Wonderful weekend for Ulm starts with WIN!!
If it was boxing, the game would have been labeled a slugfest. If it were football, fans would have been calling it Smashmouth. As it was, ratiopharm Ulm grinded out a hard-fought defense-first physical 73-64 road win at Olympiastutzplatz in Heidelberg Sunday afternoon in 2.Bundesliga South basketball. Jonathan Levy sparked Ulm with two clutch threes and a fantastic fast break slam dunk and a variety of Ulm players hit big shots down the stretch to earn Ulm's 10th win of the season and second consecutive road victory at Heidelberg where they won for the first time in team history last season. Although the win was ugly, the defensive effort and heart Ulm played with was beautiful to Head Coach Mike Taylor who earned his 100th career coaching win in Europe as his team remained unbeaten and in first place in the 2.Bundesliga South. Along with the excellent team win and milestone for Mike T, Ulm also received early good news with Kaiserslautern's victory over league heavyweight Jena which gives Ulm a 2 game lead over their rivals from east Germany. With 1/3rd of the season complete, ratiopharm Ulm holds pole position in the 2.Bundesliga South.
Ulm celebrates the hardfought win saluting their fans!
Last season, ratiopharm Ulm won in Heidelberg for the first time in team history. Certainly, Heidelberg's 4-0 unbeaten home mark entering Sunday's Game Day 10 in the 2005-2006 2.Bundesliga South season was an imposing mark for any road team. The brown-walled, high ceilinged, MLP sponsored hall is always a difficult place to play because of its depth perception behind the baskets, hard rims and of course quality home team. This season USC Heidelberg featured several new faces and on Sunday against Ulm, point guard Emauel Dildy struggled through warmups after nursing a deep knee bruise in last weekends loss at Bayreuth. Dildy tried to give it a go after missing practice all week, but team doctors shut him down and Heidelberg entered the game without one of their top players and key offensive threats.
Opening the action, Ulm knews defense was the most important thing. Both teams dug in early to establish themselves and get defensive stops. Offensively, the action was less than perfect, but that was more a result of early energy and physical defensive play. Ulm jumped ahead to an early 14-9 lead with 3 minutes remaining in the quarter. Effectively changing defenses on Ulm, USC Heidelberg surprised their guests with a solid 1-2-2 halfcourt trap defense back into a zone. Ulm attacked cautiously but effectively. Open shots rimmed out for Ulm and Heidelberg's power forward Armin Leber answered for Heidelberg bringing the home team back. Soon, with one minute remaining in quarter one, the scoreboard showed a 16-16 tie. Playing the last minute of the quarter well, Ulm edged ahead as Jeff Gibbs sank one of two free throws sending Ulm into the quarter break with a one point 17-16 lead.
Between quarters, Ulm made minor adjustments on offense and defense and returned to action with a strong determination to make a run. Immediate results followed as Ulm bolted ahead 23-19 3 minutes into the second quarter. However, at this point several missed layups and a couple of turnovers cost Ulm and allowed hardplaying Heidelberg to climb back even. Maurice Linton, the athletic and versatile Heidelberg wing was whistled for his 3rd foul with just over 3 minutes remaining in the first half. Again, Leber carried his team with big baskets on his way to 16 first half points. Wing Reinhard Laneggar hit a late-shot clock three from the left wing and drilled a pull up J midlane over tough Emeka Erege D for Heidelberg big baskets in the second quarter as well. A key in the Heidelberg comeback were several offensive rebounds the home team played with energy hungry for an upset. During the second quarter Ulm received inspired play from Florian Mobius who was extremely active scoring, rebounding, defending and blocking shots as he filled in for Jeff Gibbs who was saddled with two fouls midway through the second frame. Although both teams had chances to edge ahead in the final possessions of the first half, solid defense from both teams prevented scores and the teams went into the halftime locker room back where they started, tied 30-30.
Ulm's Florian Mobius (14) sinks this baseline jumper at the end of Ulm's press attack. Mobius played excellent minutes in the first half and fourth quarter.
At the half, Ulm addressed the halfcourt trap, zone attack, defensive game plan and inside finishes. The team knew they had not shown their best form but remained tied after the first twenty minutes. With a few simply adjustments, the team had confidence they could change the game and earn the positive road result. Challenging the team with a story from last seasons win, the Ulm staff urged the troops to keep working and raise their game.
As expected, Emeka Erege responded. The captain drilled a left corner three in the early moments of the third quarter and Maksym Shtein followed up with strong plays responding to his halftime challenge as well. Ulm opened the half with a 5-0 run surging ahead. Intensity level from Ulm defenders reached a peak as players contained the ball with pressure, contested nearly every pass and effectively neutralized any cut. Maurice Linton picked up his 4th foul early in the 3rd quarter. Heidelberg also played solid defense and continued to use their halfcourt trap to zone. But Ulm fell victim to back to back turnovers and Heidelberg responded with a run to recapture the lead at 40-37 halfway through the 3rd. Firing right back, Ulm's Martin Thuesen stuck a huge three ball from the right wing to regain the lead for ratiopharm Ulm at 42-40 with 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd. Heidelberg retaliated with a run to go back up 46-45 as the teams went into the quarters final minute. But the final shot was fired by Ulm's Jan Sprunken in the last seconds of the 3rd. With 16 seconds remaining in the quarter, Ulm held possession with a sideline inbound on the right side. Looking for the last shot of the quarter, lm executed a sideline play that reversed the ball resulting in Sprunken feeding the post to Jeff Gibbs on the block. With under ten seconds, Sprunken slid a low bounce pass into Gibbs who looked for his move. Suddenly, Gibbs saw Sprunken's man doubleteaming him and powerfully chested the ball. Alertly, Jan cut hard along the left wing into the ballside corner where he took a quick post reaction pass from Gibbs. Sprunken set, lofted and sank a money three with time running down. The big basket gave Ulm a 50-46 lead heading into the 4th and boosted the bench with momentum.
Ulm's Emeka Erege was excellent defending Heidelberg's talented Maurice Linton (5)
Capitalizing, Ulm turned the momentum into a run and burst out to a ten point 62-52 lead with 6 minutes to play. Like last season, Ulm's Christian Grosse became a factor in the fourth making 2 crafty layups and playing intense defense. Emeka Erege captured the imagination of everyone in the gym with a brilliant fullcourt end to end play starting with a hustling defensive rebound, continuing with a beautiful give and go midcourt break and finishing with a smooth sweeping transition layup at the other end. Maksym Shtein made an impact too continuing his strong second half play with powerful post finishes running off the glass and drop stepping to the rim. On the brink, Ulm fought to finish their hosts off. But several plays went the home teams way. For instance, Linton's pull up J hit the side of the backboard and hit the rim only to fall into the waiting hands of Oliver Komarek who simply placed the ball in the hoop after Ulm players had mistimed their jumps with the rim redirection. Seconds later, Komarek again placed a point blank catch in the basket after Jonathan Levy tipped a hi-low pass off course directly away from Ulm defenders but conveniently into Komarek's hands. Finally, Reinhard Laneggar's pull up J hit the rim, skied straight up and plummeted straight in for the ultimate "shooters touch" play. Ulm needed one stop to put the game out of reach, but each of these baskets came when Heidelberg needed them most. All along Ulm stayed just ahead of the hosts with a big left wing three from Levy and hardworking offensive rebounding off missed free throws. Up 67-60 with 3 minutes to play, a Christian Grosse turnover and charging foul on Jeff Gibbs and several missed free throws gave Heidelberg more hope. Gibbs fouled out on the play and Florian Mobius reentered the lineup. Heidelberg cut the lead to 5 at 67-62 and the game entered crunch time.
Ulm guard Jonathan Levy (5) locked down Heidelberg sharpshooter Tom McChesney (with ball) limiting McChesney to 2pts and 0-4 from the floor.
Ulm needed a hoop. Heidelberg needed a stop. The smashmouth basketball game was reduced to a powerstruggle possession for possession. Intense Heidelberg defense and stagnant Ulm offense described the moment. Ulm's Jonathan Levy took the ball at the top of the key and probed the defense for a driving lane dribbling to the right. In the process, the ball was deflected out of bounds off Heidelberg. Ulm ball, up 5, less than one minute to play, sideline inbound with 3 seconds on the shot clock.
Time out Ulm.
Too big a possession to take for granted, Ulm huddled in front of their bench standing just on the court to strategize over the situation. Clear on the responsibilities, the team prepared for the sideline inbound play and took their places. Inbounder Erege slapped the ball and Ulm players put the play to motion. Cutting hard and working with timing, Jonathan Levy set up his cut and drove hard off a double screen to receive the ball beyond the top of the key. Hedging hard, Heidelberg big man Jurgen Maassmann switched out onto the Ulm guard and tried to prevent any quick shots. Intelligently, Levy knew he had three seconds to work with after the catch. Levy quickly bursted to the right dribbling for space. Quickly, the LA native tried to loose the hardworking Heidelberg big man with a quick crossover back to his left. Finally, NBA range on the deep right wing --- with no other choice --- Levy elevated, leaned back and hoisted his best Kobe Bryant buzzer beating impersonation. BINGO!
Jono drilled a dagger and Ulm fans could sense the hard fought win. But the highlights were not done. As the seconds ticked off the clock, Heidelberg frantically pushed the ball trying to cut into the lead. After a miss, Levy ripped down a rebound landing on the block and burst up the lane line toward a fast break opportunity. Instantly, two Heidelberg defenders closed him in looking for a steal or foul. In a classic And 1 streetball move, Levy jumped up, sliced between the two oncoming defenders, split his legs and threw a rucker park back to front between the legs dribble that smoothly evaded the trap. Seeing teammate Martin Thuesen already ahead on the left wing, Levy zipped a ball ahead pass to his point guard and Ulm attacked on the break. Thuesen, a clever passer, saw the entire floor, drew the defense and slipped a drop pass to the hard cutting trailer steamrolling down the middle of the lane. It was Levy! Jono had followed his pass and filled the lane as a trailer and Martin rewarded him dropping him a dime. Levy puncuated the hardearned road win with a monster two hand slam in the paint sending the Ulm bench and fans into celebration.
JONO GETS LOOSE!
Before Heidelberg could mount a counter attack, the final horn had sounded on the 73-64 Ulm road win.
Ulm outrebounded Heidelberg 30-26 and shot 52% from the floor while Heidelberg hit only 41%. Ulm defense took away the three point line from Heidelberg holding them to 4-21 (19%). Significant defensive performances include the Jonathan Levy led lockdown of Tom McChesney 2pt 0-4 from floor and Emeka Erege's excellent effort on Maurice Linton 13pt 5-15 from floor. Unfortunately, Ulm hit a dismal 8-21 from the foul line in the game (38%).
Jonathan Levy led the offensive attack with 19 points and 8 rebounds while Maksym Shtein added 14 points and 5 boards to the win. Emeka Erege added 11 important points and Jeff Gibbs survived foul trouble to score 7 points with 6 boards before fouling out. Martin Thuesen 3, Christian Grosse 7, Jan Sprunken 6 and Florian Mobius 6 all made significant plays in the win as well.
Although it was not pretty, the important thing is the result. Combined with the Kaiserslautern win over Jena and last weeks 26 point home win over the Chemnitz 99ers, Ulm now holds a firm grip on first place in the 2.Bundesliga South.
100 wins in Europe!
Ulm now enjoys a challenging part of their schedule against top teams with 3 of 4 games before Christmas at home in the friendly confines of Sportszentrum Kuhberg beginning next Saturday December 3rd with BBC Bayreuth at 7pm. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com
GO ULM!
MIKE T
