Pic Credit: Marina Schwarz

Cooper Creek (203-F-2001, college: Assumption, agency: Dominion Sports Group) is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Australia playing his second season in Europe and first with German Pro B team TV Langen. He also played a season with the Reading Rockets (United Kingdom-BCB) averaging 11.1ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6apg, Blocks-4 (1.1bpg), FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 85.2%. He also has experience down under playing for teams Keilor Thunder (NBL One), Goldfields Giants (NBL One), Warwick Senators (NBL One) averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.0% and for the Geraldton Buccaneers (NBL One) averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 62.9%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 82.1%. He spent time in USA playing basketball for Bishop Connolly High School and The Williston Northampton School. He then played 4 seasons at l Assumption College (NCAA2). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the game in Leitershofen that was stopped on account of a medical emergency.

Thanks Cooper for talking to germanhoops.com. Last night a 75-72 result with no winner or loser. How crazy was that? Did you ever play in a game in your life because it was called because of a medical emergency?

I was actually in another game where it was stopped. It was last season in Australia. The game was stopped at half-time, because the court was too slippery. It had been really warm and humid and the humidity was at 95% in the gym. Everyone was slipping around so they had to stop the game. We never finished the game. The opponent had like a 10 hour bus ride. It was a shame that the game was never finished or that we got the win. We had been up by 18 points at the break.

How was the trip home? Did you have a total different feeling that after a win or loss?

The ride was very subdued and quite. The medical emergency really took away the perspective of basketball. I was thinking and reflecting about life and how we look at things and thankful for what we have. You should never take anything for granted. I also was hoping that the person was ok.

Both teams came hot into the game with TV Langen having a 5 game winning streak and BG Leitershofen having won 4 of 5 games. What was the game plan coming in?

We prepared for them playing a zone. We focused on things we can control and limit what we can´t control. The season is still young, so we concentrated on becoming sharper and cleaner in our actions.

The game began with 6 lead changes. Did the first 5 minutes feel like 2 good teams not wanting to let the other get away?

The game was very fast in the first minutes which favored their style more. We weren´t as organized as we wanted to be. Mika Kroner made some big shots. It was a typical back and forth like quarter.

TV Langen then went on a 8-0 run only to see Leitershofen claw back and get the lead again, but after 10 minutes TV Langen led 24-23. What problems were TV Langen having on the defensive end? 23 points was a little too much points allowed.

We allowed a few too many offensive rebounds and I overhelped a bit that led to a few three´s.

In the second quarter TV Langen took control of the game and led 56-38 at the break. The offense was flowing and the defense also was better. What adjustments did TV Langen make to get the lead?

Our defense stepped up and they had less control on the glass. We hit three´s well and ran the lanes well. We simply did a good job getting through our actions.

The team also got vital support from young Germans Kventin Kostan and Mika Kroner. What have you enjoyed most about their games?

They are both really young guys, have great energy and are great people. When you have guys like that, it makes it a lot easier to play with. They also do a good helping each other. Mika is really aggressive and has a solid build for a guard. He is competing all the time. Kventon is more a wing player and can really shoot the ball. When he is aggressive, he can really elevate his game. He is also a great competitor. I enjoy playing with both of them.

In the third quarter TV Langen had good control, but then let up a 10-0 run to lead only 68-62. TV Langen lost some focus. What was key for BG Leitershofen getting back into the game?

They picked up their defense and raised their physicality. They did a good job pushing us out of our actions. They hit a few three´s and we were careless with the ball.

In the fourth quarter BG Leitershofen continued to fight back and even held TV Langen scoreless for many minutes and had the momentum going into crunch-time. Why couldn´t TV Langen find back to their second quarter offensive glory?

We weren´t able to let the ball flow well and let their physicality impact us.

Then at the 2,36 minute mark, you took a contested shot from the wing and Gael Barman got the rebound and then the game was stopped. How do you remember this moment?

I wasn´t looking into the stands, but just focused on the game. They had possession and then suddenly I saw a trainer run into the stands. At first I thought that a player was hurt. But then after about 10 seconds, I saw a fan getting CPR done. We went to the bench right away. That is when I realized that moment was more severe than the game and it was time to get out of the way.

What was going through your mind? At that moment did basketball feel very unimportant as you saw that there was a medical emergency?

It was so surreal. I knew that there was a life on the line as CPR is only done in stress moments. We made sure to be out of the way. This moment put me in a different space. It transitioned me from a player to man. As a team we tried to stay locked in at the same time as we didn´t know what came next.

The game was at an exciting moment. The momentum was with BG Leitershofen. Did you let the last minutes play out in your mind since the game was called?

I didn´t think about it much yesterday, but more today. I tried to process the game. We had a few minutes left in crunch time with only a handful of plays. We have to learn from this situation on how we played in the second half. We have to handle the situation better.

The game may be completed at another date. How difficult will that be to play a few minutes and let that decide between a win or loss?

If the Barmer Bundesliga doesn´t do anything then it may be counted as a win. However we can´t control that. We have to focus now and be prepared for the next game against Fellbach.

You had a 17/13/3 game. How content were you with your game?

I gave a good individual performance. Teams scout me more now and know that I can shoot the ball well. Teams switch more on me now. We have to learn to punish it. I felt more free flowing with my game. I never think or worry too much about my game, because I trust the work that I put in.

You’re a very good shooter. Do you feel like your on a good way to keep increasing your shooting percentages?

Yes I am. I take a lot of pride in the work I put in during practices and after. I always have full confidence that I will make every shot, but nobody does. So when I miss, I have to keep the confidence to make the next ones.

On what other areas of your game do you want to improve on as the season progresses?

I want to feel more comfortable handling the ball, punish mismatches and continue to get up reps.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Noah Kamdem?

I give him the edge. It is good to play against him in the post. I can learn a lot form him. We haven´t played from the perimeter. That could be a different result.

Thanks Cooper for the chat.