Patrick Richard is a 24 year old 196cm swingman from Carencro, Louisania that is playing his first season in the Beko BBL for the Mitteldeutscher BC. He played four years at  Mc Neese St. (NCAA) and as a senior played 32 games: 18.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 76.9%. In 2012-2013, he started his professional basketball career being drafted by the  Iowa Energy (D-League) and played at Sandringham Sabres (Australia-SEABL-East, starting five): 24 games: 18.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.1apg, 2FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 80.7%. Last season he played in Holland for  Matrixx Magixx Wijchen (Holland-Eredivisie, starting five): 38 games: Score-4(15.3ppg), 4.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 78.9%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 80-79nail bitter win against Phoenix Hagen

 

Congrats Patrick to the 80-79 win at home against Phoenix Hagen. What was the needed spark in the comeback as the club was down by more than 10 points?

Well coach just told us to keep fighting each possession and that we could continue to use the momentum we ended up getting in the second half!

With five seconds to go, the Mitteldeutscher BC had the ball and you were the go to guy. Was it a play designed for you or what was the club wanting to do on the last play?

Yea the play was designed for me to get the ball and just make a play! I noticed the defender pressed up against me and I just tried to attack the basket! I ended up getting a foul and focused on knocking down the free throws for my team!

You won the game with one second to go with two free throws. How did you feel on the free throw line and when was the last time that you were in that kind of a position to be the hero?

Well I didn’t really have any feelings! Lol I had just missed one free throw and was determined to really make both! And in my career I’ve been in that situation a lot of times!

You really have become a very important scoring leader for MBC. What has been the biggest challenge coming from the Holland league to getting a feel for the Beko BBL level?

Well the biggest challenge has been of course the talent level is much greater in the BBL which I really enjoy playing great players every night! Everything else is just hard work in the off season and a great coach we have and also the players all buying into the TEAM aspect of things!

What was the biggest team strength on the night? It seemed like MBC really had a foot hold on the boards?

I believe it was all about not giving up! We really stepped up the physicality and pressure in the second half! Got some steals and easy lay ups in transition and momentum just carried us to the win!

Oliver Clay was the unsung hero of the night with two points, but 5 blocks. Would MBC have left the floor the winner without his services?

Yea BIG Ollie clay played really big tonight defensively protecting the rim for us! He was one of many major parts to us winning this game!

What has been your impression of Christian Standhardinger? He had incredible stats at Hawaii, but because of being in a lower conference most likely got passed up for the NBA draft. To what NBA player would you compare his game to?

Christian has been really good since joining us at MBC! His game helps us a lot because he has mismatches a lot of games and he uses it well! Not sure of a NBA player to compare him to but I do know he has been a plus for us thus far!

The Mitteldeutscher BC has been the big surprise so far in the Beko BBL at 4-1. What has been the secret to the success and will the team get even better in the next months?

I believe our success is just we stay and play together as a team! Each game it’s been different guys stepping up making big plays and doing the little things! It’s been a total team effort from 1-12! We take each game at a time because every game and team is very different! So just focusing on the next one

The New Orleans Saints have a tough game on Sunday with the 4-2 Detriot Lions. What is your prediction for the game?

Well I really hope the home state Saints can pull a win out! The bye week actually may have been the best thing for them! So I predict a win!

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

The last DVD I’ve seen has been green mile!

Thanks Patrick for the chat.

Thanks for reaching out miles! I appreciate the interview!

 

Mark Dorris is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Cincinnati, Ohio that has played his whole five years of professional basketball in Germany. He started his basketball career with St. Catharine College a ndthen played three years at Marshall (NCAA) playing a total of 91 NCAA games and as a senior played 30 games: 13.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 39.1%, 3Pts: 34.3%, FT: 75.9%. In 2009-2010 he started his professional basketball career for the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA) playing 29 games: 18.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 3.7apg, Steals-3(2.3spg), FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 26.7%, FT: 77.3%. IN his second season he moved to Phoenix Hagen (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 34 games: 15.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.6apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 24.4%, FT: 72.8%. IN this third season he played for Ludwigsburg and the last two seasons for Phoenix Hagen and last season played 34 games: 12.2ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 37.8%, 3PT: 26.2%, FT: 84.7%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

Hi Mark, at the moment you are sitting home in Ohio waiting to get the call from a professional team. You have played your whole career in Germany. Besides being on the court, what do you miss most about the country Germany now?

1st thanks for taking the time out your day for the interview it’s highly appreciated. I miss the people the German people all ways showed me a lot of love and care and that is priceless. You usually have had jobs at this time in your professional career.

How tough is it sitting back and not having a job? Who is assisting you now most and keeping you positive?

It’s hard because I miss the game I miss to compete at a high level I miss being the GLADIATOR on center court with the crowd going crazy around me. The flip side to the token is I get to be with my family and recently was able to be a part of my nieces birthday that was a first for me. So I thank the creator for letting me be part of that.

You have been a steady and solid performer as a professional since 2009. Has the job market just gotten more and more competitive or have you been very picky with the offers you have received because I cant imagine that you haven´t hat offers?

I believe a little bit of both has played a factor up to this point. I’m at the point in my career where I feel I can play a role and help an established team compete for championships or deep playoff runs. That would be ideal for me. So we will see what direction the market takes me.

You have played three years with Phoenix Hagen. Was there not anyway that you could have returned back to your second home? What were the reasons that you weren´t able to return?

1st I will say I love Phoenix Hagen Love the city the people and Hagen has the greatest fans. Ingo to me is a top 5 coach in the league him and Steve are a 2 man army when almost every other team in the BBL has three plus coaches. So for them to be in the race from 10-7 seeds every year is impressive. I think both parties were moving in different directions and that’s why I didn’t sign back.

A year after reaching the Beko BBL playoffs for the first time, Phoenix Hagen were unable to reach them last season. Many said that a real classic point guard wasn´t gotten in Henry Dugat. Would this not have been the perfect chance for you to take control at the point guard position? After the season Ingo Freyer stated that the team never had a point guard?

I think the opportunity was there and some games I would play the PG but during the week I played mostly 2guard during practice because Henry, Ole, and young Geske would play PG. And to play the PG it’s a rhythm to it that comes from repetition.

You still had a very solid season and had some big games. I remember the big win in Frankfurt where you steered 24 points. What was your season highlight with Phoenix Hagen last season?

We were becoming notorious for knocking off the BIG teams so I always loved those moments. But personally was probably my Game winner on Wurzburg at Home. I Live for those clutch moments of the game.

You can score and you can also dish out assists, but what is a hidden strength in your game now that doesn´t always get noticed right away?

Defense I can really defend the ball full court and make things uncomfortable for other guards. I really take pride in my defense I hate to be scored on more than I love to score.

If you could sell yourself in a few sentences as to why you could help any professional team now what would you say? You have played only in Germany. Would you be ready to play anywhere in the world now or Germany your first priority?

Hmmm… Probably something real simple amongst the lines of (I’m Mark Dorris and will get the Job done!!!). I’m open to play any where in the world. But I will miss the BBL I feel I was one of the fan favorites (Mr.Fantastic) across the BBL and I will miss the league and it’s fans if my career pulls me in another direction.

New Beko BBL team Crailsheim Merlins is looking for anew guard. How appealing would it be for you to play for a new team that moved up to the Beko BBL?

It would be appealing to me I feel I have been around this league a few times and my experience could help a team fresh in the league navigate there way around.

Your ex teammate Larry Gordon has developed as a player each season. I see him as being an BBL MVP candidate this season. How have you grown as a player with his presence on the court?

Honestly it’s him and my brother David Bell their work ethic after any practice to get extra work is what puts them where they are. And it’s contagious to the guys on the team and you can see he gets the results out of his hard work. I’m proud of my brother LG400.

Where do you see Phoenix Hagen ending the season in 2015? They have a new point guard in Zamal Nixon who started in German Pro B in Herten some years ago. He has made the adjustment to the BBL early on

I see them landing any where from 9-7 they brought back key pieces and they got better. Keep your eye out for Keith Ramsey this season he had a great summer. Zamal fits Ingos style of play. Ingo makes the transition easy for you. And he played college ball at HOUSTON that’s CUSA same as my MARSHALL was so were cut from a similar cloth. I see him having a break out year in this system and sticking in the BBL.

How does a normal workout day look like for Mark Dorris in 2014?

I work out at 10am weights run shots. And come back later around 4pm to get to my skill work. I work out with Danny Hoarce who also played in the BBL before so we know the level of work we must put in to stay ready and were ready.

Where will the journey of the Cleveland Cavaliars end this year?

I think they lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Chicago Bulls. Naw I take that Back I’m rolling with Lebron my Ohio brother they make it to the finals. But that’s far as my crystal ball will let me go lol.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Last DVD I watched was KILL BILL. That’s my mentality I have going into my season for making me wait lol. Thanks agin for your time Miles much respect.

 

Donovan Morris is a 30 year old 191cm guard from San Bernadino, California that is playing his third full professional season and first with TG Wurzburg Baskets Akademie. He started his basketball career in 2004 at Fresno State playing a total of 57 Beko BBL games. He then moved to Long Beach St. (NCAA) in 2007 and as a senior played 25 games: 14.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 40.5%, 3Pts: 27.2%, FT: 83.6%. In 2009-2010 he started his professional basketball career with Falco KC-Szombathely (Hungary-A Division, starting five; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 11.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.5spg, FGP: 62.7%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 78.4%; left in Dec.’09, in Feb.’10 moved to Giants Noerdlingen (Germany-ProA): 6 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 30.0%. However after a solid rookie season, his career stalled between 2010-2013 as he had a try out with the Bakersfield Jam (D-League). H ethen also played for the Santa Barbara Breakers (WCBL, Liepajas Lauvas (Latvia-LBL): 2 games: 1.0ppg, 1.0rpg; Baltic League: 1 game: 2pts, 2reb. And Ladera Heights All-Stars (WCBL). Last season his career got going again as he played for TV 1864 Salzkotten (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 19 games: 26.5ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.4apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 64.4%, 3Pts: 49.1%, FT: 92.6%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

Thanks for talking to German Hoops. After a three year period where you briefly played in Latvia and for semi pro teams in the United States, you got your career going again last season playing for TV 1864 Salzkotten (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 19 games: 26.5ppg, 6.8rpg, 4.4apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 64.4%, 3Pts: 49.1%, FT: 92.6%. How important was this season for you restoring your confidence again?

 

It felt good to play a full season again. I showed in Salzkotten that I can still play after missing some years.

 

Does having the name TG Wurzburg Baskets Akademie feel like being in school again at Winchendon?

I really hated Winchendon, because it was really strict. It does feel like that at times, because my teammates are between 17-21 and still in school. Just Dominik Schneider and me are the older guys.

 

What has been your impression of young German Constantin Ebert?

 

He is a really good player and has gotten better from the start of the season until now in certain situations. He plays really hard for his size on defense. I also like his passing abilities and ability to push the ball.

After a solid rookie season in Hungary and Germany in 2009-2010, you seemed to disappear for three years. What happened in this time?

 

I have no idea. If I would have felt that I couldn´t play anymore, I would have stopped and found a job.

 

What memories do you have Rob Ferguson who was your teammate as a rookie in Nordlingen.?

 

He was injured when I came. We still talk today. I still have never seen him play, but I might visit him in Hamburg.

 

You had a great first half as a rookie playing for alco KC-Szombathely (Hungary-A Division) EuroChallenge: 12 games: 11.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.5spg, FGP: 62.7%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 78.4%. Why did you have to leave?

 

A new coach came in. He had a new system and new players. I simply didn´t fit in.

 

What is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

 

I like to think that my passing is a hidden strength. For a scorer like me, I feel I can find players where people might not expect me to do knowing that I am the scorer that I am.

 

How did Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson get you prepared best for a professional career?

 

What I played in college is long gone now. In college I was a catch and shoot guy and couldn´t dribble. In the last three years, I watched a lot of basketball. My game changed so much in three years. I can do so much more now on the offensive end, but I know that I need to work on my defense.

 

Who was the best player that you played against in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

 

It was many, but looking at the talent level in the Drew League where I played this summer, I played against guys like Baron Davis, James Harden or Brandon Jennings.

 

Where will the journey of the Los Angeles Lakers end this season?

 

The Lakers are in trouble. They need help even if Kobe is Kobe. Carlos Boozer has to play the way he did with Utah and Jeremy Lyn the way he did in New York.

 

There are so many famous athletes living in Manhatten Beach. How is that whole experience living there?

 

I have my extended family there. It is really a great place to live in. I have all I need there and my family put me in every situation where I can always succeed. The only well known guy that I see is Steve Nash.

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

Before every game day, I watch a movie that has to do with greatness or team orientated. Today I watched 300.

 

Thanks Donovan for the chat.

 

 

Some professional athletes get so stuck in the hearts of fans that one could never expect there to ever be any animosity, but what happens when that so cherished player departs and comes back to haunt its ex team? Then that love affair can turn as quickly as Paris Hilton can proclaim that she is one of the best dj´s in the world into a hate affair. Boston sportscaster legend Bob Lobel loved to say in his broadcasts “why don´t we get players like that” always then when an ex Boston player came back to haunt his ex Boston team. Some examples around the globe are English player Frank Lampard scoring against his ex team Chelsea with Manchester United. Swede striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving across town from Inter Milan to AC Milan and causing terror with goals or Dutch international striker Robin Van Persie scoring with Manchester United against his old team Arsenal with whom he scored 96 times for. Even the Fraport Skyliners have not been shielded from former players spooking them as American Philadelphia native Ryan Brooks demonstrated last season. After a solid season with Frankfurt in 2012-2013, the former Temple player fled up the Rhine river to the Telekom Baskets Bonn and led them twice to victory last season. In the first game on the road in Frankfurt, Brooks led all scorers with 19 points leading his team to a 89-67 victory and in the return game in Bonn, he scolded his ex team leading all scorers again with 24 points as Frankfurt was thrashed 74-54 and lost for the 12 straight time in Bonn. Sometimes three is a charm and the Fraport Skyliners were hoping for some revenge against Ryan Brooks and were motivated to win in their own living room after losing their first two games at home against Phoenix Hagen and ratiopharm Ulm and Frankfurt had three is a charm winning in marvelous fashion 84-71 while Brooks and Bonn didn´t have a magical third win in a row. After having big games against Frankfurt last season, Brooks ended the day with only four points on 2/10 shooting in 26 minutes and one could sense the disappointment from the Philadelphia native, but a trip back to his old working ground to see some of his ex teammates is always nice. “It is always nice to play against Frankfurt. I felt I was too passive and wasn´t aggressive enough. We have to do a better job getting stops and our strength is running and we didn´t do that. The three Germans Klein, Barthel and Voigtman have come a long way. Klaus Perwass does a good job with them and one sees that they are more and more comfortable on the court”, warned ex Giessen 46er Ryan Brooks. Quantez Robertson had had enough of the brilliant Brooks play from last season and was as forceful with his words as his defense during the game. “There was no way that Brooks would beat us a third time in a row. We did a great job limiting his touches and contesting his shots”, smiled Quantez Robertson.

The Fraport Skyliners entered with a 0-3 record and were reeling off a bitter loss in Munich where they played an amazing first half leading by 14 points, but totally losing control in the first few minutes of the third quarter allowing the 2014 Beko BBL champion to march back and match their lead and then take control of the game and win. Frankfurt also lost winnable games against Phoenix Hagen and ratiopharm Ulm and were likely the best 0-3 team ever that the league had seen. However the Fraport Skyliners took control at the start of the game and never looked back dominating for 40 minutes and getting a much needed win. After the game Fraport Skyliner point guard Richard Williams was relieved about the win and credits the Munich game as a game where the club was able to build positively from and got them prepared for the Telekom Baskets Bonn. “This was a very important win for us and good for our moral. Our play in Munich gave us confidence to play well against Bonn. The only difference to the loss in Munich was that today we did a lot better job playing with the lead and our poise was excellent. Our biggest strength was our ability to share the ball and even if a situation got ugly, we had trust in each other which carried through the game”, expressed San Diego native Richard Williams. Fraport Skyliner guard Sean Armand who continues to grow better and better into his role was thrilled about getting his first professional win. “After starting 0-3 it would have been easy to hang our heads, but we kept our heads up and fought hard. The first three games were winnable, but everyone can compete in this league and if you don´t play right then you can lose. We had so much more intensity from the start than in the other games and we shared the ball very well”, warned Sean Armand. The Telekom Baskets Bonn were reeling off a home loss against 8 time Beko BBL champion Alba Berlin and only had 48 hours to recuperate and started the game flat and never really found their rhythm and had to fight out of a hole that seemed to get larger with every ensuing quarter. Bonn had problems with the Frankfurt defense and even after the game was over, ex Dirk Madrich teammate in Vechta Richard Williams was playfully heckling the big man who was trying to find the fitting words for the hard defeat. “We had a bad start and just made many bad decisions. We gave up way to many fast break baskets. We came into the game knowing that Frankfurt can shoot from outside and they punished us. If you are down by 15 points in the BBL then it is very difficult to come back. We continue to have big problems to get the ball inside. We have experienced guys who can perform inside, but we need the ball. The only positive thing today was the good support of the fans”, stressed Bonn center Dirk Madrich.

The Fraport Skyliners had Quantez Robertson again after he had missed the Munich game and started the game as if they had completely erased the surprising 0-3 start by rocking the Telekom Baskets Bonn with a scorching 16-1 run that may even have left the most daunting skeptical Skyliner with a slight smile as everything was working and Bonn head coach Matthias Fischer was wondering why me, why me? Sean Armand started the run sprinting past the slow Bonn transition defense as Klein fed him for the easy layup. Johannes Voigtmann then made a perfect lob pass ally-op to Danilo Barthel for the tap in and 4-0 Frankfurt advantage. Then the Fraport Skyliners totally annihilated Bonn from outside as it went bang, bang, bang, bang four times as Armand hit twice and Konstantin Klein nailed two three pointers in a row. The Fraport Skyliners were as hot as the San Diego sun in July when Richard Williams is training at midday. Frankfurt were playing nothing like a 0-3 team and were equally aggressive on offense and defense. Frankfurt always was pressuring the ball as no Bonn player had any breathing room. Ex St Mary´s standout Richard Mcconnell scored the first Bonn field goal to cut the Frankfurt lead to 17-3. Bonn started to have a bit more luck on offense going on a 6-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 19-9 as Florian Koch and Mcconnell scored inside. However that burst of Bonn brilliance was quickly trampled on by Frankfurt that ended the first quarter on a 7-0 run and led 26-9 after one quarter. Williams found American Mike Morrison for the thrashing dunk, Quantez Robertson made a steal fed Koivisto who got the ball back to Tez for the ally-op tip in and Williams nailed a three pointer. “Frankfurt was playing with a high intensity and were hitting their open shots. Armand got the Frankfurt offense going with his shooting and Klein as well. Frankfurt just was doing a great job finding each other”, stressed TV Lich guard Jermale Jones.

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners continued their dominance on offense and the only Bonn player that kept them in the game was Richard Mcconnell. The strong first quarter of Frankfurt heightened their confidence as players got fancy as well making difficult shots as Williams showed tip toeing by two defenders at the free throw line and then finishing over Brooks. However the Telekom Baskets Bonn are a talented team and their 11-4 run which they produced somehow was hidden by the big Frankfurt lead as they still trailed 33-20. In the run from Bonn, they shared the ball well as Dirk Madrich scored on a put back, Angelo Caloiaro made a reverse layup as Eugene Lawrence found him back door, Mcconnell nailed a three pointer, Brooks snuck inside for a layup in traffic and Tadas Klimavicius who has played 78 Euroleague games made a tip in as Frankfurt only led 33-20. However despite this stronger phase from Bonn, it didn´t unrattle the Fraport Skyliners who continued to play steady set play offense and never let Bonn get the lead to under 10 points. Mcconnell kept setting the pace for Bonn as he dropped two three pointers cutting the Frankfurt lead to 39-27. Down the stretch, Frankfurt continued to get solid support from everyone as Robertson scored inside, Williams hit a pull up jumper and Barthel had a strong phase getting three buckets with an offensive rebound and put back running hook shot and lay in on the fast break. Brooks closed out the second quarter making a lightening quick burst into the passing lane like he remembered seeing from ex teammate Quantez Robertson two seasons ago finishing with a two handed dunk, but the Fraport Skyliners still led 49-34 at halftime. “Bonn finally found their rhythm and settled into a groove. However Frankfurt was still in control and making a push. Mcconnell kept Bonn in the game with big shots”, added American from TV Lich Jermale Jones. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 61% from the field and 50% from outside while the Telekom Baskets Bonn were shooting 38% from the field and 27% from outside. Frankfurt was leading the rebound battle 21-16 and had five turnovers while Bonn had six turnovers.

The third quarter hasn´t always been the best quarter for the Fraport Skyliners in the past and in Munich they gave up a 14 lead on a 14-0 Munich run, but Frankfurt had no recurring nightmare of past negativity, but came out with a blistering 14-5 run to extend their lead to 63-39. Frankfurt continued to find many different ways to score on offense. Armand scored seven points in the run with an off balance shot, lay in on the fast break and a three pointer. Barthel also scored as Frankfurt demonstrated again that they love the extra pass as Klein found Voigtmann near the post and he quickly found Barthel cutting insice for the lay in. It isn´t easy always keeping focus as mental lapses do arise especially when you have a big lead as Frankfurt allowed Bonn on a 6-0 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 63-45. In the Bonn run, they got buckets inside from Lawrence and Caloiaro. Frankfurt ended the third quarter with the momentum again going on a 5-2 run to lead 68-47. Aaron Doornekamp hit a jumper and Mikko Koivisto nailed a three pointer. “We saw what had happened in Munich in the third quarter to Frankfurt, but they did a good job holding up against us well continuing to defend well and we just couldn´t execute on offense”, added Bonn German Dirk Madrich. “Even if you get a run, then you might still be down 10 points which still makes the comeback difficult”, warned Richard Mcconnell. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 59% from the field and 47% from the three point line while the Telkom Baskets Bonn were shooting 34% from the field and 20% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 30-23 rebound edge, but 10 turnovers while Bonn had nine turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Fraport Skyliners continued to control the game and even a 13-5 Bonn run at the end couldn´t threaten the Frankfurt big lead. Mike Morrison started the fourth quarter with a left handed hook shot where Klimavicius was still looking for his jock strap a half hour after the loss in the parking lot. Bonn fan favorite Benas Veikalas then made his first field goal of the night getting a back door pass from Klimavicius. Veikalas finished with two points which is as difficult to believe as it was Brooks finishing with only four points. Frankfurt continued to get buckets from everyone as Doornekamp made a jumper and Williams made a turn around jumper in traffic. Barthel scored from the free throw line and made a lay in as Frankfurt led 77-56. With time running out, the Telekom Baskets Bonn made one last gasp and run of 14-5 to cut the Frankfurt lead to 82-70. In the run, Bonn started to hit from outside as Regionaliga to BBL player Steve Wachalski nailed two three pointers and Madrich also connected from the parking lot. However that was it for Bonn as Doornekamp closed the door on the opponent on the games last field goal notching a lay in getting a back door feed from Voigtmann ending the game 84-71. “It really doesn´t matter what level you are at be it in the NCAA or the NBA, teams will always have lapses with big leads. We didn´t execute well on some plays, but that is a part of the game. The better teams won´t have lapses like that”, warned Iona alumnist Sean Armand.” Our run at the end was simply too little too late. We tried to show some resistance, but the game was already decided. We had used so much energy coming back. It is hard to come back with sucha a big deficit in the BBL”, said Ryan Brooks.

The Fraport Skyliners were led by Sean Armand with 17 points. Danilo Barthel added 14 points. Konstantin Klein had 10 points and shared the lead in rebounds and assists with seven and five. Richard Williams added 10 points. The Telekom Baskets Bonn were led by Richard Mcconnell with 22 points. Angelo Caloiaro and Steve Wachalski chipped in with 10 points a piece. Frankfurt finished the game with the kind of shooting percentages you usually see in the NBA shooting 58% from the field and 44% from the parking lot while the Telekom Baskets Bonn shot 39% from the field and 31% from the parking lot. Frankfurt won the rebounding duel 37-29, but had 14 turnovers while Bonn had 12 turnovers. Not only the lack of hitting shots consistently is on the to do list for Mathias Fischer, but also to get an inside presence alive. “A lack of getting the ball inside has to do with Eugene Lawrence and myself. We have to do a better job, but I think that getting the ball inside doesn´t always have to do with getting our big men the ball. We have some big wings that can get the job done and get to the free throw line as well. We can´t be one dimensional, but be more versatile in our inside play”, warned Richard Mcconnell. After giving up an average of 87 points in the first three games, the Fraport Skyliners seem to be on a good way on the defensive end giving up only 71 points to Bonn. “There are still things that we can improve, but our rotations, clogging the lane and closing out worked well. You could see that we were all on the same page on defense”, warned Sean Armand. The Fraport Skyliners next play in Bremerhaven October 19^th.

The German Pro A season may only be two weeks old, but so far for the Giessen 46ers the season must have felt like a trip through the Fun House at Kings Island or Magic Kingdom where patrons encounter and actively interact with various devices designed to surprise, challenge, and amuse the visitor and for some challenging to see if they make through without getting a heart attack. The fun house so far for the Giessen 46ers has been missing on the court, but the games that they have played in have served as sheer excitement as the first three games have combined been decided by only six points. They started the season at home in the not completely filled Osthalle giving the first win to new formed club Hamburg Towers as CEO and ex Skyliner legend Pascal Roller was hugging every Hamburg fan as forceful as if it had been his first win as a rookie for the Opel Skyliners in 1999. In the second game, Giessen traveled to Leverkusen and seemed as if the game would have to be decided in OT, but then little used 21 year old 180cm point guard Kai Behrman made a ¾ shot that found nothing but propelled himself to legend status with one shot while Giessen found themselves uttering the words who is kai Behrmann for days to come and last weekend, the team won a nail bitter 87-85 in Jena once again not letting their playoff opponent from last season to get any revenge for their 3-2 series loss to head coach Denis Wucherer and co. Giessen returned home and had to encounter the 26ppg average of American Levi Knutson and 16,4rpg average of American Andre Calvin and for once wanted to save their nerves and heart from another gut wrenching and close game and were rewarded with a strong fourth quarter and at the end could marvel at a convincing 72-54 win and their first season home victory was a lot tougher than what the score indicated. “We had a little too much excitement in the last weeks and this win having a cushion at the end was nice. It was small things that decided the losses against Hamburg and Leverkusen. We worked hard the last week in practice to fix things like how we share the ball. We are sharing the ball better and we know our roles better and I think it will even get better in the next weeks. This wasn´t an easy win. We hit our shots better in the fourth got on transition and just played as a team”, stressed Giessen 46er guard Cameron Wells. BV Chemnitz moved to 1-3 and never gave up sticking with Giessen for three quarters, but fell apart in the fourth quarter. “I think that we might have been fatigued a bit in the fourth quarter, but we just didn´t execute on offense. Usually when you hold a team to 72 points you win, but we just didn´t score”, warned BV Chemnitz point guard Virgil Matthews.

One of the big stories as the game progressed was the reluctance of Giessen 46er head coach to insert ex German national player Johannes Lischka who already didn´t play last weekend against Science City Jena. Apparently the ex Tuebingen forward is living in the Wucherer dog house. Apparently his approach to the game isn´t on the same page with the Giesen head coach. However Giessen did ok without Lischka even if the first quarter was a very tight affair. Americans Andre Calvin who´s hidden strength is to step behind the three point line and shoot and TJ Dileo traded bombs from outside. Wells then fed Yorman Polas behind the back for the easy lay up and Colorado native Levi Knutsen nailed a pull up jumper for the 5-5 game. Polas then got a loose ball and went coast to coast and ex BG Karlsruhe forward Andre Calvin scored inside as the game was deadlocked 7-7. Knutsen then nailed a three pointer for the 10-7 BV Chemnitz advantage while Wells scored inside as Giessen trailed 10-9. However they got the lead back as Benjamin Lischka came off the bench to rattle home a three pointer for the 12-10 Giessen lead. Dileo then got behind the slow BV Chmenitz transition defense ending the Giessen 7-0 run with a lay up and 14-12 lead. However BV Chemnitz made a mini 4-0 run as Knutsen made a pull up jumper and Calvin then finished a nifty spin move to tie the score at 14-14. Besnik Bekteshi then made free throws and Knutsen made another jumper as the first quarter ended 16-16. “Giessen was lucky to have the 16-16 score becuase BV Chmenitz wasn´t shooting well and Giessen had problems securing offensive rebounds”, stressed Giessen 46er legend Hans Hess who is the alltime Giessen game record holder at 299. The Giessen 46ers were shooting 46% from the field and 50% from outside while BV Chemnitz was shooting 41% from the field and 29% from outside. BV Chemnitz had the 10-7 rebound edge, but five turnovers while Giessen had four turnovers.

The second quarter remained tight as there were four lead changes, but at the end, the Giessen 46ers rattled off a potent 13-3 run to go into halftime with the 35-27 advantage. Walter Simon got BV Chemnitz going in the second quarter hitting a jumper and making free throws, but Giessen got buckets inside from Jonathan Malu and Benjamin Lischka as the game was 20-20. BV Chemnitz regained the lead 24-20 as ex Ehingen guard Virgil Matthwes who had been drastically cold and shut down for the first 14 minutes finally broke out of his shell finding the hole and sneaking inside for a quick lay up and making two free throws. However Giessen stormed right back going on a 5-0 run to retake the lead at 25-24 as Dileo made a steal and went coast to coast for the easy lay up and ex BV Chemnitz guard Eric Palm nailed a three pointer. The lead changes continued to flow as BV Chemnitz led again as it was Matthews again dropping a three pointer for the 27-25 lead. However Giessen now closed out the second quarter with a crushing 10-0 run to lead 35-27 at the break. Wells and Bekteshi nailed three pointers while Palm iced three free throws. “We shot a little better, but our shots weren´t coming out of a closed out set play, but were more forced. We defended very well letting up 27 points, but I would have liked to have seen more press defense”, stressed Hans Hess. “We continued to have lulls in games. We have to find away to stop this”, added Virgil Matthews. The Giessen 46ers were shooting 48% from the field and 56% from the three point line while BV Chmenitz was shooting 30% from the field and 23% from the three point line. BV Chmenitz had the 19-17 rebound advantage, but had 10 turnovers while Giessen had seven turnovers.

In the third quarter, BV Chemnitz made a comeback, but in the last few minutes lost some intensity to allow Giessen to end the third quarter with an 8-2 run and lead 49-42. BV Chemnitz went on a 13-5 run to cut the Giessen lead to 41-40. Andre Calvin got BV Chemnitz going scoring on a mid distance jumper and then finishing on the best fast break play of the evening for BV Chemnitz started by a steal from Walter Simon. Strong defense was fueling their offense. Giessen then made a nice play as forward Andre Marhold made a lob pass that 33 year Bjoern Schoo tipped home for a semi ally-op and 38-31 Giessen lead. However BV Chemnitz kept chipping away at the Giessen lead and the home team had problems adjusting to the aggressive defense of BV Chemnitz. Walter Simon was doing a good job on both ends of the court scoring on a runner and a left handed lay in cutting the Giessen lead to 41-37. “Simon is a big part of our team. He is a guy that we rely to score if the Americans don´t have their game going”, stressed Virgil Matthews. Matthews then made a steal and connected on a three pointer as Giessen suddenly only led 41-40 and for the first time in a while one could hear the neighbor breathing again as the Osthalle was quiet. However the Giessen 46ers had had enough of the BV Chemnitz run and ended the third quarter on their own 8-2 run to lead 49-42 after 30 minutes. Giessen calmed down on offense and just took good shots and made smart decisions. Palm made a runner, Benjamin Lischka shot a mid distance jumper over Calvin and Wells made a lay in with one second to go shocking BV Chemnitz at the end. “This seems to be happening all season. We get hot at the start, but then at the end let them back into the game”, stressed Virgil Matthews. “We picked up our defense at the end of the third quarter and hit big shots to get good lead again”, said Houston native Cameron Wells. The Giessen 46ers were shooting 47% from the field and 50% from the parking lot while BV Chemnitz was shooting 34% from the field and 27% from the parking lot. BV Chemnitz had the 26-25 rebound edge, but had 14 turnovers while Giessen had 13 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter the Giessen 46ers kept up the pressure and played team basketball and especially guys like Porlas and Manhold made big plays to keep BV Chemnitz at bay. Giessen started the fourth quarter with a quick mini 4-0 run to lead 53-42 as Malu hit free throws and then made the extra pass to Benjamin Lischka for the easy bucket. Simon then got a crafty back door pass from Matthews for the bucket as Giessen still led 53-45. However Giessen then went on a 12-2 run to run away with the win and led 65-47. It was in this run where Porlas and Marhold stepped up their game as Marhold registered 2 blocks on Simon and one on Calvin which fueled the offense and Porlas scored three buckets. This broke the back of BV Chemnitz. After Simon scored on a running hook shot to cut the Giessen lead to 67-52, Giessen closed out the game for good as Bekteshi and Wells scored on drives to the bucket. “We picked up our defense in the fourth quarter and got our transition game going which got us the win. Defense was our biggest strength tonight. We did a good job talking, getting in passing lanes and rebounding”, expressed Cameron Wells. “Turnovers was a big problem. I think I had something like four at the end. We are still trying to get used to each other and we have to execute better. The only good thing today was our defense and holding them to 72 points”, warned Virgil Matthews. The Giessen 46ers were led by Cameron Wells with 14 points. Yorman Polas scored 13 points and Benjamin Lischka contributed 12 points. BV Chemnitz was led by Walter Simon with 18 points. Andre Calvin registered 13 points, Levi Knutson 11 points and Virgil Matthews 10 points. Giessen finished the night shooting 48% from the field and 43% from outside while BV Chemnitz shot 33% from the field and 24% from outside. Giessen came back to win the rebound battle 36-33 and had 15 turnovers while BV Chemnitz had 19 turnovers.

Jefferson Mason is a 26 year old 198cm guard from Crystal Minnesota that is playing his second season in Germayn and first with the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau. He played his first three seasons of college ball at  N.Colorado (NCAA) playing a total of 58 NCAA games. He then played at Minnesota State-Mankato (NCAA2) from 2009-2011 and in his senior year he played 33 games: 19.2ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.2apg, 1.2spg, FG%: 55.5, 3FG%: 30.6, FT%: 70.0. He started his professional basketball career in Germany for the Webmoebel Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA, starting five) playing 31 games: 17.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 65.8%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for Frisco Texas Legends (D-League): 1 game: 2pts, 2rbs, in Dec.’12 moved to CSU Atlassib Sibiu (Romania-Division A), left in Dec.’12: 4 games: 8.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, in Jan.’13 signed at Al-Tadamoun (Iraq-D1). Last season he played for AB Contern (Luxembourg-Total League) playing 29 games: 19.6ppg, 10.9rpg, 1.9apg, Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 21.2%, FT: 56.0%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

You recently went 3/10 from the free throw line. I guess that it was one of those days?

 

Yes it was one of those days. It was all mental. I know I can hit free throws. I have made big free throws in the past.

 

The last time that we talked was in September 2012. Since then you have played in the D-League, Romania, Iraq and Luxemburg. Have these experiences helped you grow as a player in the last two years?

 

Yes I think it has. I have grown as a player in many areas. My jump shot is better as is my defense. I played many different styles of basketball in the last two years with up and down, half court or pick and role. All these different styles in Countries have helped me grow as a player.

 

What was the main reason for coming to Hanau?

 

The club is very professional and wants to achieve a lot this season. The club as Cardall Mcfarland who tore up Pro B last season and very good German players. This and their will to win sold me on coming to Hanau.

 

What is your role on the team? Do you have to score a lot?

 

They want me to be a type of playmaker that can push the ball on the break, create for others and play defense.

 

How is your relationship to head coach Ty Shaw? He always seemed reserved, but I am sure that he can get loud in the locker room.

 

He is a good coach and knows what he is talking about concerning basketball. If he needs to get on you he will. His words mean a lot. He stays composed as a coach and wants us to be composed on the court.

 

What has been your impression of German Jonathan Mesghna? He played at four different colleges in four years. He already seems to be the glue guy after only two games.

 

Yes he is our glue guy. He can really shoot the ball and as a bigger wing he really helps us rebounding and on defense. He will be very important for the team this season.

 

You are 26 now. Are you in your prime yet?

 

I am not in my prime yet. I am more athletic now and I have been blessed for staying healthy. I think that I continue to grow in all aspects of my game and my best years are yet still to come.

 

What was your most unforgettable experience in Iraq where you played recently?

 

The team was watching a game and there were only men in the stands. It was a crazy atmosphere as they were throwing lighters and setting fires. I wasn´t scared, but just wasn´t used to seeing something like that.

 

Last season you played for AB Contern (Luxembourg-Total League) playing 29 games: 19.6ppg, 10.9rpg, 1.9apg, Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 21.2%, FT: 56.0%. Did it feel like being a man playing with boys?

 

No it didn´t feel like that. Luxemburg gets a bad rap, but the players there are a lot better than people think. The Americans there have to produce and play many minutes. The team is always counting on you to come through scoring, rebounding and getting assists.

 

What was the most amazing thing that you saw Cardall Mcfarland do on the court?

 

Well I have seen him do many amazing things. Is ball handling off the ball screen is great. He has the ability to make guys fall left and right with his cross over.

 

Who won a one on one you or Nick Freer in Paderborn and now?

 

We never played one on one, but I have a lot of respect for him. He is a leader and I learned a lot from him when we played for Paderborn. He is very athletic like me and a dunk contest would be interesting.

 

Where will the journey of the Minnesota Timberwolves end this season?

 

I hope they get the 8^th spot. I think that they will be one of the fun teams to watch because of their athletic ability with guys like Rubio and Wiggins.

 

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

 

Minority Report.

 

Thanks Jefferson for the chat.

 

 

In four of the last five seasons, the Telekom Baskets were fortunate and proud to have one of the top point guards in Europe and possibly a player that had the talent to have made the NBA, but just had missed that spec of extra luck to compete with the best in the world. I am talking about Hartford native Jared Jordan that has that touch of conservative Yankee senator in his looks, but is all business on the court as when he has the basketball in his hands then he is as creative and dominating as is Lionel Messi when he is starting one of his famous sprints to the goal with FC Barcelona. Jordan who is called Mr pass and could just about make any play he wanted to register that stat the assist being a no look pass, touch down pass, back door pass, behind the back or ally-op pass which for him was as programmed, perfect and easy as it is for a pizza baker to produce the freshest and most tastiest pie every night. Just watching the blind understanding of the Jared Jordan to Tony Gaffney combination on the alley-op will never be forgotten in Bonn. Last season the ex Marist star who led the NCAA in assists twice at 8,7 and 8,5 in his last two years at school rudely left Bonn for Bamberg in the second half of the season for that title hope, but instead was kicked out in the first round of the playoffs. This season Jordan is playing in the best basketball league in Europe in Spain for Gipuzkoa BC San Sebastian (Spain-Liga Endesa). The Telekom Baskets now are trying to forget the magical playmaking skills that Jordan gave them with the versatility point guard duo of Eugene Lawrence and Richard Mcconnell. One has to give German head coach Matthias Fischer a lot of credit and respect for first finding Lawrence at the end of last season for Jordan in a very critical phase and the American didn´t disappoint as he almost led the club past Oldenburg in a tough 5 game series and played 16 games averaging 9.9ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-2(6.0apg), FGP: 39.4%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 75.6%. The club held the American and then seemed to make the next big steal hauling in Richard Mcconnell. Mcconnell is a point guard that averaged 6,1apg as a senior with St Marys and as a pro averaged 6,4apg in 50 games for the Frisco Texas Legends(D-League). Lawrence is more the playmaker with the more limited scoring ability, but has that physical body which Jordan didn´t have and can help him to easier buckets inside and drawing fouls, while Mcconnell can score and fill up the stat sheet with assists. This duo is by far the best point guard duo in the league and what Beko BBL manager can say my back up point guard Mcconnell almost made the Dallas Mavericks roster in 2013. In the first game, they combined for 12 points and 13 assists and in the second game for 21 points and 10 assists. Both guys have great court vision and can pass the ball while Mcconnell can also shoot at a high percentage from outside if needed as he demonstrated with Tezenis Verona (Italy-Lega2) 2 seasons ago shooting 42,2%. With Ryan Brooks and Benas Veikalas, Bonn is already stocked with the perfect two man punch at the shooting guard position. A third interesting dimension is added when Lawrence and Mcconnell are both on the court which will be like having two big creative heads on the court. It will be interesting to see how well these two Americans will fill the shoes of the departed Jared Jordan? Head coach Fischer made the best out of replacing the departed Jordan as the point guard position is even stronger now. Even the most faithful Bonn Jordan supporters might be thinking soon Jordan who when the Lawrence and Mcconnel show bring success and happiness on the court. “It is a lot of fun playing with both guys. We have two completely different point guards. Lawrence is the more physical player that likes the set play and will post up while Mcconnell likes the fast break play and likes to finish himself. Both are excellent pick and roll players and the opponents have a tough time adjusting because both are different type of players. Our pick and roll offense is stronger with two point guards like that and plays on offense are better identified”, stressed Telekom baskets Bonn guard Andrej Mangold.

 

 

 

The Beko BBL playoffs has been a usual occurrence for the Telekom Baskets like it is for Boston Red Sox David Ortiz racking in 30 home runs and 100 RBI´s each season as in the last 18 years the club missed the promised land in May only twice in 2005 and 2011. Since the unsatisfactory season in 2010-2011 where the team finished in 13^th place, the club has reached the Beko BBL playoffs the last three seasons. After two seventh place finishes, head coach Michael Koch left and the team hauled in Matthias Fischer who had won titles in Austria and in 2012-2013 experienced a bitter season in Giessen where there were financial woes and he had to play with an almost all German roster in the second half of the season. However that didn´t shy Bonn from getting the coach and Fischer did a magnificent job last season leading the team to a fifth place finish and a tough 5 game series loss to the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The biggest victories was sweeping Oldenburg in the regular season and beating ratiopharm Ulm. The club showed a lot of moral and fighting spirit coming back twice to tie the playoff series with Oldenburg and had they won game three in Oldenburg which they lost in OT 72-71 then they would have been on to the next round the semi finals, but in basketball it isn´t over until the fat lady sings.

With the Beko BBL getting stronger and stronger each season, making predictions is difficult where a Beko BBL team will end up at the end of the season, but when looking at the current roster of the Telekom Baskets Bonn one has to utter the famous Arsenio Hall words “something that makes you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmm” as to if Bonn can make the jump to the top 4 teams this season. It is expected that FC Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin will finish 1-2, but will Bamberg belong to the top 3? They have a very new roster and question marks as they aren´t a given top three team this season. If not, then that gives many teams like Oldenburg, Artland Ulm and Bonn the chance to claim those two spots. Bonn did a great job keeping that team chemistry from last season very much intact by keeping seven players. The two most important players that they kept were sharp shooter and Bonn fan favorite Benas Veikalas who can smile with the best of them and has been in the Telekom city since 2011 and last season the 31 year old played Eurocup: 10 games: 15.6ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT-3(96.4%); German League: 39 games: 13.1ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 84.2% and scorer and Mr energy Ryan Brooks. Brooks who has played for Giessen, Frankfurt and in Finland and last season for Bonn played Eurocup: 10 games: 9.9ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 73.1%; German League: 39 games: 14.1ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 84.0%. The team also held American Eugene Lawrence who knows the team philosophy and will take his strong playoff play into this season. The team also held 31 year old role player Steve Wachalski who gives the team energy from the bench and can hit the big shot and play when needed in chaos situations played six straight years in the German Regionaliga and two in the Pro B before getting a chance in the Beko BBL in 2010 with Bayreuth. Last season the German played Eurocup: 10 games: 3.7ppg; German League: 38 games: 3.8ppg, 1.7rpg. The club also held young 22 year old German Floran Koch and experienced 27 year old veteran Andrej Mangold who has been with the club since 2011 and is a superb back up point guard and the teams best defender that will give the opponents fits even long after the game is over when he is trying to enjoy his meal at Mcdonalds and can´t because he is involved with his thoughts on the plays that the German broke up. Last season Mangold played Eurocup: 9 games: 1.2ppg, 1.3rpg; German League: 39 games: 4.1ppg, 1.9rpg.

The club brought in very sold new players with Angelo Caloiaro who was the most efficient player in the Beko BBL last season. After a strong senior year at USF and solid rookie season in the Bulgarian league, the 25 year old San Jose native tore up the Beko BBL with MBC playing 34 games: 14.3ppg, Reb-3(6.8rpg), 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.4%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 76.6%. The team also brought in point guard Richard Mcconnell who is just oozing with break out potential in the Beko BBl, 32 year old big man Tadas Klimavicius who has much experience with six seasons at B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas and 78 Euroleague games and big man Tony Wroblicky who is a project coming from the NCAA from American (NCAA), but showed right away in his first game that he can adjust to the Beko BBL scoring 12 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 13 minutes. The American is 22 years old and improved his scoring at American each season and as a senior played 32 games: 12.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.9apg, 1.1spg, 1.9bpg, FGP: 58.6%, FT: 72.5%. The team also brought in basketball European traveler Dirk Madrich who with Bonn will be playing for his 11^th professional team having had international experience in France with Strasbourg IG (France-ProA) in 2006-2007 playing ULEB Cup: 13 games: 4.1ppg, 2.8rpg; French League: 31 games: 4.5ppg, 2.7rpg. He had his second spring with Vechta last season at age 30 belonging to the top German players in the Beko BBL and played 34 games averaging 11.6ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 70.4% Last but not least the team also hauled in Valentin Blass who made the jump from the Bonn Regionaliga team. With the scoring punch that Bonn has, they should be able to average 78-82 points per game, but will need to play consistent defense and not be drawn into shoot outs. The club could make the jump into the top 4 teams simply because they have the chemistry and players from last season and have added the club with very good players that also have the individual class to decide games at the end. The club will have to improve on the boards as rebounding was their sore spot last season.

The Fraport Skyliners host the Telekom Baskets Bonn October 12^th and are looking for their first win of the season after starting the season 0-3. In the last seven seasons, the Frankfurt Skyliners only have a 6-15 record. It doesn´t matter if Frankfurt played at the old gym or in the new arena in Bonn they have lost 12 games in a row there. The last time, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners won in Bonn, New England patriot Tom Brady had not sipped champagne yet as a third Super Bowl winner, Jurgen Klinsmann was still coach of the German national soccer team, Paul Potts was still selling cell phones and singing in front of the mirror and the terrifying Tsunami was only a few days old as Frankfurt won in Bonn on January 1^st 2005 with a 79-67 win as Chris Williams exploded with 27 points and 16 rebounds. In the 2010-2011 season the Skyliners lost a tight 92-89 game shortly before the new year as Nic Wise took control in crunch time. The 20 point, eight rebound and seven assist performance didn´t help in the losing cause from Dashaun Wood. Frankfurt got revenge in the return date in the Ballsporthalle as they took apart Bonn 78-60 as Dashaun Wood led all scorers with 20 points and no Bonn player scored in double figures. In their first meeting in 2011-2012, the Telekom Baskets Bonn won 79-64 as Bonn was leading 41-34 at halftime and had a strong 22-12 third quarter that iced the cake for the win. Simonas Serapinas Led Bonn with 20 points, while the two ex Skyliners Justin Gray contributed 21 points and Jon Leuer 16 points. Frankfurt shot under 40% and were out rebounded badly. In the return game in Bonn, Frankfurt lost 81-62 not reaching the Beko BBL playoffs. The Skyliners had no method of stopping Chris Ensminger that had 24 points. Jermareo Davidosn added 18 points and Jimmy Mckinney had 13 points in his last game as a Skyliner. The Fraport Skyliners won the first game in 2012-2013 in Frankfurt 78-53 displaying the typical Katzurian defense and containing top point guard Jared Jordan to nine points and only two assists. Frankfurt was led by ex Skyliner Dion Dowell who had 17 points and Zach Peacock chipped in with 14 points. In the return game in Bonn, despite a 25 point, 11 rebound, five assist effort by Zach Peacock, Bonn won 81-75 as Benas Viekalis was hitting from everywhere except the bank of the Rhine river as he netted 22 points. Jamel Mcclean added 18 points. Last season the Fraport Skyliners lost both games as ex Skyliner Ryan Brooks scored a combined 40 points in both games leading Bonn to a 89-67 win in Frankfurt where he led all scorers with 19 points and Bonn dominated the boards and netted 13 three pointers. Frankfurt was led by Danilo Bathel with 17 games. In the return game in Bonn, the Fraport Skyliners stunk up the arena losing 74-54 as Brooks led all scorers again this time with 24 points while Barthel led Frankfurt with 17 points. Frankfurt were ice cold from outside netting just three three pointers, but dominated the boards 36-23.