The Skyliners Juniors season so far has been one of streaks as they began with a 2 game losing streak, then found their rhythm winning three in a row, but currently were riding a two game losing streak. They had played a pretty good match against undefeated team Reutlingen, but then cruised into Dresden losing by 32 points. They were severely undermined as they were without Jamie edoka, Ivan Crnjac and Moses Poelking who were with the easyCredit BBL team in Weissenfels. They wanted to get back on the winning track, but couldn´t underestimate the Ahorn Baskets Speyer. Despite having a 1-6 record, they had celebrated their first win of the season against the strong TSV Oberaching Tropics. However the guests were unable to continue their winning streak as the Skyliners Juniors led from the start and did a super job managing the lead and with the help of timely three´s and forceful defense at a consistent rate won 82-71. The duo of Lukas Smazak (190-G-2007) and Jamie Edoka combined for 38 points each scoring 19 points leading the charge. “We showed our true character by leading the whole game. Both teams had their runs, but overall we played good defense and shot the ball really well. Moses Poelking led us on defense. He was our best man today”, stressed Lukas Smazak. The Ahorn Camp Baskets had to play pick up basketball the whole game and never were able to find a sound offensive rhythm and get over the hump. “We came out flat despite knowing that they are a good shooting team. Once they hit that first three pointer, their confidence rose. Whenever we cut the lead down, they had an answer. Smazak got hot in the third quarter and hit timely three´s”, stressed Ahorn Camp Baskets guard DJ Woodmore.

Jamie Edoka from outside

The Skyliners Juniors got off to a quick start to lead 12-4 as they got some rapid production from Smazak, 2023 JBBL finalist Ivan Crnjac and 2026 AST MVP Jamie Edoka with three´s. Moses Poelking also got into the action by stepping up like a guard getting in a passing lane and sprinting down court for a two handed dunk. “Moses doesn´t usually get a dunk opportunity on the fast break. I give his dunk a 6/10”, smiled German wing Maxi Peters. Frankfurt began with a zone that gave Speyer difficultly which allowed them to get on transition and play their bread and butter fast play. After Speyer got a lay in from German David Aichele, Frankfurt continued to put on the pressure with lay in´s from Poelking and German Dusan Nikolic for the 16-6 lead. Speyer got some energy at the end getting a trey from ex Pro A player Christoph Rupp and a lay in from Oluwadamilota Ade-Eri to trail 18-11 after 10 minutes. The Skyliners Juniors had sound shooting percentages at 40% from the field and 43% from outside and had 13 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Ahorn Camp Baskets Speyer shot 31% from the field and 23% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 5 turnovers. Both teams were aggressive on the offensive glass as Frankfurt had 7 offensive rebounds and Speyer 5. “We moved the ball and hit our shots. We also did a good job getting out on transition”, stated Maxi Peters. “They dominated the offensive rebounds and we were stagnant on offense. They didn´t let Fadal get to paly his game. We searched for answers”, said DJ Woodmore.

Austin Fadal at the FT line

Both teams continued to play aggressive defense and had that touch of discipline, but the Skyliners Juniors continued to keep the lead and led 33-27 at half-time. California native Austin Fadal began the second quarter with free throws as Speyer trailed 18-13. Jamie Edoka then demonstrated that he can score in bunches as he made a trey and runner as Frankfurt led 23-13. Moses Poelking was the anchor on defense getting a block in this phase while Ivan Crnjac was a work horse hauling down defensive rebounds. “Moses is our rim protector. He is so vital in our pick and roll defense. He is so versatile”, said Maxi Peters. Speyer then launched a mini 4-0 run to trail 25-17 as ex Wurzburg guard Lukas Roth made a lay in while Fadal scored on transition getting the perfect touch down pass from Sam Stockton. “I´m sure Sam soaked up that pass from his dad John. He always has his eyes up the court. I´m sure we will see more of that this season”, warned DJ Woodmore. The small runs continued as Frankfurt scored 4 unanswered points as Poelking made a running hook shot and Nikolic a lay in to lead 27-17. Speyer then answered with a 4-0 run as Roth made free throws and Ade-Eri a dunk to trail 27-21. The guests continued to fight getting a trey from Woodmore to trail 29-24. However here and there, they would lose some focus and cough up the ball or give up a steal by Smazak who went coast to coast for the lay in and 31-24 advantage. Speyer continued to give pressure as Ade-Eri made a lay in and free throw late to keep his team in the game trailing by 6 points at the break. “We weren´t as good on the offensive glass. We allowed them more possessions and we couldn´t run as much anymore”, commented Maxi Peters. “We moved ball better. We were more in attack mode instead of waiting for something to happen. Poelking stepped it up on defense”, said DJ Woodmore. The Skyliners Juniors shot 46% from the field and 44% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 9 turnovers while the Ahorn Camp Baskets Speyer shot 32% from the field and 18% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Lukas Smazak on transition

In the third quarter both teams continued to execute their offenses well, but the Ahorn Camp Baskets Speyer couldn´t make any real ground, because they couldn´t string along a few minutes of stops as they trailed 55-48 after 30 minutes. The Skyliners Juniors began with a rapid 9-2 run to lead 42-19 as Smazak hit a trey and Edoka answered with a 20 footer and free throws and Poelking added a lay in. However Speyer had answers on offense and got some stops as they went on a 7-0 run to trail 42-36 and suddenly got close again. They moved the ball better which led to a Fadal trey, Roth lay in who was always in attack mode and a hook shot from German Oskar Humpert. But Frankfurt always had an answer and stormed out on a 9-2 run as Lukas Smazak let it rain three´s connecting on 3 in a row for the 51-38 lead. “I hit one three and then my confidence rose. My teammates told me to keep shooting and I did. I have trust in myself and my teammates in me to just keep shooting”, added Lukas Smazak. However the runs continued as Speyer closed out the quarter with a 10-4 run to trail by 7 points. In the run, Woodmore and Roth added three´s while Ade-Eri continued to be aggressive and in finishing mode scoring twice in the paint. “We trusted the process. We just kept shooting and scoring. That kept us going. We played good team basketball”, warned Lukas Smazak. “They had the shooters coming off the weak side. We did ok. We forced them to tough shots”, added DJ Woodmore. The Skyliners Juniors shot 48% from the field and 50% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Ahorn camp Baskets Speyer shot 41% from the field and 31% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Lukas Roth to the hole

The Ahorn Camp Baskets Speyer continued to be in come back mode in the fourth quarter, but the Skyliners Juniors always had answers especially with their three ball as they connected on 4 three´s late to conserve the win. The Skyliners Juniors began hot with a lethal 9-0 run to lead 64-48 as the game seemed as good as decided. Jamie Edoka began with 5 free throws, ex Wolmirstedt guard Alvin Onyia made a lay in and guard Leif Zentgraf snuck inside for an offensive rebound and put back. Frankfurt was aggressive at both ends while Speyer was sloppy taking care of the ball and made some hideous turnovers. But Speyer wasn´t done yet. They searched for some extra energy and found it punching back with a 8-0 run to trail only 64-56. Fadal got going adding 6 points while Ade-Eri made the play of the game with a furious poster dunk on Jamie Edoka. “That was a great poster dunk. You could see it a mile away. Once he got around Poelking, there was no stopping him”, smiled DJ Woodmore. Fadal continued to be hot adding 2 more free throws and a trey, but Frankfurt always had an answer as ex Kronberg center Florian Dietrich added a trey and lay in while Smazak nailed another trey for the 72-61 Skyliners advantage. Even if Speyer got a tip in by Woodmore and another trey by Fadal, they couldn´t make any ground as Leif Zentgraf who entered the game shooting 1/16 from outside hit another three as did Nikolic to get the 78-66 lead. Woodmore added a trey late to trail 80-71, but it was too little to late. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds. We have to box out better. But overall our three´s and patience was the key in crunch-time. We rushed too much in the first half”, said Lukas Smazak. “We played the percentages. They had guys shooting 20% hit shots. When they have confidence, then it is hard to take that away. We fought hard, but they always had answers”, stated DJ Woodmore. The Skyliners Juniors were led by Jamie Edoka and Lukas Smazak with 19 points a piece while the Ahorn Camp Baskets Speyer were led by Austin Fadal with 21 points and Lukas Roth added 15 points. The Skyliners Juniors shot 48% from the field and 50% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 12 turnovers while the Ahorn Camp Baskets Speyer shot 42% from the field and 39% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 18 turnovers.