Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheinStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
Fans of the RheinStars and Ahorn Camp Baskets couldn´t have asked for 2 more season games. The RheinStars won the first duel by 2 points and today they got revenge by 2 points. How were they a better team now than in the first game? They had 6 guys score in double figures. Yeah tough lost for us. They made some big shots and punctuated on our mistakes and turnovers. We still had chances to come out with the victory but just came short.
The first quarter was tight, but they upped their game in the second quarter and had the 3 point lead at the break. What was key at half-time for them having the lead? We had too many careless and unnecessary turnovers. We made stops but gave the ball back to them where they made baskets off of.
The game was a real battle in the second half. You were up 85-83 with 6 seconds left. The Ahron Camp Baskets forced OT as Marco Dordevic scored. Talk a bout that last play. Did you feel like you let the game get away? Hennen could of sealed the win earlier. Yeah tough luck for us,. We secured a rebound and was called for an offensive foul which gave them the ball and they scored. I think we could’ve been more focused on defense for that possession.
The RheinStars trailed form the start in overtime and couldn´t get over the hump. The RheinStars had their chances but a Hennen turnover and missed three from Michels sealed the win for Speyer. Did they want it more in overtime? We had the possession to come out with the win. We just didn’t make the shots or execute as well as they did down the stretch of the game.
Did the shooting percentages cost the RheinStars the game? Better shooting probably would have gotten you the win before overtime? Yeah but it was also other things like turnovers and the 50/50 loose ball that we didn’t come up with.
You had another very solid game with 15 points in 20 minutes. On a team with so much scoring power, are you content with 9 shots in the game? Honestly I was on a good run but unfortunately I got injured and wasn’t able to finish the game after a few minutes into the 3rd quarter.
You next paly Ehingen on the road. They played you very tough in the first game winning 84-81. What will be key to getting win? I think we have to rebound better, come up with the 50/50, and make better decisions and finish better on offense.
Ty Brewer (201-G/F-2000, college: UAB) is a 24 year old 201cm forward from Meridan, Mississippi playin g his second professional season and first with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL). Last season he split his rookie season with GS Esperos Lamias (Greece-Elite League) averaging 13.2ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 26.3%, FT: 58.3%, in Jan.’24 moved to Panerythraikos AS (Greece-Elite League) averaging 14.8ppg, 7.0rpg, Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 74.5%. He began his basketball career with Meridan high school and then played 2 seasons with Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA) averaging 3.8ppg, 2.8rpg and 14.9ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 66.7%. He then moved to East Tennessee State University (NCAA) averaging 8.5ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 73.2%, and 10.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 74.6%. He then played a fifth season with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (NCAA) averaging 7.9ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 83.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the easyCredit BBL Cup top 4 in Weissenfels.
Thanks Ty for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your first season in Germany with the SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels. What kind of an experience has it been coming from Israel where you played your first season overseas?
My first season actually took place in Greece which was a good starting point for me, but transitioning to playing here in the BBL has been a great experience for me. I enjoy every aspect of what has been going on so far this season from building team chemistry, understanding the game better, and even the change of pace in this league.
Next weekend, you will battle in the cup against FC Bayern Munich. How excited are you for this? I am very excited, not only because it’s Bayern, but also because I get to go out and compete for the club and for the BBL POKAL CUP.
How motivated and how much self-confidence does the team have after beating them already this season 79-75.
The team has always had great confidence individually, I can feel that personally but we all know that the team we played in the past won´t be the same team we will play here in the near future.
You obviously want to win again. They hit 11 three´s and sniper Andi Obst was 1/6. With a normal day from him, they probably would have won. They also controlled the boards. What will be key to winning this time?
The key for us to win is to make sure we pay attention to detail and personnel, while also keeping our emotions in check because the game of basketball has a lot of ups and downs and we can’t afford to be a victim of our own mistakes due to being emotionally unbalanced. Also we have to bring constant energy on both sides of the ball.
What was it like battling ex NBA guys like Carson Edwards and Shabazz Napier. Did you feel like you belonged in the 35 minutes that you played? It felt good to play against those guys, both have high level of talent and IQ so that kept me on my toes a lot of that game but it wasn’t necessarily about belonging out there with to me, it was more so about being out there and doing what I needed to do to help my team.
What has it been like being teammates with massive veterans John Bryant and Tyren Johnson. What do you appreciate most from their games and characters? It has been nothing but amazing being able to learn from them when it comes to reading and understanding the game of basketball. Those two guys have helped me so much since I have been a part of the team, words truly won’t do much justice when it comes to explaining how much I appreciate them. Both of them have a funny type of personality but also different at the same time, I like it.
What has it been like being teammates with sniper Spencer Reaves? Does he have to answer many questions about his brother Austin?
It’s great playing with my guy Spencer. Thats another vet who brings positive energy on and off the court and I definitely can say that every-time the ball leaves his hands I think it´s going in without a doubt. When it comes to his brother he doesn’t have to answer many questions at all.
You played your rookie season with GS EsperosLamias averaging 13.2ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 26.3%, FT: 58.3%, in Jan.’24 moved to PanerythraikosAS (Greece-Elite League) averaging 14.8ppg, 7.0rpg, Steals-1 (2.3spg), FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 74.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas?
I can’t quite remember having a wake up call, I just try to approach every season with an open mind to learning and a work ethic that can’t be questioned.
You put up good stats, but how tough was it not having that American vibe in the team? I believe you were the lone American in both teams in Greece?
It wasn’t tough at all because mentally I knew I was going away from the US so my focus was trying to learn the culture of Greece which made the entire experience enjoyable for me.
You played your first pro playoff series in Greece against AiasEvosmou losing in a 3 game series. What will you remember as being the reason for not advancing? In that series we won, the last game of that series was held in our home gym where we took home the victory in a well fought game.
You were very fortunate to have had the experience of playing at 3 NCAA schools with Southeastern Louisiana University, East Tennessee State University) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham You began your NCAA career at Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA). You made a big jump in your game averaging 14.9ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 66.7% in your second season. How did your game grow there? My game grew well with the help of that entire coaching staff. I came in almost everyday with those guys to work on different aspects of my guy that could be beneficial to the team, and I kept faith that it was all going to work out at the end of the day.
You had many great games there, but how memorable was your 27 points against SUNO? I honestly don’t remember that performance so my apologies for that indeed.
You then played 2 seasons at East Tennessee State University (NCAA) averaging 8.5ppg, 4.0rpg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 73.2% and 10.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 74.6%. How did your game develop further under Jason Shay and Desmond Oliver? While playing under Coach Shay and Coach Oliver, my game also grew because they helped me understand the difference in competition of the SOCON, and how I needed to be consistent on my approach to both my offensive and defensive game.
You played a fifth season at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (NCAA) averaging 7.9ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.4%, FT: 83.8%. You reached the NIT Final and beat Utah Valley 88-86 having a 30/12 game. Was that your best NCAA game? I would say that was definitely my best game due to the stage it happened on and what was at stake at that time.
How did head coach Andy Kennedy groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
Coach AK helped me so much due to his great knowledge of the game of basketball on multiple levels and his understanding of my play style. Coach Kennedy showed me everyday why he was a great and respectable coach because above all else he didn’t allow me to be ok with just being athletic, he gave me freedom to develop my confidence on all 3 levels of scoring, while teaching me how to defend better and I appreciate him for that.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Javian Davis? Those 1v1 days used to be a battle indeed, I would have to say we ended in a tie for now.
Who is the best player that you ever battled on the court that reached the NBA? Naiz Reid
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Von Julien- SELU Charles Callison- MBC Ledarrius Brewer Tyren Johnson KB & Moses Greenwood- SELU
Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore? Kobe LeBron MJ Scottie Pippen Kyrie
Who is your GOAT?
Kobe
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I haven’t seen it yet so I won’t judge it right now.
On Sunday night 17 year old Jamie Edoka (195-G-2008) was ending a successful weekend by having led the Skyliners Juniors to a massive Pro B win against the TSV Oberaching Tropics. He scored 21 points and as usual did a fantastic job as playmaker running the offense and hit big shots in many phases of the game. 48 hours later Edoka was standing on the court in Munich in the state of the art area Sap Garden and made his easyCredit BBL debut for the Frankfurt Skyliners. Playing in the BBL is the dream of so many young German players. The opportunity to do this came mainly because the Skyliners had many key players out and they had to bring reinforcements. The call to Edoka surely helped that he isn´t only a main contributor for the clubs NBBL U-19 team, but also a key player for their pro B farm team. He is a starter on the team and deserved to be given this incredible opportunity. It is definitely an experience he will never forget. “I came into the game in the 6th or 7th minute of the game. Going on the court in the Sap Garden was an indescribable feeling. I knew at that moment that I might be defending the best shooter in the world with Andi Obst or ex NBA player Carsen Edwards or young talent Ivan Kharchenkolv. To be able to witness this was unbelievable”, stressed Jamie Edoka. “I´m very proud of him and am happy that he got this opportunity. I hope he will get more opportunities like that”, said teammate Ivan Crnjac. He got many nice congratulatory messages from family and friends and after the game German national player Ivan Kharchenko congratulated him on a good game and wished him good health. “I think that this was a huge step for the youth department of the Skyliners. He totally deserved to get this opportunity with his good play in the NBBL and Pro B. I hope that there will more chances like this for talented players”, stressed teammate Maximillian Peters.
The pass first guard who enjoys watching basketball video´s of Maodo Lo actually first was informed on Monday night between 10-11 pm that he would be able to suit up against euroleague team FC Bayern Munich. “I was very overjoyed to have gotten the call informing me that I could play. I never expected it. It is always something you hope for, but getting the chance from one day to the next was like a dream come true”, expressed Jamie Edoka. The game was less than 24 hours later. Tuesday was a very wild day. He began Tuesday by going to school like any other day. He left at noon time and went hone to pack his bags for Munich. The ICE train departed Frankfurt at 1:30 and arrived around 5:30, two and a half hours before game time. What does a 17 year old kid do to pass the time on the train before the biggest moment in his basketball life? “At the start of the trip, I was doing homework, but in the last 1-2 hours, I focused on the game. I was reading our playbook which was given to me before the trip and I also watched some clips from the first game against Munich while listening to music”, stated Jamie Edoka. He didn´t go to the team hotel when he arrived in Munich, but right to the Sap Garden arena. His teammates arrived at about the same time to the arena at 6.00pm.
The Frankfurt Skyliners came to Munich missing 4 key players with guards Jordan Theodore and Trey Calvin as well as forwards Einaras Tubutis and Patrick Heckman. FC Bayern Munich was also missing some key players like Devin Booker, but overall FC Bayern Munich was the favorite on paper. But instead of steamrolling Frankfurt in the first minutes, it was actually Frankfurt that totally surprised Munich taking the rapid 12-3 lead. Did FC Bayern Munich underestimate Frankfurt and was Frankfurt playing on Adrenaline? “I don´t think that Munich underestimated us, but seemed a bit asleep at the start. We came in very focused, but they weren´t”, remembered Jamie Edoka. The turning point of the game came in the second quarter as FC Bayern Munich poured it on exploding for 28 points and showing what kind of a brutal offensive arsenal they have. At half-time the Frankfurt Skyliners trailed 42-35, but were still in striking distance. “They had lost to Vechta unexpectedly last weekend. They took us seriously. They still played with a good rotation. I think the players got some fire from their coach. It is only a matter of time when guys like Edwards and Obst begin hitting shots”, said Jamie Edoka. FC Bayern Munich went into the second half with some momentum and then shifted up a few gears and totally stifled the Skyliners holding them too only 21 points. “You noticed in the second half that we were missing key players and that is tough to compensate when you play a top team like Munich. I think we were trying to save our strength for the BBL Cup weekend. We didn´t give them the game. We fought until the end”, warned Jamie Edoka.
Edoka who lists ex Skyliner Alvin Onyia as his mentor the last few years was extremely nervous before checking in, but that is expected when you turned 17 only a few weeks ago. He was very fortunate to have his Pro B coach Sepher Tarrah on the sidelines who functions as an assistant coach for the easyCredit BBL team. Tarrah helped him lessen some of the jitters that were swirling in his head. “It was very important that Sepher was there. The most important thing he told me was that at the end of the day it is all the same. It is just basketball. The only difference is that it is a higher level. These words really helped against my nervousness. He was helping me the whole game with constructive feedback”, commented Jamie Edoka. He has practiced with the BBL team in the past and already knew the guys and also got advice from them to also help him with the big challenge. How difficult was it getting used to the BBL level? “It was like worlds apart. Coming from the NBBL, it was so so different for me. It is so much quicker the play than what I was used to. I honestly didn´t get used to it. I just wanted to survive. I was trying to understand what was happening”, stressed Jamie Edoka. A massive moment for him was guarding 2 so talented players with ex NBA guys Carsen Edwards and Shabazz Napier. “I didn´t think that Edwards would be so small. To see how he moves and how he is able to create his own shot was unbelievable. I had never seen something like that before. I did notice that Napier has gotten older, but he still uncorked something like 3 behind the back passes and no look passes. He also was able to find teammates so quickly. That is something that I won´t forget so quickly”, warned Jamie Edoka. He played 24 minutes going 0/3, but had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He definitely knows what he has to do to keep playing at the BBL level. “I need to get that game IQ, work on my ball handing and shot. I just have to keep working hard. I want to play at this level”, stressed Jamie Edoka. So what was his favorite own play of the game? “My assist to Lorenz Breneke on the pick and roll. That was the first time in the game where I read the defense well”, stated Jamie Edoka. Ex Skyliner Isaac Bonga was in attendance as he was on a little break from Partizan Belgrade. Bonga like Edoka also began in the Skyliners organization going the route of NBBL-Pro B-BBL-NBA. The only difference was that Bonga was hyped already at this age and Edoka not. “I didn´t know that he was at the game. I found out after the game. It is a good feeling to know that he also played with the Skyliners in young years. It motivates me that a great career is possible”, stressed Jamie Edoka.
Tradavis Thompson (188-G, college: Lynn, agency: Starting 5) is a 188cm guard from Raymond, Mississippi playing his rookie season in Germany with Regionalliga club TuS Red Devils Bramsche currently averaging 13,3ppg, 2,6rpg, 1,6apg and 1,1spg. He began his basketball career with Raymond high school and then played 2 seasons with Jones College (JUCO) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 69.1% and in his second season averaged 15.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 18.2%, FT: 68.8%. He then played 2 seasons at Mississippi College (NCAA2) averaging 14.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 80.9 and 17.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 78.1%. He played one final season with Lynn University (NCAA2) averaging 17.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 62.9%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Tradavis for talking to germanhoops.com Your not only a talented basketball player, but musician. I read that your dropping an album. Is music just a hobby or something your more serious about? I just enjoy music, it keeps me going and make me have a clear mind and I wanted to just make music of my own for fun that’s all
Congrats on signing with German team TuS Red Devils Bramsche (Germany-Regionalliga). How exciting is it playing your rookie season overseas? I am very excited to be a part of something that I was dreaming about when I was a kid.
It is rare for ex JUCO players to turn pro. How blessed do you feel and how would you describe your excitement in a few words?
I am very blessed to have an opportunity to prove myself and just get my career started, I’m joyful, blessed, excited, and thankful for the opportunity.
What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? I heard Germany is one of the best of the best leagues in the world and basketball means a lot to the fans and I’m glad to be a part of that
Have you had any people you know ball overseas besides Ben Gahlert? Did you seek any advice form him regarding Germany?
I have been talking to multiple overseas guys that are still playing and they gave me some good advice and the advice that I got from Ben Gahlart is to just be myself and live in the moment.
TUS Bramsche have a rich basketball history. What were the main reasons for you to join this organization? The reason I decided to join the organization is because the type of style they play, things I can bring to team, and I just love to win.
How did the talks go with head coach Christian Fischer? What did you enjoy most about his basketball philosophy? The talk with coach Fischer was very good and he a wonderful coach and he really cares about his players and that means a lot to me.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare you’re game to an NBA player who would best fit the description? Jalen Brunson and DeAaron Fox.
You’re a guy that can score really well, but also fill the stat sheet at ease. What would you classify as your biggest strength? My Strengths of playing the game of basketball is getting my team involved, scoring at high level in the mid range and getting to the rim and just being a leader for the team.
You demonstrated at 3 different schools and in 2 different leagues that your very consistent. How important has consistency been in your career? My first Juco coach Randy Bolden always told me when I was a young kid that if I want to be really good in this sport I have to be consistent. So that has been molded in me and I have been sticking with that throughout my whole career.
You made a big jump in your 3 point shooting at Mississippi College, but tailed off a bit at Lynn. How much is your 3 pointer still a work in progress? I had a bad summer last year due to a small injury and I didn’t get to work out last summer but right now I’m having a really good summer and my 3 pointer is really progressed from where I was last season.
Your also a very strong defender. What kind of a defender would you classify yourself at the moment and what kind of a defender do you still want to become? I love playing defense and I love to play on the ball a lot to get other players uncomfortable because defense wins games.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game? I am focusing on a lot on fundamentals right now to improve my game to become a better basketball player.
You played 2 seasons at Jones College (JUCO) averaging 11.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 69.1% and 15.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 5.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 18.2%, FT: 68.8%. Every guy that I have interviewed that played Juco have mostly said that JUCO was tough a real grind, but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you? Juco was a very good start for me and I learned a lot of new things and met new people throughout that journey so Juco was really fun.
How important was head coach Randy Bolden in your development as a player in your 2 JUCO years. How did he help you most to become the player entering the NCAA2?
Juco really prepared me for NCAA2 because Juco pushed you to be a better player on and off the court so when I got to Mississippi College I knew the expectations.
You then played 2 years at Mississippi College averaging 14.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 80.9% and 17.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 78.1%. How did your game grow in these 2 years?
I had two great summers there and I stayed in the gym 24/7 and when I played I knew I did everything to be in the right position that I was in.
You exploded against UAH with 47 points in a 92-62 win and hit 9 three´s. What memories do you have of that game? How quickly did you know that you were in the zone? Tbh I was not supposed to play that game back was aching and I told my coach I’m still going to play and while I was playing, I got going early and the rim just got bigger and bigger.
You then finished at Lynn University (NCAA2) averaging 17.5ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.7apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 62.9%. How important was it playing an extra season at Lynn? You proved you could be an impact player again for a different school.
The Lynn experience was good because when I first got there, they were 4-21 and I knew they had some great pieces and they have a good winning background and with my skills and leadership I knew that I can be a big part of that team and get it back where you’re supposed to be.
What memories will you always have of German big man Ben Gahlert? Did you enjoy feeding him dimes?
Ben was a funny guy. He kept everybody on their toes and he was a great leader and a great teammate probably one of the best teammates I ever had and I will miss giving him dimes maybe he will come out of retirement and we can play today again one day
How did head coach Jeff Price groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Coach Price cared about me more off the court than on the court and that what´s made him a great coach and he gave me some good advice as a young man and I really appreciate him for that.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jamison Evans? lol Jamison Evans couldn’t ever beat me in one on one in practice but he is a really great player.
Who is the best player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
Ashton Hagans was a really great player in high school because he could score at all 3 levels and he was really quick.
Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time? Alen Smith,Miles Miller, Quentin Toles, Joshua Sasser, and Bee McCrary.
What is your personal NBA mount rushmore of past or present heads? Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Allen Iverson
Who is your GOAT and why? Carmelo Anthony is my GOAT, He is a great person and great role model and was a great Basketball Player.
Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I really liked the 2nd Coming to America, It was very funny and better than the first one in my eyes.
Justin Onyejiaka (195-SG-2004) is a 20 year old 195cm guard that has returned back to Rasta Vechta for the 2024-2025 season. He couldn´t play his first game this season until January 3, 2025 due to a tough injury. Currently he has played 8 games in the Pro A averaging 5,6ppg, 2,1rpg and 1,3spg. He played the last 2 seasons with the Frankfurt Skyliners. In his first season he played 6 easyCredit BBL games and in the Pro B averaged : 13.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 23.2%, FT: 57.1%. Last season he played 41 pro A games averaging 7.0ppg, 1.8rpg, FGP: 58.3%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 72.8%, and in the Pro B averaged 23.3ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 58.0%, 3PT: 47.8%, FT: 60.0%. He began his basketball career with BBC Osnabruck and then played 2 seasons with Rasta Vechta in the JBBL, Regionalliga and Pro A. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the U-20 European championships.
Thanks Justin for talking to germanhoops.com. Last summer Germany finished the U-20 Euro at 12th place. What was your summary of the tournament? I thought it was a good tournament for us. We had some good wins, but also some tough loses against France and Italy. I think had we won those games, we would have been in a better position to have a better result at the end.
Is it possible to feel after the preparation how well the team could do going in? What kind of a feeling did you have? I had mixed feelings. We had some bad results in the preparation. But I knew that we had good potential going in.
Germany lost a tough game to France 103-78. Germany shot out the lights with 15 three´s, but gave up 26 turnovers. What do you believe did the team learn from the game?
The biggest problem was their length which they had at every position. You don´t see that much at that level. We had problems playing switch defense.
It is always nice to see a well rounded scoring team, but was the team possibly missing 2 very dominant go to guys? Martin Kalu is one of those guys. I wouldn´t say that. I feel like with all the talent we had, the scoring was evened out. Any player could have stepped up in any game.
You averaged 8/1/2 stats in 18 minutes at the 2024 Eurochampionships. How content were you with your game? Your three point and free throw shooting weren´t great?
One could see in the last games that we were all exhausted. I feel like I played a good tournament in the minutes that I got. I showed what I could do on the court.
What was it like playing for new Vechta BBL coach Martin Schilling? What did you appreciate right away from his coaching abilities?
I appreciated how structured his practices were. They weren´t boring at all. He had all kinds of drills from skill work to defense. I really like that. It was good to see what is to come with Vechta.
Did you notice anything in his coaching that he brought over from his G-League time?
I can´t really say. I did notice that he had many different plays. He was always ready with plays especially in difficult situations or with little time left on the clock.
The minutes were well defined, but how big was the competitive level for minutes, something that will be great again in Vechta this season?
It is always like that with talented teams. You always have to fight for minutes. It was similar like that in Frankfurt as well. I´m always ready for the Competitive fight for minutes. That is part of the basketball business.
You were teammates with so many great young German players. Was there a guy that had a big impact or influence on you?
I can´t pick just 1 player.
After 2 years in Frankfurt, you have returned back to an old stomping ground Vechta. Vechta has grown tremendously as an organization in the last years especially with developing young players. Did you see a bigger chance of getting minutes and developing further than remaining in Frankfurt? Yes I do. That was a big reason why I returned to Vechta. The perspective for young players is better in Vechta. With Frankfurt the biggest thing is to win.
What are your biggest goals this season besides helping the team win? I´m sure you will get more Pro A minutes than in Frankfurt and in between get BBL minutes. I will do whatever is asked of me. I will work very hard. My biggest motivation is always sky is the limit.
How excited are you to play with big German talent Johan Gurneloh before he leaves for bigger and better things? What do you like most about his game. His block shot strength and your athleticism and long arms could form a great duo on defense?
I have known him since a long time. He is a super big talent. It is crazy how well he has developed in the last 2 years. He is a great shot blocker and I like to paly pick and roll with him.
How excited are you to play for Hendrik Gruehn again? How have you seen him develop in last 2 years?
I´m really looking forward to work with him again. I´m so happy for his success. He has come such a long way with the NBBL team and then leading the Pro B team to the Pro A.
You played the last 2 years in Frankfurt. How did you grow as a player and a man in Frankfurt?
I became more mature and stable as a player. I learned a lot from Klaus Perwas especially on the defensive end. I learned effort over all. You can overcome mistakes with high effort.
You came to Frankfurt wanting to become a two way player. Did you achieve that? Yes I think I have. I have gotten nearer to that goal and that will continue to be my card.
How tough was that first season in Frankfurt having to move down to the Pro A? What did you learn from that season?
It was a tough season. It was overburdening. I was injured and the overload with BBL and Pro B was too much for me. We practiced too much and that was a reason why I got injured. There was a lot of chaos. The second season was a lot better. There was more structure and rhythm that season.
You had the delight to be teammates with Quantez Robertson for a season. What is your nicest moment with him?
It was really cool to have a veteran like him around. I liked his motivational speeches most. He was always able to pick you up when we were down.
You helped Frankfurt reach the Pro A final. What was so special about this team?
We had a great bond. Everybody understood each other really well. I hadn´t really ever seen that before. We always had fun and were motivated. We were really together.
Last season in the pro A you averaged 7,0ppg and 1,8rpg in 15 minutes. I personally would have liked to have seen you have a bigger role. How do you summarize your season? I saw my season as positive. I was really happy how I was able to come back from an operation and get integrated so well and play well. I would have liked to have a bigger role, but that is how it happened. I wouldn´t have changed it for anything.
Head coach Denis Wucherer stress defense. How did he help you become a better defender? I got my minutes because of my defense. I had to give full energy and shut down the opponents best player
You had many wonderful games like against Paderborn, Jena and in the 2 final games against PS Karlsruhe. What was your fondest moment on the court? My favorite moment was winning game 5 in Trier. That was a crazy game and just an unreal feeling winning the game. I also liked my game against Paderborn. Coming back from an injury and little practice and playing that well was a big moment.
How well will Germany do at the Olympics? I obviously support Germany, but I don´t see them winning a medal. USA will win Gold. Canada Silver and France or Serbia bronze.
Nevio Bennefeld (212-C-2007) is a 18 year old 212cm center that is playing for Alba Berlin´s NBBL (U-19 team) averaging 8,3ppg, 6,4rpg, 2,0apg and 1,8bpg and also with Pro B team lok Bernau averaging 3,7ppg and 3,0rpg. Last season he averaged 1.8ppg, 2.0rpg for Lok Bernau, 8.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 65.5%, for the Alba Berlin NBBL team and also played ANGT averaging 9.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 51.2%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 57.1 %. He recently played at the U-17 World Cup averaging 2,8ppg and 2,8rpg. He also played at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany (Unofficial World Championships U18) averaging 4.3pgp, 5.2rpg, 1.2spg. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball.
Thanks Nevio for talking to eurobasket.com. You finished the 2023-2024 season and it was a heavy load with ANGT, AST, NBBL, Pro B and the World Cup U-17. How was the season for you mentally and physically?
It was a long year. It was my first season with Alba Berlin. I came from Heidelberg and was without my family in Berlin. It was a big change. But Alba Berlin did a great job to help me get adjusted.
Last summer you played at the U-17 World Cup and Germany finished in 11th place. How did you summarize the tournament? I guess you can´t make excuses with some guys not being there? It was a very strong level. It was a new experience and we needed time to get adjusted. 11th place may not seem great, but we raised our play from game to game. We went from game to game and gave our best.
Germany had some loses to Turkey and France. Did these games show that there was a big difference in talent and class? The French team was very good. They had very good team chemistry and had played together a lot longer than we did. We had a very short preparation time and were at a disadvantage against other teams.
What could you learn from games like these? You can only learn playing against top level teams like that. We could see where we stand at. I thought we did a good job not hanging our heads after tough loses. We just kept going and won games after loses. We always stayed positive after loses.
You averaged 2/2 in 13 minutes. What do you believe was the major obstacle for you not getting more minutes? I would have liked to have played more. It was still a great experience having been a part of it. I gave it all I had.
You also played at the AST. I remember watching a tough loss to Serbia and then an almost win against China. What were you able to take from the AST? AST was also a valuable learning experience for all. We once again had a short preparation time and just didn´t play as well as a team. We also didn´t hang our heads after the loss to Serbia and then almost beat China.
What is it like being coached from Dirk Bauermann. He is a legend and is lauded from his players for his work with the young players. What kind of a relationship do you have with him and how has he helped you most?
It is enriching to be able to be coached by such a successful coach like him. He has such a vast knowledge of the game. He would always help me after certain situations on the court. I learned a lot from him.
What has it been like being teammates with other big man Clemens Sokolov? How do you guys push each other best in practice?
I like him a lot. He is a nice guy. We spent a lot of time together off the court. On the court we were very competitive. We often had shot competitions after practice.
Let´s talk a little about your game. You’re a 212cm center. To what pro player have you heard comparisons from other people about how you play the game?
I play a lot of 5, but can also play the 4. Anthony Davis is a big role model for me. I watch a lot of videos of Kevin Durant. I like his game. We have a similar stature.
You can score and rebound, but what is your biggest strength on the court? My biggest strength is my shot and fighting mentality.
You take three´s, but it doesn´t seem so developed yet in your game. Is this an area that you want to continue to raise your amount of shots? Yes I want to. I´m working a lot on my shot. I definitely want to raise my shooting percentages.
Your also a talented defender, but is it fair to say a bit raw? What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
I want to be a better 1-1 defender. I also want to be able to switch on the guard and be able to hold my own. I also have to get faster foot work.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game best? I´m working a lot on ball handling, coordination and foot work. I´m also more in the weight room.
You played your first season with Alba Berlin. What was it like being part of this great organization? What did you appreciate most from the experience?
Going from Heidelberg to Berlin was a big step. The practices were harder, there were better coaches and facilities. I have enjoyed the amount of coaches that I can work with the most.
Alba Berlin suffered a tough 3 game playoff series loss to the Young Rasta Dragons. Is it fair to say that nothing stood in their way of finally winning it all in their 3rd straight NBBL top 4 final?
Vechta was a very good team. We were a new and young team. They were simply better than we were the whole season. Losing the series hurt.
In the second playoff game you played against huge talent Johan Gruenloh. You held your own with 11 points and 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Did a performance like that give you added self-confidence? It was great to play against him. I had a good game against him. I took advantage of it. During the game I focus more on me, but after a game, I do watch other players on video and try to take things from their games.
How important was it having a guy like Linus Ruff on your side? What do you appreciate most about his game? It was cool to play with him. He is a very good player and will play in vechta next season. He helped me a lot at the start of the season. He played ahead of me at the 5. He was a very strong 1-1 player in the post. Our daily battles in practice helped my game.
You averaged 8/4 stats in 23 minutes. You had some good games, but how tough is it having consistency on a team that has so many scoring options?
I need to get more consistent. I had some good and bad games. I think it is good in general when a team doesn´t have to rely only on one player. In some games I took responsibility and in others others.
You also played 4 pro B games with Bernau. What kind of an experience was it getting your first Pro B minutes? What could you get most from this experience?
It was a great experience to play with Lok Bernau. It was a new experience for me as in Heidelberg I had only played Regionalliga. I was able to gain my first pro experience in the pro B
Your last game was a real exciting game where you lost 116-115 to Rostock. What will you always remember from that game?
I learned in that game that a game is never over until the buzzer sounds. We were up by 5 points and then they forced overtime and won. That loss hurt a lot. You always need to play until the end.
What are your goals for this season? Perhaps to get a bigger role in the NBBL and make the next steps in the Pro B? I want to have a bigger role in the NBBL and earn more minutes in the Pro B.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced on the court? Johan Gruenloh
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? I can´t name just 5. There are too many great ones.
Please name your personal NBA, and German Mount Rushmore? Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Bill Russell and Nowitzki, Schroeder, Patrick Femerling and Detlef Schrempf.
Nico Hihn is 27 year old 190cm guard that is playing for SpVgg Moehringen 1887 (Regionalliga) this season. He played 3 seasons with SV 03 Tuebingen 2nd Team (Regionalliga) with his best seasons were averaging 19.4ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.2apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 47.9%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT: 78.8% and 18.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 79.0%. He recently scored 48 points in a Regionalliga game and spoke to germanhoops.com
Thanks Nico for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment? I´m in Moehringen at the moment and happy with my basketball life.
Last weekend you scored 48 points in a tough loss to Haiterbach. Despite the loss could you enjoy the the individual great game bit? I could enjoy my performance a bit. I felt good early as I had 17 points at half-time. I knew I had to continue to step it up in the second half as my teammates weren´t having great shooting nights. I just took it into my own hands and everything worked out well.
Did your teammates do something for you or did you have to get donuts?
Not yet. We have practice tonight. I haven´t heard anything is something is planned. I did get many congrats from family and friends.
How good does it feel scoring the most points in Germany last week?
I´m very happy how I played and hope that I can take my play into the next game. We are in a tough phase at the moment with injuries and guys being sick.
You had some 30 plus points in the Regionalliga for Tuebingen. Was this the most points in a game for you? That was the most points that I ever had in the men´s game. I did have 53 points in a game in the U-12.
How quickly did you know in the game that you could have a good game?
In the last games my three pointer wasn´t falling. I hit 2 wild three´s in the first and second quarters. Usually when that happens, I will have a good game.
Did you know in the fourth quarter how many you had? You were so close to 50 points and just missed it.
I didn´t know at that stand point. I first knew that I had scored 48 points at the end. In the fourth quarter I thought that I must have around 40 points. But I was focused too much on trying to win the game.
How thankful to have Daniel Grieb who dished out 7 assists despite averaging only 0,9apg coming ínto the game?
I´m very thankful how well he played. Our big man is out so he got a lot more minutes. It isn´t easy when you go from a few minutes to 38 minutes. He did a good job.
You always were a good scorer in your career, but did you ever think you could score 48 points in a game? One does think about having the opportunity of having a crazy game, but scoring 48 points is still a lot different than hitting for 35 points. It isn´t easy to make 48 points in a game. You have to hit everything. Plus we also are a team with many good scorers.
What does 48 points mean to you? Is the goal now to reach 50 plus points? Yes nothing is impossible. Everything worked for me on this night. Scoring 48 points doesn´t happen often. It is possible, but I think that as soon as we have everyone on board again, I don´t think so many plays will be run for me. It is seldom that you have 2 games like that back to back or in a season. But it could happen. I have a lot of self-confidence now
You began your career at SpVgg Moehringen 1887 and then played 3 years at SV 03 Tuebingen 2nd Team (Regionalliga) during COVID. Why did you return back? You had good seasons in Tuebingen.
I live in Moehringen with my brother Ruben. I went back for private reasons. I know everybody here and I enjoy playing for Moehringen. I went to Tuebingen a few years ago to play at a higher level.
Did you ever have bigger aspirations as a basketball player? It was always 50/50. I never really wanted to turn pro, but the opportunity was there. There was a time where I had to decide between hanging out with friends on the weekend or being in the gym.
You were teammates with Danish athletic player Bakary Dibba. Did you ever expect him to make such strides in his basketball career? I was pretty sure that he could. His athleticism speaks for it´s self. He isn´t the best shooter, but his tempo and steps on the court are big.
Is it an added plus for you personally to play with your brother Ruben?
Yes it is. I´m 2 years younger than him. It is something special to play together with him.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Niklas Schueler?
Back then he had no chance. I have a quicker first step and am bigger. But he is a great shooter. He is one of my best teammates ever.
Who is the toughest player that you ever battled that reached the NBA? In the JBBL, I played against Mahir Agva. Another guy would be David Scheu from Karlsruhe.
Please name your best teammates of all-time? Nicklas Schueler, Ruben Hihn, Petrus Tzikas, Bakary Dibba
Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore?
Jordan, Lebron, Kobe, Shaq
Teodosic, Spanoulis, Sloukas,
Dirk, Andreas Obst, Dennis Schroeder, Franz Wagner
Chrysostom Chukwuma (190-G-1996, agency: Bell Basketball) is a 28 year old 190cm guard playing his first season in Germany with the Skyliners Juniors (Pro B) after starting the season with the Helsinki Seagulls. He began his basketball career with Vantaan Pussihukat. He then played 5 seasons with Jyvaskyla Basketball Academy. He then played 2 seasons with Lapuan Kobrat (Korisliiga) and a season with Pyrinto Tampere (Korisliiga). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win over the TSV Oberaching Tropics.
Thanks Chuko for talking to germanhoops.com. Did you watch the Superbowl or is that not as popular in Finland? It isn´t as popular in Finland, but I have friends that follow it. I never got into it.
Did some of your teammates watch or watch in groups? I have no idea.
Congrats on the big 75-63 win over the TSV Oberaching Tropics. The team has a 3 game winning streak. How good is life now?
It feels great to be successful. It wasn´t easy for me to come to a new team in mid season. I have to learn the coaches philosophy, system and tendencies of the players. It was our first game without Hadenfeldt. I want that responsibility and leadership. We have a young team, but have a lot of potential.
The first quarter was won 19-17 by the guests. How tough was it getting the offense going with the pesky Tropics guards?
That was our biggest problem the whole game. They did a good job dodging the screens. We had problems getting open. We had too many turnovers.
The team had 7 turnovers in the first quarter and 23 in all. How big is it of a job for you to bring some stability to the offense? Yes exactly. Hadenfeldt is away now and I have to bring rhythm into the offense and bring calmness to us.
In the second quarter the Skyliners Juniors did a better job on the pick and roll after not getting the side pick and roll going in the first quarter. How much fun is it playing with Malik Kordel? I love Malik. I watched some games before I signed. I have never played with a 7 footer that has such good hands as he does. He is super young and has a bright future. I love playing with him.
In the third quarter the Skyliners Juniors were able to lead by 12 points after 30 minutes. What adjustments did the team make? We just turned up the intensity and got more stops and ran the court and pushed the pace. We made one pass to the wing and attacked.
In the fourth quarter the Tropics punched back with a 9-2 run to trail 56-52. What was key for the guests coming back? We made small mistakes. We have to learn to be consistent for 40 minutes.
The Skyliners Juniors came back with a run to get their lead back to double figurers. How developed is the cohesion of the team?
I think that we have good energy. When we have hard moments, it tests us. Then we can see how well we can stay together, but that happens with young teams.
Malik Kordel made a massive poster dunk on Maxwell Dongmo Temoka. What were you thinking when you saw that? That is what he does. He is a great athlete that can run the court well. I have never seen a player that tall that can move so well.
When you look back at the 40 minutes of the game, what was the Skyliners biggest strength in the game? We kept fighting and where physical even if it was ugly.
You had a 15/4/2 game in 28 minutes. How content were you with your game?
I made some three´s that gave us some release. You can never be satisfied. I´m looking forward to the next games.
What was your favorite play of the game besides Kordel´s poster dunk? I liked how we played the third quarter. We began with good energy. That is how we should start every game. Make the first hit and make the opponent call a time out and put pressure on them.
Philipp Bode (179-PG-2001) is a 24 year old guard playing his 7th season for the TSV Oberaching Tropics (Pro B). He got early basketball experience playing with TS Jahn Munich (NBBL). He spoke to germanhoops.com after the loss to the Skyliners Juniors.
Thanks Philipp for talking to germanhoops.com. Did you watch the Superbowl or are you not a fan of football?
I did watch it. I was born in USA and got to know it there. We began watching the game in the car. We got home to Munich at 1.30. I then continued to watch at home.
Did some of your teammates watch or watch in groups? Some guys watched more than others.
You turned 24 on Sunday. What does a guy like you still wish for for their birthday? That is a tough question. I just generally wish to have a great life with the situation I´m in. That is most worthwhile for me.
How tough is it having a birthday on an away game? Did your teammates do anything for you?
Of course they sang happy birthday to me. I actually don´t mind having a game on my birthday. It would have been nicer having a home game instead of driving 10 hours and losing on the road. But no matter what it is simply the best sharing my birthday with my friends (teammates).
You suffered a tough 75-63 loss in Frankfurt. Do you sometimes wonder how many more wins you would have if all were fit?
Not really, but we had small injuries in the last weeks that effected our rotation. It hurts our overall rhythm and we have to keep making adjustments.
The first quarter was won 19-17 by the guests. How vital was the defensive presence of you and Mateo Jukic there?
My main duty is playing defense. That is what people expect from me. It is important for me and the team that we bring energy, because there are some older guys that are slower.
Do you sometimes try to get going in a game first with your defense to get your offense going?
It is different from game to game. Every team in the Pro B have 1-2 great players. It is my job to slow them down. Being able to do that helps us find a rhythm.
In the second quarter the Skyliners Juniors did a better job on the pick and roll after not getting the side pick and roll going in the first quarter. How tough was it keeping Malik Kordel under wraps?
Kordel is a huge presence on the court and changes the game so much. He makes the pick and roll 10 times harder to defend. He is also a great rim protector.
In the third quarter the Skyliners Juniors were able to lead by 12 points after 30 minutes. What adjustments did the they make? Their help defense was strong.
Their set defense was prepared for us and they were very present on the court. Their defense got better mid way through the second quarter already.
In the fourth quarter the Tropics punched back with a 9-2 run to trail 56-52. What was key for the guests coming back?
Our defense was good. We got consecutive stops which helped us get easy baskets. Unfortunately easy baskets didn´t happen often in the game.
The Skyliners Juniors came back with a run to get their lead back to double figurers. Were the Tropics feeling it in the legs? Yes, but we are used to it. We know how to play with fatigue. We had bad execution in that phase and missed open shots.
Malik Kordel made a massive poster dunk on Maxwell Dongmo Temoka. Maxwell seemed to take it with humor? Now Maxwell is seen everywhere being on that poster. But he is a player that tries to contest every shot. If he is on a poster on every fifth shot, then he is contesting the other 4 very well. He gets there. His quota is very good. He just keeps jumping.
When you look back at the 40 minutes of the game, what cost you the game most? Bad execution and not playing enough execution. We wanted to play more transition.
You had a 4/3/3 game in 33 minutes. You were a little unlucky with your 2 point shooting. My job isn´t to take many shots. I should of made 2 of my 5 misses. It just wasn´t my day. It was one of my worst games of the season.
You next play the tough Leitershofen who you lost by 27 points in the first game, but this time your at home. What will be key to getting the win? They are a tough team. We have a difficult program in the next weeks. But in this league everyone can beat everyone. We showed that we could beat the RheinStars. We go into each game giving 100%
The seventh placed Skyliners Juniors continued to play good basketball in the last weeks having won 3 of their last 4 games including a 87-61 on the road against the always pesky Ehingen team who like Frankfurt have many talented young players. With the regular season going into the last stage, every game is important for the jockeying of the playoff places. Frankfurt didn´t have an easy opponent this weekend as they had the TSV Oberaching Tropics who despite being banged up for weeks and not having a full roster still had a positive 9-8 record and were in fifth place. Head coach Mario Matic who was a easyCredit BBL player in 2008 with Nordlingen has done a great job for years keeping players and developing a great team chemistry. Oberaching had a positive 3-2 record since the new year, but only 3-5 on the road. Frankfurt had to say farewell to veteran Philipp Hadenfeldt who for a second time in the last 2 seasons took a semester abroad this time in Italy. But they had hauled in Finish point guard Chuki Chukwuma who had been solid in his first 3 games including 28 points against the RheinStars Cologne. On a cold Sunday evening, both teams met in the BCM in Frankfurt and saw a very low scoring and tight first half, but in the second half the Skyliners Juniors found to their game better and took control and in the end won easily 75-63. “In the first half we didn´t really have a good offensive flow, but our defense was pretty good. We had a few individual mistakes and they over gambled a bit. In the third quarter we upped our defense allowing only 6 points. That helped us get good control of the game which we kept to the end”, stressed Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka (195-G-2008). The TSV Oberaching Tropics as usual weren´t complete again as captain Janosch Koegler was sick and Jorg Dippold was injured. They stuck with Frankfurt for a half, but in the second half just couldn´t keep up their consistent defense from the first half as the Juniors executed well and played great inside out basketball. “We didn´t have the necessary energy, concentration and focus tonight. We were satisfied at the break that we were only down by 1 point. We didn´t play a good first half. We had a slow start in the third quarter and that carried over until the end”, stressed TSV Oberaching Tropics guard Omari Knox.
Chuko Chukwuma at the FT line
The first quarter was a back and forth battle with 5 lead changes where no club could get away from the other. Both teams were concentrating more on getting the ball inside. Ex IBAM center Fynn Fischer who played 3 BBL games scored twice while Frankfurt got a bucket from big man Malik Kordel and a basket by Jamie Edoka as the game was dead locked 7-7. 38 year old Omari Know who averaged 22,0ppg in 8 Regionalliga seasons showed he can score in bunches as he presented his deadly mid range game for the 11-7 Tropics lead. Jamie Edoka who turned 17 years old a few weeks ago continued to play with crazy self confidence hitting a trey to trail only 11-10. The Tropics continued to find Fynn Fischer as he made 2 lay in´s to keep Oberaching ahead 15-12. Three´s hadn´t been on the menu, but ex Hanau guard Bruno Albrecht nailed a trey to tie the game at 15-15. The guests had the narrow 19-17 lead after 10 minutes getting free throws from Fischer and a lay in from birthday boy Philipp Bode. TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 47% from the field while Frankfurt was at 33%. Both teams couldn´t hit the ocean from outside as combined they were 2/12. Frankfurt dominated the paint area 12-6 with 3-0 offensive rebounds while their plague of coughing up the ball continued as they had 7 turnovers and TSV Oberaching Tropics only 3. “We knew that it would be a hard game. They like to bump you a lot. We aren´t used to that. We had no offensive rhythm as their pick and roll defense was good as they slowed down our side pick and roll”, stated Skyliner Junior Florian Dietrich.
Omari Knox with the step back
The second quarter continued to be low scoring as the TSV Oberaching Tropics led by as much as 9 points, but the Skyliners Juniors never stopped fighting and came back and had the 1 point lead at half-time. The TSV Oberaching Tropics came out with a lethal 9-2 run to extend their lead to 28-19. In the run The TSV Oberaching Tropics played aggressive defense and forced turnovers with their quick guards Bode and Jukic. Omari Knox added 4 points including a three pointer and Fynn Fischer and Jukic added lay in´s. Frankfurt´s offense was ok and had good looks, but they weren´t capable to hit open shots. But basketball wouldn´t be basketball without runs as now it was time for Frankfurt. Frankfurt buckled down and heightened their defensive pressure and finally started to hit shots as they escaped out on a 13-3 run to take back the lead 32-31. In the run the Skyliners Juniors got massive support from Jamie Edoka who led the offense with his leadership and scored twice while Chuko Chukwuma scored 2 three´s. “Jamie is a Pro B rookie, but plays like he has been in the league for 5 years. He just does the job and always finds a solution on offense. He reads the defense so well. Last year he had problems with the trap, but he has improved so much. He also played good defense on Omari Knox”, stated Skyliner Junior Florian Dietrich. Maximillian Peters also added a step back jumper from the wing. Frankfurt´s high energy and aggressiveness on defense led to Tropics turnovers while the Tropics defense were a bit weak on the 1-1 defense. Fynn Fischer closed out the second quarter with an old school hook shot. “We played more pick and roll through the middle. They didn´t ice as well so we got more three pointers”, commented Florian Dietrich. The Skyliners Juniors shot 36% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 23 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 35% from the field and 8% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 6 turnovers.
Jamie Edoka with the step back
In the third quarter the Skyliners Juniors were able to take total control of the game and led by as much as 14 points and after 30 minutes led by 12 points. The TSV Oberaching Tropics got on the board first as ex Fc Bayern basketball 2 German Maxwell Dongmo Temoka made a lay in to give Oberaching the 33-32 advantage. The Skyliners Juniors then exploded for a 10-0 run to capture back the lead at 42-33. In the run Jamie Edoka continued to be in attack mode as he scored with 2 drives, Bruno Albrecht added 4 points and versatile German Marvin Esser made a runner. Frankfurt tightened up their defense as they would only allow 6 points. Their help defense was their biggest strength in the quarter. TSV Oberaching Tropics couldn´t match Frankfurt´s intensity and their 1-1 defense couldn´t contain the Juniors attackers. Fischer stopped the Frankfurt run with a hook shot, but Frankfurt punched back with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 49-35. In the run Frankfurt got 3 free throws from Bruno Albrecht, a massive dunk from Dusan Nikolic from the wing and a big 2 handed dunk by Marvin Esser who received the bullet pass from Namori Omog. “He has a special knack of seeing his teammates”, said Jamie Edoka. The TSV Oberaching Tropics closed out the third quarter with a lay in by Maxwell Dongmo Temoka to trail 49-37. “Our offensive flow was very good. We had one good situation which led to another good situation. That helped raise our self-confidence. We knew they would go inside. Our help defense was excellent. We know we have to help each other because we are all like family”, added Namori Omog. “We had a lack of focus and mis communication on defense. They did a good job hitting shots”, expressed Omari Knox. The Skyliners Juniors shot 36% from the field and 22% from the parking lot and had 35 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 29% from the field and 5% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 9 turnovers.
Maxwell Dongmo Temoka at the FT line
In the fourth quarter both teams had their respective best scoring quarters in the game as both scored 26 points a piece, but the TSV Oberaching Tropics couldn´t get over the hump as they couldn´t get stops. Fans also saw a few more spectacular dunks to go home content. The TSV Oberaching Tropics got good support from ex Tuebingen playedr Niklas Schueler with 2 baskets while Frankfurt received lay in´s from Albrecht and Chuwuma and a trey from Maximillian Peters, but the TSV Oberaching Tropics couldn´t make any ground as Frankfurt led 56-43. Despite having only a 8 man rotation, the TSV Oberaching Tropics still had some energy left in their gas tank as they broke out on a 9-2 run to trail only 58-52. In the run ex BBL player Peter Zeis was aggressive scoring 5 points including a three pointer while Dongmo Temoka and Schueler made lay in´s. “We lost a little concentration. But the good thing about our team is that we are always able to catch ourselves”, stated Jamie Edoka. But the Skyliners Juniors fought back going on a 9-4 run to extend their lead to 67-56. In the run it was Jamie Edoka who made a lay in while Chukwuma also scored in the paint area and Bruno Albrecht hit a trey. Malik Kordel ended the run in massive fashion with a poster dunk on Dongmo Temoka. “Dongmo was hyped up I think. You should never try to jump with Malik. Nobody can stop him”, warned Jamie Edoka. Zeis stopped the run with a trey, but Edoka connected again with a trey as time in and time out, he hit big shots for the 70-59 lead. “With Hadenfeldt gone, I know that I have to show even more responsibility. I´m ready for it. I know that I have too many turnovers, but I´m working on it. I´m always ready to take the big shots”, warned Jamie Edoka. Knox did add a trey, but Frankfurt closed out the game strong with a Kordel alley-oop dunk and Chukwuma three pointer. “We pushed the ball and got the ball inside and got easy baskets in our run, but Frankfurt got their offense going again and hit three´s stated Omari Knox. The Skyliners Juniors were led by Jamie Edoka with 21 points while Bruno Albrecht added 16 points and Chuko Chukwuma 15 points while the TSV Oberaching Tropics were led by Fynn Fischer with 16 points while Maxwell Dongmo Temoka added 12 points. The Skyliners Juniors shot 46% from the field and 31% from outside and had 44 rebounds and 23 turnovers while the TSV Oberaching Tropics shot 37% from the field and 11% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
