Marcus Thornton is a 28 year old 193cm guard from Forestville Maryland playing his sixth professional season and first with the NINERS Chemnitz (Germany-BBL) averaging 12,7ppg, 1,2rpg and 3,8apg while shooting 44% from outside. Last season he played with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-Jeep ELITE ProA) playing 23 games averaging 10.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 68.2%. He began his professional career in 2015 and has played for organizations Sydney Kings (Australia-NBL), Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A), Banvit Basketbol Kulubu (Turkey-BSL), Guangxi Rhinos (China-NBL) and for two G-League teams Maine Red Claws and Canton Charge. He played at the College of William & Mary (NCAA) from 2011-2015 playing a total of 125 es and as a senior averaged 20.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 82.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com during the 2020-2021 sea

Marcus thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Despite all the turbulence that the world has experienced in the last months, how blessed are you to be playing professional basketball again with your new team Niners Chemnitz?

I’m extremely blessed to be able to play professionally and with Chemnitz this season. With everything going on, there was a stretch where we weren’t even sure how overseas play would be able to continue. So I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here right now

How did you experience COVID-19 in the States? What do you feel was the most challenging thing that you faced in this time on a daily basis on and off the court?

My experience I’m sure was similar to many other professional players, lockdowns in our respective states, curfews, limited access to being outside of our homes in the early months. I think the most challenging part for me at least, was just accepting the fact there was absolutely no way to get into a gym for a good 2-3 month stretch. Outside of basketball, I didn’t face any personal struggles, I’ve been playing overseas for some time now & I’d say I’m quite comfortable being by myself & occupying my time for long stretches without seeing friends and family.

Some players had no difficulty staying in shape and finding court time while other guys struggled. How was it for you? Were you able to do all the things you normally can during COVID-19 or was it more of a challenge?

I took the time during the lockdown to just focus on my body even more than usual. Without having basketball workouts, I was able to get more into stretching & detailed cardio work to keep me busy. I also used it to clean up my diet and be more mindful of how what I was eating was affecting my body and performance. I just challenged myself to try to be in the best shape I could be and that was motivating enough for me. First, that started with running & eventually got me into jump rope which I found to work well for me.

How do you feel did COVID-19 make you stronger as a man?

I feel like COVID-19 just reassured my passion for the game and my willingness to continue to work hard even without a clear endpoint at the time. It was a test of patience and faith to trust that we’d get back to playing again & I’d be ready whenever it came.

You have seen different countries and leagues in Europe, but what have you learned to appreciate most so far about the country Germany and it’s basketball?

The food has been really good here in Germany, and I’ve loved how easy it’s been to continue with my overall diet and trying to eat cleaner and more healthy. As far as basketball is concerned, I think Germany has a great physical presence. That presence can alter games and keep teams in games, making it very competitive.

The Niners Chemnitz are playing their first season in the easyCredit BBL. How exciting has it been playing for an ambitious team like this and what are the goals of the club?

It’s very exciting to be a part of this and their 1st time being in the BBL. We’ve been able to learn and see what type of atmosphere they’ve built here in Chemnitz over the last few years and I’m excited to join and help continue to build upon what they’ve instilled in this organization. We’re not concerned with focusing on the fact that it’s our 1st year in the league, we know what type of team and talent we have & have high expectations for ourselves. We expect not only to make the playoffs but to be a real contender around that time of year.

What has it been like playing with the point guards Virgil Matthews and Shannon Bogues? Matthews knows German basketball inside out while Bogues brings that American basketball mentality to the club. How do they compliment each other best and what you appreciated most about their games and character?

It’s been great playing with both Virgil and Shannon. Obviously, Virgil has been with this club for some time and has played in Germany even longer, so his knowledge as it pertains to Chemnitz and Germany is just a huge advantage for us as a team, and especially for myself also being a guard and it being my 1st time in Germany. He’s another coach on and off the floor for us and very important to our team. Shannon brings an exciting young energy to our team. His quickness on both sides of the ball really stands out and he brings an energy that I think every good team has! Having the knowledge and intuitiveness of Virgil alongside the talent and speed that Shannon has can only lead to good things and I’m excited to see it all unfold

How have you experienced Terrell Harris as a player? He has gradually moved up the basketball ladder in Germany starting in the 3rd league as a rookie. How much does his chip on his shoulder and competitiveness help build success for the team?

This is my 1st time playing with or against Terrel, he’s another leader on this team that we appreciate. He understands the game, how to play, and deeper than getting to his spots, he also sees how to get other guys in spots to succeed. His competitiveness helps push us to be better in practice every day and shows on the court in his play

You have played with very many coaches in your life, but what has been your early impression of Rodrigo Pastore. He is a top coach in Germany. Is he a guy where you feel that you will be able to learn new things that will continually help your game?

Coach Rodrigo is very passionate and committed not only to the game and x’s & o’s but also to the development and consistent improvement in all of us individually. I do feel I’ll be able to continue to learn under his coaching, he believes me not only as a scorer but as a passer too which I feel is a very underrated part of my gam

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

That’s a tough one for me, I don’t feel I identify with anyone NBA player in terms of playing style. But I feel I score the ball well on 3 levels, shoot the 3 at a high clip & create space out on the perimeter whether it be the mid-range or 3 pt area to score similar to CJ McCollum

You were an explosive scorer in the NCAA and as a professional has been consistent helping teams with your scoring ability. What other strengths does your game have that helps not label you only as a scorer?

As mentioned before I feel I have a really good ability to not only pass but to be a playmaker in general, for myself and teammates. I feel my quickness and capabilities with the ball allow me to get others involved seamlessly with my play.

You shot 40% or better from outside in 3 of 4 NCAA seasons and as a professional only in the G-League and Turkey. Do you have a special regimen besides the normal reps and shot selection that you believe in in continuing to become that great shooter?

I have a few different things I do shooting wise I try to do during the season with my shot. I’m grateful that the Niners have 2 shooting machines at our practice facility that are available to us & I spend a lot of time using them. I try to make between 300-500 shots per day and I switch up between different routines to keep it from being boring, also shooting drills with coaches after practice as well.

On what part of your game did you work on most this summer so you would be best prepared for your season in Germany?

This off-season we worked a lot with ball screen scenarios, I wanted to play more of point guard this year to show what I’ve always felt comfortable doing in playing the 1.

Last season you played in France for Chalon. It was sort of a strange season. The club lost a lot, but had this insane ability to win some real tight exciting games at the end against Nanterre, Orleans (129-125), Le Mans and Boulazac. How will you always remember this season?

Yea the season in Chalon was definitely strange, I had some great teammates there during my time and I’m always grateful to meet and bond with other guys embarking on the same journey that make playing together easy as well as being away from home. Each of those guys wanted the best for myself and vice versa

Two seasons ago you played a shorttend season with Banvit Basketbol Kulubu (Turkey-BSL) playing only 7 games. Was this your toughest season to experience as a professional?

Yea that was tough for me, I was looking forward to playing in Turkey and in Banvit that year. I felt I was never really given a chance for whatever reason, the games I played I showed well but everything doesn’t always go your way, so I just tried to learn from it and it’s just another thing added on to the chip on my shoulder

In your third season you played with the Canton Charge (NBA G-League) playing 37 games averaging 18.8ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 43.0%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 75.6%. You had some really strong stints that season like scoring 20 or more points in 8 of 9 games and later another stint of 20 points or more in 8 of 9 games. Did you ever feel like you were close to a call up?

It’s hard to say really with those things, you never really know about a call up until it happens really, so many different things go into that situation I feel. But I was grateful to get the call up I did with the Cavs.

You played your first season overseas in 2016-2017 with Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A) playing 30 games averaging 13.5ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 74.7%. What was your wake up call to being overseas for the first time where you knew that you were far away from home?

Europe for sure was a different experience for me after being in Australia, I think the more rigorous practice schedule and passion from fans stood out the most

You were drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2015 and began in Australia. After being drafted and playing NBA Summer League, why did you go down under at first and later play in Maine in March 2016?

I was told there was no roster spot available for the team that year, so we decided to go over to Australia to play and with their shorter season I’d be able to come back and play in the G League with the Celtics’ g-league team

What kind of experience was it playing for the Celtics organization and was it disappointing that you never got a NBA call up? Does one feel like you were let down by the organization?

The Celtics are a world-class, great storied organization, I’m grateful for the time I did spend there. It was disappointing as I didn’t get a chance to put my best foot forward, my draft class with the Celtics included 2 other guards before me in Terry Rozier & RJ Hunter, plus 4/5 man Jordan Mickey before choosing me 4th, so I just wasn’t really anywhere near their list of priority of development or seeing what could play out

In your time in the G-League and seeing how NBA organizations function can you vividly recall an experience that you saw with a player where one easily saw that the NBA will always be a business first before anything else?

I don’t recall any up close and personal experiences but you see it all the time I think inside as players but always publically amongst the world as well. Players always seem to vow their loyalty to a team but when teams are ready to discard or move on from guys, the same loyalty isn’t reciprocated

You had a stellar career at the College of William & Mary playing a total of 125 NCAA games. You reached 2 CAA tournament finals, had your number #3 retired and broke Chet Giermak’s school scoring record that lasted 65 years. How do you feel did you not only grow as a player there, but also as a man?

College is always a pivotal time for growth in every player’s career, no matter how much time they spent there. As a man, I felt I was able to come into my own and establish myself as more of a leader than I ever was in high school. Taking more accountability for the team not only through my play but being vocal and trying to keep the team morale at a high level. Confidence wise it just reinforced what I’ve always known, when you put in the work, you reap the benefits, at any level

You had many big wins at William & Mary, but also tough loses like the 75-74 game against Delaware. Is this a game that you can go back and watch or have you forgotten that game over time?

I haven’t gone back to watch that game, but I definitely haven’t forgotten about either. Very tough loss for us but games like that you learn from and carry with you as you move on and up

How did head coach Tony Shaver groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Shaver always believed in me as a player, he helped me a lot with understanding the leadership role I had at W&M and getting me to a point comfortable enough to exude that outwardly

Who won a one on one in practice you or Daniel Dixon?

Daniel Dixon is my guy! Brother for life but no doubt I won any 1 on 1 I’ve played with him and he knows that! Haha

Who was the best player that you ever battled in your life that made it to the NBA?

CJ McCollum, I believed we played Lehigh when I was a sophomore in college at W&M. I had no idea who he was before that game, but that changed after

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

My 5 best teammates of all-time: Landry Nnoko, Daniel Dixon, Rashawn Thomas, Brandon Britt, and JaCorey Williams

Please list your personal own NBA Rushmore of past or present NBA players?

My personal NBA Rushmore, past or present: Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

It’s Michael Jordan for me as the greatest of all-time. Different eras of course as everyone says, but 6-0 in the Finals says it all!

What was the last movie that you saw?

Black Box.

Thanks Marcus for the chat.

                It is always a joy when you can observe ex NBA players strut their stuff on the court in the Fraport arena. Last season you had guys like Jordan Crawford and Archie Goodwin demonstrate what brought them to the big show, while this season, the BBL has brought new ex NBA players to Germany with the likes of Diante Garrett, Jajuan Johnson, Wade Baldwin and Phil Pressey just to name a few. But there are more ex NBA players in the easyCredit BBL. A few nights ago Devon Hall who played with the Oklahoma Thunder last season put on a show in Frankfurt as he led a furious third quarter comeback where he scored 9 points in a blaze during a Bamberg 13-4 run. Twice he burned ex St Bonaventure sniper Matt Mobley nailing a jumper over him and the other time showed him that his first step is as lethal as Anthony´s Davis´s knack to secure rebounds for the Los Angeles Lakers. “It was one of those times where they came down and we didn´t have our assignments. We didn´t match up well against him in the second half”, stressed Quantez Robertson. Robertson was matched up against Hall a few times and was impressed by his game. “He stayed composed even when they were down. He kept his cool the whole game. He made some very tough shots”, explained Quantez Robertson. Bamberg has proved in the last 10 + years that ex NBA players that went to Bamberg could get back to the NBA as Casey Jacobsen, PJ Tucker and Darius Miller proved. With the good track record that Bamberg has, Devon Hall could be the next to get back. “He has a very good chance of getting back to the NBA. If he can keep playing the way he has then I feel that he will get another shot”, warned Quantez Robertson. It was Quantez Roberton´s third season when PJ Tucker helped Bamberg win the BBL title and played against Frankfurt twice. In the first game, Bamberg creamed Frankfurt 97-63 and he dropped 12 points, but in the return date in Frankfurt, the Fraport Skyliners came up big with a well deserved great defensive effort winning 76-68 as Robertson had a solid game scoring 12 points and helped keep the versatile Tucker to only 2 points. Robertson has battled many NBA players in his career including Washington Wizards German Isaac Bonga on a daily basis for two years, but PJ Tucker is a player he will never forget. “The NBA player that stood out the most to me was PJ Tucker. He played the positions three and four in Bamberg and was my toughest challenge. It was a tough task in Frankfurt, but we beat him”, remembered Quantez Robertson.

                The Fraport Skyliners continue to have massive up and down phases in the very exciting 20-21 easyCredit BBL season. They continued to play good games beating Bonn and Vechta on the road, but then give away crunch time games to a ratiopharm Ulm and then played a great half and a poor half losing to rival Brose Bamberg. Frankfurt gave up a pathetic 54 points in the second half against Bamberg and left head coach Sebastian Gleim almost speechless after allowing an unbelievable 36 points in the fourth quarter. After doing a superb job on the boards in the first half, they totally lost control in the second half and seemingly gave up offense rebound after offense rebound to German Christian Sengfelder who was cleaning the glass as if he had gotten a special seminar from Bob Villa. But there was so much more things that the Fraport Skyliners suddenly couldn´t do anymore after showing in the first 20 minutes that they could execute very well at both ends. “I thought we took good care of the ball. It was just poor execution. We were too lax and not aggressive enough on defense allowing them to get on a roll. They did a good job cutting into the lead. That is what good teams do. They fight back and chip at the lead”, said Quantez Robertson. There are just some days where teams can´t put it together for a longer period of time, but this season this has been a massive problem for Frankfurt. “I really don´t know how we could have the two halves that we did. We got away from our game plan in the second half. They were a lot more aggressive in the second half and did a good job getting us out of our offense”, added Quantez Robertson. There was one positive that Frankfurt can take to Munich. “I thought that we moved the ball very well in the first half”, warned Quantez Robertson. The big key and focus to success is consistency and that is something that every team desires. “We have to keep playing hard and backing each other up. No matter what happens, we have to be there for one another”, warned Quantez Robertson.

                One player who has really turned heads in the easyCredit BBL has been American Rasheed Moore who was playing in the Regionalliga for the Wiha Panthers only three years ago. His ascension to the BBL via the Pro A and Pro A has been like a Cinderrella story as his good play and further development has continued with Frankfurt where he is currently averaging 11,4ppg, 4,1rpg, 1,5apg and is shooting 40% from the parking lot. He had a little slump in the last two games shooting only 3/10, but came back strong against Bamberg netting 22 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting a potent 9/14. Sometimes a small slump can affect a player mentally, but he didn´t need to talk to anyone, but moreover solved the problem on his own. “He continued to do what he normally does after weights which is get up extra shots and that translated over to the game”, added Quantez Robertson. Another guy who continues to have a fine rookie season is Iceland guard Jon Axel Gundmundsson who is averaging 13,5ppg,2,9rpg, 3,5apg and 1,1spg while shooting a respectable 35% from downtown. But his role has changed a bit as he is coming off the bench more. “He is adjusting coming off the bench.  He isn´t playing as many minutes as usual. Jon is a scorer and we need that extra fire power off the bench. We expect him to get baskets”, stated Quantez Robertson. Matt Mobley is leading the team in scoring and has saved the Fraport Skyliners and carried them on many occasions this season that when he doesn´t come through then people are disappointed. After averaging 28,0ppg in a three game span, he netted only 17 points in the loss to Bamberg while shooting a dismal 5/20 from the field. His playmaking continues to rise as he had 5 assists, but his urge to need to do too much with his scoring led to him forcing way too much. “Matt knows that we expect a lot from him. We live off his scoring. We have to always stick behind whether he makes shots or not. We need him to keep shooting so he opens more space to us. He is also a great passer. He shows that when he is double teamed of trapped that he can make the extra pass”, commented Quantez Robertson. After two strong scoring games where Quantez Robertson had 14 points in a row, he scored only 7 points, had only 1 rebounds and two assists. He continued to be very active on defense getting 4 steals. He had 8 steals in the last two games, and had 8 steals before that in 9 games. “I felt I did what I could on offense. I didn´t get as many shots as usual. On defense I tried to create extra possessions. We do well in the open court. That is one way how guys get going”, stressed Quantez Robertson.

                The Fraport Skyliners meet FC Bayern Munich tonight who are only in fifth place at the moment with a record of 13-3 as teams like Ludwigsburg and Berlin continue to be the teams to beat with only one loss a piece. In the first meeting, the Fraport Skyliners played a spirited first half, but like against Bamberg lost total control in the second half as FC Bayern Munich rolled to an easy 75-52 victory. Frankfurt was creamed on the boards losing that battle 42-26 and allowed 15 offensive rebounds. “They are bigger than us. We will have to find different ways to execute and just out smart them. We have to be a lot more aggressive on box outs”, warned Quantez Robertson. A big plus for teams during this period where there are no fans is the atmosphere on the bench. During the huge Bamberg second half, one could hear the Bamberg bench half way to Frankfurt, while the Skyliners were less vocal. “We were more vocal in the first half. We need to keep the noise for 40 minutes”, warned Quantez Robertson. FC Bayern Munich is current news for Quantez Robertson and the Super bowl is old news. Robertson´s buddy Mike Morrison who is a St Peterburg native and Tampa Bay Bucs fan was a little disappointed that his friend Tez didn´t congratulate him to the Super Bowl win and joked calling him a hater. “I was pretty sure that Mike would call me. I was surprised that he didn´t call me and leave a crazy message. I´m not a hater. He just wants to stir something up so next time we have something crazy to talk about”, expressed Quantez Robertson. Even if Robertson is a Bengals fan, he and Morrison do have something in common which is a big respect for the Bucs and Tom Brady. “The Bucs win was impressive. Nobody expected a blow out. Most thought that it would be a shoot out and one team would win by something like 3 points. Tom Brady has more rings than all NFL organizations. That speaks a lot. It is tough getting 7 rings and getting to the Super Bowl. It was also impressive that Mahomes got there two years in a row. I´m sure he will get a few more tries and later we will see how good he does in comparison to Brady”, warned Quantez Robertson. For now Quantez Robertson has to wait another year for the Super Bowl, but no waiting for the next NBA encounter as he battles Jajuan Johnson and Wade Baldwin tonight.

DJ Woodmore (190-SG-92, college: VWU) is a 29 year old 190cm point guard that is playing his first season with the EPG Baskets Koblenz. Last season with Morgenstern BIS Basket Speyer (Germany-ProB) he played 21 games averaging 15.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT-2 (50.0%), FT: 87.3%. In 2018-2019 13.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 60.2%, 3PT: 36.5%, FT: 71.6% in the Regionalliga. In his first two seasons with Speyer he averaged 14.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 40.1%, FT: 72.1% and 17.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 76.4%. he played at Virginia Wesleyan College (NCAA3): from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 20.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.3% (219/435), 3Pts: 46.0% (91/198), FT: 76.9% (93/121). Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and D

DJ congrats on the massive 82-60 win against the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau. How good did it feel getting that monkey off your back?

Felt great to finally be able to breathe again. After 5 losses in a row, roster changes, team meetings and everything in between, this win was absolutely a sigh of relief.

The way the EPG Baskets Koblenz started was like night and day in comparison to the last games. What did head coach Danny Rodriguez tell you on Friday night where the team had a meeting?

He told us that we have to get back to playing with passion and heart. Our team needs energy to be successful. Everybody on the court and everybody on the bench needs to be completely locked in and bringing that passion. When we do that, we’re definitely an exciting team to watch.

I feel like you were a huge reason for the fast start, because you were super aggressive and was all over the court. How much of a toll did the 5 game losing streak have on you and did you just feel the moment to take charge?

I mean after missing two and half games, and coming back slower than expected in the last two weeks, the Hanau game was the first time I felt close to my old self again. My teammates told me all day to stay aggressive the whole game and kept feeding me confidence even after a few misses. I knew it was going to be important to get myself going early and get off to a good start.

The offense has always been a big plus for the EPG Baskets Koblenz, but I felt that against Hanau the offense was totally recharged. What positives did you see on offense that the team didn’t show this season?

I thought the whole team played like we had nothing to lose again. Not desperate basketball but loose and free. Not pressure, no overthinking. Just back to playing like we know how.

The EPG Baskets Koblenz took control of the contest in the third quarter extending your lead to 20 points. What was key for the team being able to decide the game then?

Keeping that same energy we had from the beginning. Usually 3rd quarters are a nightmare for us. We get uptight and play to hold on to the lead, and not play the way that got us the lead. Felt like we didn’t let that happen Saturday.

As a team you outrebounded Hanau 48-28. What steps did the team finally make on the boards?

I think it was just effort. Had 5 guys crash the defensive glass on every possession. Limited Hanau’s second chance points and gave them fewer possessions. Makes the game so much easier that way.

German Henning Schaake had a huge game with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. How huge was his performance and what do you appreciate most about his game?

Huge performance from Henning. He came in right away and got an offensive rebound then spotted up in the corner for a quick release three. Everybody knew right away he was locked in. We needed it big time. I thought it was huge for his confidence and the team’s energy going forward. I’m sure that won’t be the last time he has a monster game for us.

You had another strong game with 17 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block. How vital was the whole team effort in allowing you to play the way you did?

I thought they made it extremely easy for me to stay in attack mode in the first half. And we did a good job of creating mismatches in transition. Allowing me to create for myself and others.

The next game is against FC Bayern Munich who you beat 71-67 on the road. What will be key to making the sweep this season?

Making sure we can handle their pressure and keep their two guards in check. They really make them go, and if we can contain them, we have a good chance of coming away with the sweep! Much easier said than done!

The Dallas Mavericks are in a slump and in last place in their division. Is this a surprise for you and will they get out of it?

Yess I think they’ll be fine, I think it’s still early enough in the season for them to make a run. I think they’re only 2 or 3 games out of 8th place, and Luka is starting to heat up. Plenty of time.

Thanks DJ for the chat.

The Fraport Skyliners are momentarily going through a tough stretch where they have five games in a two week period. They began their February run with a huge victory at home against the Telekom Baskets Bonn, but 48 hours later were unable to pull out a win in Ulm as they were unable to make the big plays in crunch-time. They returned back last weekend with a great performance in Vechta winning easily 96-72 where they shot over 50% form the field and from the parking lot and only coughed up the ball a strong six times. They returned home to meet Brose Bamberg who are playing a superb Basketball Champions League and in the easyCredit BBL had the exact same record as the Fraport Skyliners at 7-9. Brose Bamberg has been up and down in 2021 bringing a 3-3 record to Frankfurt and it looked like they would go home with a loss after a poor first half, but in the second half the Bavarian team buckled down and showed their total offensive arsenal outscoring Frankfurt 54-28 and wining 86-76. Bamberg got serious production from Devon Hall, Michele Vitali and David Kravish who combined for 66 points as Frankfurt had absolutely no answer how to slow them down. “We were soft in the first half and had way too many turnovers. We started to get more aggressive on defense in the second half. Once you begin to play better defense and rebound better, you get more confidence which helped to get our offense going”, stressed Bamberg guard Devon Hall. The Fraport Skyliners once again showed why they are a team of night and day qualities. After a solid first half where they led by 16 points at the break, they returned back in the second half and stunk up the house letting Brose Bamberg play their game. “We got outscored by 54 points in the second half. Something like that can´t happen. We played well in the first half, but in the second half had no energy and couldn´t control our game. We had bad communication and gave them confidence. They got way too many offensive rebounds and we had no flow our ball movement on offense”, stressed Fraport Skyliner center Michael Kessens.

                The first quarter remained a tight battle as no team was able to break free from the other. There were five lead changes and both clubs were able to find a quick offensive rhythm. After two games where Rasheed Moore scored less, he found his touch again against Bamberg and scored the games first basket. Ex NBA player Devon Hall then gave Bamberg it´s first lead with a three pointer that saw nothing but net. Frankfurt gained the lead back as Moore continued being a one man wrecking scoring on transition and then drilling a trey making his first three shots. Frankfurt had the 9-6 advantage as they did a good job getting the ball inside and keeping  Hall off the ball. Frankfurt continued to hold the lead as they did a great job putting ex Vechta center Michael Kessens into great scoring position as he completed a hard two handed dunk and lay in and ex Auburn(NCAA) great Quantez Robertson scored on transition as Frankfurt led 15-12. Kessens was very present in the first quarter. Kessens finished with a strong game with 16 points and 6 boards and shot 63%, but after the loss he had nothing good to say about his game as he was slowed down well in the second half. “I played with little energy in the second half and little aggressiveness. I also didn´t play the pick and roll well”, stressed Michael Kessens. Basketball always remains a game of runs as Brose Bamberg found some day light and sped out on a 7-0 run to grab the lead back at 19-15. In the run the Bavarian club got excellent production from ex Banco di Sardegna Sassari (Serie A) three point specialist Michele Vitali as he scored, a floater by diminutive ex BG Goettingen guard Bennet Hundt and a lay in by ex California(NCAA) center David Kravish who retrieved a no look feed by Hundt. Hundt did a good job in this phase leading the Bamberg offense with his playmaking. Bamberg upped their defensive pressure which led to good offense. Frankfurt got the lead back getting another three pointer from Rasheed Moore and a floater by ex Davidson(NCAA) guard Jon Axel Gundmundsson for the 20-19 lead. But Frankfurt wasn´t able to keep the lead as ex George Mason(NCAA) center Shevon Thompson gave Bamberg some energy with a lay in and tip in dunk for the Bamberg 24-21 lead after 10 minutes.

            The Fraport Skyliners upped their intensity and aggressiveness at both ends of the court in the second quarter scoring 27 points and allowing only 8 points to totally break open the game. The Fraport Skyliners came out with a bang going on a 10-0 run to get the lead back at 31-24. In the run Frankfurt continued to get Michael Kessens involved as he scored 6 points with two lay ins and free throws. Gundmundsson also added 4 points with a lay in and free throws. With Hundt on the bench, the Bamberg offense suffered and on defense they were unable to keep Kessens in check. Frankfurt showed that their offense could produce points without the usual Matt Mobley points who still hadn´t scored, but was active in the playmaking. Bamberg finally got their first field goal at the 6,27 minute mark as Kravish got free and scored inside to cut Frankfurt´s lead to 31-26. But that didn´t faze Frankfurt as they continued to execute well on offense and get stops closing out the second quarter with a brutal 17-6 run. There is only so much time that one can keep Mobley scoreless and it was only obvious that he would get going sooner or later. In the run Mobley began scoring in bunches with 6 points including a trey. Frankfurt then got baskets from Quantez Robertson and a hook shot from Kessens and Mobley then used his speed to his advantage with a finger tip lay as Frankfurt led 43-30. Bamberg got some buckets from Vitali and Hall, but just couldn´t muster a healthy offensive rhythm. Moore ended the second quarter with a turn around shot and free throw as the Fraport Skyliners led 48-32 at the break. “We did everything well. We had good ball movement, played good defense, got rebounds and got transition baskets”, stated Michael Kessens. “We had tons of turnovers including me. I dribbled a ball off my foot. We got outrebounded and couldn´t clean up the boards”, added Devon Hall.

            In the third quarter the tide of the game changed as Brose Bamberg heightened their game as they buckled down on defense allowing only 8 points and cut into the comfortable Frankfurt lead trailing only 56-50 after 30 minutes. Brose Bamberg came out of half-time recharged and slapped Frankfurt with a hard 13-4 run to trail only 52-45. In the run the Basketball Champions League team received strong production from ex Virginia(NCAA) guard Devon Hall who scored 9 points.  He showed his basketball class with an immaculate inside out game He outclassed Matt Mobley on two occasions nailing a jumper over him and then getting by him on a lay in. He also drilled home a trey showing his scoring in bunches qualities. “I became more sure with the ball and just took care of the ball better”, stressed Devon Hall. He ended the game with 6 turnovers the most for him in a game this season most which were produced in the first half. Frankfurt´s biggest weakness was not executing their offense calmly as they were sloppy making bad decisions and being to hectic in their sets. In the last minutes, Hall banged home another trey as he made it look so easy with his smooth way while Rasheed Moore made a runner. Gundmundsson and Kravish closed out the third quarter with free throws. “Stops and rebounds were key for us. Frankfurt miscommunicated on defense and we took advantage of it”, stressed Devon Hall. “

            In the fourth quarter Brose Bamberg continued chipping away at the Frankfurt lead and eventually gained the lead back and then wouldn´t give it up again coasting home with the win. Brose Bamberg continued to execute well on offense going on a rapid 9-4 run to trail Frankfurt only 60-59. Bamberg got huge production from German Christian Sengfelder who played at Boise State and finished with 13 points and 9 boards including 4 offensive rebounds was instrumental in the run and later being very active in the paint. In this run he got two baskets while Kravish got free throws and Hall scored again. “Sengfelder got huge offensive rebounds and he finishes so well. We trust him to crash the offensive boards”, stated Devon Hall. Mobley kept Bamberg at bay momentarily with a trey, but Bamberg was simply too aggressive and had too many weapons. Vitali got hot giving Bamberg the lead back with his own version of scoring in bunches with 4 free throws and a trey. Sengfelder also added an offensive rebound and put back for the 69-65 Bamberg advantage. Frankfurt had lost total control on the boards. Frankfurt tried to shorten the lead with Moore and Mobley points, but they couldn´t get stops as Kravish scored and Vitali hit another massive trey for the 76-69 Bamberg lead. “Vitali is a hell of a player. He made huge plays. We have total trust in his shooting”, stressed Devon Hall. Frankfurt couldn´t get closer as Bamberg just continued to execute well on offense. Another Kravish bucket and fade away jumper from Vitali gave Bamberg the 81-71 lead with a few minutes to play. A Gundmundsson free throw and Robertson basket gave Frankfurt a little hope trailing 80-74, but they were running out of time with only 34 seconds to play. Vitali then put the stamp on the win with a trey and a Frankfurt turnover led to a Kravish hook shot basket for the 86-74 lead. Moore closed out the game with free throws. “We were more aggressive and physical on defense and rebounded well”, added Devon Hall. “The flagrant foul hurt us which led to 5 Bamberg points. We were never able to react to that. They hit big shots until the end”, stressed Michael Kessens. Brose Bamberg was led by Michele Vitali with 23 points. David Kravish added 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks while Devon Hall scored 20 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Rasheed Moore with 22 points. Matt Mobley added 17 points and Michael Kessens 16 points. Brose Bamberg shot 56& from the field and 30% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 20 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 27% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

There were years in Freak City where winning a title or more each season was as common as it is for CSKA Moscow guard Mike James to make multiple acrobatic shots in traffic, but in the last three years getting those chips have become less as the only title they were able to achieve was the 2019 German cup. There were amazing years in the Chris Fleming and Andrea Trinchieri era´s where winning was like a middle name for the organization. Of course the club had many amazing players that contributed to the club being so successful like Casey Jacobsen in 2007 and after that they had some special players with PJ Tucker and Darius Miller. Both guys played instrumental roles in the organization having consistent success. A common similarity between both is that they both began in the NBA, came to Europe to seek glory and continue to develop their game and then returned back and have remained in the NBA. Tucker returned in 2012 and has since carved a nice NBA career becoming an important role player for the Houston Rockets while Darius Miller returned back to the NBA in 2017 and has played with the New Orleans Pelicans the last three years being a reliable role player. Can three be a charm for the NBA for new Brose Bamberg player Devon Hall? Hall played his second professional season last season splitting time with the Oklahoma City Blue of the G-League and played 11 NBA games with the Oklahoma Thunder. Now he has begun his overseas career, but is still very young and could always return back to the NBA. It would be an amazing story if Hall could follow the other two, but he isn´t thinking about that and knows what his main goal is now. “I obviously want to play at the highest level. I believe that I´m an NBA player. The NBA is still my goal and you should never lose sight of this, but at the same time, my main focus now is Bamberg. All I want to do now is win and get better with that organization”, warned Deon Hall.

                Devon Hall is a 25 year old 196cm guard that was born on July 7, 1995 in Virginia Beach. He had a very successful high school career at Cape Henry Collegiate School: where he played for his father Mark Hall Jr where he was a four year letter winner. In his junior year he averaged 16ppg, 7rpg, 7apg and as a senior he averaged 13.7ppg, 7rpg, 8apg. He led his school to the 2012-2013 Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) tournament title. In 2013 he was nominated to the Mcdonalds All-American team. Some other awards that he got in high school included HS All-TCIS first team -11, 12, 13, HS VISAA state champion -12, HS VISAA Player of the Year -12, and HS Most Valuable Player of the VISAA State Tournament -12. He then attended Virginia(NCAA) from 2013-2018, because of the super graduation rate of African Americans but red shirted his first season. That first season was very tough as he wasn´t even sure if he would play his first season. He knew that he had to use his red shirt year as best as possible. “I worked my butt of and got my body in good shape. I played many practice games against the players who played in games. I used these practice games as if I was playing in real games. I didn´t have to worry about anything in these practice games”, remembered Devon Hall. It also helped his game as a red shirt that he could look over the shoulder of his teammates future NBA players like Malcom Brogdon, Joe Harris and Justin Anderson.  “I learned how to work my red shirt year. When I was in high school, I had no idea what it meant to work. In high school you just shoot and work off your talent. In college you can´t live off your talent. You have to work to get better “, warned Devon Hall. He then played 4 years with Virginia(NCAA) playing a total of 127 NCAA games. In his freshman year he played 23 games averaging 1,8ppg. He scored 9 points in a 70-34 drubbing of Wake Forest, but also remembered seeing action in a tough 69-63 loss against NCAA powerhouse Duke where he dueled against future NBA players Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook, Justise Winslow, Amile Jefferson, Grayson Allen and Marshall Plumlee. “I don´t remember so much, but I do remember Justise Winslow playing very well. Duke had an elite team. It was cool being able to be a part of that game and seeing just how good the ACC is”, added Devon Hall.

            In his sophomore year he played 35 games starting 20 games averaging 4.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.9apg. He scored in double figures in 4 games including 13 points against Morgan State and 12 points against Long Beach State. He split against North Carolina including a tight 79-74 win where he contributed 11 points. He held his own against future NBA players like guys like Kennedy Meeks, Justin Jackson, Marcus Paige, Isaiah Hicks and Theophilus Pinson Jr. This was an occasion where he knew that he really belonged on the court with these amazing skilled guys. “I have always believed in myself from day one. I knew that I could make a good impression in this game.”, said Devon Hall. He then really had North Carolina´s number beating them in a tight defensive game 53-43 his junior season and topping off his career with the ACC title against them. “Reaching the NCAA Elite 8 was one of my most memorable moments as well as beating North Carolina for the ACC title. Beating such a talented offensive team and holding them to only 43 points was huge. That game was one of the best defensive games that I have ever been in”, expressed Devon Hall. In his junior year he played 35 games starting each one averaging 8,3ppg, 4,4rpg, 1,9apg FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 77.6%. He scored in double figures in 15 games including a 18 point effort in a 70-55 win over North Carolina State, 17 points in a 71-48 romp of Virginia Tech and 15 points in a 54-48 victory over Miami, Florida. In his senior year he made another jump in his NCAA development playing 34 games averaging 11,7ppg, 4,2rpg, 3,1apg ,FGP: 47.2%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 89.4%. He scored in double figures in 25 games including 25 points in a 68-51 win over North Carolina State, 20 points in a 80-60 victory over Davidson and scored 19 points a piece in a win over Austin Peay State and a loss against West Virginia. He also led his team is assists in 11 games. He racked up some awards with All-ACC 2nd Team -18, ACC All-Defensive Team -18, ACC All-Tournament 1st Team -18, ACC All-Academic Team -17, 18, NABC NCAA D1 All-District 2 2nd Team -18. He never played his teammate future NBA player Ty Jerome in a one on one at school, but did have his battles during the summer. And Hall doesn´t belong to the 98% of guys who usually take themselves. “I have to be honest he got the best of me. I would be lying if I didn´t say this. But I will always take myself going into a one on one game”, warned Devon Hall. The American is very thankful for his head coach Tony Bennett, because without his guidance, he wouldn´t be the player that he is today. “I learned how to be a professional. He helped me progress each year and helped me with how to approach the game. He taught me that if I want to play at a high level, then I always have to get better”, stressed Devon Hall.

            The American who lists his ex teammate NBA player Malcolm Brogdan as being his toughest opponent had a busy summer of 2018 first raising eyebrows at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Pre-NBA Draft) playing 3 games averaging  17.3ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.2%, 3PT: 60.0%, FT: 84.6%. He then played at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago and then travelled a lot and worked out for 19 NBA teams. His effort and persistence was rewarded as he was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round at #53. He then played at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV (Oklahoma City Thunder) playing 5 games averaging 5.4ppg, 1.2apg, FGP: 42.1%. It was a good experience for him even if his game wasn´t on par. ”I didn´t play well. I didn´t shoot the ball well which sucked, because I had worked my butt off before going to Las Vegas. Sometimes these things happen, but despite that, I didn´t loose my confidence shooting the ball. I remember celebrating my birthday party in Las Vegas and having some of my ex teammates like Ty Jerome, Deandre Hunter and Kyle Guy show up”, commented Devon Hall. He began with the Oklahoma Thunder, but then went down under and played with Cairns Taipans (Australia-NBL) playing 28 games averaging 9.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 38.7%, 3FGP: 33.9%, FT: 75.0%. He remembered  that he was very far away from home when he got off the plane. “I realized I was 16 hours away form home. That season was up and down. We didn´t win much. There was a new coach and players and you had to get used to them. I think that first experience helped me with the business side and learning how to be a pro”, said Devon Hall. He scored in double figures in 13 games including a 24 point game in a 109-80 win over the Bullets. He then returned back to the States to finish the season with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) playing 12 games averaging  6.1ppg, 1.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 27.3%, 3PT: 37.3%. He scored in double figures in 3 games including 14 points in a win over the Naz Suns and 13 points in a victory over Memphis. ”I only had a short stint. I got a lot of love form coach Mark Daigneault. He let me play even if I was only a shooter”, said Devon Hall. In the summer of 2019 he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas again with the Oklahoma Thunder playing 4 games averaging  7.3ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 70.0%, 3PT: 11.1%, FT: 81.8%

            He began his second professional season with the Oklahoma Thunder playing 5 games in November and December and then played 6 games in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida in August 2020. In between he played with the Oklahoma City Blue (NBA G League) playing 30 games averaging 15.6ppg, 5.7rpg, 4.1apg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 86.0%. His minutes rose from 20 to 31 and finally getting minutes helped him get more noticed and get that NBA opportunity. “I finally got real minutes. That helped my confidence grow. Coach allowed me to mess up and learn from my mistakes”, added Devon Hall. He scored in double figures in the G-League in 24 games. He hit Capital City and the Naz Suns for 26 points a piece and scored 24 points a piece against Stockton and South Bay. He did get his NBA chance and had a big adjustment for him was having that big gap between March-August 2020 when the NBA resumed. “All I had been doing in that time was playing pick up. I was waiting and was just confused about when the season would continue right after the G League ended I went home to Virginia Beach and trained for a few months. Then I went up to UVA and trained for a while just to stay prepared for whatever came next. I was always in contact with my agent and he was in contact with teams as well. He let me know I was on a short list of guys that OKC wanted to pick up for the bubble and I just stayed patient. I ended up getting the call in the car from my agent that they wanted to sign me for the bubble and I was super excited about the opportunity. I just prepared the best that I could as if I would be playing for a team”, remembered Devon Hall. He played his first game in the bubble against the Los Angeles Lakers and Lebron James playing 2 minutes in a loss. Unlike other players like ex NBA player Darrun Hilliard who was in total awe when he played against Kobe Bryant, Playing against Lebron James didn´t mean too much to Hall. “I don´t think I was even on the floor with Lebron. It was a special moment and one that I will tell my children and grand children one day. But at the end of the day I´m a competitor and just kept it moving. There was no small talk. I don´t know him and I´m just not that type of guy that will go up to him. Besides we lost the game”, remembered Devon Hall.

            The last movie that he has watched was Jingle Jangle and he saved his best for last scoring 12 points and dishing out 4 dimes in a close 107-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. That is a game that he definitely won´t forget. “I remember making a behind the back pass. That was put on social media. We lost the game in OT. I missed some free throws that will haunt me. But all in all it was good to play some real minutes and fell like part of the game”, said Devon Hall. In his brief time with the Oklahoma Thunder, he wasn´t only teammates with German national player Dennis Schroeder, but became best friends with the 2013 NBA first round pick of the Atlanta Hawks. He remembered being invited to a special dinner by the German and wanted to visit him in Germany, but then Corona hit. They have a special relationship and bond that isn´t always typical of a veteran and more younger player. “Dennis and I are super close. We spent a lot of time on the road together. Even when I was in the G-League we had close contact and I was often at his hose. We just clicked from the start. I was his rookie and he was my older brother. He taught me a lot about the game with the most important being patience on the pick and roll”, stressed Devon Hall. In 11 NBA games he averaged 1,8ppg and 1,2apg. During the long and extended 2019-2020 season, the American also had the opportunity to play for team USA. He played a World Cup qualifying game helping beat Puerto Rico. On the team he was introduced to one of the many talented guards in Europe that definitely is good enough to play in the NBA. “It was a great experience representing my country and one I would never take for granted. Most guys on my team were from the G-League, but Kyle Fogg had come from China. He was a good older guy. He was a big time player and super skilled. He is making good money in China, but I don´t see why a guy like that couldn´t play in the NBA”, stressed Devon Hall

            Now let us fast forward to December 2020. He is playing his first season in Europe playing with top German club Brose Bamberg. COVID-19 is still present and not really going any place. 2020 has been an insane year for everyone and everyone has their own story. “This year has been really crazy. From playing to not playing and then going to the bubble. Then having to deal with free agency was a bit much as well. But I’ve been able to keep a good mindset about it all and only control what I can control.”, stressed Devon Hall. Every player had their own unique story about how they remained in shape. One guy travelled 1000 miles to get gym access, while another player ran and did ball handling drills in the underground parking lot while Devon Hall found a holy place to keep grinding. “It wasn’t very hard for me to keep in shape because I had access to a gym that was in a church. So I was one of the very lucky ones able to continue to workout thankfully. I had access pretty much whenever I wanted it“, said Devon Hall. He also was able to make strides off the court due to COVID-19 being able to look at life in a totally different light “I think dealing with Covid has just given me real perspective on life. I don’t want to take it for granted because this virus is very real and has taken plenty of lives. It has helped me continue to stay mentally strong in the midst of a lot of the unknown”, warned Devon Hall. Now he is with the club Brose Bamberg trying to help the team as best as he can win games on a consistent basis. Once you have been in Australia, it is difficult to have a wake up call in Germany. “I’m excited to be in Bamberg. And I was a lot further away from home when I was in Australia so Germany feels like home compared to that”, laughed Devon Hall. So far the club has gotten off to a great start in the Basketball Champions League, but is still trying to find it´s groove in the easyCredit BBL. “I think I we are a very good team with a lot of good pieces. We are going to take each game, in both leagues one at a time. I think we are learning each other better and improving with a great group of guys. We all want to get better for each other so I think we are on the right path”, warned Devon Hall.

The American who lists his 5 best teammates of all-time as Isaiah Wilkins, Ty Jerome, De´andre Hunter, London Perrantes and Anthony Gill knows that the success will only come if everybody is on the same page. One of those players that has really exploded is ex California(NCAA) great David Kravish. “He has been huge and been a monster at both ends of the court. He has infectious energy and we wouldn´t have won games without him. He is a motor that we love and need”, stressed Devon Hall. Another valuable piece on the club has been veteran Chase Fieler who really can do it all. “He has a great knowledge for the game and has a ton of versatility. He can push the ball in transition, handle the ball, score and rebound. Having that versatility at the 4four spot is nice”, said Devon Hall. This season the American is roommates with German guard Dominik Lockhart and he knows just how vital he is on the court for the team. “He is always so steady. You always know exactly what you will get. He is a physical defender that can shoot and finish. He also has great court vision. I like playing with him”, added Devon Hall.

            Hall who lists his personal NBA Mount Rushmore with legends like Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Magic and Shaq is a player that has extreme difficulty comparing his game to a current NBA player. But he does remember watching a lot of Deron Williams in high school and also enjoyed Kobe Bryant and Eric Gordon. He has come into the German easyCredit BBL and scored consistently from the get go, but has had to adjust to certain things. “The speed is a bit slower in the BBL compared to the NBA. The BBL is physical and the paint is clogged. I think important for me being successful so far has been finding ways to make plays and to be able to adjust on the fly. I have been watching a lot of film figuring where to pick my spots and learning how the defense plays. I just try to help as much as possible”, added Devon Hall. As a scorer one needs to have that three point range and that is something that the American has. He last shot over 40% as a senior at Virginia(NCAA), but he knows that there is one key ingredient that he has to keep to continue to be a good shooter and get better. “I just have to stay confident. My percentage went down in Australia, because I took more shots. I still trust my shot. I just have to shoot when I´m open”, warned Devon Hall. “One of his biggest strengths is his defense. He played for one of the NCAA´s best defensive coaches with Tony Bennett. He wants to keep growing as a defender in the pro ranks. “I think that choosing and picking spots on defense is just as important as on offense. I think I´m good at cutting off the angles. I can´t allow guys to blow by me. I want to become an impact defender and I can do that by taking gradual steps”, warned Devon Hall. In his third professional season he is no where near the end of his development. He knows that he has to take the extra time before and after practice to keep working on his game to continue to climb the basketball ladder. “I have to finish better at the rim. I also want to continue to work on my skill set. I also want to be able to create better. Important is to take it game by game and put my game within the team game”, stressed Devon Hall. Another thing that has stuck with him forever is his winning mentality. It may not be anywhere near that of a Kobe Bryant, but still he has the winning touch and always wants to make winning plays. “That winning mentality has been installed with me since the start. I have been a winner almost my whole life except for in Australia. Even if I´m not playing well in a game, I always want provide as much as I can so my team will win. I want to always be able to say I did all I could to help the team win”, warned Devon Hall. Even if he isn´t back in the NBA yet, he does have something in common with PJ Tucker and Darius Miller. He is a winner just like they were in Bamberg. That can only be a good omen for this season for Brose Bamberg.

Mike Morrison is a 31 year old 206cm center from St Petersburg, Florida that is playing his 9th professional season and first with Semt77 Yalova Belediye Spor (Turkey-TBL). The ex George Mason (NCAA) standout has played in many countries in Europe including for teams like Cytavision Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A), Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga)Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBBL), Panevezys Lietkabelis (Lithuania-LKL), s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-BBL), Peristeri GS Athens (Greece-A1) and Mono Vampire Bangkok (Thailand-TBL). He and germanhoops.com came together to give a special Super Bowl LV post game interview

Congrats Mike for your Tampa Bay Bucs win. What does this win mean for the city during these hard times?

The best or worst of times, we love the Bucs. Means everything for the Bay area

You joked you couldn’t watch because of a Monday game, but you could have gone to sleep early and caught the end at 5:30 when you woke up. How did you experience watching this win?

I went to bed early and caught the 4th Q. Still got my. 8 hours and got to see my boys do work.

This was the first Super bowl where Tom Brady fans didn’t have to worry throughout the game that he might lose. Does it surprise you how easy this win looked?

I knew that they couldn’t defend us and our defense dominated the entire playoffs so I wasn’t shocked. I said if we hit Mahomes we can stop him.

Tom Brady got the MVP, but the whole Bucs defense should of gotten it. Did the Bucs defense save their best for last with their performance?

Brady came to a losing team, brought Gronk, Fournette, and AB with him, and won the FIRST YEAR! THE trophy is his.

A s a professional athlete does a defensive performance like the one the Bucs gave motivate you to lift not only your defensive game to a new level, but also your team?

Greats just motivate you to go out and be your best. Brady is no exception.

It felt like Pat Mahomes was running for his life 80% of the time like a headless chicken. Could a loss like this really affect him for a while or will the champion in him get this loss out of his memory bank quickly?

Pat Mahomes is a Unicorn. The man was still making some of the craziest throws despite all of that pressure. This loss will only make him more hungry. Just the thought of that is scary!

How would you describe the competitive level of a Tom Brady. Is this something that the sports world has never seen before?

Tiger, Serena, Jordan, Kobe, LBJ, Brady.. Its just a hand full of guys/women with that GOAT gene. That push there teams to the next level.

How does this Super Bowl win compare to the one in 2003. Which one did you enjoy more?

It’s funny because the teams were very similar. In 03 we were able to dominate on defense but had a pretty good offense too. Played cover 2 and dominated the line of scrimmage. It was weird seeing us repeat with the same style of play.

It can be expected that Tom Brady will continue to play and want that eighth ring. How many more years do you honestly think he can play?

I believe Tommy (that’s what his friends call him) can play for as long as he wants. The work ethic is still there. TB (we call him that too) always says his favorite Superbowl ring is “the next one” so don’t count him out.

Everyone talks about Jordan, Lebron and Brady as the best of all-time, but as a big man why Is Bill Russell with his record 11 NBA titles always fall of the radar?

Bill Russell is loved by players. Fans may not be as familiar with the things he did on the court, as well as the major things he did off the court. Legend, no doubt “Bill Russell swag, Yal think Michael Jordan bad? I got 5 more rings than Michael Jordan had” -Jay Z

Did Quantez Robertson congratulate you? What special message do you have for him?

Listen world I love Tez like a brother, but he’s 1 of the biggest haters you’ll ever meet! No call, no message, nothing. Smh, I will be waiting by the phone Tez

Thanks Mike for the chat.

Mike Morrison is a 31 year old 206cm center from St Petersburg, Florida that is playing his 9th professional season and first with Semt77 Yalova Belediye Spor (Turkey-TBL). The ex George Mason (NCAA) standout has played in many countries in Europe including for teams like Cytavision Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus-Division A), Joensuun Kataja Basket (Finland-Korisliiga)Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (Germany-BBBL), Panevezys Lietkabelis (Lithuania-LKL), s.Oliver Wuerzburg (Germany-BBL), Peristeri GS Athens (Greece-A1) and Mono Vampire Bangkok (Thailand-TBL). He and germanhoops.com came together to give a special Super Bowl LV interview

Mike thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you.

I’m in Yalova, Turkey. Basketball is a blessing as always. Different without the fans though.

Your playing your ninth season overseas. What memories do you have of watching the Super Bowl? Is there a particular Super Bowl that has stood out since you have been here?

2015, The Seahawks throwing an interception instead of giving the ball to Marshawn Lynch Still the worst decision I’ve ever seen!

You were 13 years old when Tampa Bay destroyed Oakland 48-21 in 2003. What memories do you have of that Super bowl from your childhood?

In Florida we LOVE football so this was a huge deal just making it. The whooping we have Oakland was the ending to a perfect season

It’s Super Bowl Sunday. Where will you be watching the Super Bowl and what are you looking forward to the most?

I actually have a Monday game and the football game comes on around 2:30 am here in Turkey. I will have to miss the game so you know I’m sick

What is a typical Super Bowl Sunday meal for you? What would you eat at home and what will you eat this Sunday in Turkey?

I dont have any typical meal, just wings or whatever.

Your from St Petersburg, Florida and are a Tampa Bay Bucs fan. How thrill ed are you that they made the Super Bowl and where did you honestly think they would end up this season in pre season?

We take football pretty seriously so thrilled is an understatement. From the time we got Tom Brady i thought we could win it.

How have you experienced being a Tampa Bay Bucs fan in your life? How difficult has it been for you over the last 20 years being a Bucs fan?

The way i look at it, we won a Superbowl (02 season) this millenium and most teams can’t say that. So it hasn’t been hard at all. We always feel like we have a decent team

The Tampa Bay Bucs play the Kansas City Chiefs. As much as I adore Tom Brady, I don’t think that he will be able to pull out the win. How confident are you that we will see another Tom Brady miracle?

The Chiefs are good, there’s no doubt. But to bet against Tom just isn’t smart. We have just as many weapons and are peaking the right time. Add in the revenge we owe KC and I think we have a chance.

Everyone knows how strong the Kansas City offense is, but Tampa Bay has a great defense. What will Tampa Bay have to do to slow down a Patrick Mahomes?

It’s a simple plan to slow down Ma’homey’. The same plan we had for Brees and Rogers, HIT HIM IN THE MOUTH AGAIN AND AGAIN! Hard to throw the ball from the ground.

Your ex teammate Quantez Robertson said that he will be in contact with you during the Super Bowl and even more if Tampa Bay loses. What kind of a ribbing will Tez get if Tampa Bay wins?

Honestly, Tez is a Bengals fan. His call should get ignored for how bad they have been.

Tom Brady has reached a 10th Super Bowl. Where does Tom Brady stand win or lose on Sunday with the all-time great American athletes?

It’s hard enough to compare players from different positions. To compare players from different sports never made any sense to me. I will say this though, he’s the greatest QB ever. I stopped fighting this fact after the Atlanta come back in Superbowl LIII

Who throws a football farther you or Quantez Robertson and how far do you think will each one be able to throw a football?

I don’t have a deep ball so I will go ahead and give that to Tez. Accuracy is all me though. It wouldn’t shock me if Tez could roll out of bed and throw a 50 yard bomb. We’ve thrown the ball around in Frankfurt before. There’s footage somewhere.

If they made a football movie about you and Quantez Robertson which football players would each guy play?

If there was a movie with us Tez would be the star quarterback and I would be the new guy that came and took his spot. Don’t worry, we become friends at the end of the movie.

What is your favorite football movie?

Remember The Titans is my favorite. But i named my son ‘Boobie’ Miles from the star running back in “Friday Night Lights”

Thanks Mike for the chat.

The days are getting longer as everyone is wishing for warmer weather while in Koblenz the days get longer and longer for the EPG Baskets Koblenz who were still continuing to seek their first victory in 2021. The club that has massive aspirations to move up to the Pro A haven´t been showing that brilliant basketball as of late as they had lost five games in a row. Their last loss was at the hands of the Dresden Titans as they had chances to win again, but as usual couldn´t finish the game as crunch-time continues to be a real annoying thorn in their side. Only 48 hours after losing to Dresden, they had to be ready for the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau who had been playing excellent basketball as of late having a 5 game winning streak and were in deep competition with Koblenz for the playoff spots as both had a 8-7 record coming in. Hanau also had some revenge in their heads as they had lost the first game of the season at home against Koblenz 89-82. But this time the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau witnessed a totally different rejuvenated Koblenz team as they finally won their first game in 2021 as they got destroyed 82-60. Even if Koblenz head coach Danny Rodriguez had his usual post game expression, one could see the major relief that he had after finally winning in 2021. “A huge load has been lifted from my shoulders, the players and the organization. Dresden was a difficult game where we had no rhythm. To come back two days later and play so well shows the moral of the team. I am very proud of the team. We live off our energy, passion, quickness and aggressiveness on offense. That helped us get the win tonight”, stressed Danny Rodriguez. It was only a matter of time until Koblenz would finally win again, and Hanau picked a bad day to come and have to witness a total turnaround in their game. Hanau had injury problems and huge deficits under the basket. “Congrats to Koblenz for the win. We were without our big man Acosta and Josef Eichler got into early foul problems. After that we weren´t in the game anymore. We had problems getting rebounds tonight”, stated Hanau head coach Kamil Piechucki.

                The EPG Baskets Koblenz showed no mercy right from the jump and hurried off to a rapid 10-3 lead hitting Hanau with swift blows on offense. Instrumental in the fast start was Virginia native DJ Woodmore who was his old self. After a terrible shooting night in Frankfurt after being out some weeks, he came back and played better in the loss to Dresden, but against Hanau upped his game another notch. His aggressiveness was at an all-time high. He was all over the court in the first minutes which lifted his teammates as well. The ex Speyer guard scored two baskets as finding his spots was as normal as it is for Steph Curry nailing that clutch three. “This was one of my best games this season. All I have to do is feed of the team energy. All I have to do is be aggressive. My teammates continued to tell me to attack and put pressure on the defense”, stressed DJ Woodmore who finished with 17 points.  Koblenz were also strengthend with a trey from athletic Dutch forward Chad Wellian and ex Fordham(NCAA) guard Zaire Thompson also added a trey from the corner. Koblenz was defending very aggressive and were a menace on the boards. They grabbed three offensive boards in the first few minutes which would set the tone for the game. Basketball is a game of runs as Hanau took the usual up and down play of Koblenz to their advantage storming back on a 9-2 run to dead lock the game at 12-12. In the run, they received a trey from ex Fraport Skyliner Junior Felix Hecker, a lay in from German big man Josef Eichler and a clutch three from ex Oberaching guard Omari Knox. But Koblenz got out of their hole and finished off the first quarter with a 9-3 run to lead 21-15 after 10 minutes. In the run the EPG Baskets Koblenz got another basket from DJ Woodmore, got free throws from German guard Lucas Mayer, a three pointer from bench player German Henning Schaake and a bucket from Brian Butler who had surprisingly been held pretty quiet in the first quarter. Koblenz ´s offense was solid and they were getting sound production from everyone which Hanau couldn´t slow down.

                In the second quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz would continue to lead and extend their lead to as much as 13 points and led by double digits at the break. Koblenz tried to get Brian “air” Butler going in the second quarter as he scored a pretty reverse lay up past two Hanau players and also sunk free throws. Koblenz also got support from Edin Alispahic with a nice turn around shot and German Henning Schaake with a lay in. With Bill Borekambi and Philipp Liesser not in the lineup, Schaake was inserted into a bigger role as he logged 21 minutes and scored 13 points, had 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. “It was fun to play more. I hoped I could help the team. We had a big talk on Friday night which helped. The noise from the bench and confidence of coach helped me”, stressed Henning Schaake. “Henning never complains but just gave gas. He showed his good moral and attitude. He came out with a lot of energy”, warned head coach Danny Rodriguez. The Ebbecke White Wings Hanau couldn´t muster much offense and had to rely more on Eichler and Spanish undersized big man Eduard Arques who kept the guests in the game with baskets cutting the Koblenz lead to 31-26. But even when Hanau had small spurts of offense, they couldn´t get consistent stops on defense allowing Koblenz on a 8-0 run to quickly lead again 39-26. Koblenz´s offense was well rounded as Woodmore kept doing his thing hitting a jumper, while Butler was his normal beast mode on the boards getting an offensive rebound and massive two handed put back dunk and Alispahic showed his versatility and touch with a trey. Koblenz´s self confidence was sky high and they continued to defend with passion. Koblenz held the double digit lead going into half-time getting added production from Thompson and Mayer while Hanau continued to rely on the consistent offense from Arques who drilled home two trey´s. “We played good defense, but the three´s from Arques held Hanau in the game. Without those three´s, it would have been a different game”, stated EPG Baskets Koblenz manager Thomas Klein.

                The EPG Baskets Koblenz totally broke open the contest in the third quarter extending their lead to 20 plus points. In the first few minutes, the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau did a good job keeping the Koblenz lead at 10 getting some support from 19 year old German guard Justus Peuser who scored twice as did swift guard Felix Hecker. Koblenz got offense production from Lucas Mayer with a lay in and another trey from Chad Wellian as Koblenz held on to the 53-43 advantage. But that is when the turning point of the game came as Koblenz struck with a massive 16-5 run to end the third quarter with a very comfortable 69-48 advantage. The EPG Baskets Koblenz got great bench support from their Germans as Mayer nailed a trey getting a nice kick out pass from Butler and Schaake continued to be aggressive from the bench with a pretty alley-oop tap in and trey while also showing his defensive skills with a big block on Peuser. Wellian also aided in the offensive attack with a trey as did Butler with a giant two handed dunk. “Turnovers killed us. We gave up too many easy baskets against our zone. They got the momentum and held it because of their high energy”, stated Hanau guard Omari Knox.

                In the fourth quarter the EPG Baskets Koblenz let up a bit on offense with more hurried shots and turnovers, but still held their own on defense allowing only 12 points to be able to win by 22 points. Scoring was down on both sides as Hanau was already getting ready for the next team while Koblenz wanted to enjoy their first win in 2021. Hanau got 5 points from Josef Eichler who was playing with four fouls while Koblenz got some added insurance with three pointers from Thompson and Woodmore. German Philipp Hecker closed out the game with a trey for some stat fine tuning. All in all it was a huge win for the EPG Baskets Koblenz as they want to secure that playoff spot. “This was a special win that was important for the team. When we play with high energy on offense and defense, we are a completely different team. This was a fun game for all as all players played up to their qualities. We rebounded well and we always had Hanau a step too late with our energy. This was a fun game to watch”, stated Thomas Klein. “Rebounding was a huge problem for us. They played hard on defense and got extra shots. The three offensive rebounds in the first minutes killed our energy. But we didn´t give up. We just tried to finish the game as hard as possible and hope it carries over to the next game”, stressed Omari Knox. The EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by DJ Woodmore with 17 points. Brian Butler added 16 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists while Henning Schaake ahd 13 points and Edin Alispahic 11 points while the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau were led by Euard Arques with 13 points while Felix Hecker had 10 points. The EPG baskets Koblenz shot 48% from the field and 36% from outside and had 48 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the Ebbecke White Wings Hanau shot 35% from the field and 30% from outside and had 28 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

 Grant Dressler is a 201cm guard that is playing his second professional season and first with the Bayer Giants Leverkusen (Germany-ProA) after getting his first professional experience with the Franklin Bulls (New Zealand-NBL). Currently he is averaging 9,9ppg, 2,1rpg and 2,4apg. He began his basketball career at Palo Verde High School and then began his NCAA career at Sacramento State playing 32 games form 2015-2017. He finished at Chaminade University (NCAA2) playing 28 games as a junior averaging 10.5ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 40.8%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 67.6% and played 31 games as a senior averaging 19.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 44.1%, FT: 80.6%. He spoke to germanhoops.com last summer about basketball.

Grant thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I am now in Germany. Summer was weird to say the least but I tried to make the most of it.

Your last college game was on March 15th, 2019. You had the opportunity to play in New Zealand but COVID-19 whipped it out. How itching are you to finally play again, but possibly with fans? Has your mental approach to the game changed any with so much that has happened in the last 8 months?

I’m really looking forward to playing again, especially with a possibility of some fans that would be awesome. My mental approach hasn’t changed much in the last 8 months, I’ve just had more time to work on somethings and get better.

How did you experience the last 6 months during COVID-19? Did you find any good opportunities to stay fit and actually practice basketball skills with the ball?

The last 6 months were kind of rough in regards to finding places to play basketball or work out. Due to COVID-19 all of the gyms were closed so I just tried to get in wherever I could or outside whenever it wasn’t too hot.

Your from Las Vegas. What kind of a place did Las Vegas become during COVID-19? How did you experience life in Las Vegas during COVID-19?

Las Vegas was weird to see during the last 6 months, it’s a major tourist destination but there was a time when everything shut down: casinos, hotels, etc. It was crazy to see the strip empty.

How do you feel did you become stronger a s a man during the whole COVID-19 crisis?

As a man I just grew up more, dealt with how some things are now and others on off the court.

Congrats on signing with German team Bayer Giants Leverkusen. Was signing with this team a no brainer considering your ex NCAA teammate Nick Hornsby had been so successful there? What was the deciding factor that allowed you to sign there?

My agent brought the opportunity to me and I did talk to Nick before signing and he really enjoyed his time here and was very successful so it did play a role in me signing here. I think it is a great spot for me and a great opportunity.

How excited are you to play for head coach Hansi Gnad who is a German basketball legend. He helped Germany upset Russia at the 1993 European Championships winning the Gold Medal and was drafted by the 76ers in the 80’s. Are you aware of his history?

I didn’t know about coach Hansi’s accomplishments but I am excited to play for him and have enjoyed my time so far!

Let’s talk about your game. You’re a versatile 201cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the bill?

As a bigger guard I’d compare myself to other versatile players, but I don’t have an exact comparison in mind.

Talk a little about your strengths. You can do a lot on the court. What kind of player will Germany see this season?

As far as my strengths go, I’m a solid shooter, ball handler, and passer so I think that is the type of player that will be seen just a little bit of everything.

You made huge strides in your stats in your senior year especially in assists. How do you explain your rapid rise as a player in just one year?

I was just given a lot more freedom to be myself on the court and it worked out for me, I had great coaches and players around me that helped me succeed

You also showed in school that you can be an impact player on the defensive end. In what areas defensively do you need to keep tweaking so you can make the next step as a professional?

.Defensively I’m always working to get better, the biggest thing for me right now is just putting on weight and maintaining so I can guard most positions. Lateral quickness, being strong, things like that you can always work on.

You played at Sacramento State from 2015-2017 playing 32 NCAA games. Why was this school not the right fit for you as a player?

I really enjoyed my time in Sacramento, it just wasn’t the right fit for my playing style which I would say is a little more crafty and flashy, confident.

What memories do you have with Nick Hornsby at Sacrament State? Did he have an influence on you despite the tough situation of not getting sufficient minutes?

Nick was one of the first people to help us freshman learn the ropes and was the captain of the team so he was a big influence there. He’s still one of my great friends.

You then played at Chaminade University (NCAA2) from 2017-2019 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 19.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 44.1%, FT: 80.6%. How do you feel did your game grow there?

My game kind of just blossomed when I was given a lot of freedom, freedom to make mistakes, take shots that aren’t necessarily the best, it just sparked my confidence as a player.

You scored 34 points in the thrilling 79-76 victory over Concordia Irvine. Is this one of your games that you won’t forget so easily?

That was a great game for us, helped us get momentum for the great season we had.

You were teammates with Eric Scheive who played his rookie season in Germany with Ehingen (Pro A). What will you never forget about how he fought on the court?

Erik is one of the best big men I’ve played with he can really shoot the ball and move well for his size.

How did head coach Eric Boviard groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Bovaird played professionally for many years so he knows what it takes to get to that level. He prepared us with skill work and playing good basketball just things like that, developing basketball IQ along the way.

Last year you had the opportunity to work out with the Los Angeles Clippers G-League team Agua Caliente. What kind of experience was that from you and can a competitor like you be honest with yourself and say that you aren’t close to the NBA or did you feel like those other guys weren’t that much better than you?

That was a great experience for me being able to be around that. Personally I’ve never really felt like I can’t play with anybody on the court so I have great confidence in myself to play anywhere.

Who was the best player that you ever battled on the court that is in the NBA?

Being from Vegas there’s a lot of NBA guys that are either from there or workout there. Guys like Troy brown, Stephen Zimmerman, Shabazz Mohammed, Pierre Jackson, etc. the toughest one in my opinion is probably Pierre Jackson, he just can flat out score.

Please list your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I’m not sure who the five best players would be I’ve played with a lot of great talent over the years!

Please construct your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads.

My all time Mount Rushmore is LeBron, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Kevin Durant

What is your opinion of the neverending debate of who is the best of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James and how worth is Kobe Bryant in this debate?

You can’t really go wrong with any of them they’re all sensational players. People have different preferences due to eras, bias, or whatever the reason but they’re all worthy!

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was The Equilizer 2. Very good movie.

Thanks Grant for the chat.

2021 hasn´t been glorious for the EPG Baskets Koblenz as basketball life is getting more and more strenuous with every new loss. So far the ambitious club that has huge aspirations of moving up to the Pro A had an unflattering 0-4 record in 2021 and their basketball life wasn´t getting any easier as the tough 9-5 Dresden Titans arrived in Koblenz. The club experienced a lot of player personal fluctuations in the last days as German Jacob Mampuya surprisingly left the organization and the club reeled in four new players with ex BBL players Anthony Canty and Oliver Clay as well as experienced Pro B players Philipp Liesser and Mr bucket Bill Borekambi. The EPG Baskets Koblenz had a do or die game in Frankfurt last weekend getting embarrassed 86-76 and now it was high noon in Koblenz as they desperately were seeking a success experience. Once again the EPG Baskets had their chances to win at the end, but once again were unable to prevail in crunch-time as annoying turnovers and mental errors cost them their fifth straight loss in 2021. After the loss a disgruntled and very disappointed manager of the EPG Baskets Koblenz Thomas Klein gave clear answers to his frustration. “They hit the three pointers in the deciding moments. We didn´t defend the three point line well. We threw balls away showing no motivation. Despite that we still get 2-3 chances to make plays, but we don´t use them, but our opponent does. We continue to show that we can lead by 10 points or more, but then we get this downward trend which I don´t know why. I also don´t like our body language on the bench. It was like day and night compared with Dresden´s body language. Dresden always had the same energy level, but we didn´t have any”, stressed Thomas Klein. Dresden played with a high intensity for 40 minutes and even when they had bad phases, they never gave up showing the better nerves in crunch-time. “I have to give a lot of respect to Koblenz. I never thought that they would play a zone against us. We had our problems against it in the first half, but showed more patience in the second half. We hit our shots better in the second half and defended better in the right situations against the right players”, stated Dresden Titans head coach Fabian Strauss.

                The Dresden Titans were without big man Georg Voigtmann while Koblenz was without American CJ Oldham. The Dresden Titans came out in the first quarter with the correct attitude and energy taking the rapid 8-2 lead and catching the EPG Baskets Koblenz on the wrong foot. Dresden got instant energy from German guard Daniel Kirchner who scored on transition and on a lay in and from ex Fraport Skyliner center Aaron Kayser who dropped free throws and scored on transition. New Koblenz forward Bill Borekambi also scored his first basket with his new team in the paint. Dresden excelled with a beautiful offensive ball movement and had a big focus with the extra pass. Koblenz seemed nervous and couldn´t find a sound rhythm. Dresden also did a good job not allowing Koblenz to get Brian Butler integrated quickly in the paint. Butler would never find his usual rhythm as he finished with only 5 points. However basketball will always be a game of runs as the EPG Baskets Koblenz got out of their funk and found a rhythm at both ends of the court closing out the first quarter in style with a lethal 14-4 run to lead 16-12 after 10 minutes. Instrumental in the run was American DJ Woodmore who found his game again after a poor shooting night in Frankfurt. He nailed a few buckets showing how easily he can find his spots which got his self-confidence going and also helped his teammates get going. German Lucas Mayer also scored twice as his self-confidence was also high after dropping 14 points in Frankfurt last weekend. Borekambi also contributed on the offense with a floater. Koblenz heightened their defense adding intensity and aggressiveness which caused Dresden to cough up the ball a few times.

                The EPG Baskets Koblenz continued to control the game in the second quarter and led by as much as 10 points, but as usually is the case, they couldn´t keep up the momentum and let up in the last few minutes allowing the Dresden Titans to cut the Koblenz lead down to 31-28 at the break. The EPG Baskets Koblenz stopped Dresden´s first five possessions, but could only capitalize on it with 5 points. Ex FC Schalke guard Marley Jean-Louis who can shoot out the lights on certain nights began with a trey and ex wiha Panthers forward Bill Borekambi followed with a basket on transition extending Koblenz´s lead to 21-14. Koblenz continued to execute on offense and Dresden wasn´t so bad themselves, but they couldn´t hit the ocean. Dresden then got their first field goal of the second quarter at the 7,17 minute mark as German big man Max Von Der Wippel got an offensive rebound and put back. Aggressive guard Daniel Kirchner followed with a 20 footer cutting Koblenz´s lead to 22-14. Koblenz continued to control the game, but Dresden stayed on their heels as Kirchner continued to execute making a trey and cutting the Koblenz lead down to 25-19. Dresden had shown unselfishness the whole game and this basket was their best ball movement of the game. The EPG Baskets then extended their lead to 31-21 as Woodmore continued to connect making a 20 footer and new player Philipp Liesser who once had played for Dresden scored on a back door pass from ex Fordham(NCAA) guard Zaire Thompson. Butler got the ball a few times and got to the free throw line, but scored only two of four shots. The EPG Baskets Koblenz couldn´t hold their lead as they gave up a bitter 7-0 run to Dresden to allow them back into the game and trail only 31-28 at half-time. In the run, it was Kirchner again showing the hot hand with a trey and German guard Lennard Larysz scored on transition.

                The third quarter proved to be a real dog fight as the Dresden Titans held the tight 55-51 advantage after 30 minutes. Ex Speyer guard DJ Woodmore got Koblenz on the board first with a trey to extend their lead to 34-28, but they continued to experience highs and lows as they allowed Dresden on a quick 7-0 run to recapture the lead 35-34. In the run, the Titans got solid offensive production from many sides as Kayser scored in the paint, German Julius Stahl hit an open trey and Larysz made a runner. The extra pass offense of Dresden gave Koblenz fits as they had problems controlling it. Dresden did a good job getting into the paint and getting easy chances while Koblenz practiced bad shot selection. The EPG Baskets Koblenz didn´t allow the Dresden Titans to run away with the game as they simply had too many offensive weapons ready to get hot. German guard Marley Jean-Louis hit two massive three´s to keep Koblenz close while Dresden got consistent support from Kayser who scored three  baskets in the paint for the 49-46 Dresden advantage. Zaire Thompson was kept scoreleThe Dresden Titans Sneak Out 69-64 Road Victory Over The EPG Baskets Koblenzss, but he was huge on defense getting 6 steals which helped lead to two clutch Edin Alispoahic trey´s which cut the Dresden lead to 52-51. The ex Schwenningen big man had been out for a while and returned scoring 8 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and getting 3 steals. “It felt good to play again. I was positively nervous. I tried to help my team with my defense first.  We have enough good scorers”, stressed Edin Alispahic. “Edin was the best player on the court. He showed presence at both ends of the court and made big shots when we needed them”, stated Thomas Klein. Larysz ended the third quarter with a three pointer as the Dresden Titans led 55-51. “We read their defense better and filled the holes in the zone better”, stressed Fabian Strauss.

                The fourth quarter was a real tight affair whereas the third quarter had 47 total points by both teams, only 27 points were mustered in the last 10 minutes. The Dresden Titans allowed Koblenz to tie the game only once as the home team would never get the lead back. Alispahic carried the hot hand from the third quarter into the fourth quarter as he sunk another trey to trail Dresden only by 55-54. Ex Speyer forward Sebastian Heck hadn´t had much fortune with his shooting in the first three quarters, but he found some daylight in the first few minutes of the fourth sinking two trey´s for the 62-57 Dresden lead. He also made an impact on defense swatting away five balls  and getting two steals. “We aren´t the best shooting team, but when shots aren´t falling we just keep shooting. We give each other confidence to keep shooting. I´m not the most athletic guy so my arms save me on defense. I just keep moving my arms”, smiled Sebastian Heck. Dresden hit open shots while Koblenz didn´t cover the three point line and were sloppy on offense The EPG Baskets didn´t hang their heads storming back to dead lock the game at 62-62 with a swift 5-0 run. In the run, they got a huge trey from Liesser, but couldn´t execute well enough from the free throw line nailing only two of four from Jean-Louis and Butler as overall they shot a miserable 56% from there. After a Bryan Niessen lay in, Bill Borekambi scored in the paint cutting Dresden´s lead to 65-64. Daniel Kirchner then sealed the win with an aggressive drive to the rim and basket for the 67-64 advantage. The EPG Baskets Koblenz coughed up the ball on their last two possessions and Kirchner closed out the victory with two free throws. “We made the wrong decisions and had turnovers at the end. We played ok defense, but you have to score a few baskets to win”, stressed EPG Baskets Koblenz head coach Danny Rodriguez. “Our coaches did a great job scouting. We knew the strengths of each player. We played good team defense, defended the three point line well and helped each other out well”, added Sebastian Heck. The Dresden Titans were led by Daniel Kirchner with 18 points. Lennard Larysz contributed 15 points and Aaron Kayser added 14 points and 8 rebounds while the EPG Baskets Koblenz were led by DJ Woodmore and Marley jean-Louis with 12 points a piece. Bill Borekambi added 11 points and Philipp Liesser had 10 points. The Dresden Titans shot 40% from the field and 30% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 22 turnovers while the EPG Baskets Koblenz shot 38% form the field and 33% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 21 turnovers.