CATCH 22!
Ulm improves to 22-0 by beating Breitengussbach!
ratiopharm Ulm exploded to a 35 point first quarter and rolled to a 108-77 victory Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg making Ulm the first team in 2.Bundesliga South history to reach the 22 win mark in the season unbeaten. Not even injuries, foul trouble or a giant snow storm blanketing south Germany could stop Ulm on the evening as Jonathan Levy led the way with 27 points, Konrad Wysocki added 20 points and Captain Emeka Erege chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds to the win.
Jeff Gibbs dunked his way to 14 points!
Game 22 Saturday March 4, 2006
VS 
Outside Sportszentrum Kuhberg, a white winterwonderland of snow peacefully blanketed southern Germany Saturday night. As the Snow storm passed through Bavaria into Badem-Wurttembeurg covering streets, cars and countryside, travel became treacherous causing up to 100km traffic jams on the nearby German autobahn. Game officials planned ahead leaving 3 hours earlier to make tipoff at Sportszentrum Kuhberg on time. Hungry for basketball, an excellent crowd of faithful Ulm fans also planned ahead overcoming the inclemet weather and adverse travel conditions to see their team make history. While it was cold outside, fans knew it would be hot in the gym. While snow buried the landscape surrounding Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm buried TSV Breitengussbach 108-77 behind intense changing defenses and instant transition offense that produced several spectacular dunks and blocks throughout the game.
REVERSE! Ulm forward Konrad Wysocki (13) brought energy and intensity to the team scoring 20 points with 5 rebounds in the win.
Aside from the winter weather, ratiopharm Ulm also battled minor injuries throughout the week. Veteran wing Jan Sprunken strained a tricep muscle in monday's practice and rehabilitated his injury all week with team Physio Andi Lacher in an attempt to play. Despite missing two days of practice, Sprunken was a game time decision and suited up ready to play --- through pain. Also playing through pain, Ulm center Maksym Shtein was hobbled by a deep muscle bruise he received in the game against Weiden. Shtein did not miss practice, but was clearly toughing-it-out for his team. Along with the nagging injuries to Spruknen and Shtein, the Ulm bench was light as farm team Neu Ulm bravely trekked through the snow storm in southern Germany toward Munich for their 7:15pm tip off taking young players Antonis Sivorotka, Marcel Freide, Sebastian Geserick and Ulm assistant coach Jakob Moeller away from the Breitengussbach game. When Ulm GM Thomas Stoll handed officials the player passes, the active ratiopharm Ulm roster included 9 players. Fortunately for Ulm, Breitengussbach was coming off a hard-fought 111-105 overtime loss to Bayreuth Wednesday night and could possibly be a little sluggish.
ratiopharm Ulm had much to play for on this calm winter's night. Not only for this seasons chase for the championship, Ulm looked to make history by becomming the first team in 2.Bundesliga South season to reach the 22 game mark unbeaten. Ulm also aimed to extend the impressive 2.Bundelsiga South homecourt win streak and maintain their string of consecutive quarters won (19 entering the action).
At the tip, Ulm was clearly ready. Exploding out to an early lead, Ulm pushed their advantage to 20-9 midway through the first quarter. Relentlessly, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs, Emeka Erege and Jonathan Levy attacked the basket. Dilligently, Martin Thuesen set up his teammates. Productively, Maksym Shtein made an impact in the paint. A key sub in the early first quarter, active Ulm forward Konrad Wysocki brought his energy and intensity to the floor immediately on his way to an impressive 15 first half points. Erege and Wysocki were fantastic in transition and helped Ulm beat Breitengussbach down the floor for easy scores. The two intelligent forwards also crashed the boards with a fury totaling 11 first half rebounds (Erege 7, Wysocki 4).
In the first half, Ulm fans enjoyed several spectacular highlight reel plays including a transition lob dunk to Levy, several powerful slams in the paint from Gibbs, a beautiful 3 on 1 behind the back pass from Thuesen to Wysocki and a Wysocki to Gibbs 2 on 1 fast break bounce pass between the legs of Breitengussbach big man Brian Boxler (needless to say Gibbs finished emphatically with a tomohawk slam).
Breitengussbach struggled at times against Ulm's changing defenses. Creating turnovers that led to transition opportunities and easy scores, Ulm used their pressing as a catalyst to build the early lead. Foul problems did begin to mount as Jonathan Levy was whislted with 2 fast fouls and Maksym Shtein picked up his second in the first half on a charge call. The 9 man rotation settled in well and Sprunken and Wysocki came off the bench to help the Ulm team. Ulm's 35-18 first quarter performance was a clear indication that the team was determined to catch win 22.
DRIVE! captain Emeka Erege was excellent finishing with 16pt 10reb 5ast
As Ulm added to their lead, an injury subtracted a player. Forward Florian Mobius landed on Breitengussbach center Michael Schroeder's foot late in quarter one. Mobius twisted his right ankle forcing him off the floor only 38 seconds after he had stepped on it. Ulm Physio Andi Lacher treated Mobius immediately but quickly prevented a return and escorted him to the Ulm hospital for X-rays and treatment. Flo's night ended early, but his teammates were focused for 3 quarters remaining. Ulm held a commanding lead edging closer and closer to 30 points, but with fouls and injuries, the Ulm bench shortened fast. In fact, to finish the first half, Ulm's lineup featured Martin Thuesen, Christian Grosse, Jonathan Levy, Emeka Erege and Jeff Gibbs. Despite the unique personnel, Ulm ran to a 29-20 second quarter setting the halftime score at 64-38 for Ulm.
At the half, Ulm had hit 23 of 41 from the floor for 56% including 6 of 13 from three (46%). Ulm's offense had produced 15 assists while suffering only 5 turnovers. A key stat, Ulm hit 12 of 16 free throws (75%) most important for the 16 attempts from the foul line.
BUTTER ROLL! Ulm's Jonathan Levy swoops to the hoop for 2 of his 27.
The young Breitengussbach team battled back in the third quarter. Dominik Schneider scored 9 points in the second half and Boxler continued to work in the paint. Ulm defensive intensity maintained the high level of the first 20 minutes helping the team trigger several fast breaks. Using the entire 8 player rotation, Ulm limited Breitengussbach to 14 third quarter points and pushed the lead to 82-52 after three.
In the final quarter, Ulm offensive execution slipped and the team allowed several offensive rebounds and/or transition baskets. As the clock ticked down, the teams traded baskets and Ulm outscored Breitengussbach 26-25 in the fourth to set the final at 108-77. Helping Ulm catch win 22, Jonathan Levy topscored with 27 points in 20 minutes. Konrad Wysocki added 20 points with 5 rebounds. Emeka Erege scored 16 points with 10 rebounds. Jeff Gibbs dunked his way to 14 points 8 boards and Christian Grosse produced 14 points off the bench. Martin Thuesen distributed 9 assists. As a team, Ulm hit 39 of 73 (53%) and 9-21 (41%) from three. Ulm dished out 24 assists while suffering 13 turnovers. For the game, Ulm defense totaled 8 blocked shots led by Gibbs' 3 and Levy's 2. Brian Boxler's 16 point 13 rebound double double was best for Breitengussbach and Boxler was the only guest in double figures scoring.
Ulm forward Florian Mobius left the game with an ankle injury.
Ulm's 108-77 victory over Breitengussbach makes history as win 22, extends the teams 2.Bundesliga South home win streak and increases Ulm's consecutive quarter winning streak to 23 games. Now 22-0, Ulm looks forward to their next opponent erdgas Ehingen Steeples 6pm Sunday March 12, 2006. For the season 8 games remain as Ulm maintains their 3 game lead over second place Jena.
WIN!
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
