in the easyCredit BBL and were coached by player coach Steven Esterkamp who was back in Frankfurt, a place he battled as a player 20 years ago. He had also constructed an interesting roster, but they came into the game as the underdog as he had 4 new Americans looking to make the next step this season in a higher league in the easyCredit BBL. On a mild late summer day, Science City Jena was able to stay with the Skyliners for a half, but in the third quarter, the Skyliners totally broke open the game unleashing a brutal basketball hurricane which led to them winning the first round of the cup tournament against Jena 94-63. It was a super way for the Skyliners to start their season as a lot of excitement has been produced in the last weeks for the season. “It was a good feeling winning this game. It was a good opportunity to play together and show who we are. We have to remember that we will still have many tough opponents and shouldn´t get too excited. We had a big third quarter and played well at both ends”, stressed Skyliner guard Isaiah Swope. Science City Jena had problems all day long with coughing up the ball and at the end, it was 27 turnovers which led to a crazy 40-10 fast break points for Frankfurt. All in all, Science City Jena showed a different face in Frankfurt and it wasn´t their real one. “We weren´t a team today. Frankfurt was the better team and played good defense. We were too much individuals today. The only way to win is to play as a team and we weren´t ready today”, stressed Science City Jena head coach Steven Esterkamp.

Race Thompson to the hole

The Skyliners were without German big Jacob Knauf and got into a flow right away taking the rapid 10-4 lead. The Skyliners hit their first 4 shots and showed great team play as a different player scored each basket. Ex Syracuse (NCAA) guard Judah Mintz scored off the jump ball at the 9,54 minute mark which was followed by a Will Christmas trey, ex Bonn big man Till Pape added a lay in while ex Indiana University (NCAA) forward Race Thompson also added a lay in. The Skyliners moved the ball well and got to their spaces while Jena had more 1-1 play as they couldn´t establish good team ball against the aggressive Frankfurt defense. Jena was able to stay with Frankfurt in the early going, because Frankfurt made some turnovers. Ex Phoenix Hagen center Alex Herrea made a sweet alley oop dunk off a pretty pass from German Raphael Falkenthal while ex Louisville player Terrence Edwards made a turn around shot to trail 14-10. Frankfurt was still in an offensive groove and got 5 points from ex St Louis (NCAA) guard Isaiah Swope who nailed a deep trey from the center of Hochst. The Skyliners led 21-10 and also the assists race then 8-1 as team ball ruled. It seemed like the Skyliners may reach 30 points at the cruel scoring pace they were at, but instead were shocked as Jena rattled off a 8-0 run to trail only 21-18. Sniper Jemarl Baker who made the jump from the Pro A in Bremerhaven added 5 points while ex Eastern Washington University (NCAA) guard Isaiah Moses also nailed a three pointer. Till Pape and Falkenthal traded baskets in the last minute, but the Skyliners had the slim 24-20 advantage. “We demonstrated early on that we can play as a team. I think the new pieces to the team showed that they are unselfish. We played well as a team”, stated Isaiah Swope. The Skyliners shot 53% from the field and 40% from outside and had 6 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Science City Jena shot 67% from the field and 100% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

Terrence Edwards at the FT line

In the second quarter the Skyliners lost their offensive groove and both teams had immense problems taking care of the ball as combined both teams had 14 turnovers. Christmas began the second quarter with a lay in, but Jena punched back with a lay in by Pierre Brooks (Michigan State (University) as the Skyliners led 26-22. Jena continued to play more 1-1 and were able to stay in the game. Brooks continued to be aggressive and scored on the drive in traffic while Falkenthal added a free throw to trail 26-25. Jena continued to slowly chip away and took advantage of further Skyliners turnovers while Frankfurt couldn´t. Frankfurt then scored back to back buckets from Thompson and new German Roman Bedime to lead 30-24, but Jena always had an answer to get closer. But Jemarl Baker would prove to be a real spark plug as he continued to keep the guests close. The Skyliners also gave him way too much room to play his game as he added 5 points including a trey as Frankfurt led 33-31. However the Skyliners showed that they are able to explode at the switch of a lever as they scored 6 unanswered points. German Radii Caisin was a real spark plug who sparkled with 2 lay in´s while American Nahioem Alleyne also made a lay in for the 40-32 lead. However the Skyliners couldn´t make a last stop before the break as Baker once again punished the Skyliners with a clutch three pointer as Science City Jena trailed 40-35. “The second quarter was a game of runs. These things happen. We have to learn to be able to play through not so ideal possessions”, warned Isaiah Swope. The Skyliners shot 50% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 10 turnovers while Science City Jena shot 54% from the field and 44% from the three point line and had 13 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

Judah Mintz at the FT line

In the third quarter was when the Skyliners made the turning point of the game with a massive run which Science City Jena was unable to recover from. Ex Quincy (NCAA2) forward Tanner Stuckman began the second quarter with a lay in as Jena trailed only 40-37. After Brooks and Mintz traded buckets and Frankfurt led 43-40, then came the mega explosion by the Skyliners as they raced out on a 26-5 run to lead 69-45 and decide the game early. In the run, it was German Roman Bedime who dominated scoring 10 points as he showcased his nice inside/out game adding 2 three´s a lay in and dunk. Mintz also showed his vicious drive to the hole scoring back to back baskets, while Caisin added 5 points and Alleyne a trey. The Skyliners continued to play beautiful team basketball while Science City Jena lost focus as their climb up the mountain and view to the peak looked farther away with every missed opportunity on offense. Jena´s energy was depleted by the overpowering Skyliners game. German Lorenz Bank ended the Skyliners run with a trey and Jena quietly closed out the third quarter with a 9-2 run to trail 73-55. Stuckman also added a lay in while Edwards scored twice. “We stayed in the moment and with the flow of the game. We wanted to make quick stops which would lead to easy transition points. You want to stay with this as much as possible during the game”, added Isaiah Swope. “They hit a lot of three´s. We had too many bad decisions and turnovers which led to easy baskets for them”, said Steve Esterkamp.

Pierre Brooks off balance shot

In the fourth quarter, the Skyliners showed great togetherness and didn´t let down as sometimes is the case when you lead by so much, but instead they won the fourth quarter 21-8 buckling down on defense and didn´t allow the first field goal until the 2,12 minute mark. It took the Skyliners 4 possessions until Isaiah Swope got them on the board first with free throws. The Skyliners continued to be extra tough on defense getting stops as their aggressiveness didn´t allow anything easy for the guests. Swope continued to show his explosiveness scoring 2 three´s in a row as the Skyliners led 81-55. The American led the Skyliners with 16 points and as usual was as humble as could be about his game. “I´m just so appreciative to be here for year 2. The opportunities overseas are either there or not. I always feel good when anyone makes shots”, smiled Isaiah Swope. At the 4,58 minute mark, Skyliners head coach Klaus Perwas inserted the young kids Jamie Edoka and Ivan Crnjac. Jena finally got on the board with a Tanner Stuckman free throw to trail 83-56. Ex Ulm guard Tommy Klepeisz finally got on the board hitting a trey for the 86-56 lead. Jena continued to get to the free throw line as Edwards made one free throw and then ex Arizina (NCAA) guard Ira Lee made free throws, but Jena still trailed 86-59. Ex NBA player Ryan Arcidiacono then added a pretty floater from the right wing scoring his first BBL points to lead 88-59. Stuckman then gave Jena it´s first field goal of the fourth quarter as 7,48 minutes had already expired. Ivan Crnjac then got a friendly bounce hitting a trey from the wing and Swope ended the game with another deep three. “We have a good core from last year and good new pieces. We have character and unselfishness. We understand how to keep the pressure up and that is the foundation we want to build this year”, warned Isaiah Swope. “We had open looks that didn´t fall. In the end, it is about how you play. We have to show better character as a team”, warned Steve Esterkamp. “They are a good team. They have a lot of shooters and playmakers. I feel they will have a lot of success”, stressed tanner Stuckman. The Skyliners were led by Isaiah Swope with 16 points. Judah Mintz added 14 points and Roman Bedime 12 points while Science City Jena was led yb Terrence Edwards with 18 points and Jemarl Baker added 11 points. The Skyliners shot 525 form the field and 41% from outside and had 31 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Science City Jena shot 42% from the field and 29% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 27 turnovers.