TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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BREMERHAVEN SNAPS ULM STREAK!
ratiopharm Ulm executed their defensive game plan and met their offensive goals to meet the physical challenge in the paint, but at the final buzzer Ulm's 8 game home winning streak met its end in Sunday afternoon's 84-74 loss to powerful Eisbaren Bremerhaven at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Post players Bryan Lucas and Jeff Gibbs gave the team fantastic effort, but in the end, it was the experience and depth from Bremerhaven that made the difference. An inspired third quarter run gave ratiopharm Ulm the lead, but Bremerhaven bench players John Bynum, Wiaczeslaw Rosnowski and Paul Miller all made excellent contributions to the Eisbaren hardearned road win.
Bryan Lucas was outstanding for Ulm Sunday afternoon scoring a team best 19 points with crafty post moves against the physical Bremerhaven D.
click here for Box Score Ulm @ Bremerhaven
Sunday's sunny Game Day 31 in the German Bundesliga was full of playoff implications all over the country. Certainly the action on Bundesliga hardwood in arenas all over Germany was as hot as the summer-like heatwave that warmed the month of April. For ratiopharm Ulm, after a Friday night loss in Giessen, Sunday's home game became an important bounce-back opportunity. Entering the 4pm "Family Day" tip off at 15-15, Ulm saw Artland, Oldenburg and Leverkusen leap-frog them in the race for the fast-closing playoff places. Meanwhile, Bremerhaven traveled south to Ulm several steps ahead. First, Eisbaren beat Deutsche Bank Skyliners Thursday in Bremerhaven giving their team an extra day to rest and recover. Second, the team traveled south on Saturday via private Jet. Finally, Bremerhaven aimed to officially claim a playoff spot with a Sunday afternoon win.
Ulm power forward Jeff Gibbs injured an ankle late in the first half but returned with a vengence on his way to an inspired 18 point 18 rebound double double.
In the first meeting between the two teams, Sunday December 17th in Bremerhaven, ratiopharm Ulm was overpowered in the paint and lit up from the perimeter. Combining those two situations resulted in a 92-65 romp. Working with short-preparation after Friday's game in Giessen, ratiopharm Ulm aimed to defend the three point line by finding in transition and beating screens. The team also aimed to meet the physical challenge in the paint against the diesel-strong Bremerhaven big men. Accomplishing these two team-goals would give Ulm an opportunity to extend their excellent home winning streak to nine game and help them bounce-back from Friday's loss.
Austen Rowland was solid scoring 11 points with 5 assists and 4 boards against the Eisbaren.
As Ulm won the tip, Jeff Gibbs skipped a beautiful pass from the post to partner Bryan Lucas who cooly sank the opening hoop from behind the three point line. At the other end, Bremerhaven immediately attacked with their physically strong players. Brian Jones, known to Sportszentrum Kuhberg from his role for Tubingen in the classic 2.Bundesliga duels, drove strong into the lane to make plays. Bryan Lucas continued to get baskets in the lane for Ulm and Jonathan Levy sank two threes early to spark an Ulm run. Transition baskets helped the Ulm attack. EJ Gallup entered the game to make several good plays including a left wing three which gave Ulm a late first quarter lead. However, after a defensive stop, Ulm held for a last shot situation. Turning the ball over with a poor pass, Ulm gave the ball back to Bremerhaven with 5 seconds remaining in quarter one. Falling asleep on defense, Ulm defenders allowed Bremerhaven's John Bynum to race three-quarter length of the court for an easy buzzer beating layin which evened the game at 19-19 at the end of one.
Captain Emeka Erege draws a foul on Zygimantas Jonusas. Erege played with great effort through a dislocated finger.
Back and forth, the teams exchanged baskets with Bremerhaven overpowering Ulm in the paint on offensive rebounds. Big man Adam Chubb particularly enjoyed a strong effort in the lane. Ulm defenders did an outstanding job beating screens and limiting easy looks for Eisbaren sharpshooters Nick Jacobsen and Zygimantas Jonusas. But while the focus was on the "Three J's" of Jacobsen, Jonusas and Brian Jones, it was another J --- John Bynum --- who emerged. Bynum made several driving baskets, hit a corner three and converted a breakaway layup pushing the visitors ahead. On the offensive end, Ulm continued to probe the well-schooled and physical Bremerhaven defense. Late in the second quarter, after a physical encounter in the Ulm defensive lane for a loose ball rebound, Jeff Gibbs came up lame after tweaking an ankle. As the Ulm Medical staff led by trainer Andi Lacher and team Doctor Christoph Buch tended to Jeff, the game was momentarily delayed. With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, Gibbs was taken to the Ulm lockerroom for examination and treatment. It was time for the Ulm bench to step up. Unfortunately, several un-concentrated pass-catch turnovers plagued Ulm's play. The experienced Bremerhaven team turned these mistakes into points and finished out the first half with a 41-35 halftime lead.
Ulm G EJ Gallup gave his team good minutes against Bremerhaven.
At the half, Ulm discussed their performance and addressed the need to eliminate minor mental mistakes in offensive execution and elevate their fundamentals like passing, catching, cutting and screening. Behind excellent effort from players like Lucas, Gibbs and Erege, Ulm had met the physical challenge in the lane. With focused defensive effort from Levy, Erege and Rowland, the team took away the three point shooters. But the offensive execution and production needed to be elevated to beat a top team like Bremerhaven. Returning to the floor with Konrad Wysocki in the starting lineup replacing injured Jeff Gibbs, Ulm was looking to make their push.
Ulm's Jonathan Levy hits this first half three over Bremerhaven's Nick Jacobsen.
Early on it was Bryan Lucas who inspired his teammates. Playing physical on both ends of the floor, Lucas scrapped and battled against the big Bremerhaven opponents. Finishing a three point play and converting another post move, the hardwork from Lucas brought the crowd into the game. Then, minutes into the second half Jeff Gibbs checked back in. Playing with a determination, Gibbs tore up the floor scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a tremendous second half effort. As Ulm marched forward on their comeback, the game became extremely physical. Two intentional fouls were whistled on the guests. The second came after Gibbs trapped a ballscreen poking loose the basketball only to be held by Jonusas. Ulm caught fire and took the lead. The last minutes of the third quarter were as hot at the summer-like weather and experienced Eisbaren execution gave them a one point 57-56 advantage heading into the fourth. In the final quarter, Ulm lost two key players as Bryan Lucas' excellent effort ended early with a mid-fourth fifth foul and "energizer" Konrad Wysocki's afternoon ended late with a last minute fifth offense. But matters were settled with about 3 minutes remaining. Ulm saw several important possessions simply rim out as several players took turns trying to convert the big bucket. A Levy layup just missed. A Gibbs power move was tipped off the rim "internationally". A Rowland drive hit a brick wall of Brian Jones D. A Rowland spin move was poked loose leading to an easy fastbreak bucket at the other end. As Ulm attempted to change the game with changing defenses, Wiczeslaw Rosnowski made a big left wing three ball to keep the hosts at bay. Building their lead bit by bit with these little events which added up, the Eisbaren iced the win with cool free throw shooting down the stretch. The 84-74 final was a hardearned win for Bremerhaven and a hardfought loss for Ulm. An excellent team with players and coaches opponents can respect, Bremerhaven improved to 20-11 as they prepare for another strong post season run. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm fell for the second time on the weekend and dropped to 15-16.
Konrad Wysocki slides a pass past Bremerhaven big man Paul Miller!
Bryan Lucas and Jeff Gibbs were outstanding for Ulm. Lucas led the way with 19 points and 4 rebounds in a terrific effort while Gibbs returned to the game from early injury to produce a heart-filled 18 point 18 rebound double double. Jonathan Levy scored 11 points and Austen Rowland had a solid 11 point 5 assist 4 rebound night. Ulm shot 36% from the floor and hit 17 of 21 from the foul line (80%). Ulm also outrebounded Bremerhaven 40-37. For Bremerhaven, who shot 50% and sank 16 of 22 from the line (72%), John Bynum's 22 point performance was a key. Center Adam Chubb was also excellent with a 15 point 10 rebound game while Judson Wallace (11 points 4 boards) and Paul Miller (10 points 4 boards) were strong off the Bremerhaven bench. Ulm could take pride in limiting Jones (scoreless), Jonusas (5 points) and Jacobsen (6 points), but it was the Eisbaren depth and fourth quarter finish which made the difference Sunday.
Looking ahead, Ulm will travel west to the German-Luxembourg boarder to take on TBB Trier Saturday evening April 21st for an 8pm tip at Trier Arena. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
