Janek Schmidkunz is a 24 year old 183cm point guard that is playing his first season for the MLP Academics Heidelberg (ProA). He started his basketball career with Central Hoops Berlin (Regionalliga) in 2008. He then also got further experience at ALBA Berlin II (Regionalliga). He then went to the states and played at Amer.Internat. (NCAA2) from 2010-2014 playing a total of 86 NCAA games and as a senior played 26 games: 10.9ppg, 2.1rpg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 61.5%. He spoke to German Hoops after the big 91-72 win against BG Karlsruhe.

 

 

 

Congrats on the huge 91-72 win in Karlsruhe. How big was the revenge factor after losing to BG Karlsruhe at 74-59?

 

I think the revenge factor wasn’t necessarily in our minds during and after the game. We have become a different team since that home game against Karlsruhe early on. We are confident to beat anybody on a good day. I believe that we have earned a win like that for our hard work and commitment.

 

The Giants Nordlingen had some big wins this season, but was this the biggest win of the season?

 

I would put this slightly ahead of our road win in Ehingen. I want to call this the biggest win of the season so far and hope that we can top it in the near future.

 

How was the bus ride back home? Was there big time celebrating or is the team more subdued knowing that there is still work to be done?

 

No celebrating really. Of course the atmosphere was great and everyone was all smiles. Yet, there is more work to be done. We know that made another big step towards our number one goal, which is reaching the playoffs. Hopefully, when it is all said and done we can celebrate by reflecting on a great season.

 

The game was pretty tight for 30 minutes, but Nordlingen exploded for 29 points in the fourth quarter. Coming into the fourth quarter, did you think that the team could have this much energy on offense and defense to win by 19 points?

 

Coming off the court at the end of the third quarter I had a feeling that the momentum has shifted our way and confidence built up to a level where all of us were clicking. But to have a quarter like this was definitely not something I was thinking of.

 

The club got needed support from Brandon Lockhart with 13 points and you added 9 points. Did Lockhart grow in explosiveness in the fourth quarter?

 

He carried us with big plays finding the right mix between creating for us and scoring himself. Karlsruhe didn’t really have an answer for us that night.

 

Did the team self confidence grow throughout the game knowing that you could play with the first ranked team which led to that big 29 point fourth quarter?

 

It grew, but it was already a good level of confidence that we brought into the game. When we realized that the game plan we had was working, our confidence level probably increased even more.

 

The usual BG Karlsruhe scorers Marcus Smallwood, Rouven Roessler and Paul Brotherson supplied punch, but how key was it keeping American Hayden Lescault in check and disrupting his play as he can create well, but coughed up the ball six times?

 

That was one of the goals we had going into the game. Defensively, we held him in check and I do believe that we made it hard for the other main scorers as well. You can only take away so much from a quality team like Karlsruhe and I think that we played a good game defensively as well.

 

Brandon Lockhart was close to a triple double. Was this a new side of him that was born tonight?

 

Well to my knowledge he is still waiting for his first career triple double. So one can say it is a new side, but honestly the guy is a very versatile scorer with great passing abilities. I am sure that if he rebounds the ball a few more times, we will see him accomplish that.

 

The trio of Talbert, Lockhart and Schmidkunz combined for 69 points. How much fun is it playing together and how good a reason is this consistent play to warrant thinking about staying together for the future?

 

It is a lot of fun and we all know that. I cannot speak for the two, but I believe what makes this even more special is the fact that we are unclear about the future and that is why we cherish this particular part of the season as we do. I believe thinking or worrying too much about it could cause us not to live this situation to the fullest.

 

How proud were you of Leo Vrkas. In the last two games he is 9/18 from outside while in the three games before that he was 1/20. He is feeling it at the moment.

 

He has been real big for us all year. His defensive abilities have stopped a lot of good scorers in this league with Lescaut being the latest addition to his accomplishments. Obviously, him having good shooting performances help the team enormously considering what he brings to the table on defense every game.

 

 

How has Vrkas grown throughout the season and can he become that consistent fourth scorer the team could really need?

 

I mean joining the team mid-season without having a pre season where we found together as a team, he has done a great job integrating and finding his role. He has a crazy work ethic and commitment to this sport that I am not surprised that he has grown throughout the season as he has. I am confident that he will have many more great games.

 

 

The team is now 3-0. What happened to the team since that 78-56 loss at home against Frankfurt which head coach Mario Matic really took to heart?

 

Nothing happened, we were the hottest team before the Frankfurt game and taking out the Frankfurt game we continued that streak. We have won 9 out of the last 11 games I believe. I see the Frankfurt game as unfortunate because we played a bad game and were unfortunate to face such a strong Frankfurt squad. But I don’t that there was a particular lesson that we learned from it.

 

 

 

 

 

The club has given up 74 points on average in the last three games. In what area has the team improved most on in the last three weeks?

 

I would connect that to my previous answer. I’d consider what we have done over the past 11 games and what we improved in that period the most is for one our defense, our rebounding and not turning the ball over limiting easy opponent baskets. Those are keys to our game and if we continue working on those areas, I am sure we will be where we want at the end of the year.

 

 

 

 

You stopped a tough Scanplus Baskets, contained Ricky Easterling and now beat BG Karlsruhe. What is next for the Giants Nordlingen? Suddenly Nordlingen has become a playoff team and in third place?

 

I considered us a playoff team since the beginning of the year as it was our goal. I wouldn’t say that we have become one suddenly, but that we were always in contention and took care of our tasks. So what is next? I believe earning home court advantage should be the next logic goal for us.

 

 

Who will win the Superbowl Denver or Carolina?

 

Carolina. But I am paying for dinner regardless, as I have already lost my NFL Playoff bet to Jordan or Brandon!

 

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

Nightcrawler!

 

Thanks Janek for the chat.

Brandon Lockhart is a 25 year old 185cm guard from St Louis, Missouri that is playing hiss econd professional season and first with German team Giants Nordlingen. AS a rookie he played for BK Levicki Patrioti (Slovakia-Extraliga) playing 34 games: Score-5(16.7ppg), 3.8rpg, Assists-5(4.3apg), Steals-1(3.0spg), FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 28.5%, FT: 78.9%. He played at Drury (NCAA2) from 2009-2013 and as a senior played 35 games averaging 12.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 6.1apg, 2.9spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 48.3%, FT: 77.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the big 91-72 victory against BG Karlsruhe.

 

 

Congrats on the huge 91-72 win in Karlsruhe. How big was the revenge factor after losing to BG Karlsruhe at 74-59?

Thank you Miles! I do not think we were too focused on our first meeting with them because we knew that we were a much different team from when we first played them. But it’s always good to beat a team that beat you earlier.

The Giants Nordlingen had some big wins this season, but was this the biggest win of the season?

Right now, it’s the biggest win of the season because it is our most recent win. I believe all the wins are equal because they help us get closer to achieving a spot in the playoffs.

How was the bus ride back home? Was there big time celebrating or is the team more subdued knowing that there is still work to be done?

I would not say that there was big time celebrating, but we were happy to leave Karlsruhe with a victory! But our focus is now shifting to next weeks game because we know that we still have other goals to accomplish before the regular season ends.

The game was pretty tight for 30 minutes, but Nordlingen exploded for 29 points in the fourth quarter. Coming into the fourth quarter, did you think that the team could have this much energy on offense and defense to win by 19 points?

The game was a battle the entire night so I never thought for one second that things would end up like that. BG Karlsruhe is a really good team and has proven that all year. Luckily we were able to expand our lead early in the 4th which forced them into doing some things they’re not accustomed to.

Did the team self confidence grow throughout the game knowing that you could play with the first ranked team which led to that big 29 point fourth quarter?

We knew they were a good team and that they played really well at home, so we just wanted to execute our game plan and give ourselves a chance at the end. We hoped that if we kept it close throughout, the pressure would shift in their direction. So keeping the game close definitely gave us confidence!

The usual BG Karlsruhe scorers Marcus Smallwood, Rouven Roessler and Paul Brotherson supplied punch, but how key was it keeping American Hayden Lescault in check and disrupting his play as he can create well, but coughed up the ball six times?

Hayden is a good player and had been playing extremely well as of late. He is tough to guard because not only can he create for himself, but he also gets the rest of his team involved. So we just really wanted to focus on making everything he wanted to do a struggle.

The trio of Talbert, Lockhart and Schmidkunz combined for 69 points. How much fun is it playing together and how good a reason is this consistent play warrant thinking about staying together for the future?

Being able to be playing basketball with this group of guys has been a blast all season. Everyone gets along on and off the court which makes our chemistry even better. I do not know what the future holds but I would not be against having the opportunity to play ball with these guys again.

How proud were you of Leo Vrkas. In the last two games he is 9/18 from outside while in the three games before that he was 1/20. He is feeling it at the moment.

Very proud because most people would get down on themselves and forget about other parts of the game if they go through such a shooting slump. But Leo has remained positive and did not let it interfere with other aspects of the game. He is a good shooter so we knew he would eventually make shots for us again.

How has Vrkas grown throughout the season and can he become that consistent fourth scorer the team could really need?

He has gotten better each day and I believe he can be another scorer for us because he is that capable of a shooter. When he is hitting shots, it makes us a better offensive team.

The team is now 3-0. What happened to the team since that 78-56 loss at home against Frankfurt which head coach Mario Matic really took to heart?

We moved past it and just got focused for our next game. Frankfurt was just better than us that day. So hats off to them! That loss broke the winning streak we were on and made us want to work harder to put together another winning streak. So that loss was a blessing in disguise for us you could say.

The club has given up 74 points on average in the last three games. In what area has the team improved most on in the last three weeks?

We have really been trying to improve our 1 on 1 defense as of late because that makes your team defense much better if you are not constantly having to help. Defense and rebounding has been a focus of ours all year and I’m sure it will be until the end of season.

You stopped a tough Scanplus Baskets, contained Ricky Easterling and now beat BG Karlsruhe. What is next for the Giants Nordlingen? Suddenly Nordlingen has become a playoff team and in third place?

Just one game at a time, so our focus is now on Weissenhorn. They have a good young team that is also trying to make the playoffs just like us. We managed to come out with a tough win when they visited Nordlingen. So we have to prepare for a tough game at their place.

Who will win the Superbowl Denver or Carolina?

New England Patriots!! haha! Since my team is out, I am just hoping for a good game but I believe the Panthers will come out victorious

What was the last movie that you saw?

Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows.

 

Thanks Brandon for the chat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jordan Talbert is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Little Rock, Arkansas that is playing his second professional season with the Giants Nordlingen. He came to Germany as a rookie last season and played with the Giants TSV 1861 Noerdlingen (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 21.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 3.2apg, 2.0spg, Blocks-4(1.5bpg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college career at Missouri SO(NCAA2) from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.1spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 70.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 91-72 win against BG Karlsruhe.

 

 

 

Congrats on the huge 91-72 win in Karlsruhe. How big was the revenge factor after losing to BG Karlsruhe at 74-59?

The revenge factor wasn’t the major motivation for us. We knew they were the number one team in the league and we just wanted to come out and play our best proving that we can compete with anyone.

The Giants Nordlingen had some big wins this season, but was this the biggest win of the season?

I believe this win and the win against Ehingen were our two biggest victories of the season so far. Definitely our best performances as a team.

How was the bus ride back home? Was there big time celebrating or is the team more subdued knowing that there is still work to be done?

The bus ride home was calm and normal. Beating them was just a small step moving forward towards our ultimate goal. The season is not over and yes there’s still much more work to be done.

The game was pretty tight for 30 minutes, but Nordlingen exploded for 29 points in the fourth quarter. Coming into the fourth quarter, did you think that the team could have this much energy on offense and defense to win by 19 points?

No I did not expect us to pull away at the end like that especially since we only brought 8 players on the trip. I thought fatigue would set in, and it would be a tough battle coming down to the final minutes. We were able to make plays and shots down the stretch and break their spirit.

The club got needed support from Brandon Lockhart with 13 points and Janek Schmidkunz added 9 points. Did Lockhart grow in explosiveness in the fourth quarter?

I think Brandon was able to take advantage of their defense not being able to help off of Janek, Leo, and I because of our hot shooting. We made 15 3’s just between us three and with that kind of space it’s almost impossible to stop Brandon 1v1.

Did the team self confidence grow throughout the game knowing that you could play with the first ranked team which led to that big 29 point fourth quarter?

Yes, our confidence definitely grew and we knew we were playing at a very high level. We also playing a very unselfish style of basketball which made the game fun for all of us.

The usual BG Karlsruhe scorers Marcus Smallwood, Rouven Roessler and Paul Brotherson supplied punch, but how key was it keeping American Hayden Lescault in check and disrupting his play as he can create well, but coughed up the ball six times?

We knew that he was on a hot streak with the way he had been scoring so we focused on containing him early. Leo did a great job making it tough for him and we were there to help anytime that he needed it.

Brandon Lockhart was close to a triple double. Was this a new side of him that was born tonight?

The past 3 games Brandon has played extremely well, probably the best out of us all. Tonight was just him continuing his great play and a representation of our growing chemistry as a team.

The trio of Talbert, Lockhart and Schmidkunz combined for 69 points. How much fun is it playing together and how good a reason is this consistent play warrant thinking about staying together for the future?

We definitely enjoy playing together. I think our chemistry is at an all time high and we’re motivated to continue growing. Personally speaking the future is not something I’m focused on now. I’m worried about this season and how we can continue to build and improve heading into the playoffs.

How proud were you of Leo Vrkas. In the last two games he is 9/18 from outside while in the three games before that he was 1/20.

He is feeling it at the moment. I’m very proud of Leo and I’m glad he stayed focused and persistent even through his shooting slump. We need him to make shots and we trust him to do so.

How has Vrkas grown throughout the season and can he become that consistent fourth scorer the team could really need?

He’s become someone we can rely on to contribute to the scoring output for sure. I think his most important contribution to us has been on the defensive end, tonight holding Lescault to 8 and last game hold Easterling to 15. He done a great job of making it difficult for the wing players we play.

The team is now 3-0. What happened to the team since that 78-56 loss at home against Frankfurt which head coach Mario Matic really took to heart.

I think that lost was a wakeup call we needed. We stayed together got refocused and elevated our play which has shown.

The club has given up 74 points on average in the last three games. In what area has the team improved most on in the last three weeks?

I think our rebounding has improved over the past games. Early on in the season it was a real problem but now we’ve made a conscious effort to get rebounds after stops which starts our transition game on the offensive end.

You stopped a tough Scanplus Baskets, contained Ricky Easterling and now beat BG Karlsruhe. What is next for the Giants Nordlingen? Suddenly Nordlingen has become a playoff team and in third place?

We just want to continue to improve, we still have potential to grow and that is our main focus.

Who will win the Superbowl Denver or Carolina?

Carolina.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Revenant.

 

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

There are always those basketball figures that you see around Frankfurt gym´s like the Fraport arena or the BCM which is the training facility of the Fraport Skyliners and home court of the Fraport Skyliners Juniors where the basketball junkies will know them by name or the less informed that will recognize the person by appearance, but not necessarily know what their names are. Some of these people are Hans Beth who has coached teams like Hanau and Mainz and is known as maker of the Basketball Aid international tournaments of the last years or a Igor Starcevic who seems to commute between Frankfurt and Langen gyms as much as Quantez Robertson did last season watching his buddy Martinis Woody play and is head coach of the Fraport Skyliners U-14 team. Another guy who belonged to this group was Steven Clauss. He has been in the coaching business since 30 years and had gigs in Bamberg and in Ludwigsburg over the years as well as for the German basketball federation and was a mainstay in the Frankfurt organization as well assisting under Murat Didin and helping build up the youth program. Clauss was a guy that one saw frequently in the Fraport arena in the last years checking out games and young Germans. In the last two years, he got back into coaching as last season he came in as a fireman for the struggling Hanau White Wings program totally turning that program around and leading them into the playoffs where they lost a hard fought three game series to Rostock. It was a pity that he wasn´t able to lead the Hebeisen White Wings in the Pro A this season, but they did get a good guy in Simon Cote. This season, the services of Clauss have been needed again in Dresden and once again he has rushed in with his red suit and fire hat and so far has done a remarkable job registering a 2-1 record as there is a new spirit and hope within the team as they are marching closer to the playoffs. Clauss returned home to an old stomping ground and witnessed as his club the Dresden Titans give a great battle, but just couldn´t get over the hump in crunch time allowing the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to grind out an ugly 90-86 victory. After the contest, Clauss was disappointed about the loss, but also understood that the game was another stepping stone in their goal towards reaching the playoffs. “It was nice to be back. I like coming here. We gave it our all. We rebounded poorly in the first half allowing 11 offensive rebounds, but only two in the second half. We had our chances at the end, but Frankfurt deserved to win. We had some bad turnovers at the end that we can´t allow to happen at that stage of the game. It was unfortunate that we couldn´t turn the game around. Frankfurt when they are complete are without a doubt the best team in the Pro B. Our goal is to make the playoffs. This was a good test for us and will help us for the coming games”, stressed Dresden Titans head coach Steven Clauss. It was the second win in a row for the Fraport Skyliners as they are on playoff course, but were lucky to come away with the win even if their big strength free throws didn´t let them down in crunch time. “Dresden played a great game and never gave up, but we made some bad decisions at the end and let them hang around. We know that we can make free throws and had the guys on the court to make them”, added Fraport Skyliners Juniors head coach Eric Detlev. “We got a nice lead and got too comfortable and they made a push, but we made our free throws at the end”, stressed Travis Thompson.

The Dresden Titans got off smoking getting off to a quick 4-0 lead as Oregon native David Sturner made a pretty old school hook shot and ex MBC guard Philipp Liesser made a tip in off his own miss. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors reacted with a 5-0 run as Lithuanian Tomas Dimsa started off where he left off last weekend against Wurzburg stroking home a bomb and then snuck a back door pass to German Tim Oldenburg for the 5-4 advantage. Then both teams traded the lead seven times in the first quarter as Alaska native Travis Thompson nailed home a three pointer while ex MBC forward Walter Simon found Sturner inside as Dresden led 8-7. Frankfurt then retook the lead as Thompson was finding his rhythm early netting a trey while Paderborn native Niklas Kiel scored inside as Frankfurt led 12-10. Frankfurt set the tone early getting a jump on the offensive boards while Dresden was on their way to dominating the points in the paint 40-17 as they got most of their offense there instead of from downtown. Ex Leipzig 207cm center Max Von Der Wippel scored inside and Liesser scored on his biggest strength the penetration cutting the Frankfurt lead to 15-14. After Dimsa snuck inside using his overwhelming athleticism scoring on the reverse layup, it was Ohio native Randal Holt giving Dresden the lead back at 18-17 scoring inside and draining free throws. The Fraport Skyliner however retrieved the lead back ending the first quarter on a 7-0 run. In the run, they were fortified by 35 year old Marius Nolte who´s game never looks pretty, but he doesn´t stop until the mission is complete as he made a reverse lay up and scored on the fast break while Dimsa hit another three pointer. Despite seven lead changes, the Fraport Skyliners led 24-18 after the first frame. “Both teams were playing hard and giving a great effort. We had some turnovers which led to easy buckets for Dresden. We were shooting the ball at a high percentage and did a good job getting out on transition and getting easy baskets”, stressed Fraport Skyliners guard Jordan Theodore. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 47% from the field and 30% from outside while Dresden Titans were shooting 44% from the field and 0% from outside. Frankfurt had the 12-7 rebound edge while Frankfurt had one turnover and Dresden had two turnovers.

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners Juniors led by as much as 11 points, but the Dresden Titans cut the lead to 50-43 at halftime as Frankfurt couldn´t slam the door on them as they hung around like a dog does around the dinner table not leaving until every last piece of food has been devoured. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors continued to execute their offense at a high level taking a 31-20 lead as Thompson continued to be parked at the three point line and just fire away making another trey while Kiel hit free throws and Stefan Ilzhoefer made a jumper. The Dresden Titans then found some spark on offense as they scored five unanswered points through Randal Holt making a pull up jumper and David Sturner making a left handed lay in cutting the Frankfurt advantage to 31-25. However the Frankfurt offense was just a little more consistent and they also were able to make big shots whenever Dresden tried to threaten. Frankfurt proceeded to go on a 9-4 run to extend their lead to 40-29. In the run, Frankfurt got instant offense again from Thompson dropping a three pointer and Kiel using his big stature to score inside twice. With the size of Kiel, all that Max Merz needs to do is throw the ball up near the rim and the German big man twin tower will do the rest. One of the reasons why Frankfurt could have the lead was the many second chances that they were getting through offensive rebounds. Randal Holt who averaged 19 points a game with Weissenhorn as a rookie last season and managed to drop 36 points against Magdeburg was vital in the stretch run of the second quarter as he scored eight points in the comeback including two three pointers. Simon and Liesser also contributed on offense. After a Holt three pointer cut the Frankfurt lead to 47-43, it was Ilzhoefer that gave the club a little more breathing room making a three pointer in the last seconds. “Frankfurt did a good job rebounding and getting those extra shots. Frankfurt was simply deeper and that showed. Thompson was big as he can shoot. If you don´t watch out, it´s lights out”, stressed ex Seton Hall guard Jordan Theodore. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were shooting 47% from the field and 33% from the three point line while the Dresden Titans were shooting 53% from the field and 25% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the huge 22-11 rebound edge and both teams had five turnovers a piece.

In the third quarter, the Fraport Skyliners really took control and extended their lead to as much as 15 points as Dresden was unable to control the Frankfurt offense, but also not take advantage of their growing mistakes. Despite two back to back three pointers from Thompson, that didn´t faze Dresden as they continued to do what they do best which is score near the paint as Liesser did and then set up Von Der Wippel on the pick and roll for the easy basket as Frankfurt still led 56-47. Dresden continued to supply pressure on offense going on a 6-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 58-53. Simon connected on a pull up jumper and made free throws while Holt scored inside after getting his own rebound. However Frankfurt then totally turned the game around making a pretty Dresden comeback look like nothing as they closed out the third quarter riding a 12-4 run to lead 70-57. In the run, the Fraport Skyliners used their many offensive options and just executed while Dresden produced too many turnovers being careless in their execution. Frankfurt got production on offense from Dimsa and Ilzhoefer who reached the free throw line, a timely three pointer from quiet Garai Zeeb who has been suffering a bit with his offensive input since the return of Merz nailed a big three pointer which was followed by a Ilzhoefer trey and thunderous one handed dunk from Dimsa on the fast break as Frankfurt caught Dresden napping on transition defense. Liesser was able to nail a buzzer beater three pointer to make the 70-57 lead not as bad. “We did a better job moving the ball, continued to hit three pointers and got good stops on defense”, said Fraport Skyliners Juniors guard Travis Thompson. “Frankfurt did a good job spreading out their offense and passing out of the pick and roll and finding their shooters”, added ex Kent State guard Randal Holt. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were shooting 47% from the field and 38% from the parking lot while the Dresden Titans were shooting 44% from the field and 23% from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the 31-21 rebound edge and 11 turnovers while Dresden had 10 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Dresden Titans continued to fight and still conserved enough energy late to make one final push, but the Frankfurt free throw consistency did them in. Holt and Lenny Okeke traded three pointers at the start of the fourth quarter. At the 6,43 mark, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors had suffered their fifth team fouling putting the Dresden Titans into the bonus. Dresden went on a 5-0 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 73-67 as Liesser nailed free throws and Von Der Wippel made a pretty high rainbow jumper that could have come from the repertoire of German national player Johannes Voigtmann. Dresden was taking advantage of the sloppy Frankfurt offense getting back into the game and heightening their aggressiveness on the defensive end as added hands in passing lanes led to deflections and easy buckets and getting to the free throw line also helped. However Frankfurt also did a fine job getting to the free throw line as Oldenburg and Kiel supplied points and Ilzhoefer made a jumper extending the Frankfurt advantage to 78-67. Dresden then started their last push going on a nasty 10-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 80-77. In the run, Dresden got support from their sturdy guard play of Holt and Liesser. Holt continued to be aggressive making free throws and two lay in´s including one on a steal and coast to coast jaunt cutting the Frankfurt lead to two points. Lieser also scored and let his playmaking do the talking. With a few minutes to go, Frankfurt played the free throw game where you either hit your shots or possibly go home as the loser. Frankfurt was always able to keep a four point cushion making their free throws with Merz, Kiel, Nolte and Thompson, while Dresden got buckets from close range speculating on a missed free throws instead of trying a three pointer. Dresden got clutch baskets from Liesser and Holt, but it wasn´t enough as Frankfurt kept their composure and nerves from the free throw line. “We felt comfortable at the end and had the experience factor as well. We kept our nerves and executed when we had”, expressed Travis Thompson. “We didn´t execute well enough at the end and Frankfurt made clutch free throws. You have to credit Frankfurt for making tough shots and free throws all night long”, said Randal Holt. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Travis Thompson with 19 points. Niklas Kiel added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. Tomas Dimsa contributed 14 points, five rebounds and six assists while Stefan Ilzhoefer added 11 points. The Dresden Titans were led by Randal Holt with 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Philipp Liesser contributed 25 points while David Sturner chipped in with 11 points and Walter Simon with 10 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 38% from outside while the Dresden Titans shot 48% from the field and 29% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle 36-29, but had 18 turnovers while Dresden coughed up the ball 15 times.

 

Randal Holt is a 23 year old 185cm point guard from Bedford, Ohio that is playing his second professional season for the Dresden Titans in the German Pro B. He started his basketball career at Kent St. (NCAA) in 2009 and played 131 NCAA games until 2013 and as a senior played 33 games averaging 14.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 86.0%. Last season as a rookie he played for Weissenhorn Youngstars (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games: 19.4ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.2apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 81.6%He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

 

 

Randal thanks for talking to German Hoops. 2016 is upon us. What new years resolutions have you made for Randal Holt the player and person?

I’m not really big on New years resolutions I try to better myself everyday as a person and as a basketball player

Welcome back to Germany. You recently signed with the German Pro B team Dresden Titans. You have joined in mid season. What were the main reasons for continuing your professional career so late after having a strong rookie season with Weissenhorn?

Well as a young professional my goal is to continue playing for as long as I am able to do so. The Dresden Titans gave me another chance to get back to doing what I love to do and I am very appreciative of that.

Is it a nice change of scenery coming from the small Weissehorn to big city of Dresden. What have you learned to appreciate the most about your new home so far?

Well I just appreciate the opportunity first and for most I am here to play basketball and help our team win games. Yes the city of Dresden is beautiful which also helps me enjoy my time here.

Congrats on the 89-80 victory against the Scanplus baskets. It was a very entertaining game with each quarter having its special story. How would you best describe this win for you and the Titans?

It was a great win for our team they were a really good and strong team across the roster. I think we showed toughness and that we can play together to prove we can win tough grind it out games moving forward.

Dresden gave up 6 points in the second half and an average of 24 in the other three quarters, but still win the game. How infrequent is it being able to play unbelievable defense for only one quarter of a game. Why couldn´t the team play better consistent defense?

We gave a great effort to stop them from getting second chance points in the second quarter. Like I said before they are a good team and sometimes you will give up some things on defense but we were able to make the winning plays down the stretch to pull out a victory

How key was German Marc Nagora in the fourth quarter netting 12 of his 23 points not allowing Elchingen closer to you?

Marc was very key for us he played a tremendous game and we needed him to do so. I think that will be big for us moving forward and also for Marc building confidence knowing he can play like that in every game

The Dresden Titans are 2-1 with new head coach Steven Clauss and you. One could say that the club has gotten better. What do you believe has been the secret to the current success of the team?

I think coach Clauss and done a great job of teaching our team what it is he wants us to do and the players have done a good job of respecting his opinion and trusting the process of executing his game plan.

With the team at 2-1, does the club have the ability to gain even more confidence on the court?

I think we will continue to gain confidence and chemistry with one another since the team has made changes with me and coach Clauss. We have now only been together for some weeks and as we get closer to the playoffs we will just continue to get better.

What has been refreshing with the coaching style of Steven Clauss that you have never seen before?

Steve Clauss has been a very good teacher to our team. I think that helps all of the guys on the team with confidence and playing calm and poise. He is not a big screaming coach in fact he teaches us and shows confidence in every player from top to bottom

Dresden is averaging 97 points in the last three games. Andrew Jones and David Sturner have said that teams don´t realize just how many offensive options this team has. Have you noticed this as well?

Yea I agree with both Andrew and David our team has many players who are constantly in attack mode and that causes our opponents trouble because there isn’t just one player they can key on now we have many options and that opens the floor up for our guys to make plays for each other.

In your short stay so far what do you think the team can clean up on? Possibly keeping teams to even less points?

Yes I think there is always something we can work on as a team I think right now we are working on picking up the intensity on defense and causing our opponents to make more mistakes leading to easy baskets for us

You and Andrew Jones make a very potent American duo. He has had a tough season scoring wise, but also has become more of a creator. Do you feel that in due time, he will find his scoring touch again with you at the point?

Yes I do in fact Andrew now has less pressure on him to score a lot of points and he can just play with a clear head. We know he is a great player and will find his rhythm very soon and he has also dealt with some injuries so when he is fully healthy there is no doubt in my mind he will have monster games for us

You pretty much have the same stats as with Weissenhorn. Is your role different with Dresden then it was with Weissenhorn?

I think last season I was in more of a scoring point guard role and this season I am in a role to create a lot more for my teammates and also score when called upon

What do you want to accomplish this season in your second season on the floor that you weren´t able to do as a rookie?

Winning the pro b championship is the main goal for our team right now

You had many great games last season like your 36 points against Magdeburg. Do you ever put unneeded pressure on yourself this season having to need to produce very well each game which you did last season scoring in double figures in 24 of 25 games?

No I don’t like to put pressure and big expectations on myself to score a lot of points I just play each game and take what the defense gives me my main goal is winning which will bring light to individual performances

The next game is against the Fraport Skyliners. What memories do you have of the game last season where you poured in 22 points and seven assists?

My memories from last season are all great I played for a great team and organization and I remember the Skylines play really tough defense and have great talents so I’m looking forward to the game this week

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors won the first game 87-83 in Dresden. Frankfurt is a very big team, but Dresden did a good job keeping up under the boards. This will be a totally different game. What will be key for the win?

I think the key to the game will be just going out and executing our game plan and playing our style of basketball

How surprised were you that the Cavs fired David Blatt? Did you see this as a hasty decision?

Yes I was pretty surprised by what took place with David Blatt but I am a huge fan of the Cavs being a home town native and I just hope they made the decision that’s best for the team and organization

Who will win the Superbowl 50, Denver or Carolina/Arizona?

I´m rooting for Carolina.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Ride Along 2.

 

Thanks Randal for the chat.