TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Dragons Earn Exciting Win!
Lamont McIntosh buried a clutch three pointer from the top of the key with 25.5 seconds to play and John Goldsberry sank key free throws to help the Artland Dragons avoid a ratiopharm Ulm upset bid 87-84 Saturday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Deadlocked at 79 with 1:52 to play, it was Artland who made the big shots down the stretch. In the final 15 seconds, Ulm's EJ Gallup had two game-tying attempts rim out and Konrad Wysocki's desperation turnaround three was off line at the buzzer. With Ulm leading 67-60 heading into the fourth, Artland turned up their defensive intensity and made several outstanding individual offensive plays resulting in big buckets from Leon Rodgers, Terrance Thomas and Lamont McIntosh. Kyle Bailey spearheaded the Ulm attack in a terrific 18 point performance with support from All Star Jeff Gibbs who added 16 points 9 boards and 14 points from EJ Gallup. Ulm's outstanding team effort fell just short to a Dragon team who showed their class down the stretch.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs attacks Artland's Darius Hall in Saturday afternoons game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. The two power players make for an outstanding matchup and great competition.
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Tipping off at a special afternoon time, the 3pm start provided a perfect Saturday afternoon enertainment for the city of Ulm and allowed television station SWR the chance to cover the game with their cameras for the Sport programming later in the evening. The sunny Febuary skies and fresh challenge of a top opponent like the Artland Dragons filled Sportszentrum Kuhberg with energy and life.
Kyle Bailey was outstanding for Ulm Saturday afternoon with a team best 18 points including this three point make in the fourth quarter. KB has worked hard in the last month rehabilitating a thumb injury and his positive presence made a big difference for Ulm's attack.
One thing ratiopharm Ulm knew for sure is that they would not sneak up on the battle-tested Dragons. Last season, Ulm upset Artland at Sportszentrum Kuhberg with a fantastic team effort. This year, Head Coach Chris Fleming emphasized to his team the challenge presented in Ulm and had his troops ready. Clearly, Artland entered the game with high confidence from their outstanding Bundesliga season, their advancement to the ULEB Cup playoffs and their recent hardfought road win over ALBA Berlin at MaxSchmellinghalle in Berlin. The experiences combined to prepare Artland for Saturday's afternoon action. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm aimed to add Artland to the long list of upsets at Sportszentrum Kuhberg over the last two seasons. With both teams focused and ready, Saturday afternoon was electric with potential for a fantastic basketball game.
Ulm's Sean Finn and Dru Joyce were excellent in Saturdays game against Artland. Finn was terrific inside scoring 10 points with 3 rebounds and 2 blocks while Joyce was strong on the perimeter scoring 4 points with 4 boards and 6 assists.
As the game began, the focused Artland team demonstrated their high-level of play. Quick and sharp on offense while playing aggressive and physical on defense, the Dragons made it clear why they were enjoying success in Bundesliga and ULEB Cup play this season. Ulm quickly adjusted to the tempo and level of play and began to make some plays. Aiming for a more expanded rotation than recent games, Ulm turned to the bench midway through the first quarter and Dru Joyce, Sean Finn and Emeka Erege made immediate impact. Erege's defensive intensity and effort gave his team a boost. Meanwhile, Joyce finished a strong drive before sending a beautiful lob to the rim for 7 foot Finn to hammer home over an out of position Dragon D. Leon Rodgers started strong for Artland scoring 9 points in the first ten minutes. Teams exchanged baskets toward the end of the first quarter and Ulm held a 24-23 lead after one.
Ulm's EJ Gallup finishes this beautiful fast break basket over a challenging Lamont McIntosh Saturday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. EJ scored 14 points in a solid effort for his team.
Quarter two saw Ulm push forward behind strong team defensive play. Kyle Bailey finished a skillful drive in the paint and went coast to coast in transition for an athletic layin. His return to top form was a happy sight for Ulm fans who have missed their starting point guard over the last month as he rehabilitated an injured thumb. Even more impressive was the fact, KB played suffering from Flu sickness which forced him to miss practice Friday. Certainly, Bailey's performance was key for Ulm's attack. Along with Kyle, sharpshooting guard EJ Gallup drilled two momentum building threes to spark a mid-second quarter Ulm run. Gallup then zipped a beautiful pass in transition to a sealing Bryan Lucas who finished the easy layin. While Ulm found their offensive rhythm, tremendous individual plays were being made by the first-class Artland team. Despite the tough Ulm defense, Lamont McIntosh, Terrance Thomas and Leon Rodgers show flashes of individual brilliance taking things into their own hands and making plays. McIntosh drilled several tough pull up jumpers against a variety of Ulm defenders, Thomas drove strong to the basket and finished physically through challenges and Rodgers scored from inside and out posting up for buckets on the block and drilling ballreversal threes over closeout defenders. The quality action on the court was competitive on both ends and Ulm took pride in their 20-16 second quarter. Jeff Gibbs hardwork in the paint resulted in several excellent baskets in the lane. At the halftime buzzer, Ulm held a 44-39 lead.
Bryan Lucas and his Ulm teammates played with tremendous focus and energy Saturday against the Artland Dragons.
At the half, Ulm had positioned themselves well. Their team defense and intensity level provided a strong base for success. On the offensive end, the teams execution was excellent. One on one scores kept Artland in the game along with clutch three point shooting. Ulm aimed for improved individual defense in one on one situations both on the perimeter and in the paint in the second half. The team also felt great about the bench contributions. Specifically, Sean Finn, Emeka Erege and Dru Joyce added super production to the Ulm attack with good minutes. Ready for the challenge, Ulm aimed to finish the job in the second half.
Artland's Leon Rodgers rips down this physical rebound as Ulm's Jeff Gibbs competes in the play. Friends from Columbus Ohio, Gibbs and Rodgers were central figures for their teams Saturday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Rodgers has been an outstanding addition to the Dragons topscoring with 21 points 7 boards while Gibbs powered his way to 16 points 9 rebounds for Ulm.
Focused and ready, ratiopharm Ulm started the third quarter strong. After a defensive stop, Jeff Gibbs ripped down a rebound and fired a full court outlet pass to a streaking Konrad Wysocki behind the defense. Konrad took the pass and in one motion lunged toward the rim. Fouled in transition, Konrad's energizing play sparked his team and brought the Kuhberg crowd into the game. Kyle Bailey hit several skillful baskets including a pullup left elbow jumper and under the rim baseline finish. From a Kyle Bailey steal, EJ Gallup raced to an athletic fast break finish over a challenging Lamont McIntosh. On the other end, Artland center Adam Chubb went to work on the left block scoring and getting to the foul line. Chad Prewitt finished a spin move in the paint and drilled a top of the key three. From the Ulm bench, Sean Finn made his presence felt again with an under the rim slam over a challenging Dragon defender and hammering home a second lob dunk from Dru Joyce. Ulm put together a mid-third quarter run and when Jeff Gibbs scored an open left wing three, Sportszentrum Kuhberg roared. Ulm led 62-54 with 1:39 remaining in the third and took a 67-60 lead into the fourth.
Ulm's Energizer Konrad Wysocki elevates to the basket on this fast break. Konrad finished with 12 points 9 boards 3 assists for Ulm Saturday.
Out of the mid-quarter huddle, Artland Head Coach Chris Fleming motivated his team and the Dragons raised their defensive intensity level to a near fury. The impressive hustle plays resulted in an Artland comeback. Big baskets from Lamont McIntosh and Leon Rodgers provided the offensive push. Ulm's offense rimmed out some point blank finishes agaisnt the tough Artland defense. The Dragons run continued. Finally, after an EJ Gallup missed right wing three, Artland countered in transition and Lamont McIntosh buried a left wing threeball to take a one point 72-71 lead. As Ulm called a timeout to circle the wagons, Artland held their first lead since the first quarter. Down the stretch the lead changed hands several times and Sportszentrum Kuhberg fans enjoyed terrific basketball action. With just under two minutes remaining, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs scored on a drive down the middle of the Dragon defense to even the game at 79 and Artland opted for a timeout with 1:52 to play. From the timeout, Gibbs pressured a post entry pass forcing an Artland turnover in the corner. On the offensive possession, Ulm could not convert as Dru Joyce's turnaround midlane bounced hard. Artland controlled the rebound. Bursting out into transition, Ulm defenders scrambled to get back. Forced into mismatches to cover for each other, the ball found Terrance Thomas at the top with point guard Kyle Bailey on him. Thomas waited for floor spacing and went to work on Bailey. Kyle cut off the drive, but Thomas stuck a tough pullup from the left elbow area. Leading 81-79, Ulm responded. Dru Joyce dribbled hard off a top ballscreen and drew a foul in the lane. Joyce cooly sank the first pulling Ulm within one 81-80. Although his second fell out, Ulm's Sean Finn collected the important offensive rebound giving Ulm possession and the chance to take a lead. Ulm went to work but strong Artland defense denied their initial set. Off ball reversal Konrad Wysocki took a pass at the top of the key. Looking to attack, he was called for a traveling violation on his drive. Dragons head coach Chris Fleming called a timeout.
Trailing 81-80, Ulm dug in for a stop with under one minute remaining. The defense rose to the occassion and the shot clock and game clock ticked down as Sportszentrum Kuhberg stood up. As Artland moved the ball, Lamont McIntosh received a pass on the left wing. Using a ballscreen, McIntosh calmly stepped into his shot and sank a clutch basket giving Artland an 84-80 lead. Ulm called time out. From the timeout, Kyle Bailey responded by drilling a right wing pull up three of his own. Ulm trailed 84-83. Immediately, Kyle fouled John Goldsberry sending him to the line with under 20 seconds to go. Goldsberry buried both pushing Artlands lead to three 86-83. The Dragon point guard returned the foul favor to Bailey with a tactical foul sending Ulm to the line preventing the three point attempt. With 15.9 seconds on the clock, Bailey saw his first foul shot roll off the rim. He collected himself and sank the second. Ulm trailed 86-84. After trying for a steal, Bailey alertly fouled Goldsberry again with 14.6 seconds on the clock. With no timeouts, Ulm hoped for a miss. Goldsberry sank the first. But then, Ulm got the chance they needed. The Dragon PG left his second foul shot short and Konrad Wysocki grabbed the rebound. Sending a ballahead pass up the right sideline to Bailey, the Ulm point guard pushed the ball for a chance to tie the game. Weaving through traffic, KB swung the ball to Konrad Wysocki who quickly zipped another reversal pass to an open EJ Gallup in the left corner. Within seconds, Ulm had their first game tying look! Gallups shot was challenged making it tough, but he got the attempt off. It rimmed out. In the scramble for the rebound, the ball bounced out of bounds on the baseline off an Artland player. Setting up a game-winning special inbound play, Ulm executed their action and EJ Gallup popped open on the right wing. Continuing his cut into the corner, Gallup took the inbound pass from Bailey and fired a second attempt to tie. Again it rimmed out. This time with precious seconds ticking away, Konrad Wysocki went all out to grab the rebound. Securing the ball with 2 seconds left, Konrad quickly sprinted out to three point range and heaved a turn around desperation three which fell short at the buzzer. The exciting finsih represented Ulm's excellent team effort which came up just short in the 87-84 loss. The Dragons earned the win with tough defense in the fourth quarter and several players making big plays. Without question, in earning the hardfougth win, Artland showed their class.
For the game, both teams shot 50% from the floor with Artland sinking 10 of 22 (45%) from three compared with Ulm's 6 of 18 (33%). Ulm outrebounded the Dragons 37-26 and dished out 17 team assists, but the visiting Dragons drained 21 of 25 (84%) from the foul line to Ulm's 12 of 21 (57%) proving a big difference in the result.
Kyle Bailey paced the Ulm attack with 18 points followed by Jeff Gibbs with a strong 16 point 9 rebound night and EJ Gallup with 14 points. Konrad Wysocki chipped in 12 points 9 rebounds and Sean Finn added 10 points 3 boards 2 blocks to Ulm's effort. Dru Joyce was also solid scoring 4 points with 4 rebounds and a team best 6 assists. Leon Rodgers was outstanding for Artland topscoring with 21 points 7 rebounds while Lamont McIntosh added 18 points on a cool 4 of 6 three point accuracy. Terrance Thomas finished with 13 points 4 rebounds and Chad Prewitt buried 3 of 4 threes on his way to 11 points.
Although the terrific team effort came up just short, Ulm takes positives from their performance and looks to make their quality play consistent in weeks to come. The loss drops Ulm to 9-10 in the Bundesliga as they look ahead to upcoming road games in Frankfurt on Wednesday night and at Giessen on Sunday evening. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
