BOUNCE BACK!
Jeff Gibbs powers Ulm to 24th win!!
ratiopharm Ulm bounced back from last weeks road loss in Chemnitz with a hardearned home win over USC Heidelberg 89-78 at a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday night in Ulm. Powered by Jeff Gibbs' 24 point 14 rebound 5 shot-block performance, Ulm used a 21-11 third quarter to gain leverage in the defensive oriented game before holding off a Heidelberg rally to earn their 24th win. Exploding to a 12-2 lead in the first three minutes of play, Ulm seemed ready to cruise but Heidelberg turned the tables on the hosts with a 28-22 second quarter sending Ulm to the lockerroom trailing 43-42. Sparked by improved intensity, the Gibbs-Shtein combination in the paint and excellent defensive work from forward Konrad Wysocki, Ulm took control early in the second half and stretched their lead to 13 (73-60) midway through the final quarter prior to a late 9-2 Heidelburg spurt trimming the lead to 75-69 with 4 minutes to play. Down the stretch, Jeff Gibbs sealed the win on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Gibbs got big buckets for 6 of Ulm's next 8 points while emphatically sending Heidelberg shot-attempts into the stands. At 24-1, ratiopharm Ulm remains in first place in the 2.Bundesliga South standings heading into Friday's important road game at Bayreuth.
POWER UP!
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs scored 28 points with 14 rebounds and 5 blocks!
Game 25 Saturday March 25, 2006 7pm
VS 
ratiopharm Ulm improved to 24-1 with a hardearned 89-78 home win over USC Heidelberg Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in 2.Bundesliga South basketball action. Power forward Jeff Gibbs posted 28 points 14 boards and 5 blocked shots leading the way to the win. After bolting to an early 12-2 lead, Ulm overcame a sluggish second stanza with a 21-11 third quarter and withstood a late 9-2 Heidelberg run to earn the win. Focused to respond after last weeks road loss in Chemnitz, ratiopharm Ulm exploded to a 12-2 lead from the games opening tip. Starting strong early on, Jeff Gibbs scored 6 points in the tip-off run that forced a fast Heidelberg time-out. Creating offense from defense, Ulm took advantage of transition opportunities and crashed the offensive glass well. At the time-out, Heidelberg head coach Markus Jochum calmed his troops and inserted point guard Emanuel Dildy, who was returning to the lineup after missing last weeks game due to back pains, into the action. Dildy immediately made an impact and Heidelberg worked their way back into the game. Behind the hot shooting Dildy and active forward Maurice Linton, basket by basket, Heidelberg whiddled their deficit to five (20-15) by the end of the first quarter. After surviving the wave of Ulm's early momentum, Heidelberg simply was solid and competed extremely well at Kuhberg.
THUNDER MAX!
Ulm Center Maksym Shtein slams one in the first half!
Soon, in the second quarter, the flow of mometum began to switch directions. Heidelberg leveled the scoreboard at 22 before a slight Ulm resurgance regained a 5 point advantage at 29-24 with 6 minutes remaining in the first half. Key to Heidelberg's comeback was their effective 2-3 zone defense --- even when Ulm did get open looks, the rim seemed to have a lid on it. In fact, Ulm hit only one of eleven shots from beyond the three point line in the first half. Although it looked to be an easy game early on, Heidelberg scratched and clawed their way to the lead and had Ulm on their heels. Poor perimeter shooting opened the door allowing Heidelberg back into the game, but Ulm's defense surrendered several easy baskets as the game grew closer and closer possession by possession. As the sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd anticipated the Ulm run that would rebuild their cushion, Heidelberg diffused any sparks of momentum late in the half. One example occurred after Maksym Shtein slammed home a play in the paint bringing the crowd into the game. Ulm held a 41-40 lead for an instant. Unfortunately, a defensive breakdown allowed a runout three point play from Jurgen Maassmann --- Heidelberg held onto the lead at 43-41 as they held onto momentum. Later, as Ulm worked to regain their footing, officials disallowed a powerful tipdunk slam from Jeff Gibbs ruling the basketball never completely made it through the hoop. As Jonathan Levy sliced to the lane in transition looking to finish a fast break, his shot rimmed out hard and was cleaned up emphatically on a phenomenal dunk over two rebounding Heidelberg defenders. Instead of going down, the ball went into the hoop and popped back up just right of the rim. Whether the Heidelberg players hit the ball or the rim caused the reaction, the officials consulted with the scorers table. During the delay, boos and whistles raised their volume from the volume of spectators at soldout Sportszentrum Kuhberg. As officials waved off the basket, Ulm fans went wild. Immediately, Ulm manager Thomas Stoll filed a protest and the game was stopped again to handle the official process. Taking away the two points from the made basket, officials had given ball possession to Heidelberg. Ready to return to action, moments before inbounding the ball, another stoppage occurred. This time, questions were raised about whose possesion it would be as boos rained down in Kuhberg. Finally, back to action, referees offcially awarded the ball to Ulm ruling a walking violation on Heidelberg who rebounded the missed ball. While seconds before boos came from Ulm, after possession was reversed to Ulm, the Heidelberg bench was furious with the officiating. In all the confusion, the half ended with Heidelberg holding a slim 43-42 lead.
Ulm point guard Martin Thuesen sinks a rally sparking Three in the 3rd quarter!
At the half, the Ulm lockerroom focused on defensive play. Although the 1-11 three point percentage was concerning, Ulm felt confident they would find their shooting touch soon. The issue became improving defensive intensity to win with defense helping Ulm overcome their poor marksmanship. Finally, the team examined their zone attack making several slight adjustments to help their offense in the second half. Happy with the play of inside players Jeff Gibbs and Maksym Shtein, the team returned to the floor focused.
Like the opening minutes of action, Ulm found their rhythm. After a smooth hi-low pass attacking the zone resulted in a Maksym Shtein score, Martin Thuesen sank a momentum generating energy with his trifecta. An important aspect of the 21-11 third quarter advantage for Ulm was the teams bench. Captain Emeka Erege picked up his 4th foul early in the second half forcing Ulm head coach into difficult decision . Bench players Florian Mobius, Jan Sprunken and Konrad Wysocki made key contributions to the Ulm game. While Linton went to work on Ulm defenders for 17 points in the first half, Wysocki became the defensive stopper against Linton . The Princteon product played excellent defense which helped Ulm extend the lead to 9 at 63-54. Another Thuesen three mixed in with a triple from Jonathan Levy built Ulm's lead to 73-60. But Heidelberg answered right back with a late 9-2 run led by Dildy's hot three point accuracy. Leading by 6 (75-69), Ulm aimed to foil the comeback in the last minutes of play. In the middle of it all, Gibbs dominated the paint scoring 6 of the next 8 points and blocking shots that brought the crowd to their feet. Behind the outstanding effort from Gibbs, Ulm rebuilt their lead to 83-71 with 2 minutes remaining. Smelling victory, the sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd chanted and cheered awaiting win #24. By the final buzzer, Ulm earned an 89-78 win.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs lines up this block against Heidelberg's Armin Leber.
While Gibbs produced the games most impressive numbers, Maksym Shtein scored a strong 14 point 4 rebound performance and point guard Martin Thuesen enjoyed a solid game scoring 12 points with 4 assists. Emeka Erege added 10 points 6 rebounds while playing through foul trouble. Overcoming a subpar perimeter shooting evening, Ulm grinded out the victory with hardwork on defense and on the boards --- Ulm outrebounded Heidelberg 43-28 for the game. Although the team did not shoot the ball particularly well, bright spots for Ulm included the teams 15 assist to 9 turnover numbers and 79% (15-19) free throw percentage. Heidelberg played well hitting 50% of their floor shots compared to Ulm's 46% for the game. Emanuel Dildy led the Heidelberg effort with a solid 26 point night on 6 for 7 three point shooting. American forward Maurice Linton added a strong 20 points including 17 in the first half.
HANGING AROUND!
Ulm forward Konrad Wysocki finishes his dunk with authority! Wysocki also played tenacious second half defense against Heidelberg's Maurice Linton.
The Ulm win was also a slam dunk off the floor as the team hosted the "Ulmer Volksbank" sponsor night. Part of the entertainment, London England based dance team "PULSE" made a special appearance to perform and impressed the Ulm crowd.
PULSE dance team made a special appearance at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday. The London based Dance team was hired for ratiopharm Ulm by sponsors from PHO "The Event Company!"
The 89-78 bouce-back win over Heidelberg Saturday night maintained Ulm's 2 game advantage at the top of the table as "tabellenfuhrer". Looking ahead, Ulm now begins to prepare for Friday nights big road game at BBC Bayreuth. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com
GO ULM!
MIKE T
