TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT!
Brandon Woudstra went crazy in a second quarter shooting display drilling five threes which helped his Bayer Leverkusen team build a 16 point halftime lead. ratiopharm Ulm stormed back in the second half, coming as close as three points twice within the last two minutes, but ultimately their comeback came up short as Bayer Leverkusen edged ratiopharm Ulm 89-84 in an exciting Bundesliga contest Wednesday night at historic Wilhelm-Dopatka-Halle in Leverkusen. In the intense matchup both teams hit 47% from the floor and Leverkusen outrebounded Ulm by 1, 37-36. In the end, it was Woudstra's trifecta explosion in the late second quarter that made the difference. With a short memory, ratiopharm Ulm returned home already focusing on Saturday's "bounce-back" game against BG Karlsruhe at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. At 14-14, six games remain in Ulm's regular season and every point counts!
Bayer Leverkusen shooting G Brandon Woudsta eyes the rim before one of his 5 three pointers in Wednesday nights game as ratiopharm Ulm's EJ Gallup closes in.
photo from Leverkusen-Anzeiger
click here for Box Score from Ulm v Leverkusen
Both Ulm and Leverkusen entered Wednesday nights game at 14-13. For both teams the climb to above .500 had been filled with much hardwork and effort. Aside from the precious two-points awarded for a win, Wednesday's game became important for direct - head to head - competition which can become a tie-breaker when considering a playoff spot. Ulm held a 3 point advantage over Leverkusen after their 95-92 comeback home win November 25th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. It was clear for both teams Wednesday evenings result was important.
And both teams opened the action with intensity and strong play. An Eric Taylor left wing jumpshot opened scoring for Leverkusen. Quickly Bryan Lucas became a factor on the other end sinking a jumpshot from the right wing. Emeka Erege cut into the lane in transition and took a perfect pass from Austen Rowland to finish and score. With defensive stops Ulm effectively got into transition and converted. Ulm players missed several easy opportunities at the rim and Leverkusen triggered their running game. Teams exchanged baskets and Ulm's Austen Rowland hit two difficult pull up J's. Subbing in from the bench, super-athlete Jared Newson immediately made his mark. Toward the end of the first quarter, Newson took an outlet pass and hammered home a dunk to excite the crowd. Holding for the final shot of the first, Ulm's EJ Gallup had the answer with a clutch right wing three. After one quarter, Ulm trailed by two 20-18.
But starting the second quarter, Ulm became inconsistent. A possession of poor execution resulted in another thunderous fast break slam dunk from Newson which was immediately followed by a lacadazical Ian Young pass that turned into a Leverkusen steal. Making matters worse, Young reached out and grabben Leverkusen G Gordon Geib and was assessed an Intentional foul. Momentum had swung toward the home team and Leverkusen was prepared to capitalize. They opened a 30-18 lead forcing an Ulm timeout.
Regrouping, Ulm understood the importance of the next possessions and aimed to cut into the deficit. Lead by outstanding hustle plays, Ulm achieved their goal. Captain Emeka Erege inspired the team with relentless defensive effort, forcing a steal and diving on a loose ball. His hustle paid off. In transition at the other end of the floor, Ulm's breakspots spread the floor perfectly and filling the trailer's roll, the ball found Emeka. Taking a ball-reversal skip pass from Jeff Gibbs, Erege drilled a three. Jonathan Levy finished off another fastbreak filled with beautiful passing with a two hand slam. Ulm's energy brought them right back into the game. Leverkusen called time.
Unfortunately, Ulm could not hold their consistency. Leverkusen's answer started slowly. Running a flare play for Brandon Woudstra, Ulm Captain Emeka Erege was caught by a Leverkusen screen. Rather than trail, he fought over top forcing Bryan Lucas to switchout to cover Woudstra. Intelligently, Woudstra quickly swing the ball to big man Nate Fox who drew Erege to him. As Lucas and Erege attempted to switch back, Fox slipped a pass to an open Woudstra in the right corner and the sharpshooter made Ulm pay with a three. Moments later Woudstra shook free from Jonathan Levy for his second three. And then, like lightning, Woudstra found the "zone". From a sideline inbound play, big man Nate Fox entered the ball and ran baseline off a double backscreen --- a play Ulm was prepared for. Setting the first screen, Woudstra screened and dashed to the top of the key, just as Ulm expected. However, EJ Gallup was a step slow in his trail. Before Woudstra shot the ball, officials whistled an Ulm foul along the baseline. Continuing the action, Woudstra shot the ball. Immediately, officials waved off the hoop as they reported the foul. Suddenly, the referees reversed their call, crediting Woudstra with another made three pointer AND giving Leverkusen the ball back for the Ulm foul on the baseline. Astonished by the decision-making, Ulm chalked it up for "home-court" and prepared to defend. On the very next possession, Woudstra worked off a left wing ballscreen and with Gallup right in his grill, buried another three-ball that sent the Leverkusen fans into a frenzy. Within minutes, Brandon Woudstra had single-handidly given his team a 12 point run. Reeling from the shooting display, Ulm managed to help themselves before the buzzer as Konrad Wysocki drilled a top of the key three. But the damage was done and Ulm found themselves in a 16 point hole at halftime trailing 55-39. Woudstra's outstanding marksmanship led Leverkusen to a 35 point second quarter in which they outscored Ulm 35-21.
At the half, Ulm rallied together and aimed for more consistent play in the second half and focused on trimming the lead one basket at a time. With 20 minutes to play, plenty of time remained. Defending screens, finishing strong in the lane and details of execution were discussed and the importance of intensity was understood. Once again, Ulm's second half defensive performance was outstanding. Ulm recorded stops consistently early in the second half and had plenty of chances to cut into the lead. Unfortunately, the Ulm offense came up empty. A missed open shot, an unfinished layup, a transition alley-oop that went awry, a turnover at midcourt --- all plays took place after Ulm stops and became missed opportunities. But the Ulm players continued their excellent effort. Finally, Gibbs and Lucas and Levy and Rowland and Erege saw some results. Bench players Konrad Wysocki and Maksym Shtein subbed in and made immediate impact. Shtein drilled a three from the top of the key to spark his team. Ulm's defense continued to help them stay in the game. Their 21-15 third quarter cut the lead to ten after three, 70-60. Ulm's competitive heart shown through in the third quarter. But the fourth took it to a new level.
Clawing their way back, cutting the lead one basket at a time, Ulm received big baskets from Austen Rowland, a post reaction three up top, and Bryan Lucas, who buried a three on the next possession. Ulm's momentum helped the team capitalize. Trailing 79-76 with just under three minutes to go, Leverkusen got a big three point play from Nate Fox and a pair of clutch free throws from John Goldsberry and another from Brandon Woudsra. Leverkusen also received the benefit of a critical "Intentional foul" called on Ulm's Bryan Lucas for a midcourt foul on Jared Newson. Ulm got a breakaway slam dunk from Jeff Gibbs and a big basket from Rowland. Finally, with under one minute remaining, down 87-82, ratiopharm Ulm needed a big play. After two missed three point attempts, Konrad Wysocki ripped down an offensive rebound with 7 seconds left and finished through contact for an old-school three point play. Trailing 87-84, Leverkusen called for time.
Both benches discussed the interesting situation. Ulm held a three point advantage over Leverkusen with their 95-92 win. When considering head to head, if Ulm lost by three, it would result in Leverkusen taking head to head because they scored more points in the away gym. The choice Ulm faced was to make the free throw and go for a steal or intentionally miss the free throw and try for the stick back two. Out of the timeout, Wysocki sank the free throw and Ulm trailed 87-84. Scrambling to deny and force a steal, Ulm shut down immediate entry passes forcing Leverkusen to throw a lob over the top to halfcourt. Going for the steal, Jonathan Levy reached in and fouled. Again, Ulm was called for an "Intentional foul" giving Leverkusen two free throws plus the ball back with 5 seconds to play. With the call, the game was over. Leverkusen sank both free throws and dribbled the clock out earning their 89-84 victory.
ratiopharm Ulm's heart-filled comeback was outstanding, but in the end, the team exerted too much energy to get over the hump. Austen Rowland continued his outstanding recent form topscoring for Ulm with 17 points and 4 assists. Konrad Wysocki added 15 points 4 rebounds off the bench in a quality effort and Bryan Lucas was solid with 13 points 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Jeff Gibbs and Jonathan Levy scored 11 points apiece with Gibbs grabbing a team best 8 boards and Levy snaring 6. As a team Ulm shot 47% from the floor, 41% from three (9-22) and 65% from the foul line (13-20). Brandon Woudstra led Leverkusen with 18 points including his dead-eye 5 of 6 from three. He also dished out 5 assists. Jared Newson scored 16 points with 6 boards while Derrick Allen contributed 12 points 6 rebounds in the win. Leverkusen also shot 47% but hit 13 of 30 threes (43%) and 76% (16 of 21) from the foul line.
The loss drops ratiopharm Ulm to 14-14 on the season. With 6 regular season games remaining, ratiopharm Ulm is surprisingly in the thick of the playoff race trailing Leverkusen (15-13) and Artland Dragons (15-13) and tied with Deutsche Bank Skyliners (14-14) and Ewe Baskets Oldenburg (14-14). Ulm returns to action with their next important game against BG Karlsruhe Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
