cleveland-guardians

The EPG Guardians Koblenz Snap 3 Game Losing Streak Defeating The Artland Dragons 79-64

Both the Artland Dragons and EPG Guardians Koblenz were riding losing streaks and the most positive thing going into the game in the CGM arena was that one team would finally have ended their drought. The Artland Dragons had a horrible season last season that were saved at the end to stay in the Pro A and this season the same sort of turn of events have occurred again despite a great start to the season. The Artland Dragons began with a bang winning their first 4 games, but since had a 10 game losing streak under the guidance of ex Koblenz coach Pat Elze. The EPG Guardians Koblenz had riden a 3 game losing streak since their fantastic home win against the Tigers Tuebingen. The EPG Guardians had to find a way to buckle down on defense as they had given up an average of 93 points in the last 3 games. On a cold Sunday afternoon, the game was close at half-time, but in the second half, the EPG Guardians Koblenz stepped up their game finally hitting shots and getting stops helping them control the game. Basketball can be that easy. “This was a super game for us. This game was a lot different from the last one in Giessen. Everybody gave a great effort. We played good defense and shared the ball really well on offense”, stressed EPG Guardians Koblenz guard Jakob Hanzalek. The losing and blues continued for the Artland Dragons as a disastrous third quarter cost them the game. In the fourth quarter with the exception of a few minutes, it was a cake walk for Koblenz. “We began well as our zone worked well. Both teams went on runs. All was ok at the break. Our offense couldn´t execute in the third quarter. We played too wild. Scoring 3 points in 8 minutes won´t help you win”, stressed Artland Dragons assistant coach Markus Jackson. “It was an us week. We had a great week of practice. We didn´t even look at video of the Giessen game and didn´t watch film on Artland until a day before the game. We just focused on us. We looked like a team. We executed well and there was no selfishness. We all trusted each other. Bradley played a great game. We wouldn´t have won without him”, warned Ty Cockfield.

Allin Blunt away jumper

The first quarter showcased a good start by the EPG Guardians Koblenz, only to see the Artland Dragons go on a run to steal the lead at 19-17 after 10 minutes. Koblenz came out punching going on a swift 6-0 lead as Czech Republic forward David Bohm (205-F/C-2001, college: EWU, agency: Octagon Europe) and American Michael Bradly connected on consecutive three´s. Boehm continued to be aggressive and display his versatility scoring a lay in for the 8-3 advantage. Koblenz got sloppy on defense getting fouls allowing Artland to come back via the free throw line trailing only 10-8. Basketball will always be a game of runs as the EPG Guardians jumped out on a 7-2 run to lead 17-10. In the run, Koblenz received good support from their bench as energetic guard Yassin Mahfouz nailed a three point bank shot and Leon Friderici scored on the drive. However Artland didn´t wilt like a flower, but chipped back at the Guardians lead step by step drawing fouls. Young German Thorben Doeding scored as did German big man Robert Oehle. Artland stayed aggressive on defense getting stops and American Taylor Johnson who played at Dartmouth College (NCAA) drilled home a trey in the last seconds. They also did a super job keeping Cockfield to 0 points. “They came back by getting to the free throw line. Cockfield did too little. He had to drive more. We defended well at the guard position”, stressed EPG sport director Thomas Klein.

Tajh Green at the FT line

The second 10 minutes was a tale of 2 quarters as the Artland Dragons rushed out on a big run, but couldn´t hold the momentum as the EPG Guardians Koblenz fought back and stole the lead back leading by 4 points at half-time. Ty Cockfield got Koblenz on the board first finally making his first field goal nailing a three pointer for the 20-19 advantage. The Artland Dragons then had their best phase of the game going on a 10-0 run to lead 29-20. Ex Dragons Rhondorf guard Badu Buck who recently came from Pro B team Berlin Braves went on a scoring spree scoring 5 points. He had a good week of practice and gave big energy hitting a three and some free throws. Artland continued to be aggressive attacking the rim as ex Missouri State forward Lamont West scored as did ex Benedict College (NCAA) forward Tajh Green scored in the paint area. Artland did a great job keeping the Guardians out of the zone and keeping Cockfield at bay. The Guardians didn´t have Boehm on the court as he couldn´t take his momentum from the first quarter and just produced bad offensive decisions. However the EPG Guardians Koblenz came out of their funk after being stopped on 9 straight possession and went on a 19-4 run to lead 38-34 at the break. In the run David Bohm continued to execute at a high rate steering 8 points while Bradley nailed another three pointer and German big man Moses Poelking made a lay in. The most spectacular play of the game occurred on the last play with 5 seconds. Ty Cockfield went coast to coast and it seemed like he would finish himself, but at the last second kicked the ball to the left wing as Jakob Hanzalek made a buzzer beater trey. “At the last second help came for Cockfield as he was already in the air. He saw me in corner. It was a super pass on a great drive. My shot felt good”, stated Jakob Hanzalek. “Boehm got us back in the game. His game gave us more space on offense to open up things”, said Thomas Klein.

David Boehm at the FT line

In the third quarter came the turning point of the game as the EPG Guardians Koblenz broke open the game going on a massive run and led by 16 minutes after 30 minutes. Moses Poelking made a free throw and Top Pro A assist man Buzz Anthony made a pull up jumper to trail 39-36. Then out of seemingly nothing the EPG Guardians Koblenz shifted up a few gears and ran over the Artland Dragons going on a 17-1 run to lead 56-37. In the run the Guardians executed well from downtown getting 3 three´s from Bradley, ex BBL player Leon Friederici and Cockfield. The Guardians also played inside out basketball getting points in the paint from Boehm and American Ben Stevens while Bradley also added a pull up jumper. Koblenz was in a groove while Bradley continued to fill the Cockfield void who wasn´t as his best with his shooting percentages, but when shots aren´t falling,he simply created for others dishing out 8 dimes in the game. Koblenz also stepped up their defense closing down their bigs with no penetration and forcing many turnovers. Artland stopped the run with a Taylor Johnson trey, but couldn´t make any ground. “We began the third quarter the way we stopped the second quarter. I think like we did the same things, but just with more energy”, commented Jakob Hanzalek. “The third quarter cost us the game. We forced too much and didn´t play smart. When you get hit by a run like that, you lose a little faith”, expressed Markus Jackson.

Brandon Thomas with the drive

In the fourth quarter the EPG Guardians managed their lead well and with a few slip ups, finished the game strong and never let up and never allowed them to get under 10 points. Both teams executed well on offense and just punched back and forth. The Artland Dragons got some early three´s from Green and Anthony to cut the Guardians lead to 14, but Koblenz always had an answer. Boehm and Friederici added back to back lay in´s to lead 69-50. Then came a little lapse by the Guardians as they allowed up a 6-2 Dragons run as they were a bit passive. They got free throws from 40 year old Brandon Thomas and 2 lays from the freak athlete Tahj Green to trail 71-58. But the EPG Guardians escaped from their momentary down phase punching back on a 5-0 run to lead 76-58. You can´t totally shut down a Cockfield who contributed 4 points. The Artland Dragons were tired which led to a loss of concentration. Artland got 2 more three´s from Thomas and Doeding, but it was too little to late as Koblenz closed out 2024 with a victory. “We did a job staying focused even when up by 15 points. Bradley and Boehm really stepped up today and played great”, said Jakob Hanzalek. “The fourth quarter was ok for us. We got tired and just didn´t have the strength. We fought to the end though”, stressed Markus Jackson. The EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by David Bohm with 20 points. Ty Cockfield added 17 points and 8 assists while Michael Bradley also scored 17 points while the Artland Dragosn were led by Tajh Green with 16 points while Brandon Thomas added 10 points. The EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 38% from the field and 34% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 17 turnovers while the Artland Dragons shot 33% from the field and 33% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim Overpower The EPG Guardians With Their Physicality And Brutal 1-1 Qualities 99-77

The up and down weeks of the EPG Guardians Koblenz continue last week in Hagen as they couldn´t follow up the massive win at home against Tuebingen which was possibly the biggest victory for Koblenz up to that stand point in the season. The next opponent on paper was ex easyCredit BBL team Hakro Merlins who surprisingly were only at 6-6 in the standings and dumpling around in no man´s land of the standings at one spot higher than the Guardians. Crailsheim is a team filled with unending offensive power, but on the defensive end at times can be beaten if attacked correctly. Once again Koblenz was home again looking for a massive answer after a loss and after beating Tuebingen were very focused to be that next BBL spoiler. Ex Guardian big man Gabriel De Olveira was back in his old stomping ground and extra motivated looking to mix it up with his ex teammates. On a very mild Monday night the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim jumped all over the EPG Guardians and dominated the game for 40 minutes with their physicality, brutal 1-1 qualities and three point efficiency. “We played a good game for 40 minutes. Our aggressive defense did a good job not letting them get to the free throw line. We are a great offensive team, but our emphasis is defense. When we do that well, our offense takes care of it´s self. We are now chasing the top teams. Every win is important”, stressed Crailsheim guard Devon Goodman (184-PG-1997, college: Pennsylvania). The EPG Guardians had problems all night getting into their sets and getting good shots. The tough Merlins physicality haunted Crailsheim all night long. “They are a big tough team. Their physicality was tough. We played until the end and gave our best. Whenever we punched, they punched back and then all started hitting three´s. We have to live with it”, stressed Koblenz guard Allin Blunt.

Ty Cockfield at the FT line

In the first quarter the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim got going quickly and got a big lead and never looked back leading easily 28-15 after 10 minutes. Crailsheim took the rapid 10-2 lead as ex Rhondorf guard Tyreese Blunt added 5 points while ex Nurnberg Forward Anthony Gaines made a lay in and ex Tuebingen center Danniel Keppler made a lay in. Koblenz had massive problems containing their physicality and athleticism on the drive. Crailsheim´s aggressive and good 1-1 defense didn´t allow Koblenz into their sets and the Guardians were unable to get them more often into the set play, but allowed them to run. Ty Cockfield was the only Guardian that was somewhat aggressive as he got 4 points on the free throw line. The Merlins continued to be aggressive attacking the paint as Keppler continued to execute with a hard 2 handed dunk and runner for the 14-4 advantage. Koblenz finally began to execute going on a 6-2 run to trail 16-10 as they were aggressive and were rewarded with 3 buckets inside from Adi-Eri, ex BBL player Leon Friederici and Czech Republic forward David Boehm. But that punch didn´t rattle Crailsheim as they closed out the first quarter strong with a 12-5 run to lead by 13 minutes after one quarter. In the run, the guests received got super support from their bench as ex Liberty University (NCAA) forward Brock Gardner supplied 5 points with a three pointer while ex Arizona Christian University (NAIA) player Callum Lawson also added 5 points with a trey. Koblenz got little support except from American Michael Bradley who supplied 5 points and a trey. “We were unable to match their physicality at both ends. They have great 1-1 qualities”, stressed EPG Guardians sport director Thomas Klein.

Allin Blunt from downtown

In the second quarter the EPG Guardians picked up their game at both ends, but still were far away from getting over the hump as Crailsheim led by 13 points at the break. Koblenz was wide awake in the first 3 minutes going on a 6-0 run to trail 28-21 as the guests were stopped 5 times. The EPG Guardians were aggressive attacking the rim and getting 2 buckets from Friederici and one from ex Canadian and ex Laurier big man Ben Stevens. Koblenz did a good job getting past the first pass which then gave the Merlins problems as Koblenz was in the set play. Ex FC Bayern Munich NBBL player Mohammed Sillah finally got the Merlins on the board at the 6,57 minute mark with an offensive rebound and putback to lead 30-21. Koblenz continued to execute and hang in there going on a 7-3 run to trail only 33-28. In the run, they got support from Allin Blunt with a trey and 4 points in the paint by Stevins. But there is only so much time a team like the Merlins can´t be in total offense mode as they struck back fiercely and closed out the second quarter with a lethal 16-6 run to extend their lead to 48-34 at half-time. In the run the Merlins got three pointers from Tyreese Blunt and ex North Dakota State (NCAA) Vinnie Shahid and a floater by Keppler and another lay in by Tyreese Blunt. “We played better, but missed to many easy shots. We could have had at least 10 points more. We still gave up too many transition baskets and allowed them to often to the free throw line.

Ladarian Griffin at the FT line

In the third quarter the EPG Guardians had a solid scoring quarter with 21, but couldn´t make any ground allowing 29 points as the Blunt and Goodman show took over giving the Merlins the comfortable 77-55 advantage after 3 quarters. Before the Blunt and Goodman show could commence, it was actually the Leon Friderici show that took off. The ex Heidelberg sniper erupted for 8 points nailing 2 three´s and making a thunderous 2 hand dunk after making a steal. The EPG Guardians were still in striking distance trailing only 56-44. Friederici was without a doubt the best Guardian on this night as he carried the club on his shoulders. Crailsheim then went on a 13-6 run to lead 69-50 as Devin Goodman took over. He had shown these explosions in the Pro B with Rhondorf 2 seasons ago and did again in this run scoring 11 of the 13 points including 2 three´s. Goodman then turned over the scoring to Tyrese Blunt who closed out the third quarter with 8 points and 2 three´s. He especially liked the left corner. “Goodman is a great man creator and shot maker while Blunt just knocks down three´s. It hurt us mentally whenever they punched back. We just tried to stay positive. We just have to take the best out of this game we can. It was a real learning experience”, stated Allin Blunt. “We shot well as a team. They were hard hedging a lot so the corners were open. We did a good job with the extra pass”, added Devon Goodman.

Tyreese Blunt from outside

In the fourth quarter both teams executed well as the EPG Guardians continued not being able to match the Merlins physicality on the defensive end. Koblenz began with 3 stops, but only got rewarded with one bucket by Ben Stevens to trail 77-57. Ex Sienna (NCAA) forward Anthony Gaines got Crailsheim on the board at the 7,54 minute mark as they led 79-57. Koblenz had a good phase again getting a trey by Friederici and lay in by Adi-Eri and a floater by Stevens to trail 82-65. Crailsheim then put a lid on the game going on a brutal 12-4 run to lead 94-69. In the run, they continued to let it fly from outside as Keppler and Gardner nailed three´s while Goodman made a lay in. The game was long over with a few minutes to play as both teams traded baskets as ex St Bonaventure (NCAA) forward Ladarien Griffin made a lay in and Keppler a floater while Friederici made a lay in and David Boehm closed out the game with a deep three. “We controlled the game until the end. We did a good job containing Cockfield. We made him finish over the bigs. We wanted to close out the game strong”, commented Devon Goodman. “The game was physical and we were tired. We just wanted to keep pushing until the end, rebound and fight despite being tired”, expressed Allin Blunt. The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim were led by Devon Goodman with 23 points while Tyreese Blunt added 21 points and Daniel Keppler 15 points while the EPG Guardians Koblenz were led by Leon Friederici with 19 points. The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim shot 54% from the field and 39% from outside and had 30 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the EPG Guardians Koblenz shot 41% from the field and 43% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 13 turnovers.