Dreams Come True!
Ulm 2005-2006 2.BUNDESLIGA SOUTH CHAMPIONS!
ratiopharm Ulm opened a new chapter in their basketball history Saturday night at a jam-packed Sportszentrum Kuhberg with a 106-73 victory over USC Freiburg to claim the 2005-2006 2.Bundesliga South championship and earn promotion into the German top division, the Bundesliga. Jonathan Levy's 25 point performance and Jeff Gibbs' 18 point 15 rebound effort powered Ulm to 27-1 on the season clinching the league title and the "Aufstieg". Sparking celebration in Sportszentrum Kuhberg, the Ulm win was a night to remember --- the night Ulm's basketball dreams came true!
ULM GM Thomas Stoll enjoys a Championship Cigar!
Game 28 Saturday April 15, 2006 7pm
vs 
ratiopharm Ulm officially clinched the 2.Bundesliga South championship with a terrific 106-73 win Saturday night at an electric Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm Germany. For the Ulm team, the championship was the perfect reward for an outstanding season filled with chemistry, synergy and commitment. For the Ulm management, the "Aufstieg" culminates 5 seasons of progress and improvement as GM Thomas Stoll, Financial Manager Andreas Oettel and the organization share in their success of achieving the #1 goal. Finally, for the Ulm fans, the championship means a new era of basketball in Ulm with a return to the Bundesliga.
After tickets sold out on March 27th for the April 15th game, Sportszentrum Kuhberg was expanded for Saturday evenings memorable event. An overflowed crowd filled more than every seat as fans lined the floor, stood in stairways and squeezed into any open space available to see history. Anticipation and energy was as much a part of the atmosphere as oxygen. The Ulm team had worked for this; the Ulm public had waited for this.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs manipulated and devastated in the paint for 18 points and 15 rebounds!
Starting off a bit excited, Ulm execution was simply not perfect. Overanxious, the Ulm offense did not run smoothly early on. After Freiburg won the tip, forward John Thomas cracked the scoring column first with a standstill J over Emeka Erege giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Freiburgs lead would be shortlived. While Ulm's first few possessions were out of kilter, the team settled in quickly and opened up a 14-2 advantage 6 minutes into action. Going inside, power forward Jeff Gibbs and center Maksym Shtein immediately established the Ulm presence in the paint. Changing defenses helped Ulm disrupt the Freiburg rhythm. But while the Freiburg team sharpshooting Slovakian wing Peter Holubek quickly found his rhythm. Holubek sank 3 straight three point shots pulling the guests back into the game at 14-11. Ulm adjusted into their man to man defensive schemes and finished the first quarter leading 24-19.
"Jono" was in top form exploding to the rim
Quarter 2 started much the same as quarter one. Freiburg forward John Thomas scored 4 straight points to surprise Ulm and give his team a 24-23 lead. An Ulm timeout to discuss the situation ensued. Going into the timeout, the Ulm team was coasting. Coming out of the timeout, they exploded. Led by the American one-two Levy-Gibbs offensive punch and outstanding contributions from the bench, Ulm outscored Freiburg 29-13 over the remainder of the first half. Registering defensive stops, Ulm created offense from their defense with excellent transition basketball. Levy sliced to the basket off the dribble and finished at the rim including a strong AND1 3 point play. By the final first half buzzer, Ulm's surge gave them a commanding 53-36 lead.
In the halftime lockerroom, Ulm rallied around the season long goal which was now only 20 minutes away. Looking at a few defensive adjustments regarding containing the basketball one on one, defending the Freiburg ballscreen situations and closing out three point shooters, Ulm returned to the floor with championship on their mind.
Ulm center Maksym Shtein was a force in the paint scoring 15 points with 9 boards in the "Aufstieg" clinching win!
But a slow start to the 3rd quarter allowed Freiburg to trim the Ulm lead to 10 at 56-46 only 3 minutes into the second half. Fast fouls on Erege and Gibbs saddled the two key Ulm players with 3 fouls. An Ulm timeout helped to alert the team and reverse the flow of momentum. Again, Ulm turned it on out of the timeout with a 20-10 finish to the 3rd quarter. While the first half was the Levy-Gibbs one two punch, the third quarter belonged to Maksym Shtein who did his damage working on the block. Konrad Wysocki was a key factor off the bench with energy and intensity. Finishing the third quarter with a flurry, Florian Mobius stole a long lead pass along the right sideline with four seconds to go. Instantly, Flo found an open Christian Grosse diagonally up court and zipped in a perfect pass. With seconds ticking down, Grosse raised up as if to shoot a right wing three pointer and drew Freiburg defenders toward him. Deftly, Grosse slipped a pass around the left side of the leaping defender --- the ball sailed across the lane to a wide open Wysocki who athletically caught-and-finished in one whirling motion beating the buzzer with a bank shot that brought Sportszentrum Kuhberg to a roar celebrating the score. Up 76-55 heading into the final quarter, Ulm could feel it.
Ulm Captain Emeka Erege helped Ulm secure the "Aufstieg" with strong play!
In the 4th, Ulm left no doubt. Rolling past Freiburg with strong transition, excellent defense and quality halfcourt offense, Ulm sealed the memorable moment with a 30-18 final quarter. Rotating the bench for everyone to share in the accomplishment, Ulm used energizing plays like a Wysocki two hand slam and three balls from Sprunken and Grosse to push further ahead. With clock ticking down, excitement and emotion rose up. As Ulm starters donned their championship t-shirts and smoked their championship cigars on the bench, Sportszentrum Kuhberg was alive awaiting the moment. The overflowed crowd stood on their feet --- the celebration was seconds away.
Konrad Wysocki flies to the rim for a slam --- Konrad's energy and hardwork was a key to Ulm's success.
When the final seconds ticked away, the Ulm team rushed the floor in a frenzied mid-court melee. On the way, Wysocki sopped Head Coach Mike Taylor with the imfamous "Gatorade Bucket". Champagne bottled popped and fizzed all over everyone. GM Thomas Stoll and management soon joined the mix. A wild celebration ensued and fans gradually made their way onto the floor to join in the fun. For sure, team championship celebrations are some of the most special moments in sports!
Sportszentrum Kuhberg was overflowing with fantastic suppport from Ulm fans which spilled into celebration with the "Aufstieg"!
The Taylor Family enjoys the special night!
#1
click link below for complete Ulm vs Freiburg photo Gallery including celebration shots!
http://www4.azol.de/index.php?tpid=4&galerie=2329&p=1
Jonathan Levy led Ulm with 25 points while teammate Jeff Gibbs added a strong 18 points 15 boards to the title-securing win. Maksym Shtein was a go-to guy in the 3rd quarter finishing with 15 points 9 rebounds and Konrad Wysocki came up big again off the bench with 14 points 8 boards. Ulm shot 50% from the floor (40-80) and 40% from three (8-20) while Freiburg hit 38% (24-62) and 34% (8-23) respectively. Ulm outrebounded Freiburg 49-32 and dished out 17 assists compared with 5 turnovers. Ulm native Nils Menck paced Freiburg with 18 points including 4 of 7 three point accuarcy.
With the championship and "Aufstieg" all wrapped up, Ulm can enjoy the remainder of their season playing with "knowledge of #1". Ulm visits Jena Saturday night for a big-time rubber match before hosting Kaiserslautern on April 29th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg for the season finale! Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com
GO ULM!
MIKE T
