Ulm Powers Past Ehingen 85-74!
As the old saying goes, "throw out the records because anything can happen when two rivals meet". Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm, Germany, events seemed to happen every possession as ratiopharm Ulm powered past Erdgas Ehingen 85-74 in a rollercoaster 2.Bundelsiga South basketball game. Playing with an injured finger tendon, Ulm's Jonathan Levy scored a game high 28 points and Emeka Erege was awesome in the second half finishing with 20 points and 7 rebounds in helping Ulm earn their 8th league win of the season.
Ulm's Maksym Shtein (15) resets the offense early in the game Satruday night before a packed Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
From the center jump ball to tip off the action, the 2,300plus excited fans in Sportszentrum Kuhberg could clearly see that this was no longer a developmental Ehingen team --- five excellent professional players complemented the three outstanding youth talents on the Ehingen team. Ehingen's forward combination of Adam Waleskowski (Florida State) and Christian Anderson (Virginia Union) started strong scoring against Ulm in the first quarter. Ulm answered with a Maksym Shtien post move and Jeff Gibbs layup. From the start, officials allowed extremely physical play and both teams went at it. Ehingen players hit tough shots but Ulm edged ahead late in the first quarter. Mostly basket for basket action, Ulm finished the first ten minutes up three 18-15.
Early in quarter number two, a central figure for both teams in this rivalry became the focus. Unfortunately for Ulm, power forward Jeff Gibbs was hit with his second personal foul just over a minute into the second quarter. Facing a decision, Ulm head coach Mike Taylor elected to be conservative and sit Gibbs saving him for the second half. With Gibbs on the bench, the most important thing for Ulm became establishing an inside presence and pounding the defensive boards. Capitalizing on the momentum, upstart Ehingen charged ahead thinking upset. Key reserve forward Florian Mobius entered the action and played a significant role in helping Ulm defensively and on the boards. Action took an extremely rough turn as the aggressive Ehingen big men Waleskowski, Jon Godfread, Konrad Wysocki and Christian Anderson crashed the offensive glass with a physical fury. Although, Ulm center Maksym Shtein fought, he could not win the battle alone. Ulm team rebounding went through a downturn (mostly from Gibbs being on the bench) as Ehingen's hardwork earned them several second shots and easy putbacks. Inconsistent whistles began to plague play as both teams were hit with soft fouls after physical action was allowed. By halftime, each team had three players apiece with two fouls including impact players like Gibbs and Levy or Waleskowski and Anderson. Another factor in the Ehingen surge was terrific perimeter shooting paced by point guard Nicolai Simon who drilled 3 for 4 from three point land in the first half. The 25-19 Ehingen second quarter put them ahead by three 40-37 at the halftime break.
Physical play in the paint for 40 minutes: Maksym Shtein is double teamed by Ehingen big men Adam Waleskowski (left) and Jon Godfread (12).
At the half, Ulm focused on several aspects of their play. Clearly with Gibbs on the floor, the team rebounding would pick up --- in fact, overall, Florian Mobius, Maksym Shtein and Emeka Erege did a solid job dealing with the circumstances in the first half. Ulm ended up outrebounding Ehingen by two 17-15 and weathered the storm to remain in a three point game. Jonathan Levy continued his outstanding play hitting 6 of 9 first half shots for 14 points despite playing through the pain of a finger injury (obviously it did not adversely affect his marksmanship!). Visibly the difference in the first half was perimeter shooting as ratiopharm Ulm simply missed open good looks. Top shooters combined for a 1-9 (11%) half from beyond the arc while Ehingen hit 6-13 (46%). Most important, Ulm just need to stay poised and composed and continue to stay persistant. Ehingen entered the derby with nothing to lose and most casual fans might not understand just how much better the Steeple team is. After last weeks 19 point victory over Kaiserslautern and Saturday nights first half in Ulm, the Steeple secret is out --- they are good.
Ulm captain Emeka Erege led by example to start the second half. After working hard without results in the first half which saw him go 0-5 from the floor, Emeka went 7-7 in the second half including several key momentum building baskets for his Ulm team. Erege started his scoring with a slashing drive from the corner and finished strong in the lane. His energy level helping elevate his teammates. Ulm defense picked up. A slashing drive from Jonathan Levy Ulm pushed forward through a solid 17-13 third quarter but Ehingen would not go away. Martin Thuesen took a reversal pass and buried a big three pointer from the right wing. Needing another stop, Emeka Erege ran a passing lane poking loose a steal toward midcourt --- Erege outraced Ehingen guards for a gentle breakaway dunk bringing the crowd to a frenzy and forcing an Ehingen timeout.
Ulm captain Emeka Erege elevated his game when his team needed him most --- he was 7-7 in the 2nd half and made big defensive plays including grabbing 2 steals that led to scores including this big breakaway lay-in.
Play began to look like professional wrestling through middle stretches of the fourth quarter. Bodies from both teams colliding and flying, pushing and shoving, bumping and bruising, double-unsportsmanlike fouls were whistled on big men Maksym Shtien and Adam Waleskoski after the two wrestled for position under the Ulm defensive hoop --- what would a rivalry game be without a little drama. After several big plays, Ulm built a solid lead with breathing room and appeared in command as the game headed to the early stages of the stretch run. Center Maksym Shtein was whistled for a travel as he wheeled through physical resistance and punishment in the paint. Seconds later, Shtein ripped down a rebound and powered to the basket only to have hardplaying Konrad Wysocki pull at the ball yanking Max to the ground as the ball went out of bounds on the endline. Awarding Ehingen the ball (out off Shtein), Ulmer fans in Kuhberg went crazy questionning the officials decision. As Shtein retreated on defense amidst the boos, whistles and screams, the emotional Ukranian big man began to wave his hands emphatically to encite the crowd emotion in an effort to help Ulm defense. Out of nowhere, enforcing the new rule that players may not incite the fans the ref hit Shtein with a "T" before the ball could come into play. The technical foul was Shtein's fifth meaning he would miss the final 4:20 of play (deja vu for Mike T and his men after Jeff Gibbs fouled out in a similar scenario only days ago in the Cup loss to Jena).
Simply put, Kuhberg went crazy. Fans roared and fired crinkled-up paper balls onto the floor. It got so the referee went to the scorers table and asked for an announcement that any more objects thrown from the stands onto the playing floor would be reason for an Ulm forfeit. Ehingen tried to mount a run and captialize on their new life --- two free throws, plus possession equaled out to momentum. The Steeples cut into the lead and tied the game. Big baskets from Christian Anderson (a contested pullup J over great D from Erege), Konrad Wysocki (a strong offensive rebound putback) and a deep three from the right wing by Lucca Staigger kept Ehingen right there, although officials whistled Anderson for his fifth foul on a soft defensive contest along the right sideline in front of the Ehingen bench.
In a key move, Jan Sprunken entered the game for crunch time. The veteran with tremendous experience made a difference down the stretch on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Sprunken played outstanding team D rotating and helping his teammates. Offensively, Jan sank a pull up J for a big basket. But the intelligent wing saved his biggest impact for one of the biggest moments. Needing a stop, Ulm defenders dug in as Ehingen executed their "5" play which eventually leads to a double backscreen for the post. On the helpside, Sprunken knew the play and his responsibility according to the game plan. Instead of reversing the ball, Waleskowski took matters into his own hands and drove hard from the right wing to the middle. Cut off by Gibbs, the skilled Steeple big man hesitated for a second while keeping his dribble alive. Out of nowhere, the experienced Sprunken ran the angle and poked the ball loose. With a clear court ahead of him, Jan collected the steal and instantly began his sprint to score --- flailing in a last effort to get the loose ball, Waleskowski grabbed at Sprunken's shirt and was immediately whislted for an intentional foul. Like Shtein, Waleskowski fouled out on the call and would finish the remainder of the game as a spectator on the Ehingen bench. Jan hit one of two free throws and an Ulm timeout after the second allowed the team to set their strategy down the stretch.
Ulm PG Martin Thuesen draws a foul in the 4th quarter after driving hard against Marco Buljevic. Thuesen also nailed an important three in the fourth.
Designing their play against the Steeple 2-3 zone defense, Ulm returned to the floor looking to finish the game. Executing against the zone, a patient Ulm team moved the ball as they milked the shot clock. The initial look was unavailable so players probed the defense for a good shot. Finally, the ball was skipped crosscourt from left wing to right corner to Sprunken who stood in the deep corner in three range. Sprunken let his soft J sail (and somehow all of his shots look like they will go in). In the same instant, the Ehingen zone parted down the middle. Time ticking down in the game, Sprunken's shot floated to the rim. Bounding up high and straight above the rim, the good miss began its descent. As the ball came down, Ulm's Jonathan Levy came up catching the rebound for a two hand tip dunk exclamation point bucket! Ulm fans celebrated the fantastic athletic play and clutch basket in one ovation.
Jonathan Levy (5) holds his follow through as he buries the backbreaking 3!
There was no quit in the Steeples and they kept coming. But time was running out and Ulm could smell the win. Finally, after executing their play and breaking down the defense with ball reversal, the extra pass was made to a wide open Jonathan Levy on the right wing. The lefthanded LA native elevated and fired a backbreaking three ball putting Ulm up and all but sealing the win. Seconds later Jono sat down after he was called for his fifth foul ending his evening early with less than one minute remaining. Ehingen continued to push the ball and force shots only to come up empty and resort to fouling. Ulm's 31-21 fourth quarter earned them the hardfought win and kept them perfect in league play at 8-0. Ehingen, who gave an outstanding effort and are a much improved team, fell to 2-7.
For the game, Ulm hit 43% (29-68) from the floor and 76% (22-29) from the line while outrebounding Ehingen 37-30. Through hardwork and relentless effort, Ulm claimed an impressive 22 offensive rebounds. Ehingen made 45% (25-55) from the floor and 75% (15-20) from the line but committed 21 turnovers.
Levy made big plays in a variety of ways,...
... from tip dunk to free throws ,down the stretch.
Levy's line was 28 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals while Emeka Erege added 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals to lead Ulm. Maksym Shtein added 9 points and 5 boards and Jeff Gibbs played through first half foul trouble for 7 points 9 boards. Martin Thuesen, Christian Grosse and Jan Sprunken all made key contributions and scored 5 points while Florian Mobius added 6 of his own. For Ehingen, four players did the bulk of their scoring led by Waleskowski and Wysocki with 15 points apiece while Anderson added 14 and Nicolai Simon went for 13.
The Ulm win sets up a tremendous matchup next game as 8-0 Ulm hosts 8-0 Chemnitz in a battle of 2.Bundesliga South unbeatens Friday night at 7pm in Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com
GO ULM!
MIKE T
