medi Bayreuth loses 72:76 to Fraport Skyliners

medi Bayreuth failed to exploit a great chance to improve its position in the battle for a playoff spot on the 25th game day of the easyCredit German Basketball League. After its recent wins against Gießen and on the road in Jena, the team of Head Coach Raoul Korner lost at home against FRAPORT SKYLINERS by 72:76 (38:30) in front of 3,005 spectators on Wednesday evening and so again has the same number of wins and losses (12 apiece).

The HEROES OF TOMORROW embarked on their encounter on the 25th game day of the easyCredit German Basketball League with a huge surprise. Hassan Martin was back in the squad after his long and niggling injury and was even in the otherwise unchanged starting five in place of Eric Mika. However, another player shouldered the main burden in medi Bayreuth’s attack to start with: Kyan Anderson notched up 11 of his team’s first 15 points. The most striking player for FRAPORT SKYLINERS was Leon Kratzer, who hails from Bayreuth. All in all, a very evenly matched encounter ensued, in which medi scored better from downtown, whereas Frankfurt had advantages under the basket. As a result, both teams were tied 20:20 at the end of the first period.

The game remained evenly poised in the second quarter, although Hassan Martin increasingly became a key factor for medi. When the HEROES OF TOMORROW stepped up their intensity in defense midway through the period and also drained beautifully carved-out shots in offense, they were able to pull 38:28 ahead at one stage. However, the team of captain Bastian Doreth did not manage to maintain that level up to half-time and so went in at the break 38:30 in front. Hassan Martin’s third personal foul just before the buzzer was especially annoying.

The visitors’ Head Coach Gordon Herbert appeared to have found the right words in the break. His players were far better, especially in offense, after they came back on court in the Oberfrankenhalle. Led on by Jason Clark and Tra Holder, Frankfurt increasingly took a grip on the game and kept on cutting the deficit, also thanks to its good rebounding, which gave it a second or even third chance to shoot. In contrast, the HEROES OF TOMORROW could not recapture the intensity or classy play they showed in the second period. Their biggest problem was the fact that Hassan Martin was only able to play for 1:30 minutes due to his foul count. As a result, the SKYLINERS even went back ahead before the end of the quarter to take a 54:53 lead into the final ten minutes.

Yet the HEROES OF TOMORROW quickly snatched the lead back. They were now more aggressive again in defense, but their shots in attack simply did not want to drop on the day as they did in Jena last Saturday and so Frankfurt always kept within striking distance. The largest lead Bayreuth managed was therefore 66:61 and it failed to capitalize on further opportunities to stretch it. In turn, FRAPORT SKYLINERS seized their chances through Tra Holder and went in front again with two minutes remaining. De’Mon Brooks managed to equalize, but it was again Tra Holder who put his side ahead once more. An unsuccessful inbound play finally sealed the 72:76 home defeat.