TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
97 
91 OT
UNFINISHED!
ULM MISSES CHANCE FOR ROAD WIN IN LUDWIGSBURG!
Up three points shooting two foul shots to ice the game 36 seconds to play, ratiopharm Ulm put themselves in position to win Sunday's Baden Wurtemburg Derby against EnBW Ludwigsburg in the rivalries last regular season game at Rundesporthalle. But two missed free throws, another big shot from Brian Jones and a defensive stand gave Ludwigsburg new life forcing a thrilling overtime that added to the fantastic history between the two teams. Brandon Woudstra starred in overtime leading Ludwigsburg to the intense 97-91 win. Despite the loss, ratiopharm Ulm's effort was fantastic featuring 28 points 10 rebounds from All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs, 21 points from Romeo Travis and 19 points from Lee Humphrey. After an excellent effort and positioning themselves for a win, ratiopharm Ulm did everything but finish the game. And in classic rivalry way, Ludwigsburg made Ulm pay in overtime for leaving the game unfinished.
GIBBS VS. GIBBS!
ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward defends EnBW Ludwigsburg big man Kelvin Gibbs in Sundays game!
Click here for Ulm @ Ludwigsburg Sunday 12-14-08 Box Score
ratiopharm Ulm goes through layup lines during pregame warmup at Rundesporthalle Sunday.
For ratiopharm Ulm basketball fans, the last month has been a terrific stretch of rivalries and games against opponents with interesting storylines adding intensity to each game. Ulm's Baden Wurtemburg Derby games against Walter Tigers Tubingen and EnBW Ludwigsburg are classic games for the fans and when the exciting game meets the intense expectations, classic basketball memories are made. Sunday's Derby finale between ratiopharm Ulm and EnBW Ludwigsburg at Rundesporthalle was a highly anticipated matchup and as Ludwigsburg moves into their new Arena next season, the game took on extra special meaning.
ratiopharm Ulm fans brought tremendous support for their team Sunday evening at Rundesporthalle in Ludwigsburg.
Both teams entered Sunday's rivalry game on positives as ratiopharm Ulm rode a 4 game winning streak and EnBW Ludwigsburg brought an unbeaten home record at 5-0. As with any Derby game, records could be thrown out the window. Both Ulm and Ludwigsburg also brought extra motivation as events and words exchanged off the floor helped both teams raise their intensity and focus. Fans from both teams filled Rundesporthalle with electricity and excitement while BBL.TV showcased the game live for basketball fans everywhere.
ratiopharm Ulm and EnBW Ludwigsburg prepare for tipoff Sunday in their final matchup at Rundesporthalle in Ludwigsburg.
At tip off, ratiopharm Ulm and EnBW Ludwigsburg were ready. Ludwigsburg started strong taking an early 8-3 lead as Domonic Jones finished a step through basket in the lane finishing a drive. Ulm's Lee Humphrey drilled two first quarter threes and finished a driving layup to spark his teams attack from the perimeter. On the inside, Romeo Travis scored on strong post work. Ulm's Michael Schroeder pinned a Kelvin Gibbs layup off the backboard for a shot-block defensive stop and Ludwigsburg held a 20-18 lead after the first ten minutes of action.
Ulm floor general Dru Joyce sank this early free throw in Sunday evening's exciting overtime game.
After a quality quarter break, ratiopharm Ulm settled into the game and found their rhythm on offense while establishing their defense in Quarter two. Ulm's opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run as Dan Fitzgerald drilled a right wing three and Dru Joyce finished two transition layups at the rim to lead 26-22. Ludwigsburg bounced back with crafty baskets inside from big Kelvin Gibbs and skillful scores from Brandon Woudstra. The home team's run helped them regain a 30-29 lead. But Ulm's defense sparked an 11-2 mid-quarter run which helped them build a 40-32 advantage. A key play in the run came off a Jeff Gibbs free throw make as Ulm's fullcourt trapping press allowed Dru Joyce to step infront of an errant Ludwigsburg pass for the interception which he instantly turned into a three point play. Ulm closed out the first half with the momentum and took a solid 42-34 lead into the halftime lockerroom.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis was outstanding in Sundays game scoring 21 points and making several key defensive plays.
At the half, Ulm had hit 47% of their shots from the floor, made 3 of 11 threes (27%) and 11 of 13 free throws (85%). The teams focused first half performance was led by Ulm's 'Akron connection' of Romeo Travis's 13 points and Dru Joyce's 12. On the other end, Ludwigsburg's Kelvin Gibbs powered his way to 13 points 4 rebounds. Playing without injured center Sean Finn, Ulm often used smaller lineups and in the first half, the Ludwigsburg Gibbs was effective inside. After making several adjustements and refocusing their attack for the second half, ratiopharm Ulm prepared for the second half of the heated rivalry game and last twenty minutes at Rundesporthalle.
While Ulm's 23-11 second quarter built an 8 point halftime lead, Ludwigsburg's 6-0 start to the second half helped them trim the deficit to 42-40 early in the third quarter. Ulm responded immediately with a power game featuring Jeff Gibbs and Romeo Travis scoring with physical post moves, active offensive rebounding and clutch free throw shooting. Ulm took a 49-41 lead at the midpoint of the third. The tempo of the game began to pickup. As the end to end pace provided opportunities for both teams, Ulm caught a break when Brandon Woudstra was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul after getting tangled up with Jeff Gibbs in a scramble for a loose ball. Ulm capitalized and built a 53-43 lead. But the experienced Ludwigsburg backcourt helped the team comeback. A 10-2 late third quarter run cut Ulm's lead to 58-57. Ludwigsburg hit several big shots including big baskets from Brian Jones (foreshadowing the fourth quarter), Domonic Jones and Dane Watts. In the closing moments of the third, with Ludwigsburg attacking for the final shot and Ulm holding a 62-59 lead, the ball was swung to Watts on the left wing where he buried a third quarter buzzer beating three pointer tying the score at 62 and giving Ludwigsburg tremendous energy and momentum going into the fourth.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star Power forward Jeff Gibbs at the foul line in the first half of Sunday's Baden-Wurtemburg Derby game at Rundesporthalle in Ludwigsburg.
Opening the fourth quarter, Ludwigsburg continued their run and took a 65-64 lead. But Ulm's Lee Humphrey buried a pullup three from just right of the top of the key turning the score to 67-65 for Ulm. Jeff Gibbs added two more points and Ulm held a 69-65 advantage. As Ludwigsburg attacked, an endline inbound play led to an open dive cut for Kelvin Gibbs at the rim. But before Gibbs could lay it in, Ulm's Romeo Travis came from the helpside for a fantastic shot block that triggered an Ulm fast break. Unfortunately, Brian Jones intercepted a transition bounce pass and rather than extend their four point lead to six, a Jones breakaway layup cut the game back to two at 69-67. The intense fourth quarter began to develop into an excellent game. Moments later Ludwigsburg received an opportunity as Jeff Gibbs was called for an unsportsmanlike foul while blocking a Christoph Schlatter attempt on an offensive rebound in the paint. Signed earlier in the week, Schlatter missed both free throws and Ulm maintained their lead and momentum. But things would change quickly as Brian Jones buried back to back three pointers to help Ludwigsburg regain the momentum. Like a flashback to his Tubingen form where he hit a game-winning three in double overtime to beat Ulm in 2003, Jones sank the clutch shots despite making only 5 of 32 attempts from three for the season coming into the game. But 4 minutes remained and every possession counted. Jeff Gibbs was a force in the paint and Romeo Travis also finished several big plays. With the score tied at 75, Ludwigsburg's Domonic Jones sank the first of two free throws and the home crowd celebrated a 76-75 lead. But two Jeff Gibbs free throws gave Ulm a 77-76 lead with just over one minute to play. As Ulm pressed, Ludwigsburg turned the ball over with an errand pass to the sideline giving Ulm possession and a lead. Seconds later, Romeo Travis grabbed an offensive rebound from a Dru Joyce miss and slipped a post pass to Jeff Gibbs along the baseline where the Ulm all star powered in two points. Ulm led 79-76 with under one minute to play. As Ludwigsburg advanced the ball, Ulm's defense dug in. Working for a key stop, Ulm defended the offensive action and when the ball was reversed to Kelvin Gibbs the Ludwigsburg post man fired a left wing three that was hard off the rim. Ulm's Jeff Gibbs grabbed the rebound and cooly found Dan Fitzgerald up the left sideline. The Ulm rookie forward advanced the ball securely across halfcourt and strongly found point guard Dru Joyce. Ludwigsburg scrambled and fouled sending the Ulm floor general to the foul line with 36 seconds to play. Up three with two foul shots, Ulm focused in to finish the game. With complete confidence in their point guard who had made countless clutch plays over the last two seasons, Ulm lined up for the critical foul shots with their defensive game plan in place. Unfortunately, the bounce of the ball went Ludwigsburg's way. Dru rimmed out both free throws and Dane Watts corralled the loose ball along the baseline. Ludwigsburg had hope. With the clock ticking down and the fans on their feet, excitement and drama filled the Rundesporthalle. Ludwigsburg needed a big play. The ball found Brian Jones deep in three point territory to the right of the top of the key. With Dru Joyce closing him out and a hand in his face, Jones once again haunted Ulm with a clutch three pointer that tied the score at 79. An Ulm timeout stopped the clock and advanced the ball with 18 seconds to play. Focused to get the last shot and win the game, Ulm milked the clock down to ten and executed their quick hitting action. Dru Joyce darted to the left working to get a step on Ludwigsburg's Domonic Jones, but as Joyce pulled up to shoot, he was well-defended by the athletic Ludwigsburg guard. Joyce's forced shot rimmed out hard and Jeff Gibbs grabbed the rebound but could not get a quality shot off. As the final buzzer sounded the end of regulation, the 79-79 score was the beginning of overtime!
Rundesporthalle scoreboard during a ratiopharm Ulm timeout before their last possession of regulation.
A fantastic way for Ulm and Ludwigsburg to finish their classic confrontations in Rundesporthalle, Sunday's overtime game featured outstanding effort from both teams. Ulm started the bonus basketball with a bang as Lee Humphrey came off a down screen and sank a contested right wing three before being knocked down and fouled. The Ulm sharpshooter completed the four point play and Ulm had made the first big play. Ludwigsburg answered with Kelvin Gibbs and Ulm led 83-81. On Ulm's next possession, Lee Humphrey attacked the basket driving down the lane before missing a scoop shot off the glass. Ulm's Jeff Gibbs grabbed the rebound and finished the put-back through contact. A whistle stopped play. Ulm celebrated the And-1 from their allstar and began to lineup for the free throw. But officials huddled and overturned the basket calling Gibbs for an offensive foul taking away Ulm's three point play opportunity and giving Ludwigsburg's Brandon Woudstra the chance to tie. The 90% free throw shooter sank both and evened the game at 83. Points from Domonic Jones and Dane Watts pushed Ludwigsburg ahead 87-85 with 2 minutes to play. Moments later, as Jeff Gibbs attempted to screen for teammate Lee Humphrey, officials called an offensive foul for a moving screen. Gibbs' fifth foul, Woudstra shot two more free throws at the other end and when an empty Ulm possession led to a Brian Jones basket, Ludwigsburg held a 91-86 lead with 90 seconds to play. Lee Humphrey hit a left wing three in transition and Per Gunther added two free throws to complete Ulm scoring but at the final buzzer, Ludwigsburg earned the hardfought 97-91 win. An excellent basketball game, both teams could take positives from their performances and fans from both teams went away with pride in their team.
ratiopharm Ulm huddles for a post game word midcourt after Sunday's hardfought loss in Ludwigsburg.
Several Ulm players turned in outstanding performances. Jeff Gibbs was a force in the second half scoring 28 points with 10 rebounds before fouling out. Romeo Travis was also excellent for Ulm adding 21 points and Lee Humphrey finished with 19 making 4 threes in the game. Brandon Woudstra led Ludwigsburg with 22 points while Brian Jones added 21 points on 4 of 6 three point shooting and Kelvin Gibbs produced a 19 point 10 rebound double double. For the game, Ulm shot 46% from the floor, made 7 of 22 threes (32%) and 24 of 34 (71%) free throws while Ludwigsburg sank 52% of their shots including 8 of 21 threes (38%) and 23 of 31 from the foul line (74%). Ludwigsburg outrebounded Ulm 38-26 and shot 14 free throws in overtime to Ulm's 5. In the end, ratiopharm Ulm put themselves in position to earn the intense road win in regulation before falling in overtime. The team takes many positives from the game and aims to finish the game when in a situation like this in the future.
The hardfought derby loss in Ludwigsburg snapped ratiopharm Ulm's 4 game win streak and sets their record at 9-5 on the season while Ludwigsburg improved to 8-5 with the win. ratiopharm Ulm now looks ahead to their next game Friday December 19th against TBB Trier at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
