TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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GAME OF RUNS!
EXCELLENT ULM EFFORT IN TIGHT LOSS TO ARTLAND!
ratiopharm Ulm went into the Dragons-lair of Artland Arena and gave a valliant effort before falling to the powerful Artland Dragons 84-80 in an exciting Bundesliga game Sunday October 26th. Ulm's outstanding first quarter helped them build a 30-13 lead before Artland responded with a strong second quarter run of their own. After Artland took control in the third, a hungry Ulm team fought back in the fourth. Trailing by two, 81-79 with two minutes to play, Ulm had four chances to tie the game but could not come up with the big basket. At the final buzzer, the terrific team effort from ratiopharm Ulm fell just short. Sean Finn enjoyed another excellent game scoring 23 points on 10 of 12 shooting to lead the Ulm attack. Now 4-2, ratiopharm Ulm is excited about their double-Game Day weekend with home games Friday against LTi Giessen 46ers and Sunday against ALBA Berlin.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Dru Joyce drives strong against Artland's Darren Fenn in Sunday's action.
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ratiopharm Ulm entered Sunday's game against Artland with strong self-confidence from their early season performances. One major aspect of the teams improvement focused on Ulm's defensive play. Facing an offensive-minded and highly talented Artland team, Ulm aimed to rely on their team defensive effort on the court Sunday. The Dragons entered with confidence too riding their three game winning streak. For both Ulm and Artland, Sunday's game at Artland Arena was a challenging early season test.
At tip off, a focused ratiopharm Ulm team ran to an early 10-2 lead. Romeo Travis sparked the strong start with a skilled fadeaway on the block and terrific transition basket off a great pass from teammate Dru Joyce. Ulm pushed their lead to 14-3 as center Sean Finn scored on the block before sprinting the floor for a beautiful fullspeed transition layup again from Joyce. Ulm's roll continued and the lead grew. Dan Fitzgerald buried back to back threes increasing the score to 23-9 and then 26-11. Sebastian Betz got into the act with a clutch right wing three. Ulm dominated the first quarter action building a 30-13 lead after one quarter of play. The focused Ulm team outrebounded the Dragons 11-1 and shot 80% from the floor.
Quarter two was a different story. Momentum swung to the home team as the Dragons began to heat up. A technical foul was called on Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald for flopping after his left wing three point attempt. The call gave Artland free throws plus the basketball which they turned into a Chad Prewitt three. Also making an impact was defensive stopper Paul Johnson who drilled two three point shots to help Artland cut into Ulm's lead. With the home crowd excited and into the game, Artland Arena came alive in the second quarter. Sean Finn continued his excellent game with good work inside and Lamont McIntosh answered for his Dragons team. As Artland pulled within 10, at 37-27, Ulm took their first timeout attempting to maintain their lead with 5 minutes remaining in the first half. Play continued with Adam Hess and Drew Neitzel drilling three point shots cutting the Ulm lead to 5. With the first half entering the final minutes, Artland's comeback continued as Zack Whiting stuck a three pointer pulling the Dragons within one at 42-41.
At the half, Ulm held a one point lead 44-43. Their strong start and outstanding first quarter was earsed with Artlands strong second quarter. But Ulm remained in the lead and focused their halftime on several areas where their team could improve.
As the second half started, Chad Prewitt scored the first points of the second half and gave Artland their first lead at 45-44. Adam Hess found his form fast. With active cutting and a quick release, Hess scored back to back baskets with crafty offensive moves helping Artland up their lead to 49-44. Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis responded for Ulm cutting the Dragons lead to one at 51-50. But Darren Fenn buried a shot clock beating three pointer extending the Artland lead to 54-50. Chad Prewitt sank another three and Drew Neitzel a breakaway basket to the delight of the Artland Arena crowd. The Dragons held a solid 65-54 lead with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter. At the end of three, Artland seemed in control holding a 71-69 advantage.
In the fourth, the hardworking Ulm team fought back. Rookie point guard Per Gunther poked loose a steal from Zack Whiting and drew an intentional foul as Whiting took him down. Ulm pulled back within five points but the Dragons extended their lead to 9. Later Drew Neitzel drilled another three and the Artland lead swelled to 12 at 74-62. Fighting back, Ulm countered with more Sean Finn in the paint and Dan Fitzgerald from beyond the arc and cut the deficit to two 79-77 with 4 minutes to play.
Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs and Artland's Chad Prewitt tumble to the floor after Jeff fouled on Prewitt's three point attempt from the right wing in the fourth quarter.
Ulm would have four opportunities to tie the score down the stretch. First, Sean Finn took a baseline pass on the block and pivoted to make a play. Well-defended by the Dragon post defense, Finn pivoted looking for an open teammate. Spinning to work for a shot, Finn was charged with an offensive foul. Strong Ulm defense gave the team another chance. This time, an endline inbound situation resulted in Romeo Travis getting fouled at the rim. Romeo stepped to the line trailing 81-79 with 50 seconds to play. Missing his first, Romeo sank his second and Ulm was within one at 81-80. After strong defense, Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs fouled Artland forward Chad Prewitt as he attempted a right wing three. Gibbs' 5th foul, Prewitt went to the foul line with three shots and the chance to put the game away. Missing his first, Prewitt converted his second setting the score at 82-80 for Artland. Making things exciting, Prewitt missed his third free throw but Artlands Darius Hall ripped down the rebound. Under pressure, Hall tried a skip pass across the court which was intercepted by Ulm's defensive star Keith Triplett. Trailing by two with 30 seconds to play, Triplett and Dru Joyce raced up the floor in a transition situation. Open from the left wing, Keith pulled up and looked for the big three. The shot rimmed out but a hustling Romeo Travis bounced the ball off an Artland defender on the baseline. Ulm held possession for an endline inbound trailing by two. Entering the basketball to Dru Joyce, Artland defenders switched a ballscreen isolating Joyce against Dragon post man Darius Hall. Dru attacked Hall and got into the lane. After making several important big plays on the offensive end throughout the game, it was Adam Hess' helpside defensive rotation and shot block that sealed the victory for the Dragons. Ulm fouled and Artland's McIntosh put the game out of reach with two clutch free throws making it a 4 point lead with 11 seconds to play. As Lee Humphrey's desperation three rimmed out, the final buzzer sounded on the tight 84-80 road loss for ratiopharm Ulm.
Dru Joyce's shot is blocked by Artland's Adam Hess preventing the tie with under one minute to play.
The exciting game featured an outstanding first quarter from ratiopharm Ulm followed by a terrific comeback by Artland in the second. The Dragons third quarter run gave the home team control before the hardworking Ulm team battled back. Ulm had four possessions to tie the game in the final two minutes but could not come up with the big play. Unfortunately for Ulm, the team left 15 points on the foul line making only 15 of 27 (55%) which became a factor in the close game. Ulm's excellent work appeared outrebounding Artland 31-29, shooting 56% from the floor and handing out 17 assists to 13 turnovers. Artland shot 49% and made 16 of 22 free throws for a solid 73%.
Sean Finn enjoyed another excellent game scoring a game best 23 points on 10 for 12 shooting. Romeo Travis added 15 points 6 rebounds while Dru Joyce totaled 12 points 6 rebounds 5 assists and Dan Fitzgerald 12 points on 4 of 6 three point shooting. Adam Hess was outstanding for Artland scoring a team best 22 points with 8 boards while Chad Prewitt added 14 points 4 boards and Drew Neitzel 12 in the win.
Now 4-2, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to an exciting basketball weekend ahead as they host LTi Giessen 46ers Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg followed by a Sunday afternoon matchup against defending Bundesliga champion ALBA Berlin. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
