The Artland Dragons controlled most of the game and Frankfurt can be very happy that they pulled out a victory. "We need to play 40 minutes of focused basketball and not only 36 minutes. Frankfurt scored some three-pointers near the end that broke our necks. We could not recover and lost the game", described a disappointed American Darius Hall. Guard Spyro Panteliadis described that the victory was not only about scoring baskets and playing good defense. "The key to the win was talent and heart. We wanted to win more than they did. This was a game we could not lose at home because our fans supported us so well."
Frankfurt led 1 to 0 and didn´t lead again until 64 to 62 in the fourth quarter. The Artland Dragons dominated the game until the 36th minute mostly with hot shooting and tough defense. Not being able to start strong has been typical for the OPEL SKYLINERS´ play in the last months. "I can´t explain our slow starts. We are constantly talking about this and it has to get better", commented assistant coach Simon Cote. American Tyrone Ellis had an answer for their slow start. "We were a bit excited going into this game. We missed rotations, but I have to be truthful that the Artland Dragons are a good, disciplined team and were tough to play".
After Chris Willaims gave Frankfurt the lead 64 to 62, Jukka Matinen and Spyro Pantelidis scored two back-to-back three-pointers that sealed the victory for Frankfurt. "It can be very stressful to win such close games especially in the playoffs, but I never once thought we would lose this game, I was just thinking about each new individual game situation", said Jukka Matinen. The whole playoff series has been close, always coming down to the last minutes. "We deserved to win, but lost it at the end. We will win on Tuesday, but our focus is to win games at the end and not let them get away", stressed Artland coach Chris Flemming.
The OPEL SKYLINERS were led by MVP-candidate Chris Williams, who tallied his 20th double double of the season. Williams scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Williams is confident that the team is playoff tough now after this victory. "We have been in the playoffs before and we know what it takes to win. The most important thing was that we stopped them at the end today." Center Malick Badiane had another strong game, scoring 13 points, grabbing three rebounds and playing tough under the basket. Jukka Matinen had 10 points, including two three-pointers. Captain Pascal Roller scored 10 points, including three three-pointers, but was a bit under his point average per game. Roller has been struggling a little lately, but assistant coach Simon Cote says that the captain is still so valuable to the team. "Pascal may not be scoring as much now and making some turnovers, but he is still the most consistent player I have ever been around. He plays almost the whole game and is thinking for many players, which is tiring, but he is still making nine out of ten good decisions."
Tyrone Ellis commented that the victory was a whole team effort. "Diarra, Kruel and Badiane were the difference today. I was missing shots, Chris was being double teamed, but those guys picked us up." Ibrahim Diarra played an excellent game, scoring two three-pointers and proving why he is the master of defense for the OPEL SKYLINERS, defending Bulic tough in the last quarter.
American Tyrone Ellis played his third game since coming back from his injury and had his best game so far. Ellis scored seven points, including one three-pointer. After his three-pointer, he pointed to the sky thanking someone: "I was thanking God. I am always praying to God before, during and after the game. I know God won´t let me down." Simon Cote is content that the play of Tyrone Ellis will keep getting better. "Every successful team and person has a positive outlook. Tyrone has this and sooner or later he will break out of his shell and have a big game." The centers Badiane and Kruel have played two strong games back-to-back. "They are playing well and this is a great building block for the future. They can´t be satisfied, but must continue to play mistake-free basketball with great effort and intensity and produce rebounds, defensive stops and points", anaylsed Simon Cote.
Again, the Artland Dragons were led by Croatian Marko Bulic, who scored 17 points. The OPEL SKYLINERS continue not to be able to find a cure for his offensive power. Bulic continues to get open and hit most of his shots. He scored less today, but 10 more points like he had in game one could have decided the game today for Quakenbrück. Ben Ebong also scored 17 points and was a bit of a nightmare as usual for the Frankfurt centers. Michael Jordan scored 12 points and Darius Hall scored 10 points.
The OPEL SKYLINERS left Frankfurt after the win to head to Quakenbrück. They will have a day of rest and time to focus on the upcoming battle in the dragons´ den in Quakenbrück. The question remains, can the OPEL SKYLINERS beat Quakenbrück in their hostile environment? "If we can control the last five minutes, stay together as a team, then we will win", said Artland Dragon Ben Ebong. Simon Cote is sure that a win will take two very important components. "If we can make the big plays and defensive stops, then we will win." This is the first time that Quakenbrück is in the playoffs and Frankfurt has so much more playoff experience. Jukka Matinen sees Frankfurt as having the upperhand. "We have the confidence now and they have their backs to the wall." The series so far has been a nail bitter with each team winning the home games. The OPEL SKYLINERS have not played to their usual capabilities in this series, but if they do, then a win on Tuesday should be possible.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber reporting for the OPEL SKYLINERS
