TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM ICES BREMERHAVEN!
ULM EDGES EISBAREN TO COMPLETE NORTH SEA ROAD TRIP!
ratiopharm Ulm put six players in double figures in Sunday's hard-earned 90-86 road win over Eisbaren Bremerhaven Sunday at Stadthalle in Bremerhaven. Ulm forward Romeo Travis scored a career high 25 points and Jeff Gibbs powered his way to an 18 point 11 rebound double double to pace Ulm production. A late third quarter run sparked by 11 straight Jeff Gibbs points helped Ulm take a 68-60 lead into the fourth quarter before clutch plays and cool free throw shooting helped Ulm earn the win. Now 7-4, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to next Saturday's road game against rival Walter Tigers Tubingen 8pm at Paul Horn Arena.
ratiopharm Ulm's Keith Triplett defends Bremerhaven's Darius Pakamanis in Sunday's 90-86 road win.
Click here for Ulm @ Bremerhaven Sunday 11-23-08 Box Score
After playing Wednesday night in Oldenburg, ratiopharm Ulm stayed in the nice north German city near the North Sea for two days practicing and enjoying time together off the floor. Saturday morning, the team transferred across the Wesser River by ferry over to neighboring city Bremerhaven before a 6pm practice at Stadthalle in the final stages of preparation for Sundays 4pm tip off. Enjoying intense, productive practices at the beautiful Ewe Baskets Center in Oldenburg, the Ewe Baskets team were tremendously hospitable to their guests from south central Germany. Without question, ratiopharm Ulm's North Sea Road trip was quality team time on and off the floor. But while Ulm focused in the north, a heavy snow fell on most of Germany. The wintery conditions seemed a perfect fit for Eisbaren (Polar Bears).
After winning their first game of the season Eisbaren Bremerhaven had struggled through a frustrating 9 game losing skid. During that time, Bremerhaven had played 6 road games and only four at home but were in many close contests. Recently, in order to right the ship and bring the team together, Bremerhaven released their top statistical player Marcus Slaughter. In his place, the Eisbaren added veteran post man Craig Callahan. Rallying together around the addition of Callahan and the addition by subtraction of Slaughter, Bremerhaven fans showed support pre-game making noise and holding 'We Still Believe' signs. The renewed positive energy and team spirit made Sundays game at Stadthalle extremely challenging for Ulm.
At tip off, Ulm aimed for a strong first quarter. After two straight slow starts, Ulm played with intensity and concentration. Lee Humphrey opened scoring with a transition three from the right wing. Bremerhaven answered with a Craig Callahan three. Early action was even at 5. The inspired Eisbaren made the first run of the game building a 12-5 lead before Ulm fired back. Ulm trimmed the lead to 12-10 with 5 straight points. Both teams made plays for the remainder of the first quarter, but it was Bremerhaven who held a 24-22 lead with 3 seconds in the first frame. Ulm's sideline inbound play found Sebastian Betz at the top of the key. Shot faking and making a dribble move to create space, Basti was double teamed by Bremerhaven defenders. Instantly, Betz spotted Sean Finn slipping down the middle of the lane to the rim. Betz zipped a perfect pass to the Ulm center who quickly caught the basketball and dunked in through for two right before the buzzer. The crafty last second bucket evened the score at 24-24 at the first quarter break.
Quarter two featured more Sean Finn inside along with productive Dan Fitzgerald outside. When Jeff Gibbs picked up his second foul early in the second quarter, Dan Fitzgerald stepped up to provide outstanding production on offense and excellent defense. Ulm pushed ahead 28-26. Romeo Travis scored 5 straight points and began to impact the game. Ulm held a 33-30 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half. Showing his experience with timely scoring, Callahan sparked a 6-0 Bremerhaven run and the Eisbaren crowd celebrated their team re-claiming the lead. Where the first quarter saw Ulm hit in the closing seconds, this time it was Bremerhaven center Yemi Nicholson sinking a mid-distance face up jumpshot at the halftime buzzer to tie the score at 45-45.
At the half, the game was even on the scoreboard and on the floor. Both teams shot 53% from the field. Bremerhaven was better on the backboards outrebounding Ulm 16-12 but Ulm nailed 5 threes to Eisbaren 3. Demonstrating their focus, Bremerhaven cashed in a perfect 10 for 10 first half free throws. Newly signed Craig Callahan made a fantastic impact with 15 first half points along with 4 rebounds. Meanwhile, Ulm's Romeo Travis paced his teams production with 14 points while Dan Fitzgerald added 10 points 4 boards. Both Travis and Fitzgerald also played key roles defensively picking up for Jeff Gibbs who had early foul trouble in the first half. In the halftime lockerroom, Ulm regrouped with several defensive adjustments, discussed their offensive execution and reminded themselves to play with poise and composure. After hardwork on their defensive discipline and habits on the road trip, Ulm focused for a consistent second half.
As the second half opened, Jeff Gibbs went to work. Scoring inside and aggressively rebounding, Gibbs powered an Ulm run. Moments later, Bremerhaven's all star shooting guard Zygimantas Jonusas picked up his fourth foul. When Sean Finn scored on a tip dunk, Bremerhaven head coach Sarunas Sakalauskas called for a time out. Ulm led 56-51 and were hungry for more. Craig Callahan stepped up again with a three trimming Ulm's lead to two at 56-54 but Jeff Gibbs took over scoring 11 straight points pushing Ulm to a 68-60 advantage at the end of three.
Early in the fourth, Callahan's outstanding Eisbaren debut was cut short after he picked up his 5th personal foul with 7 minutes remaining in the game. But despite their losing their new go-to guy and despite their 9 game losing streak, there was no quit in Bremerhaven. Point guard Giordan Watson finished a three point play bringing Bremerhaven to within 71-68. Romeo Travis scored several big baskets to help Ulm maintain their lead down the stretch. German guard Jan Lipke came off the Eisbaren bench to energize his team with a three pointer pulling the hosts to 78-75. Bremerhaven's momentum swelled. Ulm suffered two empty possessions on a missed shot and turnover on a post feed. Bremerhaven stormed back. When athletic Frank Elegar hammered home a tip dunk, the score was once again even at 83-83 with just under two minutes remaining. But a team defensive stop set up a clutch baseline floater from Dru Joyce with 34.6 seconds to play. Leading 85-83, Ulm earned another defensive stop before Joyce was fouled. The Ulm floor general sank two clutch foul shots giving Ulm an 87-83 lead. Bremerhaven was not finished as team captain Jeb Ivey drilled a left corner three giving Eisbaren hope at 87-86. Fouling Joyce once again, the Akron Ohio native cooly sank his first free throw giving Ulm an 88-86 lead. But Joyce's second foul shot rimmed out. In the scramble for the rebound, the ball bounced out of bounds on the baseline off Bremerhaven. Ulm called timeout and designed a secure endline inbound play. Joyce hit center Sean Finn and Bremerhaven immediately fouled. Stepping to the line, Sean skillfully banked in his first free throw giving Ulm an 89-86 lead. After his bank shot, Sean went with the more conventional route in his second attempt swishing his shot through giving Ulm a 89-86 lead. Ulm made a purpose foul on Giordan Watson with seconds remaining as Dru Joyce intelligently fouled preventing the three point attempt and picked up his fifth. Watson missed his first and then missed his next intentionally. The ball bounced off the rim and was once again tipped out of bounds on the baseline by Bremerhaven. Ulm entered the ball to Romeo Travis who was instantly fouled. After an excellent performance, it was fitting to have Travis at the foul line to seal the game. Romeo put the final point on the board sealing Ulm's 90-86 road win in Bremerhaven.
In the win, ratiopharm Ulm put six players in double figures led by the career high 25 point 5 rebound performance from Romeo Travis. After a 2 point 1 rebound foul plagued first half, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs powered to an 18 point 11 rebound double double playing a key role in the victory. Center Sean Finn added 12 points 6 rebounds and Dan Fitzgerald 11 points 6 boards. Dru Joyce made several big plays for Ulm finishing with 10 points 4 assists and Lee Humphrey chipped in a solid 10. Ulm shot 49% from the floor and finished up outrebounding Bremerhaven 39-37. Craig Callahan was excellent in his Eisbaren debut scoring a team high 25 points with 8 boards while Frank Elegar added 14 points 12 rebounds and Giordan Watson contributed 13 points 7 rebounds. After the road win, ratiopharm Ulm hit the road driving 7 hours through a heavy snow storm from Bremerhaven along the North Sea at the top of Germany to south central Germany back home to Ulm.
With the win, ratiopharm Ulm improves to 7-4 on the season and 3-3 on the road. Ulm remains in fifth place in the Bundesliga standings. Next up for ratiopharm Ulm, rival Walter Tigers Tubingen tipping off next Saturday November 29th 8pm at Paul Horn Arena in Tubingen. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
