The Frankfurt Skyliners continued to be a solid team playing 500 basketball having a 2-2 record going into the clash with unbeaten team Syntanics MBC. The Skyliners have sparkled on the road being unbeaten, but were still searching for their first dub at home. Frankfurt have defended very well on the road, but are still searching for their identity at home as they allowed 88 points in the first game. Getting that first win definitely didn’t get any easier against unbeaten Weissenfels. They have defended very well in the early going and showed their wealth sharing the ball nicely as 6 guys are averaging scoring in double figures. A big delight for fans was being able to see big John Bryant again as at the age of 38, you never know how much longer you will see him as he is in his 15th season in Germany. John Bryant might of only played 6 minutes, but was as productive and efficient as can be with 5/3/1 stats as so many guys came up big for the whole 45 minutes as the Syntainics MBC had to fight hard, but in the end were rewarded in OT with a 97-93 victory in Frankfurt over the Skyliners to remain the only unbeaten team in the easyCredit BBL at 5-0. ‘We were sloppy in the first half, but we knew what we had to do in the second half and just executed a lot better. We knew that we couldn’t continue to play like that, but had to pick up our game. We did a good job sticking together and always encouraging each other in the huddles’, stressed Syntainics MBC guard Khyri Thomas (190-F/G-1996, college: Creighton) who played parts of 3 seasons in the NBA with Detroit and Houston. The Skyliners gave a feisty fight for 45 minutes, but it was the little things that continued to hurt them throughout the game that always allowed the guests to get the advantage in many situations with points, rebounds or turnovers. ‘We really played with a lot of effort. We tended to make way to many little errors through out the game that cost us. This was a real tough loss at home especially in overtime’, stressed Skyliners guard Nahiem Alleyne.

Marcus Foster at the FT line

The Skyliners came out starting the game strongly, but couldn’t keep up the pressure and allowed the Syntainics MBC find their rhythm which resulted in a close battle as the guests led 23-20 after one quarter. The Skyliners started aggressive at both ends and got the quick 6-0 lead as German captain Till Pape scored back to back hook shots in the paint and ex Saint Mary’s College of California (NCAA) guard Logan Johnson helped out under the basket with a tap in. Frankfurt was aggressive on the boards getting a few offensive rebounds from American Jaedon LeDee and the guests were very hectic in the opening minutes. Before the Skyliners really knew what had happened, the contest was dead locked at 8-8 as the Syntainics MBC found their rhythm with a couple of three pointers from ex University of Duquesne forward RJ Gunn and ex Xavier University (NCAA) guard Marcus Foster and ex KK Zadar forward Jure Planinic made a lay in. The guests continued to execute well and got a few stops upping their lead to 15-12 as Foster and Thomas added lay in’s. However the Skyliners fought back getting vital energy from ex Vechta guard Radii Casin who scored twice on transition and ex Creighton (NCAA) forward Ryan Hawkins connected for a massive trey as the Skyliners only trailed 19-18. However the Syntainics kept the slight 3 point lead after 10 minutes as their bench stepped up as ex Alba Berlin forward Kresimir Nikic snuck inside twice for 2 easy baskets. ‘We like to throw the first punch, but didn’t. We had too much of a urge to do the right thing. We finally got a feel for the game. RJ Gunn set the tone’, stated Khyri Thomas. The Syntainics MBC shot 50% from the field and 25% from outside and 5 rebounds and 1 turnover while the Skyliners shot 44% from the field and 14% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Jaedon LeDee jumper

In the second quarter the Syntainics MBC took control of the game and led by as much as 12 points, but the Skyliners kept chipping away and trailed only by 4 points at half time. After Johnson and Nikic traded free throws, the Syntainics MBC then commenced on a huge 14-5 run to extend their lead to 38-26. In the run the guests continued to get super production from Colin Welp who hit 2 three’s while Spencer Reaves scored twice with his typical mid range game. Point Guard Charles Callison who was quiet all game long made a runner which remained his only points of the game. The Skyliners had another spurt in their game where they didn’t show the defensive aggression needed which allowed the guests to get relatively open shots. However the Skyliners still had enough energy and buckled down going on a 12-4 run to trail only 42-38 at the break. In the run Frankfurt got good support from Nahiem Alleyne who came off the bench and simply executed being aggressive hitting a trey and netting free throws. ‘I knocked down some shots today. I should of made more. I just played loose and let my defense dictate what my offense would do’, said Nahiem Alleyne. Till Pape also continued to be efficient adding 6 points as he was a total menace in the point area. ‘We allowed them to come back and that was all on us. We read the plays a little too early or helped too much. Our communication also could have been better’, stated Khyri Thomas. The Syntainics MBC shot 44% from the field and 36% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 42% from the field and 30% from the three point line and had 28 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Isaiah Swope at the FT line

The Syntainics MBC continued to hold the lead in the third quarter despite the Skyliners always staying on the backs of the guests. The Skyliners got the lead back at 45-44 as they had a great start with a 6-0 run as LeDee hit his bread and butter the 20 footer, Johnson made an off balance shot and Alleyne made 3 free throws. Then came 5 lead changes as both teams had a solid rhythm. Frankfurt was probably executing at their best and led 53-50 as ex Artland Dragon guard Will Christmas made a lay in. The Skyliners were aggressive and getting easier baskets. But then all of a sudden came a big turn in the tide as the Skyliners offense turned static and they couldn’t hit shots anymore. The on ball defense of MBC was thrust up a few notches which resulted in a 14-2 run as they led 64-55 after 30 minutes. MBC’s offense was executing at it’s best as Welp dropped his next three pointer while John Bryant made his second. The team also remained really aggressive and made 8 free throws as RJ Gunn, Marcus Foster and Bryant scored. ‘Key in the third quarter was our rebounding. We got outrebounded badly in the first half. We buckled down and got first rebounds and kept executing on the offensive end’, commented Khyri Thomas. ‘We can’t give up on the little battles. Rebounding and 1-1 defense hurt us. But we still did give a great effort’, commented Nahiem Alleyne.

Spencer Reaves runner

The Syntainics MBC kept control in the fourth quarter and led by as much as 10 points, but the Skyliners continued to claw back and had a illustrious last minute being able to force overtime. Both teams came out gunning on offense as LeDee continued to use his mid range game to his strength making a 20 footer while Spencer Reaves hit a trey as MBC led 69-57. RJ Gunn also contributed well to the MBC offense with a lay in as John Bryant still has the court vision at age 38 with the pretty pass and then the strong big made a thunderous dunk for the 71-61 advantage. Rookie Isaiah Swope who is Malik Parsons 2,0 is definitely a player who has clutch secretly carved on his forehead began to lead the Skyliners come back attempt. He demonstrated his 3 level scoring with 2 treys and lay in plus free throws as he was a one man wrecking crew. However the Skyliners trailed 81-73 mainly because Khyri Thomas was just as lethal making a lay in and three pointer to keep them at bay. However the Skyliners weren’t done and kept fighting. Alleyne hit a trey and LeDee a jumper as Frankfurt trailed 83-78 with 1,02 to play. The Skyliners then played their best defense of the game forcing 2 turnovers which led to a Alleyne bucket to trail 83-80 with 18 seconds remaining. Then came the next MBC turnover which led to 3 Christmas free throws and overtime. ‘We played with desperation in the last minutes. We displayed great pressure on ball. We need to show that for 40 minutes’, warned Nahiem Alleyne. ‘We gave it away. They had many 50/50 calls, but you can’t blame the refs. We have to learn to play through it and make them call it and not bait it’, warned Khyri Thomas.

Marcus Foster at the FT line

In the overtime period, the Syntainics MBC made the first punch and the Skyliners were unable to punch back and get the lead back. Reaves began the OT period with free throws which was followed by a Thomas trey who showcased his calmness and great ability to pick his spots once again in the game making the next big timely shot. The Skyliners answered with LeDee free throws and a Swope 20 footer to trail 88-87, but MBC had no offensive lapses as Marcus Foster nailed a clutch trey for the 91-87 lead. LeDee added a big dunk and Christmas a reverse lay up, but MBC always had an answer as Thomas made free throws for the 94-91 advantage. With less than a minute to play, Logan Johnson missed 2 free throws. Foster connected on free throws for the 96-91 advantage. Christmas added free throws with 16 seconds remaining as the Skyliners trailed 96-93. Reaves made a free throw for insurance ending the game. ‘We were really pissed that we allowed overtime. We didn’t want to lose the game. We did a great job executing our stuff. We stuck together, rebounded well and got to the free throw line’, added Khyri Thomas. ‘Second chance rebounds hurt us. They also hit open shots. We can’t let that happen’, added Nahiem Alleyne. The Syntainics MBC were led by Khyri Thomas with 23 points while Marcus Foster added 17 points and Spencer Reaves had 12 points while the Skyliners were led by Jaedon LeDee with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Nahiem Alleyne added 17 points and Till Pape and Isaiah Swope had 14 points apiece. The Syntainics MBC shot 41% from the field and 35% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Skyliners shot 41% from the field and 22% from outside and had 53 rebounds and 17 turnovers.