The scenario in the EPG arena last night looked like it was 7 days ago after the first win of the season against Bayreuth. The boys of head coach Stephan Dohrn had done it again this time beating the Artland Dragons 92-80 and thus registering their best start in their 4 year Pro A history moving to 2-1. In the first three seasons the club had always started 1-2. But what made this second win all so more impressive was how they did it. The team kept their mentality very focused after losing a tough game on the road on Friday and they also were able to play successfully without starting point guard Tyren Moore who had injured himself in Nurnberg 48 hours earlier. After the buzzer sounded, the typical post game ritual was alive in the arena, but like a week ago everyone affiliated with the EPG Baskets were so thrilled and the mood was just golden. With so many happy faces many could have thought it was a very special occasion, but it was only the third game of the season. But despite that having such a positive vibe again was so refreshing after so many heartache loses in their living room the last years. One guy who was really happy was rookie Chase Johnson. He took a seat next to me for a post game interview and was just taking in the atmosphere. But there was something else that had really tickled his heart and that was a pretty drawing from a little girl named Melia. She drew a pretty portrait of him without the dreads. “I got this wonderful drawing after the game from a little girl. She drew it for me. I´m beyond happy. I have a son myself who is 7 months old, but to get a gift like this from a young fan is so nice. I will frame it”, stressed Chase Forte (193-G-2001, college: Boston Coll.). I found out later that night that Melia was the daughter of EPG Baskets ultra fan Pat Montana who is always heating up the arena with his support.

When I got to the arena 2 hours before the game, all was still good. I get nervous sometimes when I see players not in uniform while warming up. I saw Buzz Anthony in sweats, I first thought that he wouldn´t play, but when I asked him if he would play or not, he just smiled and said that he was just warming up in sweats. However but when I saw Tyren Moore sitting on the bench not in uniform during warm ups, I got a feeling that he wouldn´t play. Koblenz head coach Stephan Dohrn then confirmed to me shortly before the pre game interview for Sport TV Europe that he would be a scratch. What a blow for the club as well for him. He is an overseas rookie who got injured in Nurnberg on Friday and then had his birthday on Saturday where he turned 25 years old. It is tough tough times for him, but something he can deal with. “Obviously this situation is tough for Tyren, but he is a tough kid. He has a strong mentality and I´m sure he will get through it. I wish him a speedy recovery”, stated Chase Forte. It is never easy for a team to perform when a vital player is injured, but the EPG Baskets Koblenz supplied that next man up mentality and really came away with an incredible display of basketball. “This was really high level and attractive basketball that we saw from the EPG Baskets”, stated sport director Thomas Klein. Despite a weak second quarter, the team always stuck together and played a potent second half never allowing the Artland Dragons to come back and get over the hump. “This win felt really good. We had the right mind set coming into a new game. We wanted to take that energy from our comeback attempt in Nurnberg and take it into the next game. I´m really proud of the guys. That second quarter was the story of our season. There is always a weak quarter for us. We adjusted well after the break and put different match ups on Jonathan Klussmann and it worked. Mason Kraus was great off the bench, and Jayden Williams knocked down shots. We cleaned up some stuff and won by 12 at home. It was a complete team effort. After Klussmann got hot, we decided to contain everyone else. We knew that Klussman couldn´t beat us by himself”, stressed Chase Forte.

When looking at the team stats, the EPG Baskets Koblenz did a great job shooting 44% from the 2 point area and 39% from the parking lot while winning the rebound duel 32-29 and offensive rebounds 10-6 and only coughed up the ball 8 times. The team was led by Jayden “the Microwave” Williams with 26 points on 5/5 shooting and 3 other guys scored in double figures. Mason Kraus had his Pro A break through with 13 points and 4 dimes while American rookie Camaron Tongue continued to show his inside out and consistent game adding a 12/8/1/3/1 game. In the first 3 games Tongue is averaging 16/4/1/1 while shooting 38% from outside. “Mason Kraus has been so valuable for us at both ends. He hit big shots, made free throws, getting steals and deflections. He does simply everything. I´m so proud of him while Camaron Tongue has been amazing. He is a rim protector that gets stops. We know that we can throw up the ball to him into the post anytime. That puts less pressure on us and we let him go to work. He is very impactful at both ends”, warned Chase Forte. For overseas rookie Chase Forte, he has come to terms well with Euro Ball as the toughest thing really are the rules. He is a mix of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White and is the anchor on defense something he had last season at Boston College (NCAA). “My role is to get stops, make the right plays and simply do everything needed to win. I want to win a Pro A title”, stressed Chase Johnson. Currently through 3 games he is averaging 10,7ppg, 3,3rpg, 5,3apg and 1,7spg and knows where he still needs to improve on. “I want to get better off ball. I think I have been well on the rotations and pressuring guards. I watched a lot of film on Buzz Anthony and knew what was coming”, smiled Chase Johnson. He has made some real dream passes in his new Koblenz living room and none was better than his perfect timed Bounce pass in the Bayreuth game that looked like a copy of a Luca Doncic pass. “I´m an underrated passer. I think coach Stephan had no idea how good of a playmaker I can be. He only realized later that I can pass the ball. I watch a lot of Luca Donic, Chris Paul and John Wall”, said Chase Forte. Not only on the court is Chase ´Forte having fun, but also off the court. He loves the beauty of Koblenz and the German corner and loves the German chocolate, Doner and typical hog dog called Brat Wurst. But what is most impressive besides his game is his zeal of learning German. “I have Duo Lingo on my phone. I´m learning phrases. I can order food. Ich mochte ein Schinken und Salami Pizza bitte”, stated ´Chase Forte. It will be interesting to see how his game and German continues to improve this season. He has the right focus and enthusiasm to reach great heights this season.