Lok Bernau

Dexter Werner (Lok Bernau) Changing Your Pace To Keep Your Defender Guessing On Your Next Move Is Something I Will Continue To Improve On

Dexter Werner is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Bismark, North Dakota that that recently finished his rookie professional season in Germany with Lok Germany averaging 14,0ppg, 8,0rpg and 2,0apg. He just finished a stellar career at N.Dakota St. (NCAA) where he played from 2013-2017 playing a total of 105 NCAA games. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 12.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 61.2%, FT: 73.7%. He spoke to German Hoops after bowing out against Iserlohn.

Dexter thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on reaching the playoffs, but you got swept by Iserlohn. How disappointing was losing game 2 at home by such a tight score of 78-76?

Losing a close game like that is always disappointing no matter what the circumstances are. It was good that we made the playoffs, but we also had goals of going much further.

How long did you still have the last seconds in your mind? Was this one of those games that took you longer to forget?

The last second shot was a tough way to lose that game. A loss like that where it is so close sticks with you a little longer than most games.

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James Milliken (APOP Paphou) Bernau Wanted To Change My Role To Being Just A Defensive Player

James Milliken is a 25 year old 188cm guard from Siler, North Carolina that is playing his rookie season in Cyprus with APOP Paphou (Cyprus-Division A). He started the season in Germany with Lok Bernau, but left in pre season. He started his basketball career with Cowley County CC (JUCO). He then made the jump to the NCAA to Creighton and played 65 games from 2014-2016. In his junior year he played 30 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 42.6%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 77.6%. In his senior year he played 35 game averaging 9.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 48.4%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 70.6%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

James thanks for talking to German Hoops. From Germany to Cyprus. How blessed are you that you were able to find a new team after your short stay in Germany?

I am very blessed to have found a team really quick after my stay in Bernau!

You were only with Lok Bernau in the pre-season. It was a short stay. What were the reasons for your time being there cut very short?

And my time being cut short was more of a decision between both parties

You played with some very talented German players with Lok Bernau. Did it seem like the club was focusing more on them at your position?

I am a scorer and they wanted to change my role to being just a defensive player based off of the history of players I have defended! But yea I think offensively they had plans for other players and it just wasn’t something to further my career being that it was already a pretty low level league

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Dexter Werner (Lok Bernau) My Physicality I Developed While Playing Football Has Been A Big Advantage for Basketball

Dexter Werner is a 23 year old 198cm forward from Bismark, North Dakota that will be starting his professional career in Germany with Lok Germany. He just finished a stellar career at N.Dakota St. (NCAA) where he played from 2013-2017 playing a total of 105 NCAA games. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 12.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.3apg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 61.2%, FT: 73.7%. He spoke to German Hoops earlier in the summer about Basketball.

Dexter thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Summer has been great. I just got back from spending a few weeks visiting some family in Denver and I will spend the rest of my summer in Bismarck and Fargo.

Four months ago you were toying with football and the NFL and now you can call yourself after all a professional basketball player as you will start your professional career in Germany with Lok Bernau. How serious did you take that Pro Day work out at North Dakota State?

I took the Pro Day workout very seriously. I looked at it as another chance to compete and showcase my athletic ability. I was confident that only good would come of it no matter which sport that was in.

At the Pro Day you witnessed drills that were made to display that explosiveness along with strength and speed with the likes of shuttle runs, 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump and standing long jump. What kind of impression did you leave and did you get any feedback form NFL scouts?

I think I definitely performed well with all of the pro day drills. I was able to show some of my athletic ability that may go unnoticed at first glance. I received feedback that I ran and caught the ball well for not having played football in five years.

Even though you are a professional basketball player now how much of an influence was a guy like NFL player Carson Wentz of your hometown Bismark for you as a professional athlete?

Carson is a great role model for a lot of young athletes in North Dakota and all across the country. I had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit throughout our time at NDSU and I think he will continue to have an impact on young athletes throughout his professional career.

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Pierre Bland (Lok Bernau) I Love To See My Teammates Doing Well So I Tend To Pass Up A Lot Of Opportunities For Myself

Pierre Bland is a 24 year old 188cm point guard from Jacksonville, Florida playing his third professional season and third with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career with Florida State College at Jacksonville (JUCO) in 2010 where he played two seasons playing a total of 58 games. In 20102 he moved to IPFW (NCAA) where he played until 2014 playing a total of 69 NCAA games and as a senior played 36 games averaging 9.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 4.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 52.6%, 3PT: 44.0%, FT: 71.7%. In 2014 he turned professional with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 23 games averaging 15.2ppg, 7.3rpg, 5.0apg, 2.9spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 71.9%. Last season with SSV Lokomotive Bernau (Germany-Regionalliga) he played 26 games averaging15.2ppg, 5.6rpg, 4.8apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 68.0%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 75.0%. He spoke to German Hoops following helping dismiss the Fraport Skyliners Juniors from the playoffs.

Thanks Pierre for talking to German Hoops Congrats on the huge 88-59 victory against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. How near was this performance to perfect Lok Bernau basketball?

It was a solid game on both ends of the floor! I wouldn’t say close to perfect because it was things we could have executed better in but the defense pushed us the whole time.

Did Lok Bernau have that extra motivation coming into the do or die game after losing in Frankfurt?

Yes of course! Nobody wanted to be knocked out of the playoffs.

Timajh Parker-Rivera (left) and Pierre Bland (right) in a postgame interview with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber (middle), ProB Play-Offs 2017

Did the fact that the Fraport Skyliners Juniors only came with 8 players and were missing some stars heighten the team self confidence knowing that you had the huge depth advantage?

No I didn’t matter who they had, that doesn’t heighten or diminish our teams confidence! We knew what we had to do.

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The Fraport Skyliners Juniors Live Another Day Forcing Another Do Or Die Game Beating Lok Bernau 76-61

Even if they don´t want to admit it, guys like Travis Thompson, Garai Zeeb or Konstantin Schubert will never forget the massive one sided drubbing they got last season in the playoffs as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors got hammered by Weissenhorn in game one by 69 points, but for some reason, the club has had a knack of rebounding back from tough situations as they came back strong rebounding from that massacre and winning two do or die games in a row and advancing to the pro B finals where they were swept by Ehingen. This season, they had a do or die game on the last game day beating the Giants Nordlingen in fine fashion as they were led by Isaac Bonga who celebrated his first professional triple double. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors slid into the Pro B playoffs with a 4 game winning streak and a lot of momentum, but that came to a crushing halt as they were brought down to reality as they faced top Pro B north team Lok Bernau losing 75-64. German wunderkind Isaac Bonga was close to another triple double as he finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, but the overall team carelessness with taking care of the ball in the second half set their doom as they coughed up the ball 22 times while Lok Bernau has only 10 turnovers thus giving them 12 extra possessions. It was time for the Fraport Skyliners Juniors to rebound back again as they had another do or die situation, but they were at home in their own Basketball City Mainhatten living room and still had the memory of their big do or die win against the Giants Nordlingen two weeks ago and wanted to force another do or die game in Bernau and did setting the tone of the game early and breaking away in the second quarter and never looked back as the Frankfurt depth was too much for the Lok Bernau depth as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors brushed aside Lok Bernau 76-61. After the match, a content top scorer Travis Thompson was all smiles reminiscing about the big do or die win. “We came out good early and rebounded well. We moved ball better and Isaac Bonga hit some three´s. We were able to stop their run and were able to make our own run. We also hit many timely shots that helped us get this win”, stressed Alaska native Travis Thompson. After the loss, 31 year old BBL veteran Robert Kulawick who played 294 games in the BBL showed his role model style carrying the water bottles to the locker room something that usually is reserved for the kids was very disappointed with the performance of his team. “We slept at the start and didn´t have the needed intensity which punished us to the end. I have to compliment my team for the comeback, but it came down to not getting stops and then Frankfurt coming back and hitting a three. I have to compliment Frankfurt for holding us to 61 points. They did a very good job”, stressed 2010 Eurochallenge winner Robert Kulawick.

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Timajh Parker Rivera (Lok Bernau) We Are Capable Of Raising Our Game In Every New Playoff Game

Timajh Parker Rivera is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Milford, Conneticut playing his professional basketball career with SSV Lok Bernau. He played four years at Towson(NCAA) playing a total of 128 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 6.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.1%, FT: 50.4%. He spoke to German Hoops before game two of the playoffs against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Thanks Timajh for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 75-64 win against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. How did it feel playing your first professional playoff game?

Thank you and it was a great experience looking forward to many more .

The Pro B playoff game between the Fraport Skyliners Juniors and Lok Bernau was played in the giant Mercedes arena in Berlin. What did you enjoy most about playing in this state of the art arena?

I’ve been to many Alba games this year so go play on the court was extremely exciting I had a good time .

You played in many nice arenas in the NCAA with Towson, but where did the Berlin arena rank with your all-time nicest?

I would say Mercedes Bens was top five .

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Timajh Parker Rivera (Lok Bernau) I Don’t Think We’ve Peaked But We Will See That In The Playoffs

Timajh Parker Rivera is a 23 year old 203cm forward from Milford, Conneticut playing his professional basketball career with SSV Lok Bernau. He played four years at Towson(NCAA) playing a total of 128 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 6.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.1%, FT: 50.4%. He spoke to German Hoops before game one of the playoffs against the Fraport Skyliners Juniors.

Timajh congrats on the 94-77 win against Wolfenbuettel and finishing the regular season in first place in the Pro B north. You finished the season in style, but what did the team learn from last weeks close 85-83 win against low ranked team Stahnsdorf?

Thank you! Basically we learned that we can never take our foot off the pedal every night each team we play is capable to hand us a loss. Nearing the playoffs we have to play every game as if it were our last.

Lok Bernau had it´s best scoring quarter in the third. What adjustments did you make to be able to push up a notch in the third quarter? How key were you two beast mode dunks at the start of the fourth quarter? Did this fuel the team to close out the game in fine fashion?

I don’t think we made to many adjustments. We buckled down on defense and that lead to more shots which started to drop in the third.

How key were you two beast mode dunks at the start of the fourth quarter? Did this fuel the team to close out the game in fine fashion?

They definitely gave the team and fans some energy. My teammates found me in great positions and made it easy for me.

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Timajh Parker Rivera(Lok Bernau) I Am Very Selective With My Shots And Will Be More Aggressive As The Season Continues

Timajh Parker Rivera is a 22 year old 203cm forward from Milford, Conneticut playing his professional basketball career with SSV Lok Bernau. He played four years at Towson(NCAA) playing a total of 128 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 6.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.1%, FT: 50.4%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 85-76 win against SC Rist Wedel.

Timajh congrats on the big 85-76 win against SC Rist Wedel. The team is now 6-1, but could be 7-0. How much have you personally thought about that annoying three point loss some weeks ago against Rostock that cost you the perfect season thus far?

We do wish we could get that game back but our main focus is our next game.

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Timajh Parker Rivera (SSV Lok Bernau) I Want To Develop My Game So I Can Be Effective At Multiple Positions

Timajh Parker Rivera is a 22 year old 203cm forward from Milford, Conneticut that will be starting his professional basketball career with SSV Lok Bernau. He played four years at Towson(NCAA) playing a total of 128 NCAA games and as a senior played 33 games averaging 6.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.1%, FT: 50.4%. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Thanks Timajh for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I have been in Washington DC all summer working out with Jerelle Benimon who played in China last season and is on the radar of multiple NBA teams . We have been working out every day along with enjoying concerts and other events on weekends.

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Jermaine Robinson Goes from The Premier League In Israel To The German Regionaliga

Jermaine Robinson is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Philadelphia. Currently he is playing for Bernau in the Regionaliga. He played at Cleveland State with Omari Westley from 2000-2004. In his senior year, he played 29 games averaging 19.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.5apg. He went to Europe in 2004 to Norway to play for the Harstad Vikings playing 13 games and averaging 23,6ppg, 4,5rpg, 4,4apg, 2,7spg, 0,3bpg, but left before the end of the season and signed at Haifa/Nesher BC (Israel-Premier L. Gr. 9-12) playing 9 games averaging 6.1ppg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 47.6%, 3FGP: 31.8%. In 2006-2007, he came to Germany to play for SV Hagen-Haspe 70 (Germany-Regionalliga, starting five) playing 5 games and averaging 17.2ppg. In 2007-2008, he had his first tour of duty with SSV Lokomotive Bernau playing 10 games and averaging 19.0ppg. Last season, he played in Chile for Provincial Osorno.

In an exclusive interview for German Hoops, Jermaine talks about how he went from playing in Isarel to playing in the Regionaliga.

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