TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM IN GERMAN CUP ELITE 8!
ratiopharm Ulm found a way to win Wednesday evening as they topped the host Giessen 46ers 79-74 in the Sweet Sixteen matchup of the German Cup. With Ulm up one 75-74 and 24 seconds remaining on the fourth quarter game clock, Austen Rowland cooly sank two clutch free throws giving Ulm a 77-74 lead. In the games final possession, Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs poked loose a steal from Giessen G Marco Buljevic, pounced on the loose ball and promptly sealed the win with a breakaway slam. The fantastic finish came after an extremely competitive game filled with runs from both teams. Ulm now surprisingly advances to the Elite Eight of the German Cup which will be played in late March. All roads of the German Cup lead to Hamburg Germany where the TOP FOUR tournament will be held the weekend of April 28-29.
Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs works middle against Giessen in Wednesday nights German Cup win. Playing despite suffering from the flu, Jeff topscored with 19 points and made the game sealing steal with 6 seconds to play.
After beating Kaiserslautern November 28th, ratiopharm Ulm eagerly anticipated the Sweet 16 Round of the German Cup which was scheduled for Wednesday night in Giessen. Due to facility issues, a late tip time of 845pm was arranged making for an interesting midweek matchup. Giessen's 4-4 record since the midseason appointment of Head Coach Ken Scalibroni was clear indication of improvement. Maybe more alerting, the teams impressive overtime home win over EnBW Ludwigsburg demonstrated the 46ers formidability at home.
A memorable family day for the Wysocki's, ratiopharm Ulm forward Konrad Wysocki returned home for a homecoming before family and friends as he played in his hometown for the first time as a professional. Playing in the starting lineup for the occassion, Konrad was ready to play and made his mark throughout the evening.
Mediashots Werbefotografie
At the tip, ratiopharm Ulm started strong powering to an early 10-4 lead. Bryan Lucas and Konrad Wysocki sank early threes and the Ulm transition game effectively attacked the Giessen D. Soon, the 46ers aggressiveness and rebounding began to make a difference. Hot three point shooting in the first quarter helped Giessen pull even. The 46er big men (Robert Maras and Gerit Terdenge) scored effectively inside. Capitalizing on several trips to the foul line and a few too many three point field goal attempts in the Ulm shot selection, Giessen jumped to a 23-15 lead after one.
Quarter two was much of the same in the first few minutes. Ulm defense struggled against the size of the 46er big men in the post. Giessen extended their lead. At the largest, the 46ers led 30-17. Out of an Ulm timeout, the team's changing defenses became a factor and Ulm forced several turnovers which helped turn the tide. G Jonathan Levy powered his way to points posting up Giessen G Marco Buljevic. Levy's 12 first half points were best in the game and carried his Ulm team. Also adding 12 in the first half was Ulm C Bryan Lucas whose crafty finishes in the lane were a big boost to the Ulm O. Ulm's 21-14 second quarter cut into the deficit and sent the teams into halftime lockerrooms with the hosts up 1, 37-36.
At the break, ratiopharm Ulm focused mostly on the defensive end of the floor paying close attention to details from the game plan. In the first half, the team had blow several bunnies in the paint and relied a bit too much on perimeter looks. Adjusting slightly on both ends of the floor, discussing composure and focus, ratiopharm Ulm returned to the floor determined.
That determination powered them to a strong 26-19 third quarter as flu-stricken Jeff Gibbs stepped up and got busy. Gibbs scored 8 points in the quarter and sparked his team with strong finishes in the lane. An Austen Rowland three jolted ratiopharm Ulm with momentum late in the third. Changing to zone, Giessen also recieved strong play in the third from Jean Francois and Robert Maras. After three competitive quarters, Ulm held a 62-56 lead going into the fourth.
Mediashots Werbefotografie
Ian Young attacks Obie Trotter
As expected, this German Cup game would go down to the wire. But it was Giessen who capitalized in the early fourth making a run to regain the lead. F James Head scored effectively one on one driving against Ulm big men. Jean Francois continued his terrific perimeter shooting to keep the 46ers on track. But even with all of the excitement from the early action, no one could predict the final results down the stretch.
When the 46ers regained momentum off their energizing three point shooting, Ulm seemed staggered and on the ropes. They seemed to be searching for something to help stabalize themselves down the stretch. Suddenly, in the least likely of places, Ulm caught a break. After a missed inside finish, the rebound was collected by Giessen F Gerit Terdenge on the right block. Alertly, Jeff Gibbs grabbed the ball with his powerful mitts. Wrestling for the basketball, Gibbs ripped at the ball while both players securely held on. Pulling the ball toward him, Gibbs's power also pulled Terdenge off his feet which in turn brought the outraged Giessen fans to their feet! Upset officials ruled the jump ball situation and no foul, Giessen fans screamed, yelled, whistled, booed and threw things on the floor. Members of the 46er bench reacted in protest and drew a technical foul from officials. Already upset, fans then went bezerk!
Mediashots Werbefotografie
Giessen's Jean Francois hits a tough J
Amazingly, as Ulm C Bryan Lucas stepped to the foul line for the technical foul shots, 46ers fans shook the basket stantion in turn shaking the rim. Cooly, Lucas swished both free throws pulling Ulm back into the game. When Ulm scored again off the sideline possession, it was again anybody's ball game. Back and forth the game developed. A classic Cup ending seemed in store.
Tied 68-68, the 46ers attacked Ulm's changing defense. C Bryan Lucas deflected the Giessen post feed and the entry pass bounced freely onto the floor from the leftblock toward midcourt. Splitting several players with a speedy bounce, the ball rolled toward the backcourt. Giessen G Brian Snider ran to regain the loose ball. But at the last minute, Ulm Captain Emeka Erege made a memorable hustle play diving headfirst to tip the basketball to streaking teammate Austen Rowland. Erege's outstanding effort set the table for a game-breaking play, a breakaway layup for Ulmer PG Rowland. Streaking in alone, everyone was sure Ulm would take the lead. Everything was sure, except for one thing --- Rowland's layup rolled around the rim but did not go in. Missing the breakaway turned from potential game-breaker to potential backbreaker as Giessen counter-punched in transition finding Jean Francois open for a three. The stunning turn of events gave Giessen a 71-68 lead with just under two minutes to play. Ulm huddled in a timeout aiming to weather the storm together and respond.
Amid an arena of wild and crazy Giessen fans smelling victory, the blown layup event could have easily rattled ratiopharm Ulm. Specifically, how would Rowland react to the situation --- still stuck in last play or focused on the next play? The answer came in the next possession as the ball moved around the Ulm team eventually finding Rowland open beyond the arc. Showing his heart and comptitiveness, the young Ulm floor general drilled a clutch game-tying three instantly evening up the score and making up for the earlier mistake tying the game 71-71. Energized Ulm focused on a key defensive stop.
But Giessen F James Head had the answer with a driving three point play pushing the 46ers ahead 74-71. Ulm Captain Emeka Erege answered with a big basket pulling his team closer at 74-73. Ulm had their second chance to earn a game-changing stop. Matching up, Ulm played tough defense as Giessen attacked with under one minute to play. As the shot clock ticked down, F James Head took a pass at the top of the key and sized up Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs. Head made his move slashing down the left laneline aiming for the game deciding basket. Rotating from the helpside, Ulm G Jonathan Levy alertly got involved in the play. As Head stepped wide to create space, he lofted a sweeping shot with high arc over his defender Jeff Gibbs. Losing his balance, Head fell on the baseline and slid out of bounds along the endline. As the ball moved up, Jonathan Levy blocked it away sending the rock sailing to the corner. Amazingly, the ball landed on James Head (he caught it). Initially ruled as Giessen ball from the block out of bounds, officials eventually discussed and overturned the call correctly awarding Ulm the ball. Needing a big basket, ratiopharm Ulm's teamwork came through as the ball found Jeff Gibbs midlane for an athletic extending finish giving Ulm the lead 75-74 with 35 seconds to play. Giessen's response was to go to James Head again. This time, as he sized up Gibbs for a one on one drive, Head shuffled his pivot feet for a walking violation with 26 seconds to play. Giessen fouled twice sending Austen Rowland to the foul line with 24 seconds remaining. After a timeout designed to "ice" him, Rowland showed "icewater in his veins" cooly sinking his two free throws. Ulm led 77-74 with 24 seconds to play. Out of a 46er timeout, Giessen ran a pick and pop play opening Gerit Terdenge for three. His shot rimmed off hard and long. A jump ball between 5 players was ruled out of bounds off Ulm giving Giessen a sideline inbound situation with 6 seconds to play. After another Giessen timeout, from a box set, Marco Buljevic ran from the backside block off a staggered double to the top searching for a game tying three. Playing perfect position defense, Jeff Gibbs hedged and helped his teammate trailing the screens. When Buljevic took his triple threat position, Jeff took the ball poking loose a game sealing steal. As Gibbs ran down the loose ball which bounced into the 46er backcourt, the Ulm power forward raced to the rim for a breakaway slam dunk at the buzzer capping Ulm's comeback and emphatically finishing this exciting 79-74 Sweet 16 German Cup contest.
After a slow first period, ratiopharm Ulm finished the game shooting 48% from the floor 29-61 and sank 16 of 20 free throws (80%). While Giessen outrebounded Ulm 36-30, the 46ers suffered 19 turnovers against Ulm changing D compared to Ulm's 14 turnovers for the game. Despite his flu-conditions, Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs topscored with 19 points followed by a strong Bryan Lucas with 16 points 8 boards, Jonathan Levy 14 points 4 assists and Austen Rowland 12 points in the win. For Giessen, James Head scored 16 points while Jean Francois added 15 points and Obie Trotter 14 in the loss.
With the exciting win, ratiopharm Ulm advances to the German Cup Elite Eight which is schedule for March 28th, 2007. Opponents and sites will be determined after the last two Sweet 16 games which will be played next Wednesday as Skyliners take on ALBA Berlin and Koln meets Karlsruhe. ratiopharm Ulm is scheduled to play at New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig on March 28th which will likely adjust the game day of the next round of the German Cup.
After the midweek Cup victory, ratiopharm Ulm returns to Bundesliga action this weekend when Euroleague team Rheinenergie Koln visits Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday for a 7pm tip. The game has been sold out since Tuesday. Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
