TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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BONN SOIR!
TEAM EFFORT, FITZGERALD 3'S KEY ULM'S GOOD EVENING!
Sunday evening at Sportszentrum Kuhberg turned into a good evening for ratiopharm Ulm. A terrific team effort with excellent focus and defensive energy combined with Dan Fitzgerald's three point shooting and Sean Finn's hardwork in the paint drove ratiopharm Ulm to a 79-63 home win over an outstanding Telekom Baskets Bonn team. Ulm took control of the game with a third quarter run triggered by Dan Fitzgerald three point shooting and Sean Finn inside finishes which stretched their advantage to 72-50 with five minutes to play. Sean Finn's 21 point 10 rebound double double paced Ulm production while Dan Fitzgerald drilled 5 of 10 threes to add 15 points and floor general Dru Joyce was excellent with 13 points 9 assists in the win. Earning their 5th win in 6 games, ratiopharm Ulm improved to 17-8 on the season.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald drilled 5 of 10 threes finishing with 15 points including three decisive three pointers that helped Ulm take control of the game.
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ratiopharm Ulm guard Sebastian Betz announced his two year contract extension to the enthusiastic Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd prior to tip-off. Basti's energy and defensive effort was tremendous in helping ratiopharm Ulm earn the hardfought win over Bonn.
Sunday's game had been rescheduled from its original Saturday March 22nd date in order to accomodate the Telekom Bonn international EuroChallenge schedule which saw them play a Tuesday-Thursday home and home with excellent Italian team La Fortezza from Bologna. Despite the alternate tip-off time, ratiopharm Ulm fans packed Sportszentrum Kuhberg for the unusual Sunday evening game. As teams went through final layup lines in pre-game warmups three minutes before tip, Ulm GM Thomas Stoll called Sebastian Betz to the middle of the Sportszentrum Kuhberg floor and handed him the mic. Sebastian proceeded to announce his fresh two year contract extension with ratiopharm Ulm. The news was greeted with cheers and enthusiasm as Ulm fans happily added Basti with rookie guard Per Gunther, sharpshooting guard Lee Humphrey and captain Emeka Erege to the core for the future. The positive news of Betz' extension injected energy into Kuhberg as game time was moments away.
ratiopharm Ulm center Sean Finn attacks the rim to dunk as Bonn big man Patrick Flomo challenges. Sean was outstanding in the game producing a strong 21 point 10 rebound double double for Ulm.
At tip off, the shiny pink uniforms of Telekom Bonn added a flair to the floor. And the athletic Bonn lineup featured point guard EJ Rowland, shooting guard Winsome Frazier, small forward Vincent Yarbrough, four man Brandon Bowman and shot blocking center Ken Johnson. Without question one of the most formidable starting fives in the Bundesliga, Telekom Bonn opened with confidence from their successful Eurochallenge run into the semifinal stages and their early November blowout win at home over Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce penetrates as Bonn's EJ Rowland (4) and Vincent Yarbrough defend Sunday night. Dru was excellent in the win scoring 13 points with 9 assists for Ulm.
Action opened with a quick tempo as both teams attacked in transition looking for scores. On Ulm's first possession, Lee Humphrey popped to the top of the key and buried a three to start things fast for the home team! Bonn's Ken Johnson established himself early blocking and Ulm shot and challenging several others on the defensive end. The Bonn big man also scored on a right hand hook and on another post move. Bonn players worked to take Ulm one on one. Ulm led 11-10 five minutes into the game. Like Bonn, ratiopharm Ulm found their rhythm early with an uptempo attack. A runout dunk from Romeo Travis highlighted the early Ulm action. Dru Joyce buried a deep triple and Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald drilled his first three of the night. But the early three's led to a perimeter oriented shot selection from Ulm. Aggressive defensive pressure from Keith Triplett and Sebastian Betz sparked a late first quarter run. Offensively, Triplett's penetration created scoring chances for Ulm. Finishing the first quarter with a 12-7 surge, Ulm took a 23-18 lead into the first quarter break.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett drives to the basket past Bonn's Vincent Yarbrough in Sundays action. Keith defensive energy was outstanding and his attacking penetration created easy baskets for his teammates.
As quarter two opened, Bonn responded. An 8-2 start to the second quarter helped Bonn regain a 26-25 lead. John Bowler hit two three pointers in the first half and sank his open looks pushing Bonn's run. But Ulm bounced back to finish the first half on a 8-4 run to take a 33-30 advantage into the half. Both teams suffered through several turnovers in the second quarter and both Ulm and Bonn failed to capitalize on quality scoring opportunities. Ulm's hardwork on the offensive boards produced 9 offensive rebounds which led to baskets from Sean Finn and Romeo Travis. But several missed open looks and an 11-30 (37%) shooting percentage in the first half prevented Ulm from building a big lead.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey feeds the post in Sunday's home win over Bonn. Lee buried two of three three point attempts and finished with 11 points in the win.
At the half, Ulm held a three point advantage but needed to adjust their attack on both ends of the floor to wrestle control of the game in the second half. Despite the slim three point lead, the dangerous aspect of the situation was Ulm's missed opportunity to build a bigger margin in the first twenty minutes. Against a powerful team like Bonn, opportunities must be capitalized on. Ulm shot 37% in the first twenty minutes and made 6 of 10 foul shots compared with Bonn's 50% floor shooting and 1 of 3 from the foul line. Ulm's 5 of 13 threes (38%) helped them maintain their lead, but the shot selection was too perimeter oriented in the first half. Addressing a few key points to the defensive game plan and aiming for better inside-out balance to the offensive attack, ratiopharm Ulm returned for the second half ready for the challenge.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther advances the ball against defensive pressure from Bonn point guard JJ Strasser Sunday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Starting the second half, Ulm's energy level increased while Bonn's third game of the week began to show. Dru Joyce drilled his second three of the game and Sean Finn worked hard to establish the inside game for Ulm. A 9-7 score through the first five minutes put Ulm up 42-37. The Ulm offense worked through Sean Finn who scored and got to the foul line. Bonn competed fighting off the Ulm run by getting to the foul line. Ulm's bench finished the quarter strong and when Keith Triplett's right wing three banked in off glass and good, Ulm had built a 57-46 advantage heading into the fourth.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis drives the lane as Bonn's Vincent Yarbrough defends. Romeo was solid in the win giving his team 11 points 3 boards and a strong defensive effort.
Early in the fourth, ratiopharm Ulm made the run that broke the game open. At that point, Dan Fitzgerald made his presence felt. Fitzgerald buried back to back big three point shots energizing Sportzentrum Kuhberg. Fitzgerald's first three came on the left wing after an excellent ball reversal pass from Per Gunther. Then, on the next possession, following a defensive stop, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs took a post feed on the right block, worked baseline and fired a perfect skip pass to an open Fitzgerald who sank his second consecutive three from the top of the key. Ulm's lead swelled to 22 as their run peaked at 72-50 with five minutes to play. Bonn converted several easy baskets in transition to cut into the margin as ratiopharm Ulm rotated in the bench. Unfortunately, moments before the end of the game, Bonn backup big man Tim Clifford took a hit that required him to leave the game at get stitches. Clifford's open wound symbolized the evening for Bonn --- Ulm's run broke the game open and Bonn did not stop the bleeding. At the final horn, Sunday's 79-63 home win over Telekom Baskets Bonn turned into a 'Bonn Soir' good evening for ratiopharm Ulm.
Ulm's Sean Finn takes aim on a free throw after an unsportsmanlike foul was whistled against Bonn in the second half of Sunday nights game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. In the background, Bonn huddles while Romeo Travis tells Jeff Gibbs a joke..
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce works off a ballscreen from Sean Finn in Sundays game against Bonn.
Ulm's Romeo Travis defends Bonn forward Brandon Bowman as Sean Finn battles Bonn's Ken Johnson for post position in Sundays action.
Ulm's victory over Bonn capped a terrific week for the team which saw them extend their winning streak to 3 games and earn their 10th home win of the season in the process. The pre-game announcement of Sebastian Betz' contract extension brought positive news from the organization for the future. And Ulm celebrated with Keith and Michelle Triplett as they welcomed the birth of Kai Jackson Triplett on Wednesday. An overall positive week punctuated with Ulm's win.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther slashes to the basket and finishes as Bonn PG EJ Rowland challenges Sunday night.
Sean Finn led Ulm with a strong 21 point 10 rebound double double while Dan Fitzgerald sparked Ulm with big three point makes drilling 5 of his 10 three point attempts to add 15 points. Dru Joyce guided the Ulm attack with precision scoring 13 points with 9 assists making 2 of his 3 three point looks. Lee Humphrey also buried two of three threes to chip in 11 points while Romeo Travis contributed 11 points 3 boards of his own. Ulm's bench of Keith Triplett, Sebastian Betz and Per Gunther gave their team a terrific defensive effort with excellent energy and hustle on the floor. All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs grabbed a game high 11 rebounds. Ulm shot 43% in the game but nailed 12 of 25 threes (48%) in the win. Bonn buried 47% from the floor but only 5 of 20 from beyond the arc (25%). Ulm's effort on the offensive boards created extra attempts as Ulm outrebounded Bonn 38-30. Ulm made only 13 of 24 free throws (54%) while Bonn sank 10 of 13 (77%). Ulm's team effort dished out 19 assists in the win.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs works in the lane against Bonn in Sundays game. Below, Jeff grabs one of his team best 11 rebounds powering Ulm's inside game against Bonn.
The hardfought home win improves ratiopharm Ulm's record to 17-8 on the season and gives them their 3rd straight win, 5th win in their last 6 games and 7th win of their last 10. With 9 regular season games remaining, ratiopharm Ulm takes positive momentum from their home win over Bonn and recent winning streak into the next big challenge --- a two game road trip to Berlin and Koln for a Wednesday night tip off at beautiful new O2 World Arena against ALBA followed by a Saturday night game at Rheinenergie Dome in Koln against the 99ers.
ratiopharm Ulm salutes their enthusiastic fans following Sunday's 79-63 home win over Telekom Baskets Bonn.
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
