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RESPECTABLE ULM EFFORT FALLS SHORT IN LANGEN
ratiopharm Ulm fought hard, controlled tempo and executed their game plan, but in the end a sub-par shooting day doomed Ulm's "Sensational Six" to an 81-69 road loss against the Langen Giraffes at Georg-Sehring-Halle in Langen Germany Saturday afternoon. Mixing defenses, eliminating transition, controlling the defensive boards and making the Giraffes work on defense, Ulm slowed the pace of play and worked to overcome their slim margin for error due to limited depth. Point guard Shaheen Holloway led Ulm's offensive attack with 19 points while both Maksym Shtein (15pt 12reb) and Fannar Olafsson (11pt 10reb) posted double doubles in the loss. Snapping a 5 game winning streak, the loss to Langen drops Ulm to 23-6 on the season with a final home finale awaiting Saturday against Breitengussbach at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY WENT FOR 19 POINTS AGAINST LANGEN Several story lines surrounded Saturdays game. First, the Giraffes were playing to secure a spot in the 2.Bundesliga South for next season. A win would secure a spot in the league for Langen. Second, Sly McIntosh, Langen's leading scorer at 24ppg, was meeting his friends from Ulm. Earlier in the season Sly starred for Ulm's farm team BBC Neu Ulm averaging 33ppg as he helped the Neu Ulm Outlaws stay in the 4th division against all odds. Saturday's game at Langen was also the first even meeting between McIntosh and Mike T from opposite sides after several seasons together on the same team. Without question, there was much more to this Ulm at Langen matchup than meets the eye. Tipping off, Ulm established their defensive game plan early in the game denying Giraffe scoring guard Sly McIntosh and disrupting the Langen offensive rhythm using a variety of gimmick defenses. Rather than playing the fullcourt pressing and trapping style they are known for, Ulm changed defenses in the halfcourt and rotated matchups to stay fresh. Keeping the game halfcourt, Ulm defense made the game smashmouth and ugly. As much as the Ulm defense disrupted the Giraffe offense, the Ulm offense had trouble finding their rhythm against Langen as well. With three post players in the starting lineup, Maksym Shtein, Fannar Olafsson and Florian Mobius crowded one another around the paint without spacing the floor. Langen took advantage doubling and packing the paint effectively. Ulm's Shaheen Holloway penetrated effectively off ballscreens, but Mike T's men did not establish a perimeter threat missing shots from the floor. After the opening quarter, Ulm and Langen were right where they started --- even at 18-18.
IUP VS IUP: Ulm's Fannar Olafsson (left) against Sly McIntosh (14) More of the same in the second quarter, Ulm battled the Giraffes neck and neck. Undermanned, Ulm continued to execute their game plan. After a turnover, Ulm defenders walked back on defense only to see Langen pushing the ball for an easy 2 on 1 AND 1 dunk from big man Kevin Hanson. Immediately calling timeout, Ulm discussed their momentary lack of concentration and refocused themselves reminding each other of the smaller margin for error. Nearly perfectly, the AND 1 dunk from Hanson would be Langen's only transition basket of the first half. Back on task, Ulm regained their composure and reversed the deficit. At the half, Ulm and Langen went into the lockerroom's right where they started at tip-off --- even at 33. The first half total of 33 points was perfect for Ulm. The game plan of slowing the pace and eliminating transition was working and it kept the halftime point totals down (to a high scoring quarter). Ulm did a tremendous job executing the defensive game plan changing D effectively, taking away transition, controlling their defensive boards and making specific players beat them. In the second quarter, Ulm's defense limited Langen to 38% shooting including 1 for 6 from three range while forcing 8 turnovers. Offensively, Ulm grinded out an ugly, blue-collar attack to keep pace. With a shorthanded team, playing only six men, Ulm was certainly pleased with their halftime situation --- all that remained was finding a way to win.
Sha hits Florian Mobius on ball reversal in the 3rd quarter Determined to make his mark, Langen shooting guard Sly McIntosh opened the second half hitting a well-defended three pointer from the right wing. After an empty and unfocused Ulm possession, big man Koray Karaman followed with a three of his own opening a 6 point spread under one minuted into the third. Another Kevin Hanson dunk pushed the run to 8-0 before a quick Ulm timeout and intense discussion stemmed the tide. Down 41-33 with 7 minutes remaining in the third, Ulm players began to tighten up on defense and cut into the lead. Maksym Shtein, and Shaheen Holloway made baskets in a run that cut into the lead. Working back into the game, Ulm regained footing remaining in striking distance throughout the remainder of the third. By the close of the quarter, Ulm trailed by 3, 55-52.
The Langen Giraffe. In a position to win, Ulm made a 6-1 run in the early fourth to take the lead 58-56 with 8 minutes to play. Everything clicked for Ulm at this time. Shaheen Holloway made plays in the open court and Ulm D come up with stops. After a wild scramble for a loose ball under the Langen basket, Ulm players broke out into transition with numbers. As the ball found Holloway's hands, the Ulm point guard naturally led an Ulm fast break in a coast to coast rush resulting in a crafty double clutch reverse layup that saw Sha sail under two Giraffe defenders before shielding his shot with the rim. A Langen timeout saw Ulm come to their bench energized from the play and the lead. Unfortunately, Fannar Olafsson hobbled his way to the timeout --- the Icelandic power forward rolled his ankle under the basket. Subbing young guard Benni Gulde into the game, Fannar sat courtside near the Ulm bench as physio Andi Lacher re-taped his ankle. Like Erege playing hurt, Olafsson showed his toughness getting taped courtside and demonstrated his commitmment being ready to return with the game on the line. Meanwhile, on the floor, Ulm's lead evaporated. Miscommunications on the defensive end gave Langen's Sebastian Barth an open look from three and Sebastian Adeberg easy backdoor basket. As the Giraffes regained the lead with their big baskets, Ulm's offense went cold missing open shots. The empty possession pressured Ulm's D. With the game slipping away, Ulm's Benni Gulde came up with a big three from the right corner --- when Langen defenders left Gulde to double the post, Benni spotted up, waited for ball reversal and buried the triple keeping Ulm hope alive. Trailing 68-63, Olafsson returned to action. It was crunch time and both teams prepared to make their final runs. Where they wanted to be, ratiopharm Ulm looked to find a way to win. All game long, Ulm's effort had been outstanding. Ulm's executed their game plan extremely well and controlled tempo. Their efforts and teamwork gave them a chance. But it was Langen's afternoon. Ulm offense missed open jump shots, saw point blank finishes rim out and simply did not hit shots when they needed them. Burying the back breaker, Langen big man Koray Karaman snuck free from Ulm defenders in the left corner, took a skip pass and sank a game sealing three pointer pushing the lead to 11 at 78-67 with 1 minutes 30 to play. An Ulm timeout shifted focus to the fouling game in a last chance comeback effort. Unfortunately, Ulm's free throw shooting did not help their cause. Erege came up emtpy in two attempts. Holloway went hit and miss on another. Langen missed a few free throws of their own, but Ulm's effort fell short. At the final buzzer, Langen had secured their place in the 2.Bundesliga South for the 27th season with a nice 81-69 win. In the end, Ulm's excellent effort in a shorthanded situation was respectable but the team simply did not shoot the ball well enough to overcome their adversity. Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game Shaheen Holloway led Ulm with 19 points, was fantastic controlling tempo offensively and set the tone defensively. Maksym Shtein's 15 point 12 rebound double double also stood out especially with his 7 offensive boards and 2 for 3 three pointers. Emeka Erege, hobbled by a slight knee injury during the week, played through pain to produce 13 points and 9 rebounds. Fannar Olafsson's blue collar post play generated an 11 point 10 rebound double double, his second double double in consecutive games. 17 year old Ulm guard Benni Gulde gave Ulm 13 quality minutes including an important three pointer late in the fourth quarter from the right corner. Finally, forward Florian Mobius gave good effort, but managed only 8 points and 5 rebounds on 3 for 12 shooting in his 37 minutes. Giraffe Center Kevin Hanson led Langen with 24 points and 6 rebounds while perimeter shooting big man Koray Karaman hit five of nine threes on his way to 19 points and shooting guard Sebastian Barth quietly produced an important 16 points including several big baskets down the stretch. Sly McIntosh totaled 7 points and 8 rebounds against Ulm's defensive scheme designed specifically to slow him down. Statistically, Ulm outrebounded Langen 45-40 including an impressing 18 offensive rebounds in the loss. Unfortunately, Ulm's poor perimeter shooting --- or lack of a perimeter shooting threat --- did them in. Ulm hit only 3 of 15 three point attempts, sank only 8 of 18 free throws and shot only 40% from the floor, clearly sub-par numbers for the team with the leagues best field goal percentage and three point shooting percentage. Conversely, Langen sank 45% from the floor, 8 for 25 (32%) from three and 75% from the foul line to earn the win. Congratulations to the Langen Giraffes for winning their way to a spot in the 2.Bundesliga South next season. A special mention to Sly McIntosh who remarkably helped two teams (BBC Neu Ulm and TV Langen) stay in their respective leagues this season. ratiopharm Ulm finishes up the 2004-2005 season Saturday April 30th with a home game against Breitengussbach. Tip time is 7pm. Unbeaten at home on the season, Ulm looks to close the year out with a win in front of their loyal Ulm fans. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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