It was that time again for the next round of the easyCredit BBL cup and the Skyliners met the rising and always pesky Romerstrom Gladiators from Trier who had made big strides the last season. This season they are a top BBL team and looking to win a title in the Fiba Europe Cup. But Frankfurt was no slouch either as they also had ambitions of being successful this season. They came into the cup battle with Trier with a two game winning streak after beating Hamburg and home and then winning a thriller in London against the Lions in Eurocup action. Frankfurt and Trier had had a real exciting playoff series some years ago in the Pro A and with many Trier fans in attendance had an incredible atmosphere in the arena seldom seen. On a rainy Sunday, 500 crazy Trier fans came to Frankfurt, but weren´t rewarded with their loud support as the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier fell to the Skyliners 78-65. The Skyliners went on a run mid way through the third period getting a double figure lead and they would never look back. “We knew that Trier was a really good team. We had a really good focus today and played really well as a team. We executed well when we had to and I´m happy we got the win”, stressed Skyliner guard Isaiah Swope (178-PG-2003, college: St.Louis). The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier didn´t have one of their better days and the Skyliners let them pay for it. Trier shot a lousy 29% from the field and even worse 17% from the parking lot and never were able to find a smooth rhythm all afternoon long. “We didn´t show up today. We took care of the ball well and took more shots, but that wasn´t enough today. I feel like if we would have shot the ball better, then the result would have looked different”, stressed Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier guard Jordan Roland.
Isaiah Swope at the FT line
The Skyliners didn´t waste anytime jumping all over the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier in the first quarter taking the quick 6-2 lead. Frankfurt began with a higher intensity than Trier getting easy baskets as ex Bonn center Till Pape let the arena erupt with a big dunk while Mr versatile Will Christmas made a lay in and ex Ulm guard Thomas Klepeisz made a jumper. Trier looked nonchalant and still as if they were in warm ups. Frankfurt did a good job slowing up their offense. However ex NAIA player Ejofor Onu got the Trier fans yelling when he made an alley op dunk, ex Ulm German Moritz Krimmer connected on a trey and German big man Martin Linsen made an easy lay up to tie the game at 9-9. Trier did a good job finding simple solutions inside getting easy baskets. Trier actually took the 12-10 lead as Iranian national player Behnam Yakhchalli connected on a trey and ex Euroleague player Maik Zirbes made a lay as the guests led 15-14. But the Skyliners were sharp and closed out the first quarter with a lethal 8-0 run to lead 22-15. In the run, the Skyliners were super aggressive and just kept attacking the zone area as Christmas scored twice and Pape and ex Syracuse (NCAA) guard Judah Mintz made a lay in. “We played a pretty good first quarter and played off the energy of the crowd. We stuck to the game plan and executed really well”, stated Isaaih Swope. The Skyliners shot 63% from the field and 20% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 6 turnovers while the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier shot 32% from the field and 20% from outside and had 4 rebounds and 2 turnovers.
Moritz Krimmer from outside
In the second quarter the Skyliners kept the momentum and were able to lead by double figures, but the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier fought back and also produced a run, but couldn´t get totally over the hump trailing 34-30 at the break. Krimmer began with a lay in, but the Skyliners then erupted for a 7-0 run as Mintz added 5 points and ex Indiana University (NCAA) forward Race Thompson made an old school hook shot for the 28-17 advantage. The Skylines had good on ball pressure and didn´t allow anything easy for Trier especially for Jordan Roland who was releasing tough shots. Trier also couldn´t match Frankfurt´s intensity in that run. However that basketball is a game of runs is nothing new as the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier had an answer and punched back scoring 10 unanswered points and suddenly trailed only 28-27. Ex St John´s (NCAA) guard Justin Simon began the run with a massive dunk that seemed to energize his teammates. Ex Michigan (NCAA) guard Eli Brooks made an offensive rebound and put back and Yakhchali made a trey. Trier also got to the free throw line 3 times, but left 3 shots at the line. Free throws was a big problem on this day as they missed 10. Trier was able to get back to their high paced game and executed while Frankfurt had some good looks, but couldn´t execute. The Skyliners stayed resilient and kept the lead as they got clutch shots from Mintz who made a tough bank shot and Klepeisz made a trey for the 4 point advantage at half-time. “They were able to play their fast game. We had good stretches of defense. We targeted Roland and Brooks. We tried to make as difficult as possible for them”, stated Isaiah Swope. The Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 17% from the three point line and had 26 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier shot 31% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 18 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
Till Pape with the fadeaway jumper
The Skyliners had their strongest scoring phase in the third quarter and their big run was the turning point of the game as the Skyliners led by more than 10 points and the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier could never get over the hump until the end. But the big run took some time for the Skyliners as it was actually the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier who fought back and would tie the game at 42-42. Frankfurt began with a mini 4-0 run as Mintz began with a pretty floater from the wing and Christmas found Pape for the easy lay in and 38-30 Skyliners lead. Frankfurt was threatening, but Trier didn´t give in, but went on an explosive 12-4 run to dead lock the game. Jordan Roland was a one man wrecking crew adding 7 points while Krimmer added 5 points with a trey and dunk. Trier was playing their fast paced game and getting stops, but they couldn´t hold the momentum. Instead the Skyliners punched back with a brutal 17-6 run to have the comfortable 59-48 lead. In the run, it was the instant energy from Isaiah Swope who added 6 points and German Radii Caisin added 5 points in the run. Swope had had a slow first half going 0/5 from the field, but found his groove now. “I really don´t try to think about my shooting. I just focus on winning. I might get a little upset when I miss a shot, but I quickly move on to the next play”, explained Isaiah Swope. Mintz who is always in attack mode also added 4 points in the romp. The Skyliners defense remained aggressive in the last few minutes forcing 2 turnovers as Trier had once again lost their offensive rhythm. “Our strong defense allowed us to get good possessions. Our good defense led to good offense. We played really well as a team”, said Isaiah Swope. The Skyliners shot 52% from the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 33 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier shot 31% from the field and 17% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 9 turnovers.
Eli Brooks at the FT line
In the fourth quarter the Skyliners did a super job managing the lead and never led by less than 10 points and closed out the game in style. Frankfurt got 2 quick buckets from Thompson with a bank shot and from ex NBA player Ryan Arcidiacono for the 63-49 advantage. Krimmer and Swope then exchanged three´s, but the Skyliners led 66-52. Roland added a lay in and 3 free throws, but Frankfurt always had an answer as Swope made free throws and then a nifty dime to Thompson for the dunk and 70-57 lead. Swope also had had a nice assist to Caisin in the third quarter and for Thompson, he made a good decision. He could of created a contested shot, but instead found his teammate for the easy basket and not difficult one. “I had had some turnovers. Coach is always preaching to look for the pass. At times it is easier to make the pass than the tough shot. I give credit to my teammates who cutted well”, said Isaiah Swope. Eli Brooks then hit a trey, but Frankfurt always had an answer as Mintz added free throws and Christmas made a big dunk for the 74-60 lead. Trier then got free throws from Onu and Brooks to trail 74-63, but Isaiah Swope ended the game with 4 points with a lay in and free throws for the win. “We stayed together and were aggressive. We also stayed aggressive on defense and allowed nothing easy”, added Isaiah Swope. “We couldn´t hit shots. They kept executing well and took care of the lead”, warned Jordan Roland. The Skyliners were led by Judah Mintz with 18 points and Isaiah Swope added 16 points while the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier were led by Jordan Roland with 15 points while Eli Brooks and Moritz Krimmer added 13 points a piece. The Skyliners shot 51% from the field and 25% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier shot 29% from the field and 17% from outside and had 40 rebounds and had 12 turnovers.
