Both teams started off very nervous as no points were scored in the first two minutes. Frankfurt took a strong four to zero lead with hoops from King on a dunk after a sweet Roller pass and Wysocki barrelling into the zone and scoring. American Chris Ensminger (209-C-73, college: Valparaiso) showed quickly that he wanted the ball and that he knew what to do with it as he tied the score at four inside. After Evtimov made a running hook shot in the lane, Ensminger tied the score one more time with a mini hook shot. Captain Pascal Roller gave Frankfurt the 8-6 lead after a smart pass from Anthony King (206-F/C, agency: Interperformances, college: Miami, FL) and the Skyliners would never look back. The Paderborn Baskets were extremely cold from outside and had no other offensive option except to Ensminger. Frankfurt was able to extend their lead to 12-6 with hoops from Wysocki off the fast break and American Anthony King after a big heads up play from Adam Emmenecker who tipped ball away from Ensminger. After one quarter, Frankfurt had a slight lead 14 to 9. Paderborn was shooting only 18% from the field, a stat that can give a coach endless sleepless nights. Frankfurt also hadnt found their rhythm either shooting only 35% and Paderborn was controlling the action underneath with a 13 to 11 rebound edge. The six offensive rebounds by Paderborn was a lingering thorn in Frankfurts backside something that just doesnt seem to go away.

American Derrick Allen started the second quarter scoring with an outside shot. Paderborn reacted quickly with a 4-0 run with hoops from Chris Ensminger inside and Lavelle Felton (193-G-79, agency: Court Side, college: Louisiana Tech) with a runner in the lane. Frankfurt only led 16 to 13, but Frankfurt always had an answer with offensive power. German Konrad the professor Wysocki nailed a three pointer. After five misses, American Steven Esterkamp (198-F-81, college: Ohio) finally hit his first bucket bringing Paderborn back to 20 to 15. After Derrick Allen scored inside and Lavelle Felton with a fadeaway jumper, captain Pascal Roller launched a huge rainbow jumper with extreme height that easily could of reached the Feldberg in the Taunus had he been aiming in that direction. Frankfurt led 25 to 17. The Paderborn Baskets were doing little inside, so coach Doug Spradley reacted taking out Ensminger who was in foul trouble and inserting little used big man Matt Terwilliger (206-F/C-85, agency: 540 Sports, college: Ohio St.), who was back up to NBA superstar in the making Greg Oden (213-C-88, college: Ohio St.) at Ohio State two years ago. He has a standard answer to the standard question. Do you get that question a lot about what it was like backing up Greg Oden? I am used to hearing that question, said Terwilliger. After Nolte made a blue collar shot over two Skyliners, Terwilliger followed with an open outside jumper. Paderborn trailed only 25 to 21. However Frankfurt still with no real lapses on offense had an answer as Ilian Evtimov (201-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: N.Carolina St.) made a catch and pop jumper with a dangling Paderborn hand in his face. Frankfurt didnt learn from their first mistake, and left Terwilliger open again and be buried another jumper from outside. Frankfurt still led 29 to 23, but their overall inside play was stronger and more efficient than against Gottingen. It seemed like Frankfurt was playing with a rage as Frankfurt constantly whipped the ball inside. Derrick Allen scored inside and then Wysocki made a hoop after a wicked no look pass by De Mello. At halftime, Frankfurt led 34 to 24. Frankfurt improved their shooting at 48%, while Paderborn was 0/9 from three point land, but Frankfurt was still a liability under the hoops as Paderborn led that department 25 to 17.

In the first few minutes of the third quarter, the game looked less like the two teams, but more like the Derrick Allen vs Chris Ensminger show as they scored combined the first five baskets of the quarter. Even though Allen showed his inside/out game against Paderborn, in this phase he scored three times from outside and it looked like his new love affair with his outside shot was still going strong. Ensminger scored twice from inside and it was easy to see that Frankfurt had no resistance against the two time BBL champ with Bamberg. Paderborn still trailed 40 to 28. It is always nice when a team has that extra ace in the pocket with Pascal Roller, who hit twice from outside. Frankfurt led 46 to 30. After going 0/12 from three point land, The Paderborn Baskets finally made their first three pointer half way through the third quarter from Steven Esterkamp (198-F-81, college: Ohio).I have seen slumps like this before. Maybe a 1/13 start from the field, but never an 0/12 start. We simply had no luck today, expressed American Steven Esterkamp. Down the stretch of the third quarter, Derrick Allen took a very short walk away from outside and scored twice inside showing that he is so versatile.I was really happy with my inside/out game today. I think I was very helpful to the team and I am most effective this way, added Derrick Allen. Frankfurt led comfortably 52 to 38 after three quarters. Frankfurt continued to be shooting quite well at 48%, while Paderborn was still struggling from three point land at 14%, but kept the upperhand with the rebounds with 36-26. Paderborn had 14 offensive rebounds, which was simply too much from Frankfurts standpoint.

Last season, it was the third quarter, which seemed to be the sore spot for THE DEUTSCHE BANK SKYLINERS, but this season it seems like the fourth quarter is giving the team a lot of problems. The Paderborn Baskets started red hot going on a 4-0 run with hoops from Esterkamp and Nolte in the zone off a miss from Stefano Garris (200-G/F-79). Konrad Wysocki scored with his left hand in the zone. Wysocki made new strides not totally abandoning his outside shot, but retrieving his love for the zone, which he had had in Ulm and producing with a lot emotion as if he was still a little kid exploring a candy shop. Esterkamp scored from outside and American Steven Wright nailed a three pointer bringing Paderborn back to 55 to 47. It seemed at times like Derrick Allen was playing with a blindfold, because it was never clear where he would score from. He stepped outside again and Frankfurt led strongly 57 to 47. Now all of a sudden a strange and uncommon nervousness came a poun Frankfurt. Wright hit again from outside, and Marius Nolte (206-C-81) banged inside following up on his own miss. Frankfurt only led 57 to 53, and the comeback was bringing back eerie memories to the Ulm and Gottingen games. Murat Didins mind must have been going crazy, but a third loss in a row just wasnt going to happen. Paderborn had two chances, but Frankfurt held them scoreless.These two defensive stops were key for the win, analysed Derrick Allen. Chris Ensminger tried a off balance shot in lane and missed and Wright followed with a wild three pointer. Allen scored in the zone and Frankfurt led 61 to 53. The game was decided and even the buzzer beater by Esterkamp couldnt change anything. The biggest problem besides our inability to hit shots, was simply that we let our heads down after missed shots, which effected our defense which wasnt as aggressive and strong, said Steven Esterkamp. THE DEUTSCHE BANK SKYLINERS stayed in 13th place with a 3-3 record, and Paderborn remain in 16th place with a 2-5 record.

THE DEUTSCHE BANK SKYLINERS were led by Derrick Allen, who looked his old self again scoring 25 points, grabbing six boards and dishing out four assists. German Pascal Roller scored 15 points and handed out five assists and had some more daylight again creating in the zone. German Konrad Wysocki showed a lot of heart adding 11 points and keeps fighting his way back to his Ulm form from last season. The Paderborn Baskets were led by American Steven Esterkamp with 16 points, even though it was a shooting day he would like to forget. American Chris Ensminger had a spirited game with 12 points and 12 rebounds thus showing his team how valuable he is. The heart and soul of team German Marius Nolte scored 11 points and added six assists.

Despite the injuries to Jimmy McKinney (192-G-83, agency: Strategic Sports, college: Missouri), Lorenzo Gordon (201-F-83, agency: Hart Sports Mngm, college: Oklahoma City) and Keith Simmons (196-G-85, college: Holy Cross), THE DEUTSCHE BANK SKYLINERS can be very happy with their 3-3 record. This was no pretty game and who knows what the result would have been if Paderborn had hit better. The defense was solid and the flow of the offense was good only with a few lapses in the game. The only major concern at the moment is the rebounding. New center Greg Jenkins (206-F/C-82, college: Iona) still wasnt 10% physically ready and that showed with the three minutes time he got. Anthony King played well against Gottingen and Nikolaev and should of seen more time against Paderborn. Frankfurt has the potential to rebound well, but just need more input from some guys. It is obvious that the more Derrick Allen shoots from outside, the less rebounds he will be able to get. The win was extremely important for the self confidence and the team will just have to fight the next weeks until Gordon and Simmons are healthy. Guard Adam Emmenecker led the team with nine rebounds, showing that the guard position is trying to help. The rebound help from the guards was a big plus today and it will have to continue in the future, warned Derrick Allen. The Nordlingen Giants host THE DEUTSCHE BANK SKYLINERS on Saturday November 1st at 19:30.