TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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BONN REMAINS UNBEATEN AT HOME WITH WIN OVER ULM!
Friday night at Hardtberghalle in Bonn, Germany, pink stood for anything but softness as excellent team defense and bench production helped Telekom Bonn remain unbeaten at home with a quality 87-75 Bundesliga win over "Aufsteiger" ratiopharm Ulm. After withstanding a powerful 20-5 Bonn first half run, ratiopharm Ulm gave everything in a furious third quarter comeback, but ran out of gas in the 4th before falling to the strong Bonn team. Bonn put five players in double figures led by top point guard Jason Gardner who tallied 20 points, 6 rebounds on 6 of 9 floor shooting. While Gardner led the way, backup guards Artur Kolodziejski and Martynas Mazeika sparked Bonn's stretch run sinking big baskets as both finished with 13 important points apiece. Jonathan Levy led Ulm's effort with 23 points 4 rebounds while Jeff Gibbs was relentless inside recording a 13 point 11 rebound double double. Ulm found out on Friday after the hardfought game, real men can wear pink!
ratiopharm Ulm's Jeff Gibbs was strong in the paint against Bonn scoring 13 points with 11 rebounds.
photo from NORBERT ITTERMANN
click here for link to video clips from Bonn v Ulm game http://www.baskets-videos.de.tf
click here for Box Score from Ulm @ Bonn
Bonn opened the game with a physical team defense, strong one on one and quick with help. Post players John Bowler and Gyasi Cline-Heard physically defended the paint forcing Ulm post catches off the block. In the lane, while Ulm worked ferociously on the offensive boards, the swarming Bonn team defense made finishing in the lane difficult. Eventually, the Bonn intensity capitalized. After an even early going which saw Ulm hold a 14-13 lead, Bonn finished the first quarter strong outscoring Ulm 6-0 to lead 19-14 after one. It was part of a Bonn explosion and a fast 14-4 run. Even the quarter break could not stem the tide.
Ulm's Konrad Wysocki and Bonn's Martynas Mazieka hustle for a loose ball in Friday nights game. Both players helped their teams with energy and effort.
photo from Ralf Jannke www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de/index_baskets.htm
Feeling the physical resistance of Bonn inside, Ulm shot selection settled for perimeter attempts allowing the intelligent Bonn team to run off the misses. Bonn point guard Jason Gardner orchestrated the attack beautifully. Slashing wing Jason Conley sailed coast to coast. Bonn big men alternated with put-back baskets inside. An Ulm timeout slowed the run, but Bonn brimmed with confidence resting on their unbeaten home mark for the season. Ulm offense struggled to establish itself on the inside against the strong Bonn defense. Without knocking down jumpshots, the Ulmer attack was at a standstill. The team needed some easy baskets, the kind found in transition. Unfortunately, soft defensive effort failed to record stops. Finally, a mid second quarter timeout and lineup adjustment started to turn things around. Ulm inserted energizer Konrad Wysocki and recently signed guard Ian Young onto the floor and the subs made a difference. Wysocki's active cutting, defensive steal and transition play helped get Ulm going. Meanwhile, Young banked in a three, dropped off an assist and worked defensively. The effort along with teammates kept the halftime deficit manageble while Ulm worked to improve their offense and find a way to get going.
At the half, Ulm players understood the answer --- improved defensive play and a few offensive adjustments would lead to better production.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs and newcomer Ian Young double team Bonn's Gyasi Cline-Heard in the paint.
photo from Ralf Jannke www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de/index_baskets.htm
At the half, Ulm players understood the answer --- improved defensive play and a few offensive adjustments would lead to better production. Trailing 45-30, the team set the goal to cut the lead under ten going into the final quarter. Aiming for defensive stops, the quarter started exceptionally for Ulm. Surging forward behind Jonathan Levy's outburst, Ulm worked their way back into the game. Jeff Gibbs was relentless on the offensive boards and began to finish strong in the paint. Getting to the foul line, Ulm could mix their defense effectively and get control of tempo. Soon, momentum had swung and Ulm huddled in a timeout trailing by 5. Demonstrating excellent heart, Ulm fought back into the game and when Jeff Gibbs was fouled with under two minutes to play in the third, Ulm was on the brink of a terrific comeback story. Trailing 54-51, Gibbs came up empty on both free throw attempts but plenty of time remained.
After controlling play for the first half, Bonn seemed unsettled as Ulm made their comeback. But the experience and intelligence of the Bonn team showed through in the final minute of the third quarter. While Ulm seethed with opportunity to compete, former Ulm guard Artur Kolodziejski and former ALBA Berlin guard Martynas Mazieka stepped up to help Bonn weather the storm. Hitting big three point baskets at the end of the third, Kolodziejski and Mazieka counter-punched with a 9-3 run helping Bonn stabalize momentum and end the third quarter with a 63-54 advantage.
Telekom Bonn G Artur Kolodziejski attacks former teammates Maksym Shtein (15) and Florian Mobius (14) in Friday's game. Artur was a key for Bonn scoring 13 points off the bench.
photo from Ralf Jannke www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de/index_baskets.htm
Ulm's outstanding comeback effort in the third quarter was exciting and exactly what was needed. Unfortunately, the effort also emptied the tank. Bonn continued to pound the ball inside and wear down the Ulm defense. Meanwhile, Bonn head coach Michael Koch intelligently changed defenses to give Ulm a different look. The Bonn zone slowed the hungry Ulm team and helped Bonn regain control of the game with a double digit lead. In the waning minutes, Ulm bench players stepped onto the court and were extremely effective including 2 for 2 Christian Grosse jumpshooting, a three from Martin Thuesen and a three from forward Florian Mobius.
At the final horn, Bonn was clearly the better team on the evening with more consistent performance and solid bench production. Ulm could take pride in their excellent second half comeback but aim for improved defensive effort and consistent inside scoring and free throw shooting in upcoming games.
Bonn PG Jason Gardner was in top form for his team scoring a team best 20 points with 6 rebounds in 40 minutes. Gardner continues to excell as Bonn's floor general.
photo from Ralf Jannke www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de/index_baskets.htm
For the game, Ulm shot 38% from the floor (28 for 73) but only 28% from three (7 of 25). Ulm also made only 12 of 22 free throws (55%). Meanwhile, Bonn buried 51% from the floor (32 of 63) and 44% from three (7 of 16). Ulm's 6 for 19 first half shooting in the paint resulted in an 18 for 39 final total for the game in the lane (46%). Bonn outrebounded Ulm 41-35 but Ulm grabbed a strong 18 offensive boards against a strong rebounding team. Both teams did a solid job taking care of the basketball with 10 turnovers by Ulm and 14 for Bonn.
Ulm was led by Jonathan Levy who topscored with 23 points and 4 rebounds. Jeff Gibbs added 13 points 11 boards and Emeka Erege added 8 points 5 rebounds. Every Ulm player scored. Meanwhile, Jason Gardner continued his excellent season with 20 points 6 boards on 6 of 9 shooting including 2 of 3 threes. Perimeter subs Artur Kolodziejski and Martynas Mazieka added 13 points apiece and big men John Bowler and Gyasi Cline-Heard scored 10 points each.
Bonn remained unbeaten at home for the season (5-0) and improved to 6-3 for the season. Ulm slipped to 4-7 losing their third in a row. Looking ahead, ratiopharm Ulm will host Bayer Leverkusen Saturday November 25th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in their next Bundesliga challenge!
Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
