ProB

Travis Thompson Heats Up In Third Quarter Lifting The Fraport Skyliners Juniors Past The Licher Basket Baeren 88-76

The second half of the 2016-2017 Pro B season is fast underway and as always new players coming and going is as common now in the season as Houston Rocket James Harden racking in those double doubles to nobodies amazement and two new faces entered the court Sunday night in the BCM in Frankfurt as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors had reeled in 26 year old 201cm American Rilwan Bakare who had played at four different schools in his career before starting his professional basketball career in 2014 in Germany with TuS Breckerfeld (Germany-2.Regionalliga) where he averaged 19,9ppg and 10,5rpg in 18 games and last season he showed his raw abilities with BK Iskra Svit (Slovakia-SBL): 18 games: 11.2ppg, 6.8rpg, FGP: 57.8%, FT: 58.5%. He started this season in Finland with Pernion Urheilijat Basket (Finland-1st Division) playing 2 games averaging 20.0ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.0spg, before moving to Union de Santa Fe (Argentina-TNA) where he played 17 games averaging 4,5ppg and 3,4rpg and was teammates with American Mike Williams who probably had some rare Texas(NCAA) stories with future NBA players Daniel Gibson and Lamarcus Aldrige that he could pass on to his new teammates and have some of the young Germans some rare basketball facts to ponder about. The Licher Basket Baeren had brought in an American rookie with Blake Justice who had played six games at Akron before moving on Valdosta State8NCAA2) and having a fine career from 2013-2016 playing a total of 72 games and as a senior played 28 games averaging 15.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.5%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 79.3%. He had some big games against schools like Alabama Huntsville with 26 points and 25 points against Shorter. Both players came into the game wanting to display right away that they were worth every buck and the Lich scoring duo of KK Simmons and Lamar Mallory who were averaging 40 points a game combined wanted to keep up their unstoppable play, but only combined for 28 points and couldn´t withstand the hot hand and timely shooting of Travis Thompson who broke the game wide open drilling four three´s in the third quarter and notching 14 points which broke the back of the guests and propelled the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to the 88-76 victory.

Rilwan Bakare couldn´t make his debut with Frankfurt as he wasn´t cleared to play yet, but Blake Justice did scoring 14 points in his professional debut and was excited about finally getting that first game of his back, but at the same time disappointed in the loss. “I felt a little rusty as this was my first game in 7 months, but felt good to get into the flow. I have only been here 5-6 days so I have to get used to how the my teammates and team play. We had too many turnovers and let Frankfurt get too many easy baskets and put backs, stressed Ohio native Blake Justice. Fraport Skyliners Tim Oldenburg was sporting a new Jutsin Biberish type of hairdo, but that didn´t seem to get messed up in the overall physical game. “Both teams had a lot of energy. It was only too bad that the refs didn´t know what kind of line they would call. It was nice to play together with Stefan Ilzhoefer and Niklas Kiel. We were individually stronger than usual with this lineup and we played well together as a team for many phases”, stressed Fraport Skyliners Juniors forward Tim Oldenburg. “We got beat on the glass all night long. We gave up something like 40-50 points on offensive rebounds and turnovers. You can´t beat anyone like that when your giving up that many points. We beat ourselves, but we did fight until the end”, added Licher Baskets Baeren guard Kareem Jamal Simmons.

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Courtney Belger (FC Schalke) Coach Has Been Tough On Me To Play As Best As I Can At All Times. And It’s Helping Me To Perform Better

Courtney Belger is a 27 year old 187cm guard from St Louis that is playing his fourth professional season and first with FC Schalke 04 (Germany-ProB)Last season he played with the Itzehoe Eagles (Germany-ProB): 24 games: 12.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 4.5apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 65.6% and Kalamunda Eastern Suns (Australia-SBL) playing 14 games: 21.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 4.1apg, Steals-4(3.1spg), FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 22.4%, FT: 80.8%. He played his first two professional seasons with TV Ibbenbuehren (Germany-Regionalliga). He started his basketball career at Quincy (NCAA2) in 2008 where he played until 2012 playing a total of 113 NCAA 2 games. As a senior he played 27 games averaging 11.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 47.8%, 3PT: 10.5%, FT: 72.0%. He improved his scoring and rebounding average each season. He spoke to German Hoops after the big 86-77 win against the VFL AstroStars Bochum.

Courtney congrats on the 86-77 win against the VFL AstroStars Bochum. How good does it feel coming into 2017 with a big win?

Thanks Miles. It feels great. We had dropped two in a row and knew we needed to make up for the points somewhere. When you lose a couple games in a row everyone starts to get tense, so it’s always a big accomplishment to pick up the next win.

After a slow start in the first quarter, FC Schalke picked it up in the second quarter scoring 25 points. What adjustments did you make on the offensive end to be able to score easier?

We started to get stops and rebound better which allowed us to get in transition. We also started to run our systems cleaner and make clear reads out of them. In the first quarter we had the brakes on and were too passive.

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Demetrius Ward (MTV Wolfenbuettel Herzoege)Being A Player´s Coach Is Making Me A Better Player As I See Things Differently On The Court

Demetrius Ward is a 26 year old 188cm guard from Detroit, Michigan playing his fifth professional season with MTV Wolfenbuettel Herzoege (Germany-ProB). This is his fourth Pro B season with the club after having helped the team move back up from the Regionaliga last season where he played 21 games: 11.8ppg, 4.3rpg, 4.8apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 34.2%, FT: 72.9%He played at Western Michigan from 2008-2012 playing a total of 129 NCAA games and as a senior played 31 games averaging 12.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.0apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.3%, 3PT: 31.5%, FT: 76.2%. He recently was promoted to player/coach and spoke to German Hoops after the big 87-69 win against the Artland Dragons.

Demetrius congrats on the big 87-69 win against the Artland Dragons snapping the Wolfenbuettel 7 game losing streak. How good does it feel getting revenge on the first loss to Artland?

Hello Miles, Happy New Year’s to you as well. It feels really good to get a win after all these tough losses we had.

Wolfenbuettel started off slow in the first quarter notching 13 points, but exploded for 30 points in the second quarter. What was key on the offensive end for more than doubling the first quarter points?

Most of our shots wasn’t falling in the first quarter. We also picked up our defense and was able to get a few steals and some easy baskets to build confidence.

How content are you with the team that even after the 30 point second quarter, the club didn´t let up and led by as much as 22 points in the third quarter?

I’m very pleased with our efforts in the in the game against Artland today. Artland is one of the best if not the best scoring teams on our side, and to be up as many as 22 we have to be pleased with that.

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Brian Butler (ScanPlus Baskets) Ready To Mix It Up At The 2017 EasyCredit BBL Slam Dunk Contest

Brian Butler is a 25 year old 196cm German forward playing his second season with the ScanPlus Baskets Elchingen (ProB) where currently he is averaging 13,5ppg, 6,5rpg and 2,1apg. He started his basketball career with the FC Bayern Muenchen junior team (NBBL) and then moved to BG Illertal/Weissenhorn (ProB) where he played from 2010-2013 playing a total of 74 Pro B games. He then played two seasons with Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule (ProA) playing 65 Pro A games. He spoke to German Hoopsabout his season and being invited to the 2017 EasyCredit BBL allstar game slam dunk contest.

Brian thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on getting elected to the 2017 EasyCredit BBL Slam Dunk contest. What was your first response when you heard of this honor?

Thanks ! I was speechless! I did get a call from our manager past Friday after practice so my first reaction was what did I do wrong and then he told me that the BBL called and asked if I can compete in the slamdunk contest and that my coach and him agreed that I can. So I was really happy and thankful that they let me go.

How cool is it in general that the league makes an exception and invites a player from a lower league? Two years ago Weissenhorn German Marvin Omuvie was invited.

It’s really cool for me it’s an big opportunity to show my talent on a bigger stage of course it’s just dunking but yeah it’s what I can do best and I love doing.

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Chris Iles (Citybasket Recklinghausen) I Am Always Hard On Myself Feeling Like I Can Always Do More For The Team

Chris Iles is a 27 year old 180 cm guard that is playing his second professional season and first with Citybasket Recklinghausen (Germany-ProB. Last season as a rookie he played with BBC White Devils Cottbus (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 24 games: 23.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.6apg, 2.5spg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 78.3%He played two years at Nicholls St. (NCAA) playing a total of 61 NCAA games and in his second season played 30 games averaging 8.5ppg, 1.7rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.1%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 77.8%. He finished his college career at Xavier (LA) (NAIA). He spoke to German Hoops after the tough 77-66 loss to RSV Stahnsdorf.

Chris a tough 77-66 loss to RSV Stahnsorf which was the eighth loss in a row. Have you ever experienced a losing streak like this as a player in your career?

Hi Miles, thanks again for reaching out to me for the interview. No, this losing streak is one of the toughest things I have had to endure in my playing career. In college, I was always on a winning team.

City Basket Recklingshausen were down at halftime 35-29. How happy were you with the play at the mid way juncture of the game with a team that had lost the last seven games?

Although we were still in good shape to pull it out, I felt we missed a lot of easily shots and had some ill-advised turnovers.

Stahnsdorf went on a game changing 16-0 run in the fourth to decide the game. What disappointed you most in this run about the club and what it couldn´t get accomplished on the court?

What disappointed me most was our inability to bounce back from a small run that turned into a big run for the opponent. We didn’t get the key stops we needed.

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Trent Weaver (FC Schalke) I Need To Work On playing More To My Strengths On A Nightly Basis

Trent Weaver is a 22 year old 203cm forward from Columbus, Ohio that is playing his rookie season in Europe in Germany with FC Schalke. He got an early taste of being a professional this year as he played for the Columbus Condors (CBA). Before turning professional he played for Ohio Dominican (NCAA2) from 2012-2016 playing atotal of 98 games. As a senior he played 28 games: 15.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 72.5%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 86-77 win against the VFL Astrostars Bochum.

Trent congrats on the 86-77 win against the VFL AstroStars Bochum. How good does it feel coming into 2017 with a big win?

Thank you Miles. Coming into a new year, you always want to set the tone for the remainder of the season. The win against Bochum was a big one for us to gain momentum towards the Playoffs.

After a slow start in the first quarter, FC Schalke picked it up in the second quarter scoring 25 points. What adjustments did you make on the offensive end to be able to score easier?

As a team, we cleaned up a lot of the little errors that we were making defensively. Our defensive stops then lead to our offensive success.

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Aaron Nelson Leads The Dragons Rhondorf Past The Uni-Riesen Leipzig 86-76

In the past years the Dragons Rohndorf have had some very tight games in the Pro B against the Giants Nordlingen and Hebeisen White Wings Hanau, but in two contests, the Dragons lost by one point in two exciting and tight affairs and in both games American Cardell Mcfarland was instruemental for leading his teams past the Dragons Rhondorf. Back in the 2013-2014 season, Mcfarland who was playing his second professional season after playing in Romania was tearing up the German pro B that led him to being second in scoring and assists after the season. Against Rhondorf, Mcfarland steered the Giants Nordlingen past Rhondorf 73-72 as the American hammered home 26 points and in the 2014-2015 season, the last time Mcfarland visited the Dragon Dome, he helped lead Hanau to a 65-64 victory as he had 13 points. Last season Mcfarland played in England for Bristol and started this season with the Sheffield Sharks on a short term contract and moved to the Uni-Riesen Leipzig with the hope of being their season savior. “I feel like I’m just the missing piece of the team. My main goal is to lead another team in Germany into the playoffs. Show my leader ship abilities no matter what situation I’m in I can win. Obviously if we win I will be a huge part of that and individually success will come. I also want help the younger guys on the team reach they full potential and hopefully the get better from me being around”, stressed Cardell Mcfarland. Mcfarland was back in Rhondorf a little more than two years after helping Hanau beat Rhondorf and was looking to up his career record against Rhondorf to 3-1 while the Dragons Rhondorf were looking to take their momentum from the big 87-63 win against FC Bayern Munich and continue to defend with a passion and play with character and start of 2017 with a bang and did winning their second game in a row holding off the Uni-Riesen Leipzig 86-76 who lost their second game in a row. Mcfarland was unable to find to his old lethal scoring ways in the Pro B finishing with 10 points and two assists and shot 40% from the field, but teammate Terrence Billups isn´t worried about the American breaking out and finding back to his old habits. “We had a seven man rotation which was tough, but we didn´t come to terms with their zone defense. Mcfarland is good for us. He is smart, experienced and controlled. He brings the toughness and game IQ that we need. It was only his first game with us, he will do just fine”, warned Terrence Billups. The team mentality of the Dragons Rhondorf seems to be on a healthy way again and the club showed against the Uni-Riesen Leipzig that when they play together on both ends of the court, they are able to beat anyone in the Pro B. The Dragons Rhondorf as usual had a big production day from Aaron “the big dawg” Nelson, but also got quality games from Michael Lucier and Viktor-Frankl-Maus as well as solid minutes from Patrick Reus and Anton Geretzki. “We played hard and focused. In the past games where we were struggling, we were thinking too much, but tonight we played hard, had fun and made the right decisions. We knew that Mcfarland is a good player and that he could change the game. We stayed focused on him for 40 minutes and didn´t give him anything easy”, stated Canadian Michael Lucier.

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Jervon Pressley (Dresden Titans) You Are Only As Good As Your Last Performance

Jervon Pressley is a 21 year old 203cm forward from Charlotte, North Carolina that is playing his rookie season in Germany with the Dresden Titans. He started his basketball career in 2011 with Towson (NCAA) playing 31 games averaging 3.6ppg, 3.0rpg. In 2013 he moved to Hampton (NCAA) playing 21 games averaging 6.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 43.8%, FT: 56.9%. In his junior year he played 32 games averaging 6.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 44.3%, FT: 54.5%. As a senior he played 27 games averaging 6.6ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 46.7%, FT: 53.2%. He spoke to German Hoops about the first few months of his rookie season.

Jervon thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 75-61 win at home against the Hamburg Towers. How much of a release was it getting that 10 game losing streak monkey off your back?

It was a great release for the club and the long loyal supporting fans.

This was the best defensive performance of the season. Why do you feel did it take so long to defend consistently for 40 minutes?

I just feel as if everything is coming into play, we have a new coach and a new defensive philosophy, took time to adjust but everyone bought in so we could go into this break and new year with a win. “You are only as good as your last performance”.

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David Sturner (Dresden Titans) We Are Now Starting To Trust Each Other And Do The Little Things It Takes To Be A Great Defensive Team

David Sturner is a 206cm power forward/center playing his second season in Germany for Pro A team Dresden Titans He started his basketball career with Oregon State playing 13 NCAA games and then moved to S.Oregon (NAIA) and as a senior played 31 games: 14.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 56.2%. He started his professional basketball career with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Australia-Central ABL) before coming to Germany. Last season for Dresden he played 27 games averaging 13.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 31.7%, FT: 65.4%. This season he is averaging 17,3ppg, 8,3rpg and 3,0apg. He spoke to German Hoops after the big 75-61 win against the Hamburg Towers.

David thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 75-61 win at home against the Hamburg Towers. How much of a release was it getting that 10 game losing streak monkey off your back?

My pleasure Miles, always great to talk with you! Thank you, I think it was very important for us to get that win going into the break. Not so much to end the losing streak, but to put us in the right direction heading into the second half of the season.

This was the best defensive performance of the season. Why do you feel did it take so long to defend consistently for 40 minutes?

I think we had focused a lot on pushing the tempo against teams and getting quick shots that often times put us in bad spots on defense. Since coach Flynn has been with us, our focus is defense, and we are now starting to trust each other and do the little things it takes to be a great defensive team.

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Cardell McFarland (Uni-Riesen Leipzig) I’ve Never Disrespected The Game Just Sitting Out Because I’m Faking An Injury

Cardell McFarland is a 29 year old 182cm point guard from Evansville, Indiana that is playing his fifth professional season and recently signed with the Uni-Riesen Leipzig. He started the season with the DBL Sharks Sheffield (United Kingdom-BBL) playing 11 games and averaging 10.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.0apg, 2FGP: 56.5%, 3FGP: 40.0%. Last season he played with the Bristol Academy Flyers (United Kingdom-BBL): 24 games: 17.6ppg, 3.8rpg, Assists-5(4.8apg), FGP: 51.5%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 66.7%. He started his basketball career at Missouri State and then played his last two seasons for Ky Wesleyan (NCAA2). As a rookie he played for CS Farul Constanta (Romania-Division A): 7 games: 12.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 88.5%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for the Giants Noerdlingen (Germany-ProB), playing 18 games: Score-2(23.8ppg), 3.1rpg, Assists-2(5.6apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 65.3%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 72.5%. In the 2014-2015 season he remained in Germany playing for the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau (Germany-Pro B) playing 20 games averaging 18.9ppg, 3.2rpg, Assists-3(5.5apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 71.2% He spoke to German Hoops about basketball and his new team Uni-Riesen Leipzig.

Cardell thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome back to Germany. How does it feel to be back in a country where you dominated with your game on the floor?

No worries, Miles its always a pleasure speaking with you. It really feels great to be back in Germany. I’m familiar with the leagues here and I love the culture and country. It will be an easy adjustment. I’m not to worried about the past success I’ve had here. I’m looking forward to the challenge of making an even bigger impact.

Your first stay was in a village in Nordlingen, your second stay was a big town Hanau and now your in a real city of Leipzig. Does it feel more like home in Evansville where you can find a Mcdonalds?

I’ve learned you can find a McDonald’s anywhere no matter where you go. I plan on trying my best to stay away from the fast food. McDonald’s in Europe is great other Americans will understand what I’m saying. Evansville is actually pretty small city compared to here. Leipzig is a beautiful city especially in the summer time. Really nice parks and lakes. Has a good football team which is currently tied for 1st in the league so it also has a good sports vibe here. East Germany is different from the last two areas I previously played in Germany but I like new experiences. I’ll adventure out more and get to know the city in my time here.

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