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TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE ULM OVERCOMES HEIDELBERG 81-75 ratiopharm Ulm overcame a slow start and a hot USC Heidelberg team with a blue collar defensive effort and strong fourth quarter to emerge from Saturday nights battle of the unbeatens with an 81-75 quality 2.Bundesliga win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in front of 2,400 screaming Ulm fans. Improving to 6-0, up next for Ulm is Friday nights road trip Nurnberg --- battle of the unbeatens round 2. Starting slowly, ratiopharm Ulm players went one on one and were too individual starting the game resulting in forced plays and fast shots. Ulm could not find a rhythm early. Quick shots and turnovers also lead to open court opportunities for Heidelberg, something excellent point guard Ronnie Taylor took advantage of. Hot from the perimeter from the opening tip, Heidelberg's Taylor and shooting guard Erik Dordal put points on the board sinking sweet jump shots against the Ulm defense helping the visitors to an early 8-2 lead. To the surprise of the near sellout crowd, Heidelberg had the better of the early play. Trailing and without rhythm, Ulm's Head Coach Mike Taylor took an early timeout to settle down his team. Getting things undercontrol, Ulm's offense finally kicked in gear. But behind the good backcourt play of Ronnie Taylor and Erik Dordal, Heidelberg had their way with the first quarter. Up 20-12 over Ulm, Heidelberg's confidence grew. Looking to find a spark, Ulm eventually went with a smaller lineup featuring athleticism and perimeter shooting. Mike T went to the lineup for two reasons --- one, to speed up the game with a pressing and trapping lineup hoping to tire out Heidelberg's key players and two, to get a combination on the floor that would move the ball properly to help the team find the rhythm. Initially the move backfired as Heidelberg's strong power forward Armin Leber posted up and drew a foul on Kenny Price. However, two and three possessions later, Price would have his revenge --- the smooth Ulm shooting guard sank three 3 point shots in a span of 30 seconds instantly igniting his team. Not only did Price's marksmenship get Ulm back into the game, his third triple gave Ulm its first lead, forced a Heidelberg time out, errupted a roar from the faithful Ulm fans and inspired chest bumps, high fives and waving towels from teammates! Up 31-29, Ulm worked their way back overcoming their slow start. Ulm's Kenny Price caught fire in the 2nd quarter.... ...teammates and fans loved the clutch shooting display! The expected battle of unbeatens had a surprising start with Heidelberg off to an early lead. Ulm answered. For the final 5 minutes of the first half, both teams wrestled for control of the tempo and the game. Heidelberg did a fine job of executing their sets and offensive rebounding on offense while playing a 2-3 zone on D. Meanwhile, Ulm took better care of the basketball, improved their ball movement and shot selection and locked down better on D. Even intense action was exciting for the fans. Finally, referees became a factor. As a Heidelberg player drove along the left baseline, Ulm forward Florian Mobius rotated to help and hammered him with a clean, hard foul in the last minute of the half --- no layups. Whistled as unsportsmanlike, boos and whistles showered the referee's call. USC sank the free throws and got the ball back for a sideline in bound. Ronnie Taylor finished off the possession with an NBA range deep buzzer beating three from way beyond the top of the key. Heidelberg grabbed a 41-38 halftime lead and grabbed momentum from Ulm. At the half, Ulm players seemed frustrated because they could not find their rhythm. Looking to improve rebounding on both ends of the floor, containing Taylor 1 on 1, increasing the tempo and bettering the ballmovement. Ulm perimeters settled for too many quick shots without involving post teammates in the first half. ratiopharm Ulm took confidence from their feeling that they could not play any worse than they did to start the game. Meanwhile, Heidelberg could not play much better. What became important was Ulm's ability to make adjustments and execute them in the second half. From the moment the ball was inbounded starting quarter number three, intensity and energy picked up on the floor. Ulm stuffed Heidelberg on consecutive defensive stops, but failed to convert. In an effort to jump start himself, Ulm forward Niki Arinze forced back to back plays in the post attempting to score against a double and then a triple team. After consecutive turnovers that jumpstarted the Heidelberg break, Florian Mobius subbed in to let Arinze clear his head. Although foul trouble started to mount for the visitors, Heidelberg rode big baskets from Ronnie Taylor to a 56-48 lead. Ulm's bench became a factor. First, Kenny Price re-entered the game. Second, Ulm's Player of the Month for October, Christian Grosse came on and contributed. Price made plays on the perimeter, sank open shots and set up teammates executing the offense. On the other end of the floor, Grosse, who survived two fast fouls from the first half, did an excellent job denying Ronnie Taylor the ball, pressuring the star Heidelberg point into turnovers and making hustle plays diving on the floor for loose balls. The energy helped Ulm storm back. Defensive stops and baskets from Peter Heizer and Emeka Erege sliced the deficit to three 56-53. Big baskets from Niki Arinze on a strong play inside and Peter Heizer on a drive and free throws from Kenny Price gave Ulm the lead in a run that regained momentum. By the end of three Ulm lead by one 61-60. Emeka Erege played excellent defense on Ronnie Taylor in the 4th. In the final quarter, Ulm's game plan finally began to show signs. Rotating several defenders on Ronnie Taylor and pressing and trapping in changing defenses all game while subbing players in, Ulm began to wear down the Heidelberg team. Tied at 63 with 8:24 to play, Heidelberg head coach Marchus Joachum called for time hoping to stop the Ulm run. Finally settling into a lineup that clicked, Mike T went with defense first playing the decisive stretch of the game without a pure point guard as Peter Heizer and Kenny Price shared backcourt duties with small forward Emeka Erege, power forward Niki Arinze and center Maksym Shtein. Erege snuck free for two critical tip in baskets in the fourth and did an outstanding job shutting down Heidelberg's Taylor in the fourth. On the other end, Maksym Shtein made several key baskets in the paint as he exploded during the most crucial crunch time of the game. Shtein singlehandidly gave Ulm control and ensured the win by making three point plays and free throws in the last minutes of the game. Icing the game with defense, big baskets and clutch free throw shooting, ratiopharm Ulm glided into the final horn that signaled their 81-75 win. ratiopharm Ulm fans stood roaring with cheers delighted by the result --- an important head to head win over Heidelberg. Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game Maksym Shtein at a post game interview Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game Maksym Shtein led Ulm in scoring finishing with a strong 22 points and 8 rebounds most coming when it mattered most. Returning to action, Ulm shooting guard Peter Heizer played well contributing 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists while star small forward Emeka Erege and hot shooting wing Kenny Price added 14 points apiece. Erege was also excellent on D (especially tough stopping Ronnie Taylor in the fourth quarter), came through with important baskets and grabbed 8 boards. Price sparked key runs for Ulm with his 3 for 4 three point shooting and getting 4 rebounds and 3 assists. For Heidelberg, who should be credited with an excellent performance and quality play, Ronnie Taylor was a star leading his team throughout for 21 points and 7 rebounds from his point guard spot. Erik Dordal was also sharp shooting 4 of 5 from three to score 14 while grabbing 5 boards. Brett Buscher and Jurgen Maassmann finished with 12 points apiece and forward Armin Leber played well off the bench adding 11. Up next, ratiopharm Ulm prepares for a challenging road game Friday night against unbeaten Nurnberg. Tip time is 8pm. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! Celebrating the big win European style with the GREAT Ulm fans! GO ULM! MIKE T
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