32 months or 2 years and eight months may seem like an eternity for a person living life in a jail cell, but this period of time in basketball terms can also be seen as a very long time as each season is filled with many normal events, exciting times or very special moments so not having experienced the famous basketball Hessen derby between the Fraport Skyliners and the five time BBL champion Giessen 46ers in this time has been an event that has been dearly missed. Having to move down to the German Pro A in 2013 was for many hard core Giessen fans a tragedy and horror experience like it may be for the most staunch George Clooney fans having to refrain from watching the comical Nespresso commercials, but in reality it was really a positive act in disguise as the team got a new identity as it was led back to the Beko BBL from new head coach Denis Wucherer. They have built on their strong team chemistry over this time and may be in a position now that they never would have been had they remained in the league tip toeing near the end of the standings season after season. The last time that these two club´s faced off against each other it was a spring evening in April 2013 where the Fraport Skyliners annihilated the Giessen 46ers 95-57 as Giessen had a completely ripped roster as they played with 8 Germans and a few imports as the club money woes had increased and two players with Ryan Brooks and Laquan Prowell had fled to Frankfurt in mid -season. Current players on the roster now that played then were Quantez Robertson, Johannes Voigtmann, Konstantin Klein and Max Merz breathed his first BBL minutes. The ex Giessen players that had made the trek down to Frankfurt and another ex player with Zach Peacock combined for 59 points to do in their ex team and give a last present before the team moved down. It was a long wait, but both teams finally met again as the sixth placed Fraport Skyliners who had a record of 8-4 and came off a very convincing win in Europe Cup action keeping their 7 game winning streak alive creaming Swedish team Sodertalje Kings 95-64 where their offense was clicking again like a fine tuned Formula One car met the 10^th placed Giessen 46ers who had a 5-7 record and were reeling off a 87-61 blowout loss against FC Bayern Munich. Before an almost full house 0f 4,940 patrons, the Fraport Skyliners played an all-around very strong defensive game, but their potent offense from their last Europe Cup win against Swedish team Sodertalje where they smacked the opponent for 95 points was somewhere in between hiding in Copenhagen, Denmark as it just wasn´t there, but was just good enough to win 66-55. “If we hadn´t played defense so well, we wouldn´t have won. Our good rebounding was key as well as many second chances. We didn´t shoot well, but compensated it for our good defense. Giessen switched a lot taking us out of our offense which led us to more 1-1 play. We had way too many turnovers, but our rebounding and hustle plays led us to the win”, stressed German national player Johannes Voigtmann who finished with 7 points and eight boards. The Giessen 46ers gave it a big fight and like Frankurt defended very well, but just had no consistency on offense and couldn´t hit timely shots down the stretch. “Rebounding was the key as they outrebounded us by 20 meaning they got 10 shots more and won by 11. It was an ugly game. We defended very well, but it was one of those games where shots weren´t falling for neither team”, added ex Rent4Office guard Braydon Hobbs. Going into the game Ingelwood, New Jersey native Jordan Theodore was doubtful because of a hamstring injury, but then all of a sudden he was on the court. Theodore being on the court and playing wasn´t by free choice, but because he had to. “My rehab is going well, but I wasn´t supposed to play, but the team needed me. Konstantin Klein was sick so I had to play. I couldn´t really do anything on offense. I hadn´t practiced since the Berlin game and was exhausted. I think that rebounding was the key. Giessen defended well and got us out of our sets. We got stops when we needed to and we have to stick to what we do well and that is move the ball. Giessen didn´t let us do that. I am just happy that we got the win”, stressed ex Seton hall guard Jordan Theodore.

The game quickly turned into a hard fought game where the intensity was very high for both teams. Aggressive defense was on the menu of both clubs right from the start as a lackadaisical stroll through the garden it was not, but a game where both teams had to work very hard for getting good shots. The Fraport Skyliners got on the scoreboard first as Frankfurt showcased their controlled offense as Voigtmann operated out of the post whipping the ball to Illinois native John Little who penetrated in from the wing and hit the floater. Giessen countered with Nigeria native Suleiman Braimoh connecting with an open jumper. Both teams were trying to get in rhythm on offense and Frankfurt did first going on a 6-2 run to lead 9-4. In the run, it was Cincinnati native Quantez Robertson who became a father for the second time last week found his shooting touch early dropping a step back trey over Cameron Wells, Voigtmann jammed home a put back off the Aaron Doornekamp miss and Robertson made a lay in while Hobbs hit a runner. Giessen then stopped the Frankfurt run with their own 5-0 run to dead lock the game at 9-9 as Hobbs kept them in the game with timely shooting hitting a three and ex Rice(NCAA) forward Braimoh made a lay in on transition. Despite Frankfurt having a few lapses on defense, they were able to close out the first quarter with a 10-2 run to lead 19-11 as they had the overall better offense that had many more options to work from than what Giessen got from the Frankfurt defense. In the Frankfurt run, they got scoring production from 5 guys as sharing the ball and executing reappeared back on the menu after having some ups and downs in the first 6 minutes. Robertson started the run with a hard two handed dunk as Voigtmann found him back door, The German big man than sunk a three pointer, young German Stefan Ilzhoefer who had been battling injuries for two years found much playing time due to the absence of Klein nailed a tough off balance bank shot and Theodore saved the best for last for Beko BBL showtime leading the charge on the fast break and making the perfect behind the back pass to the trailer Mike Morrison as he made a nasty two handed dunk to send the Fraport arena into a frenzy. “Frankfurt played unselfish on offense as they don´t care who scores. They did a good job waiting until the end of the shot clock and had good ball movement”, added ex TV Langen center Martinis Woody. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 47% from the field and 25% from outside while Giessen was shooting 33% from the field and 17% from outside. Frankfurt had the 11-7 rebound edge and three turnovers while Giessen had 5 turnovers.

In the second quarter, The Fraport Skyliners played their best basketball as they had their biggest lead of 15 points as their offense was clicking and their defense was driving Giessen crazy as they couldn´t find any rhythm whatsoever. The Fraport Skyliners jumped on Giessen quickly with a 6-0 run started by Jordan Theodore who got the team some energy with fast break points and a free throw. Doornekamp then netted a trey off the fast break as Frankfurt extended their lead to 25-11. Frankfurt was playing nonstop defense just seemingly being all over the court, anticipating Giessen´s every next move as if they had seen their play book, getting in the passing lanes, making deflections and just making offensive life for Giessen very difficult. Then came some instant offense as both teams traded three pointers as Robertson, ex Bamberg guard Karsten Tadda, Heidelberg native Danilo Barthel, Braimoh and Doornekamp all sunk three pointers and Frankfurt still had the very comfortable advantage at 34-19. Frankfurt got a bit sloppy at the end losing concentration and letting the Giessen 46ers crawl into halftime with a 5-2run to trail 36-24. Braimoh converted on the screen and roll with Hobbs and then blocked Morrison inside giving his team the needed energy at that juncture. Morrison made a tip in off a Theodore miss and ex Kirchheim Knight Benjamin Lischka nailed free throws. “Giessen was all over the place on offense because Frankfurt was very aggressive smacking at the ball. Giessen panicked and didn´t let the game come to them. Frankfurt lost focus at the end as some starters had foul problems. Robertson really stepped up at the point guard position and did what a captain should”, added South Carolina native Martinis Woody. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 40% from the field and 40% from the three point line while the Giessen 46ers were shooting 33% from the field and 25% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 23-16 rebound edge and seven turnovers while Giessen had 11 turnovers.

In the third quarter, what could have become a 20 point lead for the Fraport Skyliners turned into only a seven point lead as they allowed the Giessen 46ers back into the game. Giessen came into the third quarter more aggressive going on a 7-2 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 38-31. In the run, Giessen got production from three different players as Braimoh nailed a three pointer, Cuban Yorman Polas a turn-around jumper and ex Citadel(NCAA) guard Cameron Wells a step back jumper. For the first time in the game the Giessen offense was flowing as it was more stable and patient instead of hectic. Gordon Herbert took a time out and Frankfurt reappeared back on the court and answered with a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 44-31. In the run, Frankfurt got buckets from Robertson who drove and muscled home two points, Barthel hit free throws and Voigtmann nailed his bread and butter 20 footer. However Frankfurt was unable to keep their consistency as a combination of the annoying aggressive Giessen defense and bad decisions of Frankfurt helped propel Giessen on an unexpected 12-3 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 47-43 as the Giessen fan corner got louder and louder. In the run, Giessen let good defense spark their offense as Ohio native Hobbs executed on two three pointers, Tadda used the advantage of the Frankfurt fifth team foul at the 3,33 minute mark with free throws and ex Bamberg center Gabriel Olaseni played pick and roll with Tadda making the lay in. However Frankfurt didn´t allow Giessen to get any further as they found some offense in the last few minutes to lead 53-46 after 30 minutes. Theodore and Little connected on free throws and Theodore hit a runner at the end. “The start of the third was good for us as we hit our first three shots which was something new in this game. This opened up the floor for us and things offensively became more easy for us. We trapped better on the ball and Frankfurt didn´t make shots that the normally would”, stressed Giessen 46er guard Braydon Hobbs. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 38% from the field and 39% from the parking lot while the Giessen 46ers were shooting 42% from the field and 32% from the parking lot. Frankfurt led the rebound duel 32-21 and had 12 turnovers while Giessen had 14 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Fraport Skyliners were able to extend to their lead as the Giessen 46ers had their chances, but couldn´t find consistency with their shooting. The Fraport Skyliners sealed the win in the first few minutes taking advantage of the Giessen brick fest going on a 8-0 run to extend their lead to 61-46 as the club got back to back three pointers from Theodore and Barthel and Morrison made a two handed dunk. Despite Frankfurt reaching the 5 team foul limit at 4.45, Giessen couldn´t take advantage of this early quarter luxury either. Giessen did go on a 5-0 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 61-51 as Wells made free throws and Polas dropped a three pointer. However then both teams just missed shot after shot as Giessen got their chances, but just couldn´t execute for points. Frankfurt then got real sloppy as they got a 5 second violation, but Tadda then coughed up the ball missing another opportunity. Frankfurt continued to be without points as Giessen was able to add on to their 5-0 run from earlier and go on a 4-1 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 62-55 as Hobbs made free throws and Tadda a pull up jumper. However Giessen couldn´t make crucial shots now and ex Auburn star Quantez Robertson sealed the win on the ugly game with 4 free throws. “Sometimes the ball falls and sometimes it doesn´t and that was the case for Giessen. Tez sealed the win for us with free throws. We wanted it more”, stressed Jordan Theodore. “Shots weren´t falling for us that normally do. We didn´t execute the way we should have and also got some dumb fouls at the end”, added Braydon Hobbs. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Quantez Robertson with 20 points. Jordan Theodore added 11 points and Danilo Barthel contributed 10 points. The Giessen 46ers were led by Yorman Polas and Braydon Hobbs with 13 points a piece and Suleiman Brahimoh added 10 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 37% from the field and 36% from outside while the Giessen 46ers shot 34% from the field and 26% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle 47-27, but had an unacceptable 20 turnovers while Giessen had 17 turnovers.

Jordan Talbert is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Little Rock, Arkansas that is playing his second professional season with the Giants Nordlingen. He came to Germany as a rookie last season and played with the Giants TSV 1861 Noerdlingen (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 26 games: 21.6ppg, 9.6rpg, 3.2apg, 2.0spg, Blocks-4(1.5bpg), FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college career at Missouri SO(NCAA2) from 2010-2014 and as a senior played 31 games averaging 11.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.1spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 70.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 73-69 win against the Licher Basket Baeren.

 

 

 

Congrats Jordan on the 73-69 win in Lich. How important was it setting the tone right from the start scoring 25 points in the first quarter. Was there already a small mental advantage early for Nordlingen on the Lich home court?

Yes its always important to have a good start to the game especially away games. I don’t think there was a mental advantage. We just were fortunate to have Janek out there making shots and take their fans out of the game early.

The game was very tight in the fourth quarter. Lich forward Elijah Allen kept Lich in the game. What made it so hard to stop him tonight?

He really had his shot going against us. When a scorer feels good and is making shots they’re really tough to stop. We did a good job of weathering the storm and still maintained control of the game.

Nordlingen kept Lich scoreless for three minutes in the fourth down the stretch while Brandon Lockhart scored 8 points to secure the win. What was key in the last minutes to seal the win on offense and defense?

On offense Brandon did a great job of putting pressure on their defense by attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line. On defense we really wanted to allow Elijah only tough shots and focus on getting defensive rebounds.

Janek Schmidkunz shot 9/18 in the last two big wins against Team Ehingen and Lich. How much has he matured on the court with his game since the loss in Frankfurt?

He has continued to play huge for us and carry us offensively most games. I think he has the ultimate confidence in his shot and we have the ultimate confidence in him to make them for us.

Schmidkunz has scored in double figures in every game this season. Where would the team be now without his timely shooting?

We would definitely be struggling if it weren’t for him, but that can be said about majority of our players. We all have a specific role and we wouldn’t be successful as a team if we didn’t come and perform our role.

Nordlingen goes into the Christmas break with a 4 game winning streak. Has the more consistent defense been the most impressive thing in this winning streak?

I think our defense has definitely improved. Chris and Leo have given us great effort on the defensive end during our run. Hopefully we can keep this up into the year 2016.

 

Nordlingen goes into the Christmas break with a record of 7-5. What is your team summary after 12 games?

We’re actually 8-5 and we’re pleased right now with our standing. After starting the season 2-4, giving a couple games away in the finals minutes, we came together as a team and set a goal of going into the break with this record. Accomplishing our goal of winning 6 out of 7 has been a great boast to our confidence.

How proud are you of the team that they have turned the season around despite losing captain Fabian Brutting after the third game?

Losing Fabi was definitely a huge blow. He’s such a vital part to our team we had to adjust and do it quickly. Bringing Leo has definitely helped, he’s done a great job with his shooting and defense which is a reason why we adjusted so well.

At the beginning of the season Nordlingen had problems in crunch time losing to Frankfurt, Leipzig and Elchingen, but now have won close games in the last weeks against Weissenhorn and now Lich. Is there more trust within each other in tight times on the court?

Yea after losing those games the way we did. I think we’ve become more focused on the details and more of a cohesive unit since then. Our chemistry continues to improve which has shown over the past games.

Your averaging 16 points and 12 rebounds. How happy have you been with your play? Those are good stats, but on a team that has scorers with Brandon Lockhart and Janek Schmidkunz do you believe that increasing your stats will be possible?

Personally I’ve been up and down with the judgement of my play. Increasing my stats is definitely possible but it’s surely not my main focus. Winning is the number 1 goal and whatever it takes is what I’m willing to do. I just want to continue going out and putting a great effort and let the stats speak for themselves.

In what other areas can you focus on in your game in the second half of the season?

I want/have to continue to rebound the ball in order for us to win. My shooting needs to improve and I believe that will happen in second half too. Of course I have to play defense at a high level also.

What are your team and individual goals in the second half of the season?

Team goals for us is to just get some good momentum coming into the playoffs and get the best position possible. Individuals goals for myself is to just keep doing what I’m doing to help the team. Make sure I maintain my effort and intensity and not worry about anything else.

What is your fondest memory of Skyler Bowlin on the court at Missouri So? He made the MIAA all defensive team all 4 seasons. He said he has seen you go from a role player to a complete player. How did he help you as a freshman?

I was able to spend 2 seasons with Sky and I learned so many things from him during that time. During my redshirt freshman year I remember that I would always come into the locker room to take a nap in between classes. During that time he would be in the locker room too drenched in sweat from a workout he just did by himself. While I was sleeping he was always working. And to see his improvement just from his junior to senior season I already knew why. He was a leader in every way possible and that definitely motivated me to work on my craft the much harder.

What was your fondest childhood memory of Christmas?

There are so many, its hard just to pick one. Anytime I think of Christmas I just think of all the family time spent together. Not just with my family but with my close friends families also. Those moments you never forget.

 

What was the last movie that you saw?

 

Crazy, Stupid, Love. Awesome movie.

 

Thanks Jordan for the chat.

 

 

 

 

One can never truly predict how a basketball game will turn out, but one can always dream what can happen, but the Fraport Skyliners Juniors and position one team Ehingen supplied an exciting ending in their first contest on the road as the home team looked like the sure winner as German journey man Tobias Jahn scored with three seconds remaining and it seemed like Frankfurt would go home thinking about the last seconds of the 76-75 loss in their 3 hour drive, but instead there was a basketball god in the schwaben land tipping his wan in the direction of head coach Eric Detlev and company as German Christopher Wolf was hit with a foul on 2014 NBBL rookie of the year Niklas Kiel with one second remaining. Kiel stepped up to the free throw line and with full concentration as if he had been in the league for 10 years sunk both shots giving Frankfurt the big 77-76 win on the road. Last weekend Travis Thompson had one of those nights where he didn´t see the ocean, but space when looking at the rim as he sunk 36 points and 10 three pointers helping the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to a huge 95-57 victory. Now back to the dreaming. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors and Team Ehingen Urspring were playing the last game of 2015 and a perfect pre Christmas basketball offering for the fans would have been a combination of another tight last second win coupled with another red hot shooting evening from Alaska native Travis Thompson. One can always dream, but in reality the fans in the BCM saw a pre-Christmas offensive showdown as defense took a back seat and the players of both teams were regularly handing out Christmas gifts in terms of beautiful shots and plays, but in crunch time Ehingen was the smarter team, executed better and had more energy as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors had to play with a depleted roster as only eight players played. “If the home team gives up 96 points then one shouldn´t be surprised about losing. It was a wide open game with a lot of energy from both teams, but neither played consequent defense throughout the game. We made too many easy mistakes on defense and didn´t have discipline. We had a thin roster, but we still could of won”, warned Fraport Skyliners Juniors head coach Eric Detlev. For Team Ehingen who came into the game in first place and a 9-2 record had a tough battle and could never shake the Fraport Skyliners Juniors who stayed with the deeper team throughout the game. “The first game against Frankfurt was a heartbreaking loss with the Niklas Kiel free throws at the end and we wanted to come back and play with a lot of energy. Frankfurt is a very well coached team and played a very good first half. The third quarter went back and forth, but we had that little extra in the fourth and things just went our way”, stressed Team Ehingen forward Daniel Berger. Frankfurt didn´t play well for 37 minutes, but came into the fourth quarter not being able to handle Team Ehingen the way they wanted. “We played well for 30 minutes. We gave up 30 points in the fourth. That can´t happen. We didn´t defend well and get enough stops”, added Fraport Skyliners forward Stefan Ilzhoefer.

Team Ehingen jumped all over the Fraport Skyliners Juniors right off the bat taking a quick 8-2 lead. Their offense was clicking as Oregon native Daniel Berger connected on a pull up jumper, ex Hanau forward Tobias Jahn scored inside getting the quick feed from Maximilian Eisele and the 2014 NBBL finalist then nailed a three pointer. Frankfurt had problems adjusting to the Ehingen zone, but then found a hang of it as last weeks hero Mr 10 three point sniper Travis Thompson connected on a trey and ex Bamberg center Johannes Richter made a hook shot cutting the Team Ehingen lead to 8-7. Frankfurt had completed a 5-0 run, but would continue to execute in fine fashion going on a 7-3 run to get their first lead of the game at 14-11. After a Jahn three pointer, the Fraport Skyliners Juniors continued to play great inside out basketball as the two bigs Richter and Oldenburg harmonized well both scoring and Ilzhoefer dropped a three pointer. However basketball wouldn´t be basketball if there weren´t runs as Team Ehingen slapped Frankfurt in the face with a 7-0 run to gather the lead back at 18-14. In the run, Team Ehingen got support from Eisele and 208cm forward Noah Aghgas with buckets inside and 37 year old Radivoj Tomasevic who played 25 Beko BBL games with Tuebingen dropped a three pointer. The game was even now as Richter made a lay in and ex TV Langen forward Kevin Luyeye made a tip in at the buzzer as Team Ehingen led 20-18. “We had a good rhythm on offense with good ball movement and were hitting open shots. Richter and Oldenburg had good high low play”, stressed Fraport Skyliners Juniors forward Niklas Kiel. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were shooting 67% from the field and 40% from outside while Team Ehingen were shooting 50% from the field and 43% from outside. Team Ehingen had the 8-4 rebound edge and both teams had three turnovers a piece.

In the second quarter, the game remained wide open as no team led by more as six points, but the Fraport Skyliners Juniors did lead 47-45 at halftime. Fraport Skyliners Junior Lenny Okeke got the first smiles of the second quarter hitting a big bank shot from outside where one had to wonder if he had planned it that way as Frankfurt led 21-20. Then came the lightening strike from ex Bayreuth guard Radivoj Tomasevic who nailed two consecutive three pointers to give Team Ehingen the 26-21 lead. Despite getting that three point explosion from Team Ehingen, it didn´t startle Frankfurt as they returned with a 12-2 run to give Frankfurt the 31-28 advantage as Richter dropped a three pointer and Ilzhoefer gave his team some serious instant energy scoring in bunches with a jumper, lay in and bomb from downtown. Jahn gave Team Ehingen some instant energy with two buckets while Thompson made a floater and Daniel Berger made an off balance shot tying the game at 34-34. Runs kept going back and forth as Frankfurt extended their lead to 42-36 with a 8-2 run as Tim Oldenburg also showed his knack for being able to score in bunches with a put back and runner and Thompson fought to get open and drilled home a trey. Frankfurt kept the lead as Team Ehingen were unable to get the lead back. Frankfurt got important production from Thompson and Garai Zeeb with buckets while Team Ehingen got another clutch three pointer from Eisele and floater from Devon Moore. “We did a good job staying with Ehingen despite having a thinner roster. We just know the plays well and are always able to fill the cracks with players coming and out. Our pick and roll defense was horrible. They got too many easy baskets”, added Paderborn native Niklas Kiel. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 59% from the field and 46% from the three point line while Team Ehingen shot 57% from the field and 46% from the three point line. Both teams had 14 rebounds and Frankfurt had five turnovers and Team Ehingen had six turnovers.

In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners Juniors held on to the lead despite Team Ehingen tying the game twice. It seemed like there were minutes where no team missed as each team would come down the floor execute to perfection as defense was off the menu and offense was the main entrée. Oldenburg got going early in the third quarter making back to back buckets with his bread and butter the mid distance jumper and a hook shot. Jahn made an offensive rebound and put back and Daniel Berger made a jumper, but Frankfurt still led 51-49. Ilzhoefer then made a runner as the ball circled around the rim for a few seconds before tricking into the net. However Team Ehingen went on a mini 4-0 run as Devon Moore who played at James Madison(NCAA) made free throws and Daniel Berger made a jumper to tie the game at 53-53. Richter then made a hard one handed dunk and Jahn a step back jumper as the game was tied again at 55-55. Frankfurt then upped their intensity a bit going on a 10-4 run to lead 65-59. In the run Frankfurt dominated with their big men play as Richter hit a trey and scored inside while there was no stopping Oldenburg as he made an athletic bucket flying in from the wing and Thompson connected on a runner. However Frankfurt was unable to hold the momentum as Team Ehingen closed out the third quarter with a crushing 7-1 run to lead 66-65 after 30 minutes. In the run it was Aghas who led the charge and carried the energy until the end making a violent two handed stuff while Daniel Berger and Tomasevic made free throws while Frankfurt hurried their offense a bit too much taking difficult shots which allowed the opponent to force the lead back. “We continued not too defend well and that Aghas dunk gave them energy to close out the quarter with the lead”, added ex Ludwigsburg forward Stefan Ilzhoefer. “We pushed the ball more at the end and Aghas propelled us with energy. When we made shots, the game went easier for us”, stressed ex Utah State(NCAA) forward Daniel Berger. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 55% from the field and 39% from the parking lot while team Ehingen was shooting 53% from the field and 38% from the parking lot. Team Ehingen had the 23-22 rebound edge, but had seven turnovers while Frankfurt had six turnovers.

Both teams continued to battle as if it was there last game ever as there were 8 lead changes, but it was Daniel Berger in crunch time that took matters into his own hands making big energy buckets where Frankfurt had no answer for on offense anymore. German Konstantin Schubert who had had some misfortune in the first half with an air ball, but started off the third quarter with a lay in inside and free throw. Travis Thompson added on to the lead using his quickness and scoring inside as Frankfurt led 70-66. Then it was Team Ehingen guard Zaire Thompson who played 8 games for Fordham(NCAA) last season hitting a mid distance shot. Then Team Ehingen was hit with their fourth team foul at the 8.28 minute mark. Then both teams traded 8 lead changes as Jahn made a free throw, Schubert retrieved the lead back for Frankfurt with a hard penetration and basket, then it was Tomasevic with free throws and the team Ehingen lead at 74-73 until it was Oldenburg who made a mid distance shot from 20 feet giving Frankfurt the 75-74 lead back. After one Richter free throw, it was Daniel Berger who gave Team Ehingen the lead back at 77-76. Then it was Garai Zeeb nailing free throws as Frankfurt led 78-77 until Tomasevic hit his fourth and last trey of the night giving Team Ehingen the 80-78 lead. Richter tied the game at 80-80 with an offensive rebound and put back and Tomasevic made a left handed lay in for the 82-80 advantage. Thompson tied the game at 82-82 with free throws. Then came the turning point of the game as Team Ehingen went on a 6-0 run to lead 88-82 and never looked back. The run was supported by a Moore pull up jumper and Daniel Berger free throws and a runner in traffic. Team Ehingen maintained a good rhythm on offense and worked at getting good shots while on defense increased the depth of their help side defense forcing the Frankfurt team to tough shots that resulted in misses. However Frankfurt still had energy as Thompson nailed a three pointer and Richter made a three point bank shot to cut the Team Ehingen lead to 90-88. However then came the key possession of the game with 40 seconds to go, Tomasevic made the perfect veteran play letting the shot clock go down, but waiting until he had the perfect option and found that with Daniel Berger with the back door cut feeding him for the easy bucket and 92-88 lead. This was the winning basket and Berger finished with 23 points after a slow start. “I got into early foul problems in the first half. I wanted to be more aggressive in the second half. I made buckets and got to the free throw line. It felt good”, added Daniel Berger. After Thompson made free throws to cut the Team Ehingen lead to 92-90, the guests closed out the game with free throws from Daniel Berger and Tomasevic. “Maybe Frankfurt was a bit tired. Zeeb played very much and we took advantage of our strength and played physical. We penetrated and hit shots in the last four minutes. It comes down to who makes the plays at the end and we did that”, stressed Daniel Berger. “It was tough at the end with our short rotation. We gave it our all. They were very physical and got key offensive rebounds and Berger had a good finish”, added Stefan Ilzhoefer. “Our experience helped at the end and we kept them off the three point line”, added ex TV Langen forward Tobias Jahn. Team Ehingen were led by Daniel Berger with 23 points. Radivoi Tomasevic added 20 points and Tobias Jahn had 18 points and Devon Moore added 11 points. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors were led by Johannes Richter with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four dimes. Travis Thompson contributed 22 points. Tim Oldenburg added 18 points and Stefan Ilzhoefer 13 points. Team Ehingen shot 54% from the field and 38% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners shot 54% from the field and 38% from outside. Both teams had 29 rebounds. Frankfurt had 10 turnovers and team Ehingen eight turnovers.

Daniel Berger is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Medford, Oregon playing his rookie season with Team Ehingen Urspring (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career with Chemeketa community college an dthen moved to Utah State(NCAA) where he played 59 NCAA games from 2011-2014. As a senior he played with BYU-Hawaii (NCAA2) playing 20 games: 14.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 79.2%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

 

Danny thanks for talking to German Hoops A tough 84-72 loss against Nordlingen last weekend. Did the weak start pretty much build the foundation for the loss?

Yeah they threw a good first punch and we never really overcame it. We started with little energy and they were making shots and we were not. Have to give them credit they played a great game.

Ehingen had some runs as is usual in the game of basketball, but was playing pick up basketball the whole day and did exerting too much extra energy do the team in?

We had to play from behind the entire game and they did a good job of keeping the lead and staying aggressive.

Nordlingen is led by the trio of Talbert and Lockhart and German Schmidkunz. Was there not a way to make better adjustments as the game progressed trying to get these guys better under control?

We tried to make a few adjustments but ultimately had a difficult time stopping the guards from penetrating and creating for their teammates. They are good players and we evidently did not do a good enough job to stop them from doing what they wanted.

After starting the season winning eight of the first nine games, it now has lost two of it´s last three games. What have been the main reasons for this change in the play of the team?

Its a long season and every team I have played on has had its ups and downs. Its just a matter of limiting the times when your struggling and staying together. We have struggled shooting the ball in the games we have lost, and that is where you have to rely on defense to stay in the game and in the 2 games that hasnt been where it should be.

The team is a good defensive team giving up 70 points on average and scoring 77 points. On what areas does the team still need to work on to go another big winning streak?

I think we need to work on playing faster. When we get out and run in transition we are hard to stop because it helps our defense out. If we get into a game full of half court possessions we tend to struggle a bit. Also rebounding is somewhere we are improving and need to continue.

You are leading the club in scoring as a rookie. How have you come to terms with that?

I just try to be aggressive when possible. As a team we average a lot of assists and get everyone involved so I know my teammates look for me when the opportunity is there. As I try to play to my strengths I get scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Is this something that you like being? At Utah State you were more of a role player and last season you were a scorer at BYU-Hawaii (NCAA2).

Its not something I need to be. Scoring is good for the team and if thats what I need to do to win then I will try. I think every player likes to score points, but there is so much more that goes in to the game that is not measured on a stat sheet, but at the end of the day the team who outscores the other team wins the game.

How vital has German veteran Tobias Jahn been who plays your position and also spent some years in the States playing at Cal Poly Pomona is helping you get adjusted on and off the court?

Toby has been unbelievably helpful to me on and off the court. He picked me up at the airport when I arrived and ever since then we have been great friends. I usually wake up to a funny picture or video that he texts me which I enjoy. Especially being so far from home he has made the transition easier.

Currently you are shooting 31,0% from outside. Last season at BYU-Hawaii (NCAA2) you shot 48,4% from downtown. Is improving your outside shooting something that you are working on at the moment?

Yeah I have been in a bit of a slump from 3. I shoot everyday but I need to take more game speed shots. I’m not going to put to much thought into it because I know I am a good shooter. I have been in slumps before so I am confident Ill pull through it.

You can score and snatch rebounds, but what would you say is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?

I would say my ability to pass the ball. I’m usually taller than my defender so I can see the court better. Even though I may not get the direct assist, I think I can make the right play most of the time. Also I can handle the ball in transition and find my teammates on the run.

You have adjusted well to the German Pro B, but what has or is still taking some time to get used to on the court that you weren´t used to in the NCAA 2?

Just the little difference are still strange. The main thing is putting the ball on the floor as soon as penetrate. I haven´t had hardly any traveling violations, but I still think about it a lot. The shot clock/ 8 second violation as well as the wide key and 3 point line has taken some adjusting as well.

What kind of experience has it been playing for Ehingen? It belongs to the best German basketball schools. Despite being a rookie at age 25 do you see yourself giving much advice to the younger Germans on the team?

I really enjoy being around the younger players on the team. I feel like I can relate to them and give them advice because I have played on multiple levels. The biggest thing is competing in practice every day which helps them elevate their games.

How has it been working with young Croatian Marko Sarac of Croatia who has been with the program for some time. How much potential does he have?

Marko is a guy who is always happy to see you. He is a great athlete with a lot of skill. He has a lot of potential and over time will learn more about the mental part of the game.

German point guard Zaire Thompson won titles with the youth program with Ehingen and last season wanted to go the NCAA route, but didn´t make it at Fordham playing only 8 games and has returned. Now he is fighting to get minutes with an ambitious team of young players. As a guy who has NCAA experience have you been helping his confidence of getting his foot back in the door in the Pro B?

I really like playing with Zaire. He plays fast and is very unselfish. I admire how much he works along with coming to basketball practice. He has very little free time, but still comes with a good attitude. He can play and just needs to take advantage of whenever he is on the court. My job is to try and help him stay positive and confident.

How different has it been playing for German head coach Domenik Reinboth? How has he been different to what you learned under Stew Murrill, Tim Duryea and Ken Wagner?

Every coach does things differently. I have played for multiple coaches and have learned to do things their way. All I can worry about is whatever way a coach tells me to do it I need to do it hard with maximum effort. Domenik has been good, and lets us play to our strengths. I admire how much work he puts in as well. I know he wants to win and is trying to do whatever he thinks is right to do so.

You played two seasons with American Jarred Shaw at Utah State. What was your fondest memory with the current D-league player at Santa Cruz?

Jarred and I got along great. I have a picture with Jared the year I sat out with my heart situation. In the picture I am walking next to him, he is in uniform and I am in street clothes. He has a number 12 patch on his jersey which was my number. He shared some thoughts with me about the picture. What he said is my fondest memory of Jared.

How vital was Pablo Coro of Chille last season in BYU-Hawaii winning the Pac West tournament?

Pablo was extremely vital to our success last season. His ability to shoot the ball as well as create offensively made it easier on all of us. Plus he was a great guy to be around and was very welcoming as i transferred in.

Who won a one on one last season you or Luke Ashton?

I did

Who was the toughest player that you battled on the court that is in the NBA or in Europe now?

I have played against a lot of very good players. Playing pick up games with Paul George and Jabari Parker was tremendous competition. Rodney Hood was a tough cover, but honestly my teammate at Utah State Spencer Butterfield who plays in Lithuania now helped me elevate my game to another level. Guarding him every day made me a lot better, and for sure taught me how to box out a rebounding guard.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you ever see him being mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

Lebron is a guy who has no limits. Nothing he does will surprise me. Michael is on a pedestal to me because he is an ultimate champion in my eyes.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I watched was Star Wars episode 3. I actually watched all 6 of them in preparation for the new one coming out.

 

Thanks Dan for the chat.

 

 

 

 

Cedric Brooks is a 35 year old 185cm guard from Aillen, Texas that has played 11 professional seasons and is currently in Germany practicing with Pro A team Kirchheim. Last season he played with the West Texas Whirlwinds (ABA) averaging 30,0ppg. He started his basketball career with Pittsburg St. (NCAA2) and as a senior played 28 games: 20.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.9apg, 2.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3Pts: 30.0%, FT: 82.4%. He started his professional basketball career in 2003 playing in the WBA and Mexico before coming to Europe in 2005. He played briefly in France and Hungry, but mainly in Germany with two seasons with Nordlingen, one with FC Bayern Munich and 4 seasons with the Kirchheim Knights. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

 

 

Cedric, welcome back to Germany. You last played in Germany in the 2012-2013 season for Kirchheim and then disappeared for a few years. Why did your career end then?

My last season in Kircheim I was a little injured. I had jumpers knee(tendinitis), not very many people knew this. I was the leader of the team so I tried to fight through my pain but I saw that only made things worse for me. So I just decided to go back home to rehab my knee to get healthy. I trained with some NBA D league trainers and coaches, and I also played in the ABA to stay in shape. I thought about coming back to Europe but I just had a newborn daughter in May so I wanted to be with my family for a little while. Now I am healthy and ready to play.

Now your in Germany again and practicing with Kirchheim. What is it like being back in Germany and experiencing the whole culture and basketball?

It is great to be back in Germany, it has not changed much at all. It’s more business than pleasure now though because I have a lot to prove now that I am back considering that my last season in Kircheim was a joke. That wasn’t the real Cedric Brooks

What did you miss most about the country/culture and it´s basketball?

I missed my friends and fans, they showed me a lot of love here. I also missed the competitiveness on the basketball court. I just missed everything about Germany, except the cold weather.

You last played for the West Texas Whirlwinds (ABA) averaging 30ppg. How would you describe the shape that your in now at age 35?

To be honest, I am probably in the best shape of my career right now. Mentally and physically stronger. I am smarter than I was 3 years ago with the same athleticism. The ABA is a run and gun league, I was able to get my feet back under me and gain my confidence back. You have to be in shape to play in the ABA. Averaging 30 points is hard no matter which league you play in. This time away from Europe has helped me rest my legs and that’s all I needed.

I guess having to run over the court chasing Richard Williams who is one of the fastest players in the German pro A will keep you truthful about your shape. Have you demonstrated in practice that you can still keep up with guys 10 years younger than you?

Haha. Yes, practicing with Richie keeps me in shape but it’s not anything that I am not used to. Richie is a great point guard but we play different positions. I am a combo guard that plays the shooting guard as well as the point guard. I trained with guards just as quick back home so the real challenge is going to be the man looking at me when I look in the mirror. I hope that I am not sounding arrogant but I have demonstrated that I am more than capable of holding my own

What do you have to do different now at the age of 35 that you didn´t have to do at age 27 in regards to your habits on and off the court?

At this age the only difference for me is that I am more disciplined and more professional. My diet hasn’t changed much. I have learned that I must go to the weight room and stretch more.

What besides your experience do you feel is your biggest asset on the court now at age 35?

Other than my experience, my basketball IQ is a big asset as well as my quickness and athleticism. My leadership skills play a huge role. My drive to win is also a factor. I just want to win, I am a sore loser so I will do anything to help my team get that W.

What really stands out in your game is your scoring consistency and mentality, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

What doesn’t get noticed right away is probably my passing ability. I have always been a scorer but I feel just as good putting my teammates in a position to score as well. My unselfishness I would say. I love being a team player because I’m the end I need my team just as much as they need me.

You never won a professional title. Is this your biggest goal as a player now to be able to be in a position to taste champagne?

Well, I actually won a title when I played in Hungary and won the MVP award also. I have never won a title in Germany but we did have the opportunity to move up to the BBL in Kirchheim but decided to stay in Pro A. In all, I want to be in a position to get back to the German championship game and bring home the title.

Please describe in a few sentences as to why you could help any professional team now?

I could help any team with my ALL AROUND game, my leadership, and my will to win. I am a professional and I know what it takes to get the job done.

When you played your first season with Kirchheim a young German named Tim Koch was on the team. How impressed have you been with the improvement of his three pointer since then?

Tim has always been able to shoot, now that he has gotten older he has taken his game to the next level. I am very impressed with his shooting ability at this point.

What memories do you have of Ahmad Smith? Did you ever play with a guard that could fill up the stats sheet as well as him?

No, I have never played with a player like Ahmad. A 6’5 point guard is a teams dream and an opponents nightmare. The best memory I have with Ahmad is the year that we went to the championship against MBC. They won by 1 point but we both had the opportunity to move our teams up to the BBL.

You played 4 years with the Kirchheim Knights. Would you say that these were the most joyful years in your professional career?

Playing in Kircheim was my most joyful time in my career. They treat you like family there and make sure that you are comfortable, which makes it easier for the players to just worry about playing to the best of their ability.

You were 29 when you came to Kirchheim. How did head coach Branislav Ignjatovic help you make that next step into your 30´s as you continued to have strong seasons?

Frenkie helped me in many ways on and off of the court. He was more than just a coach to me. He gave me all of the tools I needed to be a successful player. If I had the chance to play for him again I would take it for sure.

You had many strong seasons in the German Pro A and led the league in scoring in 2006-2007 with Nordlingen averaging 24ppg. Were you surprised that you didn´t make the jump to the BBL the year after? You had the stats to at least get a shot.

After leading the league in scoring two years in a row I figured that I could easily make the jump to the BBL. I had some offers to come try out during the summer time but I thought I proved myself enough to get a contract offer. I got an offer from France that no BBL team would have offered me because I was coming up from the 2nd league so I took the France offer.

How thankful are you for Germany and the Nordlingen organization for giving you a chance in 2005 considering you had been playing the minor leagues in the States and Mexico before getting your big break?

I am very thankful for Germany and Noerdlingen for giving me the opportunity. I will never forget them. I also have to thank Coach Mike Taylor because he played a big part of me coming to Germany.

When you look back to your season with FC Bayern Munich who won a one on one in practice you or Andrej Mangold?

Haha. Me and Dre did not play one on one but I have never lost a one on one game in my career.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you believe that he will ever be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan when all is said and done?

Lebron is an absolute phenom. There will never be a player like Michael Jordan, he will be mentioned in the same breath with Jordan but nobody will be close. Lebron will make his own history.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The last movie I saw was Creed.

 

Thanks Cedric for the chat.

 

 

 

The last two months were very special for the Fraport Skyliners as they built a club record 13 game winning streak as hearing anything negative about the team play was about as far away as it is for Fraport Skyliner point guard Jordan Theodore not wishing for some more pairs of sneakers for Christmas. The 2004 Beko BBL winner Fraport Skyliners beat up on the Brose Baskets Bamberg and FC Bayern Munich in their living room and made it as uncomfortable there for them as it is for Ricky Easterling on the parking lot in any basketball arena. Basketball life for the Fraport Skyliners was just good as they were playing amazing unselfish team basketball, had an uncanny ability of getting stronger in the fourth quarter acquiring a special energy that no their team possessed and head coach Gordon Herbert was the front runner for coach of the year. With their winning streak going on, they could keep tabs how the Golden State Warriors were doing in their quest to keep winning and not losing, but then 10 days ago their winning streak was finally snapped as big powerhouse Alba Berlin came into their living room, but got all cozy around the fire, while the Fraport Skyliners were forced into a cold corner feeling very lonely and without any answers for the guard tandem of Cherry and Taylor. Frankfurt was unable to bounce back on the road in Ulm and start a new winning streak as they were without Jordan Theodore who had a hamstring injury and lost again while on the same night the Golden State Warriors also lost their first game of the season ending their 24 game winning streak. However the Fraport Skyliners still have the last laugh and while Steph Curry and co were already dreaming of a perfect 84-0 season, Frankfurt technically still have a winning streak as they now arrive in stage 2 of the international Europe cup with a perfect 6-0 record and were looking for their 7^th win in a row as they met up with 10 time Swedish champion Sodertalje who also had their 10 game winning streak stopped in the the Basketligan and like Frankfurt were riding a two game losing streak and had been heavily embarrassed last weekend by Uppsala 90-49. Both teams were looking to start a new winning streak and it was as expected the Fraport Skyliners that upped their perfect Europe Cup record to 7-0 with a decisive crushing 95-64 victory. Frankfurt had an unstoppable offense where they totally wore down Sodertalje inside dominating the points in the paint 50-24 and at times the game looked like a practice game and John Little best friend and Skyliners good luck charm Jason Boone was more than impressed as well who had an off night visiting from Ludwigsburg. “It is never easy to stay focused and hungry when you lead by so much, but it was good to see that Frankfurt did. Frankfurt didn´t play their best, but whenever Sodertalje tried to make a run, Frankfurt answered right away and never allowed them back into the game. The way they have been playing their success has also trickled down to this competition. I know how bad John Little wants to win and he will keep the team motivated to keep the Europe Cup winning streak going as long as possible”, stressed 2010 Eurochallenge winner Jason Boone. For Swedish team Sodertalje, they gave a great fight, but had no chance inside as Frankfurt took advantage of their weak spot as they had no answer how to minimize Frankfurt easy baskets inside. “We knew it would be tough without our big man Adam Ramstedt and top scorer Toni Bizaca, but that is no excuse for losing. We were physically dominated for 40 minutes. We fought hard, but that just isn´t good enough when you play against a good team like Frankfurt”, stressed 2015 Danish champion with Horsens Skyler Bowlin. Top scorer of the game Johannes Voigtmann didn´t really want to talk winning streak, but knows that whatever it takes to make coach Gordon Herbert happy is best. “We played good defense, tempo and fast break basketball which led to easy baskets often. We took advantage of the physical advantage and had good ball movement. We basically did what we needed to do and it fell easy to us. We don´t try to think about the winning streak that much even if we have stressed that we want to win the cup. We just go game by game and know if we win it is better since coach is in a better mood then”, smiled Fraport Skyliners center Johannes Voigtmann.

In front of a scarce crowd of 500 people, the Fraport Skyliners had to come to terms without starting point guard Jordan Theodore who had a hamstring injury and Tomas Dimsa and Max Merz who had ankle problems. Berlin native Konstantin Klein got the Frankfurt motion offense going fast with a back door lay in. However in basketball things can go so quickly as the 10 time Swedish champion rattled off a quick 6-0 run as ex FC Barcelona 2 player Niklas Spires who played with Orlando Magic player Mario Hezona showed his 210cm touch from outside and all time rebound leader at Kennesaw State Aaron Anderson made a tip in and free throw. Nothing seems to ever really to faze the Fraport Skyliners as without barely having lost a sweat, they then went to work going on a infectious 15-0 run to take the 17-6 lead. In the run, the 2004 Beko BBL champion dominated inside as Voigtmann made a turn-around jumper, Canadian national player Aaron Doornekamp a steal and lay in, Heidelberg native Danilo Barthel scored inside and Quantez Robertson made a hard two handed dunk. Then it was Barthel again scoring in bunches as he connected on a ally-oop dunk from Klein and then dropped a three pointer which caught Sodertajle reeling for some air as they had to experience the explosive attack of Frankfurt. At the early juncture in the game, every guy was contributing as now it was time for ex Wurzburg guard John Little to nail a three pointer and then do a big man´s job sneaking inside and tapping in a Mike Morrsion miss as Frankfurt led 22-9. Then Sodertalje ended the first quarter with an important 8-3 run to trail 25-12 after ten minutes. In the run it was Latvian guard Davis Lejasmeiers who connected on back to back three pointers and Arizona native Aaron Anderson made a tap in. “Frankfurt clearly showed that they had the advantage inside. They couldn´t match up to the Frankfurt physicality either. Sodertalje could only score from outside something that they wouldn´t be able to hold for 40 minutes”, warned 2010 Eurochallenge winner Jason Boone. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 63% from the field and 40% from outside while Sodertalje were shooting 36% from the field and 38% from outside. Frankfurt had the comfortable 14-2 rebound edge, but four turnovers while Sodertalje had three turnovers.

In the second quarter the Fraport Skyliners were able to keep their 10 point lead as Sodertalje was still able to keep up with them on offense mainly due to Skyler Bowlin who had the hot hand, but couldn´t get closer because they couldn´t get consistent stops or solve the inside height problem that Frankfurt was giving them. The Fraport Skyliners jumped out on a 6-2 run extending their lead to 31-19 as fat on the game plan menu was to bang the ball inside as Voigtmann scored on the nifty feed from Little, Barthel was found by Doornekamp for the simple bucket and then it was Voigtman again with a lay in. Even if the Sodertalje Kings could start a run, it never lasted long. The Swedish team went on a 5-0 run as Bowlin connected on a trey and ex Davidson(NCAA) forward Chris Czerapowicz made a pretty runner in traffic cutting the Frankfurt lead to 31-24. Now both teams were going on mini runs, but Sodertalje couldn´t gain any ground. Frankfurt went on a 6-0 run as Voigtmann was the beneficiary in all three possessions making free throws, a 15 footer and lay in getting fed from Robertson as Frankfurt led 37-24. Sodertalje at this point had one main go to guy and that was Bowlin who´s vision of the bucket was getting bigger and bigger with each new basket as he carried his team on a 5-0 run hitting a pull up jumper and trey cutting the Frankfurt advantage to 37-26. Frankfurt continued to be able to rely on the German twin towers of Barthel and Voigtmann scored again and the German big man scored 14 of his 22 points in the second frame as Frankfurt led 43-3. Then Bowlin nailed another three pointer and Voigtmann made a tip in as Frankfurt still led 45-33. Then it was time for some Super Tez support as he nailed a trey and Lejasmeiers closed out the first half scoring with a quick lay in as Frankfurt led 48-35. Jason Boone didn´t have a notebook present to take notes about Johannes Voigtmann, but maybe he can store the vital scouting report in his brain, but the Lidwigsburg big man was more than impressed with the German and even made a bold statement about his opinion of where he ranks in the Beko BBL: “Sodertalje had no pick and roll and were taking desperation shots. It looked like it would be a 25 point win for Frankfurt. I played with Maxi Kleber in Wurzburg and he belongs with Voigtmann to the best in their age group. In my opinion Voigtmann is the best player in the league right now. He is so complete and will dominate at this level for years. He is so complete and can simply do everything. IF he wanted to he could of scored 40 tonight without breaking much of a sweat. I am looking forward to the game against Frankfurt on December 27^th. Maybe Voigtmann will have ate too much Christmas dinner”, smiled Jason Boone. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 61% from the field and 31% from the three point line while the Sodertalje Kings were shooting 43% from the field and 38% from the three point line. Frankfurt continued to dominate the boards 23-9, but had seven turnovers while Sodertalje had six turnovers.

In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners broke the game wide open moving their 10 point lead to a 20 point lead and just owning the paint area on both ends of the court. Sodertalje could still keep the Frankfurt lead to around 10 points in the first few minutes before the 2000 Beko BBL cup winner broke away for good. After Bowlin continued his hot shooting nailing a pull up jumper, then it was Voigtmann making free throws and Voigtmann finding Doornekamp back door for an easy lay up as Frankfurt led 52-38. Now it was time for Davis Lejasmeiers to show his total quality who shot 47% from the parking lot in Euro cup play last season showed his pin point shooting ability making a trey and unbelievable athleticism splitting the defense and scoring with an easy lay in and then getting into the lane with a burst of speed and finishing with a one hand dunk cutting the Frankfurt lead to 57-45. Frankfurt then closed out the third quarter with a back breaking 15-6 run to lead 72-51 after 30 minutes. Frankfurt scored three buckets in a row as Robertson and Barthel connected on shots from down town and the German also scored inside. Mike Morrison also showed support with two buckets inside and Doornekamp also got a bucket in the paint. Sodertalje´s offense was sputtering as finesse was playing a role as only Czerapowicz scored from outside and Anderson made a tip in. “We were missing some players and Frankfurt wore us down. Their big guys kept going hard to the basket and that was hard to stop”, added Skyler Bowlin. “I don´t think that they were tired, but we controlled the tempo. We were up by 13 and knew that they could get back in if they hit shots. Key was that we controlled the tempo”, added ex Seton Hall guard Jordan Theodore. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 65% from the field and 47% from the parking lot while the Sodertalje Kings were shooting 42% from the field and 39$ from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the 29-14 rebound edge, but nine turnovers while Sodertalje had eight turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Sodertalje Kings got more tired, while the Fraport Skyliners continued to execute their offense and extend their lead to 31 points and win the game with ease. The Sodertalje Kings got on the board first with an Anderson bucket as Bolin fed him with a lob pass. Frankfurt answered with a Doornekamp three pointer as Frankfurt led 75-53. The Fraport Skyliners then went on a 12-4 run to extend their lead to 87-59 as now making predictions if the team would reach 100 points could be made. In the run, Frankfurt was fortified by the stellar play of Mike Morrison who got 9 points as he made it comfortable in the paint area scoring three times and getting three easy baskets and Robertson also scored as the Frankurt cutting game continued to work to perfection as Sodertalje had no answer how to stop it. After Czerapowicz nailed a three pointer, the Fraport Skyliners closed out the game in style with a strong 8-2 run. In the run, Little and Robertson drilled home three pointers and Bartle scored on a reverse lay up as Morrison gave him another extra pass for the routine bucket. “We did a good job executing on offense. We have to credit coach for breaking down film and having us prepared well. We were ready for them. Our big guys made all the right plays. Our defense was superb as our big guys defended the paint well and our guard got out on the wings. Klein and Tez are both capable of playing point guard on offense and defense. We have so many guys that can play multiple positions and they both came in and played their role”, stressed Jordan Theodore. “Frankfurt were very dominant, but what impressed me most was how unselfish they were”, added Skyler Bowlin. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Johannes Voigtmann with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists. Danilo barthela dded 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Quantez Robertson contributed 14 points and five rebounds. Aaron Doornekamp chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and six assists. John Little and Mike Morrison gave support with 11 points a piece. The Sodertalje Kings were led by Skyler Bowlin with 18 points and five assists. Davis Lejasmeiers had 15 points and Chris Czerapowicz added 10 points. The Fraport Skyliners shot 59, 7% from the field and 41,7% from outside while the Sodertalje Kings were shooting 40,3% from the field and 33,3% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle 43-21, but had 10 turnovers while Sodertalje had nine turnovers.

SkylerBowlin is a 26 year old 190cm guard from Paragould, Arkansas playing his fifth professional season and first with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan). H eplayed the last three seasons with Horsens IC (Denmark-Ligaen) winning the league title and cup and last season played 39 games averaging 16.0ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-2(6.3apg), Steals-2(2.4spg), FGP: 53.4%, 3PT: 45.5%, FT: 83.2%. As a rookie he played for BG Topstar Leitershofen/Stadtbergen (Germany-Pro A) playing 28 games: 12.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.3apg, Steals-2(2.0spg), FGP: 48.5%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.5% and then played with Ringwood Hawks (Australia-ABA): 18 games: 18.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.7apg, 2.8spg, 2FGP: 44.1%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 80.5%. He started his basketball career with Missouri So. (NCAA2) in 2007 until 2011 playing atotal of 118 games and as a senior played 31 games: 18.1ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.7apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 82.7%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Europe Cup game against the Fraport Skyliners.

 

 

Skyler thanks for talking toGerman Hoops After playing 2 seasons in Denmark for Horsens IC, your now playing your first season for the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan). As a American are you able to notice distinct differences in the two languages?

No problem, Miles. I can actually hear a big difference in Swedish and Danish. While in Denmark, I was able to pick up quite a bit of Danish so when I came to Sweden I realized the dialects are very different. I can pick up on a few Swedish words though.

You are playing your first season with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan). Is the skill level similar to what you saw in Denmark or is the Swedish league stronger?

From what I have seen so far, the Swedish league as a whole is better than the Danish league. The top 2 or 3 teams in Denmark would do well in the Swedish league, but the depth of the Swedish league is better than the Danish league for sure.

Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) started the season strong with a 10-0 record and like the Fraport Skyliners are used to winning as of late as they have a 13 game winning streak. What has been your biggest winning streak in any kind of organized basketball for you?

I think it was around 17 or 18 in high school. Last year in Denmark it was around 15 also I believe.

The defense has been so potent early on as it is giving up an average of 65 points per game and except for giving up 80 points against LF Basket why has it been so consistent?

Our defense has been the key to our success. Each game we are very well prepared by our coaches and have a great game plan ready for each team.

On offense the team averages 82 points in the Swedish league and have 5 players averaging double figures in scoring. How big has the team unselfishness been and how do you explain it being there so early?

Our team is extremely unselfish. Our offense is not geared around one person so each night it could be any of our guys that carry us on the offensive end. We just have a great group of guys on this team. We all get along great on and off the court and I think it shows while we are playing.

In the Fiba Europe Cup the team is averaging only 24 rebounds per game. Has the inside game been somewhat been exploited by the opponents?

Our rebounding has been a bit of a problem at times, but its something that we are all working on. Our bigs have done a great job fighting each game, but rebounding has to be by all 5 guys on the court so I think that is something we all have to focus on in the next round.

The Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) lost the first two games in Europecup, but qualified to the next group with a 3-4 record. How thankful are you that the team was able to advance?

Advancing was obviously a huge accomplishment for us and for Swedish basketball. We know that we are a team that can compete with anyone if we are all locked in and doing our jobs. We beat each team in our group and showed to the European basketball world that we are a serious team.

Now in the next group you face tough teams from Turkey, Germany and Poland and Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) are the underdogs. Do you think you will have an advantage as nobody is expecting that much from you?

I believe that from now on, each team we play wont underestimate us. Each game is extremely important so I think every team will be focused in and not overlooking us.

The next game is against the Fraport Skyliners who are the hottest basketball team in Germany now? They have amazing team chemistry, play stellar defense and won their Fiba Europe group 6-0. What will be key to stealing the first game in Germany?

From what I have seen they are a well balanced team that has a lot of weapons. On our end we just have to lock in defensively and really control the tempo of the game.

How raw is player Chris Czerapowicz? He has improved his play from his rookie season with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan). What do you like most about his game and how does he help the team most?

I wouldnt consider Chris a raw player at all. He is extremely skilled in my opinion. Chris is a big time shooter and scorer and can beat the defense inside or outside. We know we can count on him to get us a bucket if we need it.

Nicholas Spires is playing his first season with the Sodertalje Kings (Sweden-Basketligan) after playing many years in the FC Barcelona organization. Just how talented is this kid. What does he do very well at age 21 and how much potential does he have?

Nick is a big time talent. He can do a lot of things out on court. He has great hands, he can step out and shoot, and he moves very well. He is definitely a guy that I am happy to be playing with. He is gaining confidence with every game still and is going to be scary to go against by the end of season.

You were always in the top 5 in scoring in Denmark the last three seasons, but this season you have more guys that can score. Has it been a tough adjustment for you not being the number one scoring option?

I wouldnt say its been a tough adjustment. If anything it makes my job easier having other guys around me that can score and create. We play a different style of ball here in Sodertalje so it took me a bit to adjust to that, but I am very comfortable with everything now and am still learning new things from coach every day.

You are a point guard that can fill up the stat sheet, but what is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away?

I Think my ability to run a team and get other guys going is maybe something that may not get noticed unless youre around us quite a bit.

You take a lot of pride in your defense as you made MIAA All-Defensive Team -08, 09, 10, 11. Are you kind of the defensive energizer on this team this season?

I definitely take a lot of pride in my defense. I was taught growing up that if you cant play defense then you cant play at all so I have always tried to play hard on the defensive end.

In your third season in Denmark you won the double with Horsens. What made this team so special and was the team chemistry that had grown from the second season a big reason for the success?

We did have quite a few guys returning, but even the new guys that came to the team last season just fit perfectly into what we did. We all knew our roles and we all had one goal which was to win a championship.

Did Americans Keane Thomann and Eric Vigansky become like brothers to you over the last two seasons?

Keane and I were college teammates for 3 years as well so he and I have been close for a lot of years now. Erick is a guy that I consider a good friend not too. We spent a lot of time together and hes a guy I learned a lot from.

As a rookie you played in Germany for BG Leitershofen. What was your wake up call to being a rookie in Germany where you knew that you were very far away from Arkansas?

I think my first real wake up call on court was playing against Bayern Munich in a couple pre season games. I was fresh out of college and had no clue what to expect. It was definitely an eye opening experience.

What memories do you have of being teammates with German Jan Lipke with BG Leitershofen? Was his dangerous penetrating something that you won´t forget?

I have some great memories with Jan. He and I were roommates for a bit so we got to become pretty close. We still keep in contact today. Jan could score in bunches so it was fun seeing him get on a roll scoring the ball.

You played at Missouri So. (NCAA2) from 2007-2011. You put up consistent stats all 4 years. When did you exactly know that you could have a professional basketball career after school?

I didn´t actually think about playing professionally until right before my senior season. Coming from a Division 2 school is not easy to make it over here so I was definitely excited when I was contacted by teams to come and play professionally.

When you were a senior, Jordan Talbert who is a rookie now in Germany was a freshman at Missouri So. What memories do you have off him and did you see his potential already then?

I have never seen a basketball player develop like Jordan has. His freshman year he was just a role player who picked up loose balls and played defense. Now he can do it all. I couldnt be more proud of him and what he has accomplished.

When you were a senior Jeff Boschee was a rookie as an assistant coach and now is in his first full season as a head coach. Was there anything you remember from that season that could could take with you as you commenced on your professional career?

Coach Boschee taught me a lot when he was my coach. He played professionally in Greece and Iceland so we talked quite a bit about what it was like playing over here.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you think that he will ever be mentioned in the same light as a Michael Jordan when all is said and done?

Lebron is an incredibly gifted player and whether people like him or not he has to be given the respect and props he deserves. I do think he will go down as one of the best to ever play the game once his career is over.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Beasts of No Nation.

 

Thanks Skyler for the chat.