Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Johan Gruenloh

My biggest highlight of my basketball broadcasting season is always the JBBL (U-16) and NBBL (U-19) top 4 that is held every year in May. This small tournament features Germany´s best teams and youth players battling to win the titles. I enjoy it so much, because you can witness how young men compete and then years later be able to remember this time when they continue to move up the basketball ladder into the pro ranks. Guys that I had seen in the last years that have made a name for themselves were players like Franz Wagner, Bruno Vrcic, Nelson Weidemann, Benjamin Schroeder, Jonas Mattissek and Nils Machowski. I also enjoy being able to do the play by play even if it is very challenging calling 4 semi-finals on Saturday and 2 finals on Sunday. The 4 semi-finals is the biggest challenge of the season for me simply because I´m in nonstop action from 11:00 am to about 22:00 am with very little time for breaks and small talk with people attending the great event. Being able to remember all the names of the players is the biggest challenge. Making mistakes and here and there mixing up players happens every time. Preparation is a big part of being able to be as successful as possible in describing the action on the court. This was my sixth top 4 after having been in Frankfurt 3 times, in Quackenbruck and in Jena. This year it was in Berlin and I would have my longest road trip so far covering this illustrious event.

Dirk Bauermann and Steffen Hamann

I had some real misfortune this time around as on that weekend where the top 4 was scheduled for, I had some personal business as well that I couldn´t realize. My Aunt had a massive family get together on Friday night and my town had the annual kirmes activity. But what one doesn´t do for the love of the game? My journey to Berlin began on Friday afternoon as I took the ICE train to Berlin. I don´t travel much by ICE anymore these days so much, so being able to take in the pretty landscape was something I enjoyed. Besides reading notes for my broadcast and reading some basketball literature, I was able to sit back and rest a bit before the stress would start on Saturday. It may be stress, but, but stress I love. There is a big difference there. I arrived in Berlin on Friday night around 21:30 and still had to take a tram and subway to finally reach my destination. A big non basketball highlight occurred at the Berlin main train station. I was searching for the tram and first asked 3 women who gave me that feared famous line “We aren´t from Berlin, we can´t help you”. Then I moved to my right and observed a well dressed lady who was just standing there minding her own business and then I asked her if this track was where the train went to Charlottenberg. She said yes. Then I just blurted out. “hey I know you”. She respondes “No you don´t”. Yes I do. You played on the Soap opera “Unter Uns. You see I did watch your show”. The lady was Petra Blossey a German actress who was one of the stars on Unter Uns between 1994-2019. She smiled and it seemed like she didn´t really want anyone to know. We got on the train and mingled briefly and I told her my story. I asked her for a selfie and she just said. “Let´s try to make it as discreetly as possible”, she smiled. Well everybody saw it, but no one cared. I finally arrived my hotel at 22:15. There I checked in and met with journalist Jan Finken and some of the employees of the NBBL and DBB who were chatting. Later I arrived in my room and went to sleep. I needed enough rest for the big Saturday with 4 games.

Yanu Slingerland

Over the years I had had many side kicks, guys that had done play by play with me and this time it wouldn´t be any different. I was assigned a who´s who of the best known German basketball figures that one could only imagine. I would have the pleasure calling games with legendary ex German national team coach Dirk Bauermann who had won 9 BBL titles and led Germany with Dirk Nowitzki to the Silver at the Euro 2005, Steffen Hamann an ex player who had been on that 2005 national team and played most of his career with Bamberg, current U-18 youth national team coach Alen Ibrahimagic and ex player Jan Jagla who had had an illustrious career playing at the 2008 Olympics and winning the 2008 ULEB Cup with Spanish ACB team Joventut and Ricky Rubio. The first game was at 11 am and pitted the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg against Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg. It was the Oldenburg Cinderella story of the season against Ludwigsburg that had won the JBBL title before in 2015. Oldenburg had come into the season as a team that probably wouldn´t even make the playoffs, but in the end had an incredible 18 winning streak. The players developed time by time and the self-confidence rose as well. This was a game where Oldenburg was never in danger of losing. Oldenburg began quickly scorching Ludwigsburg for 29 points in the first quarter. Ludwigsburg did find an offensive groove in the second and third quarter scoring 46 points combined, but couldn´t damper Oldenburg´s offense much as they also scored at ease. In the fourth quarter, Oldenburg showed once more their heart allowing only 8 points and easily sealing the win. Oldenburg´s 2 stars Yanu Slingerland and Djordje Klaric combined for 50 points showing their incredible game as a potent duo. I got the ultimate compliment as Dirk Bauermann said as the game began that it was an honor to call a game with me. He was an incredible analyst who gave insightful information about the players. I was able to call the second game with Steffen Hamann who is coach of the German U-15 team. He as well was a great side kick giving his knowledgeable insights about the young boys. This game was between Alba Berlin and Ratiopharm Ulm and belonged to the most exciting game of the weekend. This is a game that deserved 2 winners. Both teams gave it their all, but Alba Berlin eked out the exciting 86-83 victory in overtime. It was the duel between the 2 stars Anton Kemmer and Teo Millic and nobody disappointed as they combined for 56 points. Alba Berlin trailed with 24 points at halftime, but made an inspiring comeback in the second half. It was a total team effort and it was Anton Kemmer that tied the game at 73-73 with 13 seconds remaining to send the game into OT. In the end it was the deeper bench of Alba Berlin that prevailed. Ulm was exhausted and star Millic had cramps. Kemmer made the big shot for the 84-83 lead and win.

Djordje Klaric

One wondered if one could top the Alba-Ulm game, and the first NBBL semi-final proved to be another very exciting game as FC Bayern Munich battled the Young Rasta Dragons. I called this game with German U-18 head coach Alan Ibrahimagic. He also gave insightful facts about the top players and game. For me this was the real final that really was only a semi-final. It was a game that showcased the top guards in youth basketball with Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu and Jack Kayil (191-PG-2006) and Joshua Bonga. A big factor in the game was Vechta being able to insert top German prospect Johan Gruenloh who had played only 1 NBBL game and had concentrated his season with the easyCredit BBL. Munich came out strong and had the 20-14 advantage after one quarter, but Vechta fought back and led 34-33 thanks to their strong guard duo. The Young Rasta Dragons took control in the third quarter once again thanks to the dominating play of Kayil as well as Gruenloh who hit 2 three´s to lead by 8 points after 30 minutes. In the fourth quarter FC Bayern Minuten made a last run under the watchful eyes of Marko Pesic who was there to watch son Luca play. But in crunch-time the guard duo of Kayil and Bonga was too much as they sealed the win with clutch three´s to win 78-71. Johan Gruenloh was the X-factor with his 23/14 game. I was able to call the last NBBL semi-final game between the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg and Porsche BBA Ludwisgburg with ex player Jan Jagla. He also displayed informative facts about the game and the youth players. Ludwigsburg went into the game as the favorite, but trailed 20-15 after a quarter. Ludwigsburg found better to their game and heightened their field goal percentage and were led by athletic freak Esli Edigin that supplied 12 points. Oldenburg took control of the game in the third quarter to lead 60-43 as the three point accuracy of Milan Evin was massive. Ludwigsburg fought and trailed only 60-57 thanks to a big 3 from Marko Masic, but in crunch-time, Oldenburg had the better nerves winning 81-74. Milan Evin led alls corers with 20 points.

Karl Buehner

On Sunday morning, I once again was in the lobby at 9:30 and asked the Oldenburg coaching staff if I could ride the bus to the arena. The coaching staff just smiled. Of course you can. You are our good luck charm. You rode with us yesterday and gave us luck and will do the same today. Being their good luck charm was my other best personal experience at the weekend. I once again called the game with Dirk Bauermann. The first final was the JBBL final between the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg and Alba Berlin and this promised to be a classic. It had the same kind of course as the first game for Alba Berlin. The first half was a close battle, but in the third quarter like against Ulm, Alba Berlin struggled and trailed 65-52 as the dynamic duo of Klaric and Slingerland dominated. But Alba Berlin wasn´t about to lay down and wilt like a flower, but made one last run in the fourth quarter led by Anton Kemmer´s powerful game and key three´s by Fin Borczanowski and Sebastian Christancho dead locked the game at 70-70. Big man Bruno Walz made the game winning shot with 11 seconds. Alba Berlin had one more chance for OT, but the ball didn´t fall. Slingerland had a monster game of 23/18 and 8 steals while Djordje Klaric had 28 points and was voted Top 4 MVP. I had 3 hours time until the NBBL final as the girl´s final was in between. In this time, I was able to mingle with people I knew from the German basketball scene. People I saw and others that I mingled with included people like Paul Albrecht, Tyseem Lyles, Jannik Freese, Allan Ray, Gerrit Kerstin-Thiele, Darren Stackhose (cousin of NBA legend Jerry Stackhouse), Martin Funkele and Joe Asberry. It was especially sweet to see Asberry as he is a guy I talk to daily, but never see much because he lives in Berlin. The second final was at 5:00 pm and this was between the Young Rasta Dragons and the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg. Vechta was the massive favorite and showed quickly that for them this year would be three is a charm. After losing the last 2 finals, there was no way that they would lose this one. I called the NBBL final with Alan Ibrahimagic again. The Young Rasta Dragons controlled the game and were never in danger of losing the game. Their strongest quarters were the second and fourth where they combined for 52 points. The Young Rasta Dragons had the deeper rotation and were rewarded with 6 guys that scored in double figures and were led by Jack Kayil and Karl Buehner that had 16 points a piece. Jack Kayil was awarded the Top 4 MVP. I left the gym at 8.15 and took the train home at 9:15 and was back home at 4:30 am. All in all, it was another great Top 4 that had many exciting and down to the wire games. For me as well, it was another incredible basketball experience. Thanks to the NBBL for letting me be a part of it again.

Dejan Stojanovski is a coach from Macedonia that currently is head coach of the Juniors Baskets Oldenburg U-16 team. He had playing experience playing with clubs like Bremerhaven, SC Rasta Vechta, TSV Lesum-Burgdamm and BSG Bremerhaven. Before coming to Oldenburg, he coached Weser Baskets Bremen/BTS Neustadt. He currently helped the Junior Baskets Oldenburg win the 2024 JBB title and spoke to germanhoops.com bout it

Congrats Dejan on winning the 2024 JBBL (U-16) title. Was that the best basketball experience in your life so far?

Yes I can say so as a coach. I also had nice memories as a player. As a player you have no worries and just play but as a coach it´s different. I have had other nice memories as coach like being an assistant with Vechta when they moved up and also being an assistant coach with Phoenix Hagen where we reached the final in the NBBL- Fabian Bleck was my player. 50% of my players never played at a level like JBBL before this season. But I´m sure the Alba Berlin players will go their ways

How big can one rate the JBBL title? I mean you were the underdog since day 1?

You have to rate this very high. We were always the underdog. We lost many close games and had to enter the regulation round. We had to go step by step. When we beat Vechta by 30 points, I realized that this might be a special team. Then we just kept winning and took it one game at a time. When we beat Chemnitz, I knew that they were ready for more.

How was the bus ride home. Some of your players said that they would listen to music and sing. Was it really like that?

Despite the NBBL team losing, the guys still celebrated. The first hour there was a lot of music and it was loud. The NBBL guys were happy for our guys.

I rode the bus to the game with the team both games and you won. Was I the good luck charm?

Hey good, yes you brought us luck. It was all so positive. We had a lot of support from everyone.

If someone had told you in September 2023 that the Baskets junior Oldenburg would win the 2024 JBBL title what would you have thought?

I would of never thought that and declared that person for crazy. We had 2-3 talented kids and 5-6 guys that could play at the level. We thought we would play to stay in the group and we never had playoffs on our minds.

I had the sense on the second bus ride to the gym that your boys had that no fear mentality. Did you also feel that despite playing against the big name Alba Berlin?

Yes I did. I never felt like we had fear. I always told the guys that no matter who we play, just play our game for 40 minutes. Our goal was to play as hard as possible and see if they would be ready for our game.

In the first half Oldenburg were the more energetic and awake team. Did Alba Berlin play scared?

Alba Berlin definitely weren´t there. We were ready. We didn´t prepare anything special for them. We played the same way that we did against Ludwigsburg. It was really nothing special. We also defended the same way.

Oldenburg had control of the game in the second half, but Alba Berlin came back. Did you get tired as a team?

I told the guys not to be afraid to win. I told them to continue to play our game. Of course basketball is always a game of runs. They came back and hit three´s. But we made the last punch and stopped them.

Did Oldenburg want it more at the end?

I think we really did. We were very lucky to have an incredible duo with Klaric and Slingerland. Slingerland is a great motor that kept Klaric´s back free all season long.

Alba Berlin player Jona Drucker took the last shot. What was your feeling when he released it?

We lost him for a second on switch. The ball flew and the world stopped for me. I just thought please don´t go in now. But the game wouldn´t have been over. My players told me after that the shot would of only counted as 2 points.

Djordje Klaric was Top 4 MVP, but couldn´t there have been co MVP´s with Yanu Slingerland?

I think Yanu would have deserved as well. But that isn´t my job to decide. The MVP is only an individual title. For me the whole team was MVP. All his teammates helped him achieve this.

The worth of Djordje Klaric and Yanu Slingerland is indescribable. What do you appreciate most about their games?

Their worth is so big. They are together a big motor. But the others are also so important. We have so many guys doing dirty work. I appreciate their winning mentality the most. They show it in each practice and game. Klaric never wants to lose.

How valuable is Matti Oldiges? Does he sometimes get lost in the shadow of Klaric and Slingerland?

Yes he does. He has made an unbelievable development this season. He is 3 days away from being born in 2010. He is playing already at a high level in the JBBL at his age. The stability he gave us was so valuable. If he hadn´t been able to bring the ball as much as he did then we would have had problems. Klaric can´t do it the whole time. He was one of our most important puzzle pieces in our success.

Talk a little about how valuable Bruno Walz was. How important was his game around the rim against Alba Berlin?

Bruno is very underrated. He has only played since 1,5 years. I remember when he came, he had no idea what he had to do and his shot was horrible. He also has made an unbelievable development this season. He worked hard for minutes and we gave him trust. He is also a great guy. He is like a bear to hug. It is also great to see how happy he is for his play. I remember during the Berlin game he came to me and said, did you see my block on Kemmer. He is so satisfied and happy with everything.

How do you feel did you grow as a coach this season?

There was so much turbulence this season. I knew many of the kids coming into the season. I set many impulses and grew as a coach. It is great that you get rewarded for your work. But it is so incredible how this season came together. When everything works, you really can reach the peak. I also learned a lot form Pedro Calles. I learned how a team culture should be. I´m from the Balkan and follow Serbian basketball. I took a lot form the Serbian U-18 Gold medal team into this season. They also had a Cinderella season like we did.

Djordje Klaric wants to return as JBBL player and thinks they can defend title. What is the next step for you? Will you remain as JBBL coach? It would be fitting wouldn´t it?

Yes of course. After winning the title, next season would be another big challenge. Just because you have the MVP, doesn´t mean the next season will be like the last one. We all have to improve and develop further. I don´t think that another JBBL season would be right for Djordje. The club will make that decision. I don´t know about my situation. Mladen Drjiencic is coming back to head the youth department. We will see what happens with my situation. I enjoy coaching at this level. I will enjoy a few days now and then get ready for the off season work.

Thanks Dejan for the chat.

Yanu Slingerland is a 16 year old 188cm guard playing his first season for the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg JBBL (U-16) team. He is originally from the Netherlands and helped his team win the JBBL title in Berlin. He was the most improved on the team and spoke to germanhoops.com after the 2024 JBBL title.

Congrats Yanu on winning the 2024 JBBL (U-16) title. How do you feel?

I feel great. Nobody thought that we could ever win this. We were always the underdog this season. But we showed that we could win the title.

If someone had told you in September 2023 that the Baskets junior Oldenburg would win the 2024 JBBL title what would you have thought?

I wouldn´t have believed it. Our coach thought that we could make the playoffs after the regulation. I never would have thought that we could reach the top 4.

I had the honor of taking the Oldenburg team bus to the arena on final day. I remember on the bus we are going to blow out Alba Berlin. Who said that?

I think that I said this. I always thought we could win. I had total faith in the team.

In the first half Oldenburg were the more energetic and awake team. Did Alba Berlin play scared?

I think that Alba may have thought coming in that we would be an easy match up and thus relaxed too much. I didn´t think though that we would play so well at the start.

Oldenburg had control of the game in the second half, but Alba Berlin came back. Did you get tired as a team?

Yes I think we were. I came out for 1 minute and then had to come in right away. We were tired as a team because we really played a lot of minutes.

Did Oldenburg want it more at the end?

Yes I think that we did. When they came back at the end we were able to stop their last run and close out the game.

Alba Berlin player Jona Drucker took the last shot. What was your feeling when he released it?

I had the perfect view and thought it would fall. We were lucky that it went in and out. But I think it would have only been a 2 anyway.

I think that Oldenburg wouldn´t have won without you. You were my MVP.

I come in and just try to do all I can for my team. I would have loved to have been MVP but Djordje deserved it. It´s ok.

What you do appreciate most about your teammate Djordje Klaric?

He is a very good player and very humble. He always knows when to score and when to pass. He always knows how to help the team.

You have made incredible massive strides in 1 year. How do you explain this rise?

At the start it was very difficult, because it was my first time playing and everything was so new to me. I had to change the mechanics on my shot and that was hard. I think that having very good court vision anyway has helped my game very much

How much does your ambition to continue to play basketball grow with this title?

This title gives the team and me a lot of confidence. I want to continue playing and hope I can play NBBL next season.

How will 14-16 year olds celebrate on the bus trip home?

We will listen to a lot of music and sing. Being together as a team after winning the title is the best.

Thanks Yanu for the chat.

Djordje Klaric (2009) is a 15 year old 190cm point guard that just completed his JBBL season with the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg. He scored over 50 points twice and registered an incredible 41 points and a triple double over Wuppertal. He won the 2024 JBBL Top 4 MVP and helped his team to the 2024 JBBL title. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the title win.

Congrats Djordje on winning the 2024 JBBL (U-16) title. How do you feel?

I feel great. It is 100% happiness.

If someone had told you in September 2023 that the Baskets junior Oldenburg would win the 2024 JBBL title what would you have thought?

I would of said that your crazy. We had a tough season at the start, but we continued to develop and believe in ourselves.

Despite being the underdog did you believe like you could win the title?

We came to Berlin to win. We didn´t think as a team that we could win, but I never gave up thinking that we had a chance. After the first quarter against Alba Berlin, I was 100% sure that we would win.

It looked like the team had no fear to lose.

Perhaps some of us had fear, but I never did and tried to take the fear from those that had it. We had nothing to lose.

In the first half Oldenburg were the more energetic and awake team. Did Alba Berlin play scared?

I think that we showed more fight at the start. We were diving for loose balls and forcing them to contested shots. They also missed easy lay ups while we didn´t

Oldenburg had control of the game in the second half, but Alba Berlin came back. Did you get tired as a team?

We should of closed the door on them, but let them come back. When I was on the bench, they came back. I was sure we would win when the game was tied at 70-70.

Did Oldenburg want it more at the end?

Yes I think that we did. We went through so much this season. We were always the underdog, but never gave up.

Alba Berlin player Jona Drucker took the last shot. What was your feeling when he released it?

I thought that it would go in. Even though I contested it, it looked so good. When he released it I was thinking please don´t go. I had that Kawhi Leonard feeling

Congrats on winning MVP, but wouldn´t have Yanu Slingerland also have been a good candidate?

I think so. His stats of 23/18 and 8 steals were crazy. He has developed very well this season and always helps at both ends. He always plays well when opponents try to limit me. He makes the right reads. I´m very happy with how well he played.

What you do appreciate most about your teammate Yanu Slingerland?

I appreciate his defense and hustling the most. He is quicker than his brother and God gave him great hands. It seems like he can deflect every pass.

10 minutes after the title win, I observed you in a silent moment with the trophy. What were you thinking in that moment?

I don´t really know. I think I just looked back at our season. We lost the first game to Vechta. I had something like 37 points and the next top scorer had something like 8 points. There was too much isolation in that first game. I thought oh no, this could be a difficult season. But we all developed well with time.

What does this MVP title mean to you?

I´m happy I won the MVP, but winning the title was way cooler.

What is the next step for you?

I could play NBBL, but I can imagine playing JBBL. We will have many back and be strong. It would be cool to defend our title.

How will 14-16 year olds celebrate on the bus trip home?

We will listen to music and sing. We are all friends. I think I slept over Yanu´s house around 10 times this season.

Thanks Djordje for the chat.

It was a Kodak picture moment in Berlin Charlottenburg when Rasta Vechta Pro A coach Hendrik Gruhn was going down the line of Young Rasta Dragons players on the bench and giving each play hug by hug and flashing that incredible winners smile that is seen when there is total satisfaction. How tough had the last 2 NBBL years been for the Vechta junior basketball program as they had lost the final both years to Alba Berlin and last season on a buzzer beater by Nils Machowski. This season in their third final in a row, they wanted it to be 3 is a charm. And this season there would be no denying the Young Rasta Dragons as they came on a mission to Berlin and destroyed surprise team Baskets Juniors Oldenburg 89-54. Hendrik Gruhn wasn´t the head coach this season, but in a sense, it was his title as well as all the whole team were his guys. Guys that he had worked hard with the last years and had helped develop them further. Gruhn had worked closely this season with new NBBL head coach Horst Harm-Ubbo who had coached the JBBL team last season and it was a total club effort as everyone was in some way involved. The Young Rasta Dragons came into the final as the big favorite and didn´t disappoint as they led quickly from the start and never let Oldenburg into the game. German captain Karl Buehner had a giant smile on his face as he had suffered the last 2 years, but now was on top of the mountain. “The feeling to finally win the title is amazing. To lose like we did the first 2 times was tough, and we had to win it the third time. We were hungry from the start. We knew we had a big chance to win today. We defended well from start to end. I have to give a lot of credit to Hendrik Gruhn who helped so much and coach Horst Harm-Ubbo who prepared us so well the last 2 weeks”, stressed Karl Buehner. “Vechta is a really strong team with many junior national players. We didn´t show our best game. We just didn´t have enough to challenge their individual qualities. Our game plan was to try to close the zone and get rebounds. We weren´t able to accomplish that”, stressed Baskets Juniors Oldenburg guard Simon Kohlhoff.

Djairo Bernadina form outside

The Young Rasta Dragons didn´t waste anytime jumping all over the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg taking the rapid 12-3 lead. In the run the Young Rasta Dragons showcased their lethal inside out offense that especially focused big German talent Johan Gruenloh who scored twice inside. Give him the ball near the bucket and he will make you pay with an easy basket. Ex Fraport Skyliner Joshua Bonga (190-PG-2005)a also added 5 points including a trey as did Karl Buehner who sparkled as usual on the glass at both ends showing his incredible instincts for the ball. Vechta defended hard and aggressive and didn´t give anything simple to Oldenburg as they had to work hard for every shot. The Baskets Juniors then found some daylight and showed that they can explode in a short time as they made back to back three´s from Germans Johan Helwig and scoring ace Igor Jokic to trail 12-9. Oldenburg took advantage of Gruenloh being on the bench to get back into the game. However they couldn´t ever find a defensive identity in the game as they couldn´t slow down the immense individual quality of the Vechta players. Bonga added free throws and talented young German Moritz Gruess a mid distance jumper to lead 16-10. Collin Schroeder and Marko Petric closed out the first quarter swapping three´s as the Young Rasta Dragons led 19-13. “We begin well, but then our second unit came in and it isn´t always easy to keep the flow. Oldenburg also hit tough shots”, stated Young Rasta Dragon Karl Buehner. “Oldenburg did a good job to come back. They also have many weapons that are capable to make tough shots. Oldenburg did a good job slowing down Vecnta´s transition and didn´t allow easy points. Vechta remained cool despite Oldenburg´s comeback”, stressed German U-18 head coach Alan Ibrahimagic.

Noah Slingerland from outside

In the second quarter the Young Rasta Dragons continued to execute their offense well and were able to break open the game to lead by 23 points at half-time. 2023 NBBL champion Jack Kayil nailed a trey to open up the second quarter, but Jokic had an answer making a jumper as Vechta trailed 22-15. The Young Rasta Dragons continued to supply pressure and went on a 9-1 run to trail 31-18. In the run the Young Rasta Dragons demonstrated again that they have so many weapons as ex Iserlohn forward Linus Trettin supplied 5 points including a trey and massive alley-oop dunk as Kayil supplied the pretty pass. With so many great players on the team, is Trettin a bit in the shadow of Gruenloh and some of the other talented guards. “I don´t feel like Linus is in the shadow of others. He can do it all with defending bigger players, making three´s or dunks. We have so much quality on the team that not every guy can have a big scoring game each night”, stated Karl Buehner. Oldenburg responded with a Kohlhoff jumper to trail 31-18, but Vechta never stopped applying defensive pressure or in anyway to put their foot off the gas pedal. They were able to up their intensity a bit more and go into the break with a lethal 16-6 run to lead 47-24. In the run the Young Rasta Dragons continued to move the ball well and get as many involved as possible. Buehner drilled home another trey while 16 year old Marco Petric gave his usual energy from the bench with 5 points and 2 lay in´s as his speed and athleticism overwhelmed Oldenburg. Kayil continued to be his aggressive self as he just dominated the way a MVP should with 8 points showing his 3 level scoring ability with a lay in, three pointer and dunk after getting a steal. Jokic closed out the first half with a timely three pointer. “Kayil was key leading us. We had a lot of fast break baskets helped by our defense that we also were able to raise. Our guard pressure was outstanding and we helped each other”, stressed Karl Buehner. “Vechta was able to break open the game. They played smart defense, but not too aggressive. When Oldenburg closed the zone, Vechta made three´s”, commented Alan Ibrahimagic.

Karl Buehner with the block

In the third quarter the Young Rasta Dragons remained consistent and just continued to execute very well on offense and defend well as the Baskets juniors couldn´t make any ground what´s so ever. It was obvious that the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg needed to have a strong start into the third quarter, but the opposite happened as it was disastrous. Oldenburg allowed the Young Rasta Dragons on a 10-0 run to trail 57-24 after the first few minutes. In the run, the Young Rasta Dragons punished Oldenburg inside. Vechta used their height and physicality advantage getting 2 lay in´s from Buehner, while Trettin made a dunk, Grunloh a tip in and Bonga a lay in. It seemed like with every new basket, Oldenburg´s confidence went down more and more as they were falling apart. Vechta´s body language was incredible as the only thing on the minds of the players was team basketball. Vechta continued to execute the way they wanted to playing smooth inside out basketball as Bonga connected for a trey with 1 second on the shot clock and Kayil made another lay in to lead 64-30. High damage had been done by the Young Rasta Dragons and in the last minutes, they stepped off the gas pedal and allowed Oldenburg to close out the third quarter with a strong 10-1 run to trail 65-40. Miran Evan who had been a central figure in the semi-final win over Ludwigsburg with 20 points came alive with 6 points all in the paint. He changed his game a little after having misfortune from down town in the first half going 0-4. Little used undersized big Leander Nzume who began to play at age 14 gave immense energy from the bench scoring 4 points. “Oldenburg showed real character by continuing to fight despite being down by 30 +”, expressed Alan Ibrahimagic. “They defended very well and we had to take many contested shots. Their aggressive guard pressure and rim protection hurt us”, stressed Simon Kohlhoff. “We wanted to keep our intensity high right from the start so they wouldn´t have any chance of coming back”, added Karl Buehner.

Karl Buehner 3 is a charm!

There was absolutely no let down by the Young Rasta Dragons in the fourth quarter as even their bench kept the play high and was able to execute and win the quarter 24-14. Both teams came out letting it rain three´s as Vechta got support from Buehner and Petric while Noah Slingerland had the hot hand twice, but the Baskets Junior Oldenburg still trailed 71-46. Vechta made one more run to completely slam the door shut on Oldenburg with 9 points while Oldenburg amassed only 1 point. In the run, Vechta was aided by 2 Gruenloh lay in´s, another three pointer by Karl Buehner and free throws by Joshua Bongaa. “I made some early three´s which boosted my confidence. I missed some easy lay ups, but my rebounding was solid as usual”, stated Karl Buehner. In the last minutes Leander Nzume contiued to give Oldenburg energy and was rewarded with 3 additional buckets. “Leander is a very hard worker and gives energy in every practice. He rebounded very well and all his baskets were hustle plays”, said Simon Kohlhoff. Vechta continued to move the ball well, find open players and execute until the end. Trettin added 5 points. Oldenburg had little energy as a team and had to accept defeat. German Tim Nocke closed out the game with a lay in for Oldenburg. “We put in our bench at the end and there was no let down. They did a good job and it was fun watching them”, added Karl Buehner. “We fought until the end and just wanted to finish the game as best as we could”, added Simon Kohlhoff. The Young Rasta Dragons had 6 guys in double figures scoring led by Joshua Bongaa and Karl Buehner with 16 points a piece. Jack Kayil added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Linus Trettin 12 points and 9 rebounds while the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg were led by Simon Kohlhoff and Leander Nzume with 10 points a piece. The Young Rasta dragons shot 43% from the field and 29% from outside and had 52 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg shot 35% from the field and 26% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 19 turnovers.

Dimitrios Polychroniadis is a head coach currently coaching the NBBL (U-19 team) for the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg. As a player he played for ASC Gottingen and the Osnabruck SC. He has much coaching experience helping the Osnabruck SC win the Regionalliga title and helped USC Leipzig reach the Pro B. He also coached BBC Magdeburg. He has been with the EWE Baskets organization since 2019 and spoke to germanhoops.com before the 2024 NBBL Top 4 in Berlin.

Thanks Dimitrios for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on reaching the JBBL/NBBL top 4 with the JBBL team. This is a massive achievement. How high can one rate this achievement?

This is a huge achievement for the organization. It is even more special that both the JBBL and NBBL teams made it. It is the first time that both teams have made it. We were honored before a BBL game against Tuebingen and got a standing ovation.

Oldenburg finished the regular season with a 11-4 record. How would you summarize the regular season? The team began slow but ended strong?

I was actually the coach of the JBBL team to begin the season, but then a change was made and I took over as NBBL coach on October 3rd. Our goal when I took over was to go game by game. The start was tough as we had 7-9 guys injured and we lost the first 2 games. But with the third game we began a winning streak. Injured guys came back and shortly before Christmas, we achieved a big win in Berlin against Alba. Something clicked with the team after that win. The team realized that there was potential. We then beat Vechta. Every new win gave us added confidence. We then won 2 playoff series against good teams Goettingen and Leverkusen. We had injuries once again in these series having 3-4 guys out. But we continued to grow together as a team.

You swept Alba Berlin. That is incredible. That is something that didn´t happen the last years. Did Alba Berlin have a weak season because they lost so many guys from last season?

I can´t comment about Alba Berlin. They still had 3 youth national players and a player that got BBL minutes. We don´t have that luxury. Even if Alba didn´t have the kind of season that they are used to, they are still Alba and a tough team to play. Winning in Berlin was a milestone. We were pretty healthy. We gained a lot of confidence. We then beat them again at home. Alba had all it´s players. We had a great second half where we were in the flow and were unstoppable. One has to understand that we don´t always play like that. There are some days in sport where this happens. If you were to compare team pics, we would be 5-8 centimeters smaller. We beat Alba Berlin because we had the right tactic and motivation.

Is it fair to say that defense is the team´s biggest strength. Is this a team that just plays with tremendous heart?

Yes we do. I got the greatest compliment from an ex Oldeburg player who said that he has never seen a team that dives on the floor as much as my team. We are successful because we play for each other. We do it game by game and not sometimes.

How exciting was the series against Leverkusen? That could of gone either way. How did you experience this fascinating 3 game series?

Leverkusen was a bit older than us, were more robust and athletic and played very hard. Important for us in this series was that we had the needed energy and effort to beat them in a 3 game series. We won game by 18 points because we had a strong fourth quarter and made the right run. We could of won game 2, but lost at the end because we couldn´t get the ball to the open guy under the basket. We then had a terrible practice week before game 3 because many were sick. But despite these problems, everybody that could play came together. We had a good lead, but they hit very untypical three´s to make the game close again. But we stuck together and won at the end. They missed the last shot to win.

Talk a little about Igor Jokic. Does he have to explode against Ludwigsburg for Oldenburg to have chances to win?

We don´t tell Igor to take the ball and score, score score, but his game flourishes out of the system we create. He takes the opportunities to create for himself and others. He is very good with his individual qualaties boosted through his 3×3 play with the Serbian U-18 team. It always depends how the opponent orientates themselves against him and how he and we react.

How vital are Collin Schroeder and Simon Kohlhoff? How have you seen their development?

Simon has made a big jump this season. He understood this season that he is valuable at both ends of the court. His experience in the Regionalliga really has helped him. He had problems at the start against older players, but adjusted well as time went by. He was cool against pressure and took responsibility and hit big shots. Collin also has developed very well. He is so athletic and rebounds so well. He plays with a lot of emotion and his IQ got better as well.

You won a Pro b title with Osnabrueck and helped Leipzig move up to the Pro B. What is the biggest challenge for you when coaching boys?

I have gained a lot of experience through the years. The most important thing for me is that the boys have fun and I try to prepare them as best as possible for the game on the court and in life. I love basketball and try to transport fun to them.

What is the biggest satisfaction that you get with boys that you don’t´ get with men?

I love basketball and really have always tried to transport that fun to all my teams. I try to prepare boys to get to the BBL or other leagues like the pro A or Pro B. For me the biggest satisfaction is seeing boys reach the next level and profiting from my guidance.

Is it fair to say that Oldenburg is the underdog against Ludwigsburg? What kind of game can we await?

I would call ourselves the underdog. We came from the B division. Ludwigsburg is a bit older and very athletic. I think that it will be a high level game. We will try to play our game and use our weapons as best as possible.

Ludwigsburg allow 65 points and Oldenburg 66 points. Will this be the ultimate defensive battle and will it be an ugly game?

Every player and coaches of both teams want to reach the final. I expect that both teams will play very aggressive to be able to reach their goal. I hope my team can do this from start to end.

The other semi-final between FC Bayern Munich and the Young Rasta Dragons is like a final. Who do you see advancing to the final?

Munich is a very strong team. One saw how important Kharchenkov was in the last game against IBAM. Vechta didn´t always play with all players because the players played pro A. I await a hot dance. It will be an open game. It will also be a high level game. The best team will win.

Thanks Dimitrios for the chat.

In a span of 5 years from 2015-2019, the mighty FC Bayern Munich won the NBBL title 3 times and one could say had amassed a pretty dynasty. Then Covid was unleashed on the world and the NBBL top 4 took a 2 season break until 2022. In the last 2 seasons FC Bayern Munich reached the NBBL top 4, but had to tip their caps to the Young Rasta Dragons in 2022 suffering a brutal 68-64 loss and last year were demolished by Alba Berlin by 17 points. Moments after the buzzer sounded, I witnessed a very down Ivan Khartchenkov of FC Bayern Munich. He had loads of family and friends there. He is a hard nosed competitor that has that constant no fear attitude and winning mentality, so losing must have been the most difficult thing ever. He may have been the missing piece in 2022 had he been able to play, but he was injured and couldn´t play. While last year, he did play, but wasn´t at 100%. Currently he is 100% healthy and roaring to go. He hopes that this season will be three´s a charm. Three is a charm simply means when you failed twice and the third time could be successful. “I was practicing twice a day at times with the BBL and pro B team. I am also doing extra shooting and individual training. I want to win so badly. I am doing all I can every day to get the title”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov (198-SG-2006).

FC Bayern Munich had a so so regular season with a record of 8-6. They were swept by IBAM including losing the first game of the season by 34 points and were swept by Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg even if both games were close as they only lost combined by 8 points in both games. A big problem for FC Bayern Munich and also the Young Dragons Vechta was that they just didn´t practice much as a team together. Both teams have many talented guys that played with Regio, Pro B and Pro A teams. “It isn´t easy playing games together when you never practiced together. I couldn´t really look in the eyes of some guys and say I knew every thing about their game. Now we are taking the last week and a half as a time to practice together every day in preparation of the top 4 and get to know each other´s games better”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. FC Bayern Munich average 80 points per game, allow 75 points per game and grab 32 rebounds per game. They weren´t always at full strength during the season, but will be at the top 4. “We showed at the Pro B level what the NBBL guys are capable of. Plus we are very experienced and agile as a team. We play small ball and match up well against our opponents”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. He and Martin Kalu are the 2 main go to guys as in the NBBL, they averaged 36 of the team 80 points. Despite both of them being big German talents, they are 2 guys that harmonize well on the court. “His athleticism is unbelievable. Everything he does looks so easy. His jumping ability is amazing. The good thing is that whenever one of us is struggling, we pick each other up”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. It is obvious that the Young Rasta Dragons will do all they can to slow them down. But FC Bayern Munich have other weapons that will be capable to step up like Ivan Volf and Dominik Dolic. “ombined they average 27 points per game and could be the unsung hero´s in the game. “We will be doubled all day long, so Martin and I will look for them on kick outs. I don´t want to put pressure on them, but if we are closed down and they don´t step up, we will have difficulty winning. I´m positive that they can cope with pressure. If Martin and I are limited scoring, then we will have to create”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. Another player that will be asked to step up is Ukrainian Desmond Yiamu who is only 198cm and the team´s only true big man. He is a force on offense, but can also be that defensive stopper. “We expect a lot from him in the paint and getting rebounds. It will be a tough battle against Johan Gruenloh. But I have a lot of trust in Desmond. He has to be focused and work hard against him. He has to play smart basketball. Important will be making the first punch. He can´t go into the game thinking well let´s see what happens”, commented Ivan Kharchenkov.

FC Bayern Munich will battle the Young Rasta Dragons in the first semi-final game. In a way it is a pity that this has to be a semi-final as it could have that final magnitude. “This would have been a nice final, but at the same time, it will be good preparation for us”, said Ivan Kharchenkov. A big battle in the game will be the guard play between Kalu and him against 2023 NBBL champion Jack Kayil and 2019 U-14 German champion Joshua Bonga. He has seen the best in the world in the Euroleague so showing his best against these talented young players is nothing special. “I´m really not excited for the challenge. We all have good chances to meet in the Euroleague again one day. I´m mostly excited that I´m healthy again and have the opportunity to play for a title”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov. The recipe for winning the game is quite simple. “The team that plays the best team defense will win. We will have good chances if we can bring them out of rhythm. Defense wins championships”, added Ivan Kharchenkov who believes that the Ludwigsburg will reach the NBBL final over Oldenburg.

Going into the NBBL Top 4 Ivan Kharchenkov has played a total of 41 games including 4 ANGT games. In the BBL he played 8 games averaging 4,3ppg, played 4 Euroleague games and 20 Pro B games averaging 22,6ppg, 5,2rpg, 4,3apg and 2,0spg. This season has been refreshing for the 17 year old as he has finally remained healthy. “It feels really good to be playing injury free. I don´t have to watch my teammates play like other seasons. When your injured, you lose rhythm and it´s tough to find it again when you return. This season I built a rhythm and was able to ride the momentum all through the season”, expressed Ivan Kharchenkov. He only played 5 NBBL games averaging 24,2ppg, 7,2rpg, 4,0apg and 2,4spg. Even if he played only 5 NBBL games, it isn´t that tough finding a rhythm mainly because half of the team was on the Pro B team. In the 96-87 win over IBAM that clinched FC Bayern Munich´s ticket to the NBBL top 4, he had a massive game netting 35 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 8 dimes. Did he do anything special for this game to be able to register such outstanding stats? “I did nothing extra special. It was a big game for us and I stepped up. I played all the situations like I always did. This was the biggest youth game of my career”, stressed Ivan Kharchenkov. The young scoring guard is extra motivated to top this game especially if it means winning the NBBL title, but as always will do the things needed to win. “I will do all I can to help us win. If it means I have to play better than that game, then I will, if not I won´t. We will see”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. This will most likely be his last 2 German club youth games and will he be capable to showcase his best basketball? “No matter what happens, I don´t think that I will be able to showcase my best basketball there. The reason is I will showcase my individual game and not necessarily my team game. The NBBL team expects me to do so much for the team. I think next season is when I will showcase my best basketball in the easyCredit BBL”, warned Ivan Kharchenkov.

Shawn Scott (185-G-1996, college: SW Christian) is a 28 year old 185cm guard playing his third professional season and first with BG Hagen. Last season he split time with TVO Biggesee / TV Jahn Lindhorst (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 31.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 6.1apg, 3.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%, 3FGP: 30.4%, FT: 77.6%, in Jan.’23 moved to BG 2000 Berlin (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 14.2ppg, 8.1rpg, 4.6apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 64.4%. He began his career at Jenks High School and then played 3 seasons at Southwestern Christian University. He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.

BG Hagen lost a game 1 to the ETB Miners 91-80. What is your summary for the 40 minutes?

I think we didn’t start the game how we wanted to but in the second half we definitely had a chance but some things didn’t go our way along with us just not being smart.

Talk a little about the 40 minutes. Was there ever a moment where BG Hagen was in control or was it a game of catch up all night long?

It was definitely a game of catch up but we caught up but just couldn’t get the lead and keep it. We know where we made the mistakes and we will be prepared for it next game for sure.

BG Hagen drilled home 13 three´s, but got pounded on the offensive glass. Was this game lost on the glass?

I think at the most crucial time when we needed a rebound and didn’t get it could’ve been where we lost the game but it was definitely more than that.

BG Hagen did a Ok job on Andrew and Bryant, but couldn´t contain Kharchenkov and Selimovic. What improvements will the team have to make in game 2 on the defensive end?

The key is to not let Andrew and Bryant have their way but also not let any other players get more than they’re used to and I think kharchenkov is that person that we didn´t contain. We must be way more disciplined and smarter on defense on who we want taking shots and containing the stars as best as we can.

Only 3 guys of BG Hagen scored in double figures. Will there have to come more support from others in game 2 for a chance to win?

100%. We are already working on getting more production from everyone and I think everyone is more motivated and ready for next game.

You were close to a triple double, but I know your 7 turnovers robbed you of your sleep. Was it their aggressive defense or were you simply careless with the ball?

I was just careless with the ball for sure or some unlucky situations happened in the game that caused a turnover in the books. I’ll make sure to go over the film and tighten up for the next game.

BG Hagen has to win 2 games in a row. I´m sure you will save your best for last. How confident are you of a positive weekend happening?

I’m more than confident in us. It’s going to be a fight but we worked all season for this moment and we deserve it and we’re going for it all or going to die trying.

Thanks Shawn for the chat.

How often does one hear those famous words in sports with “what could have been”. The Fraport Skyliners had game 2 in their hands with 20 seconds to go and the last shot, but couldn´t execute as ex Carleton guard Aiden Warnholtz missed. Frankfurt could of wrapped up the series against Jena tonight, but instead entered the game with the series tied at 1-1. Frankfurt should of won game 2, but also had problems with foul management allowing Jena 35 free throw attempts. In game 3, there was a new dimension in the series as whoever won game 3 would have a match ball in Jena on Friday night. Both teams had a few days to watch film and make the needed adjustments as game 3 shifted back to Frankfurt and this time the Fraport Skyliners stepped up their defense to another level and fans witnessed the Coplin and Muenkat show as they nailed the big shots whenever the team needed it winning 74-63 over Jena and 2-1 series lead. “It was huge for us to react the way we did tonight after allowing 35 free throws in game 2. We were physical, but at the same time kept our identity and played smart. We defended very well and often held them to low in the shot count. We were efficient on offense and our defense allowed us to have extra possessions with their 22 turnovers”, expressed Fraport Skyliners guard Booker Coplin (191-G-1997, college: Augsburg, agency: BIG). Medipolis SC Jena never had a consistent flow on offense as the Frankfurt aggressive defense forced them to more 1-1 play and to many turnovers which allowed Frankfurt to control the game for the most part. “If you have 22 turnovers and only 7 assists, then it will be difficult to win. We had difficultly getting open shots and took too many contested shots. Frankfurt did a good job getting open shots and Muenkat pushed them with his three´s. We just didn´t have enough to get over the hump”. Stressed Medipolis SC Jena forward Stephan Haukohl.

Justin Onyejiaka at the FT line

3,050 people were in the Skyliners living room and observed a very hard fought first quarter as no team led by more than 6 points. Both teams found to their rhythm quickly whereas Jena was playing very physical and got going by ex Skyliner Rasheed Moore who scored twice and always seems to be playing with a chip on his shoulder against his old team. The Fraport Skyliners did a super job moving the ball and finding the cutters and extra passes for easy hoops inside as German Justin Onyejiaka made the dunk from the extra pass by Booker Coplin and Coplin made the lay in with the extra pass by David Muenkat. Ex Schwenningen center Jacob Knauf also got hot scoring twice including an old school hook shot, but the game was tied 8-8. The three´s weren´t falling well for both teams, so boht concentrated trading buckets inside. Haukohl and Colorado native Alex Herrera scored inside while Frankfurt got to the free throw line well. Frankfurt was defending aggressively and forced Jena to 6 turnovers, but couldn´t profit too much leading 18-16 after 10 minutes. California native Ife Ajayi scored a floater to close out the first quarter. “It was important for us too stay patient early. We didn´t want to do too much and just stick to the game plan. They are a talented team and we were focused to try to wear them down”, stated Minnesota native Booker Coplin. The Fraport Skyliners shot 38% from the field and 20% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 1 turnover while Medipolis SC Jena shot 58% form the field and 0% from outside and had 7 rebounds.

Amir Hinton

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners were able to break open the game in fine Skyliner fashion with explosive and efficient offense while on defense they continued to defend with passion. A technical foul by Joshiko Saibou and 3 free throws by Bruno Vrcic gave Frankfurt a rapid 4 point play and 22-16 advantage. However Jena didn´t let that burst of power deter their game as sharp shooter Vuk Radodjicic who once hit Alba Berlin for 48 points and FC Bayern Munich for 35 points in a NBBL game nailed a trey as Frankfurt led 22-19. Ex G-League player Amir Hinton who is a freak athlete made a left handed lay in and Coplin a lay in to Keep Frankfurt ahead 24-21. Then came the turning point of the game which would give Frankfurt the big lead and one that they would never relinquish in the game as they produced a lethal 21-8 run to close out the second quarter with a severe bang and 45-32 advantage. The run was started by back to back three´s by Muenkat and Onyejiaja for the 30-21 lead. Frankfurt´s offense was in a flow while Jena was playing that 1-1 play and contested game that they weren´t going to beat Frankfurt in any way with. Frankfurt continued to overpower Jena as now their three´s were falling as Muenkat struck 2 more times for the 40-25 lead. Booker Coplin continued to be a force at both ends as he made a steal and drove home the two handed dunk and on the next play lifted the perfect lob pass to Knauf for the hard 2 handed dunk. “I couldn´t really see his dunk as my defender was on me, but I´m looking forward to watching that dunk on film”, smiled Booker Coplin. Radojicic closed out the second quarter with another big three pointer at the buzzer. “When we get steals and can run, then we are all happy and having fun. We built the momentum in that run and that fed of everyone”, said Booker Coplin. The Fraport Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 42% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Medipolis SC Jena shot 41% from the field and 22% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Kevin Mcclain from down town

In the third quarter Medipolis SC Jena made a massive run, but it wasn´t big enough to get over the hump, but they still trailed only by 7 points after 30 minutes. Ex Carleton guard Aiden Warnholtz began the third quarter with a trey to give Frankfurt the overwhelming 48-32 lead. But then Medipolis SC Jena really turned up the intensity which carried their offense which was led by Mr 1-1 Amir Hinton who brings that NBA flair to the court. He scored 4 times with each bucket more difficult and pretty than the one before. He had no problems taking on contact and finished with ease in traffic. “I always like to watch Hinton operate. He has acrobatic finishes and we really needed that from him at that moment”, added Stephan Haukohl. Jena also received 4 points from Rasheed Moore and free throws from Virginia native Blake Francis as suddenly Frankfurt led only 48-46. Jena really had come back through great individual plays while Frankfurt couldn´t find that sweet offensive flow from the first half. But they finally did get some energy and aid and finished the third quarter strong with a 7-2 run to lead 55-48. Frankfurt´s depth once again helped as the second unit gave support. 2 time NBBL champion Bruno Vrcic scored as did ex Indiana State (NCAA) guard Cameron Henry. “We came out flat and didn´t get any good looks. Shots weren´t falling”, comemented Booker Coplin. “We got 1-2 easy baskets and some stops in our run. We did a good job, but only for 5 minutes. It wasn´t enough”, expressed Stephan Haukohl. The Fraport Skyliners shot 37% from the field and 29% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 6 turnovers while Medipolis SC Jena shot 41% from the field and 17% from the parking lot and had 31 rebounds and 18 turnovers.

Rasheed Moore at the FT line

In the fourth quarter Medipolis SC Jena continued to fight, but couldn´t cut Frankfurt´s lead down any lower than 7 points as Frankfurt simply executed too well on offense and Jena was unable to get over the hump. The Fraport Skyliners got on the board first with a massive Ife Ajayi dunk after he had missed a dunk on the previous possession. Haukohl then suffered a technical foul which Bruno Vrcic iced with free throws and the 58-48 Frankfurt lead. Jena then got 5 points from the sniper Radojicic, but Frankfurt always had an answer as Muenkat and Vrcic nailed three´s for the 64-53 lead. “Vrcic works so hard. It´s really a joy to watch his hard work pay off”, said Booker Coplin. Jena got buckets from Hinton and Moore, but once again Frankfurt had an answer as Knauf made 4 free throws and Coplin a trey for the 71-57 Frankfurt lead. Frankfurt continued to play consistent defense and just wanted to play strong until the end. Jena couldn´t get stops while time was running out. Hinton scored 2 more times and Moore while Coplin hit another three pointer to close out the game. “Our second unit came in and did a good job. We wore them down. Defense wins championships”, warned Booker Coplin. “Frankfurt played consistent defense. We were too one dimensional. They knew what we were doing and read our game well. They took away our inside game and we played into their hands”, expressed Stephan Haukohl. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Booker Coplin and David Muenkat with 16 points a piece while Medipolis SC Jena was led by Amir Hinton with 21 points and Rasheed Moore with 15 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 38% from the field and 36% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Medipolis SC Jena shot 43% from the field and 19% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 22 turnovers.

Pic credit: FC Bayern basketball

Federico Perego is an Italian coach that is currently the head coach of the FC Bayern Mun ich NBBL (U-19) team. He gained experience in Italy with Prima Veroli, Bennet Cantu and Pesaro. In Germany he was on the Bamberg coaching staff for 5 years. He spoke to germanhoops.com before the NBBL Top 4 tournament in Berlin.

Thanks Federico for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on reaching the NBBL Top 4. How proud are you of the team for reaching the TOP 4? It had a very up and down season?

I think that we did a great job the whole season with the boys. We played the season until the playoffs with super young guys. Many guys didn´t play with us as they were with first team or Pro B team. We changed how we run our youth program. We focused heavily on the individual development of our players. Everybody worked very hard and I´m very happy the guys can live this experience in Berlin.

You lost the first game of the season by 34 points to IBAM and then lost the second game of the season, but swept them in the playoffs. I call that a great turn around.

Yes for sure. This shows how much the players improved. I feel like in the playoffs we controlled 75% of each game against IBAM. This tells the story of how far we came despite never practicing as a team together. I give a lot of respect and thanks to Emir Mutapcic. We all worked hard and followed one path.

What is your summary of the season? You enter the 2024 Top 4 with a 7game winning streak. Is the team playing it´s best basketball now?

I don´t know if it´s our best basketball, but we are playing solid. Now we are trying to put together ideas and form the right chemistry for the top 4. We have to improve our defense as we are playing the best team with Vechta. We need to be focused.

FC Bayern Munich scores 80 points per game and allows 75 points per game. What is the team´s biggest strength?

I believe that if we can move the ball well, then we have many weapons to score the ball. Everybody knows Khartchenkov and Kalu, but we have the possibility to score much with many other guys. I feel like if we can balance our offense then we could be a problem for all.

FC Bayern Munich as usual have very talented players especially with Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu. Are these 2 guys the top 2 guards in the NBBL?

They are two very talented players, but the top 4 will also showcase other very talented players. Vechta also have two very talented players with Kayil and Bonga. Ivan and Martin are very interesting for German basketball. I don´t remember ever seeing any young players in the last years that had a body like Kalu or guys that have the pure talent of Ivan. They are still young and have all the tools together with hard work to become great players. We will see a lot of good young talent at the Top 4.

I love to watch Ivan Kharchenkov. The kid is fearless. He will be so motivated after losing in last years semi-final. Could a tournament like this up his draft potential?

I believe that any high competition like the Top 4 will attract scouts and others. I think the Top 4 will also be important for us to see how they react and then to know how we can help them improve. It will be a good showcase for everyone.

I like to watch Ivan Volf and Dominik Dolic. How have you seen their development this season?

These 2 guys are good examples of guys that came from playing less last season to getting more minutes this season and taking advantage of it. They worked hard this season and got minutes right away in the Pro B. They were main guys in the NBBL for us this season. Volf worked on his body a lot this season and had a big impact in the IBAM playoff series.

How raw is Desmond Yiamu. How valuable is he in your offense?

He is very talented on offense. He has great basketball instincts. He is a big threat on offense. When he is connected on defense, then he is a modern day big. He can switch, guard almost all positions and is a very good rebounder. He was one of our other guys that stepped up in the NBBL and was our main 5 man in the Pro B.

You have won 8 titles in Italy and Germany at the pro level. Was it a tough adjustment coaching boys?

I actually began to coach youth basketball 20 years ago in Italy. The biggest adjustment now was that much has changed in coaching boys from 20 years ago. I have coached many great players the last years. Guys that played Euroleague or went to the NBA. For example in Bamberg I coached Zisis. I try to take things from players like that and try to incorporate it into my teachings with the young guys. I tell the boys that it is a long way to become a great player. They have to be able to control what they can control. Making sacrifices is part of the journey. It is a challenge trying to help young players. We are trying to help them reach their dreams. It is difficult, but it gives me energy.

How do you feel did you grow as a coach having experience coaching young men?

It was a new experience. We never practiced together as a team during the week, but met on Sundays for games. I had to find a way to adapt and find solutions during games. I had never experienced this in my life. Important for me was having a very close relationship with Mutapcic. Every day was different and you had time to improve. We stayed together all day for 15 hours.

The Young Rasta Dragons will battle FC Bayern Munich. In a way this is like a final. Is it not a bit disappointing that this is the semi-final and not the final?

To be honest, you may think that, but Ludwigsburg won our division. We lost both games to them. One doesn´t necessarily have to think that this game is the final. Ludwigsburg can be seen as the favorite. I however feel that Vechta is the best team. They have the most players. If you want to win the title, you have to beat them. This will be a big challenge, but we will take matchup in best way. We embrace the challenge and will try to be as competitive as possible.

This will be a very interesting game. FC Bayern Munich have a very deep roster, but I feel like the Young Rasta Dragons Vechta roster is deeper. What kind of a game can we await?

I think that the game will be of high intensity. I hope that it will be a fancy game where all the fans will have joy to watch.

This game will pit the top guards Jack Kayil and Joshua Bonga against Ivan Khartchenkov and Martin Kalu. Do you feel like this game could be decided by the guard play? Rasta Vechta have a deep roster and more experience than FC Bayern Munich. What will be key to getting win?

I believe that these 4 players will be very important for both teams in this game. We will prepare for it as if we are expecting their best team. We will prepare as if Gruenloh were to play. We will have to create a defensive system where we are aggressive and be aware of guys like Petric and their other wings. I think that the team that plays the best team defense will have the biggest advantage to win.

Who will win the other final between BBA Porsche Ludwigsburg and Oldenburg?

I know Ludwigsburg well, but haven´t really followed Oldenburg yet. Ludwigsburg is very aggressive and athletic. They also have 2-3 dangerous players like Esli Edigin. I see Ludwigsburg as one of the candidates to win the game.

How did your 5 years in Bamberg shape you as a coach?

Bamberg was an amazing experience for us all. It was a time where it was the right moment for right people in the right place. I will always remember these years. The time shaped me as a coach, because I worked with so many amazing players together. It was a life experience.

You won 3 BBL titles. Which was the sweetest?

The first 1 I think. The first title was kind of a surprise as nobody expected us to win. It was super emotional. Who can forget the crazy shot by Dwan Robinson against Munich.. It was so special because it was the first title for many.

In 2008 you coached rookie Kyle Hines. Since he has won 4 Euroleague titles. If someone had told you in 2008 that he would become the greatest American Euroleague player what would you have said?

I coached Mike James in 2013 in the third division and I remember him telling me that he would play Euroleague one day. I told him hold on Mike, cool down a bit. And now he is the leading scorer in Euroleague. It is crazy how it sometimes goes. When Kyle Hines arrived in 2008, he helped us win the second division. What was clear right away was his unbelievable work ethic. He was always the first at practice and the last to go. He also had high energy. On top of that he was a super nice guy as well. He earned every success that he has. I have only heard good things about him from people that worked with him. He is a great story for the young kids. Nobody expected him to become the Kyle Hines that we all know. He didn´t come to Italy as a known player.

Thanks Federico for the chat.