TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
82 
74 
ULM EARNS 10TH WIN!
ULM TOPS TRIER IN LAST GAME BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK!
ratiopharm Ulm celebrated their last game of the 2008 calendar year with an 82-74 home win over TBB Trier Friday night December 19th. Earning their 10th win of the season, ratiopharm Ulm improved to 10-5 at their Christmas break while announcing several positive developments before tip off at a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Before the exciting win, ratiopharm Ulm management announced a new contract extension with sponsor SWU strengthening the teams support and financial situation into the near future. Along with the terrific SWU sponsorship extension, ratiopharm Ulm management also announced the contract extension of sharpshooting guard Lee Humphrey. For ratiopharm Ulm, the positive developments on and off the floor give the team and fans alot to celebrate this Holiday season!
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis brings the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd to their feet with a high-flying slam dunk in the teams December 19th win. Romeo led the Ulm offensive attack with a game-best 22 point 5 rebound effort.
Click here for Ulm vs Trier Saturday 12-19-08 Box Score
click here for Ulm vs Trier Photo Gallery!
Prior to Friday night's basketball action, SWU announced a new agreement with more sponsoring support to strengthen ratiopharm Ulm's team. Left, SWU Chief Matthias Berz and posterboy Per Gunther pose for pregame pictures celebrating the positive news! Right, Herr Berz signs the contract extension as Ulm management Thomas Stoll and Andreas Oettel look on.
For fans from ratiopharm Ulm, the pregame announcements at centercourt set the stage for a positive evening. An Important contract extension with SWU secured strong support for the future. Aside from main sponsor ratiopharm, SWU continues to strengthen basketball in Ulm and their efforts --- including 'SWU day' earlier this season against Koln --- have been highlighted by the unique green chuck taylor shoes representing their environmentally based marketing plan. Along with the green shoes, SWU has hand-picked poster-boy Per Gunther as a symbolic figure for their efforts and the rising young star has filled the roll perfectly. Playing in Green shoes, Per and SWU were part of the pre-game festivities Friday night before playing Trier.
Lee Humphrey celebrated his contract extension with another solid effort in the win over Trier.
Along with the excellent announcement about SWU's extension and increased support for the future of ratiopharm Ulm basketball, fans in Sportszentrum Kuhberg were surprised with the positive news of Lee Humphrey's contract extension as well. The former Florida Gator shooting guard who was a key part of the schools back to back NCAA Championship teams, has established himself as a one of the Bundesliga's premiere three point shooters through the first part of the season with ratiopharm Ulm. After splitting last season between Greece and Poland, Lee has found a home in Ulm and his extension was a terrific announcement. The Ulm coaching staff and management believe Lee Humphrey is a player to build around and consider him a key for future success!
ratiopharm Ulm captain Emeka Erege secures a rebound in his teams win over Trier!
At tip off, Ulm was empowered by the positive news from SWU and Lee Humphrey. A soldout Sportszentrum Kuhberg brought energy showcased the excitement surrounding basketball on the evening. ratiopharm Ulm started their small lineup featuring All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs at center, regular small forward Romeo Travis at the four and a three guard backcourt of point Dru Joyce, shooting guard Lee Humphrey and defensive ace Keith Triplett. With the game shown live on BBL.TV, ratiopharm Ulm opened with an 8-3 lead behind Romeo Travis hardwork inside and Lee Humphrey finishng cuts with scores. As the first quarter progressed, Trier found their rhythm in the game and narrowed the gap. But Ulm's bench gave the team a big boost. Sebastian Betz buried a left wing three and Michael Schroeder finished strong inside as part of a late first quarter run which Ulm outscored their guests to take a 25-15 lead after one.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett slashes to the basket for two against Trier. Triplett's defensive effort against Trier's hot-shooting wing Kevin Houston was a key to Ulm's victory.
With a ten point lead after the first ten minutes of action, ratiopharm Ulm established their game plan effectively. Trier's offensive attack included Jamal Shuler drilling a left wing three and scoring on a pullup, Kevin Houston with a three and two of his own and finally young German PG Christian Hoffmann sinking two perimeter shots.
Per Gunther advances the basketball in Ulm's win over Trier.
Quarter two developed with a solid start for Trier. Former Ulm post player Maksym Shtein made his presence felt in his return to Sportszentrum Kuhberg. With effective post moves and sharp flash cuts into the high post, Max scored 10 points in the second quarter to spark the Trier offense. Veteran post man George Evans also helped establish the paint for Trier. 5 minutes into the second quarter, Trier had outscored Ulm 15-10 and had trimmed Ulm's lead to 35-30. Momentum continued to be on the Trier bench and Trier eventually took the lead late in the first half. After a strong start, Ulm saw Trier storm back with a determined performance. In the final minute of the half, Ulm's offense came up empty with several consecutive misses off offensive rebounds. Trier took the rebound and outletted the ball to point guard Derek Raivio who raced the length of the floor for a final attempt. As the clock ticked down, Raivio's running layup rolled around the rim. At the halftime buzzer, his shot rolled out. But Ulm trailed 43-41.
Michael Schroeder rips down a rebound in his teams win over Trier. Ulm's hardworking backup center was solid scoring two points with 6 boards and strong post defense in the game.
At the half, Ulm examined their defensive effort and discussed several aspects which needed attention. First, the Trier post players were effectively establishing their inside game and had outscored Ulm in the paint in the first half. Trier shot 56% from the floor in the first 20 minutes while Ulm's attack slowed to 33% shooting. Clearly, Ulm's focus for improved play in the second half centered around their performance defensively.
Ulm wing Sebastian Betz collides with Trier's Jamal Shuler as both players compete for a loose ball.
As the second half opened, Ulm's Dru Joyce and Romeo Travis pushed the offensive attack. Dan Fitzgerald energized his team with strong effort. Both Ulm and Trier worked for control of the game. Ulm outscored Trier 25-16 in the third quarter to take a 66-59 lead into the fourth. Critical to building their lead, rookie point guard Per Gunther scored 7 straight points to close the third quarter. Along with the big baskets, Per also forced a fifth foul on Trier starting point guard Derek Raivio.
Ulm floor general Dru Joyce attacks the Trier defense in a ballscreen and finished with a solid 14 point 4 assist night in the win.
After seeing their strong start washed away in the wave of Trier momentum, Ulm effectively re-established themselves in the late third. Ulm built a 69-59 lead. In a terrific position heading into the fourth, Ulm was ten minutes away from their 10th win of the season. But the intense game would not close without a fight. In a five minute stretch, Trier outscored Ulm 14-3 and reclaimed a 73-72 lead. Trier's Kevin Houston got hot drilling consecutive three point shots. In an important move, Ulm assigned Keith Triplett to lock-down the hot-shooting Houston. Totaling 17 points and 5 three pointers to that point, Triplett was outstanding defensively on Houston holding him scoreless down the stretch. Along with key defensive stops, Ulm received important baskets from Romeo Travis and clutch foul shots from Dru Joyce.
Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald hustles to save a ball going out of bounds as Trier's George Evans and Kevin Houston look on.
As the game clock wound down, Ulm capped their exciting 82-74 home win and added their 10th victory of the season to the positive pregame announcements giving everyone alot to be thankful for this Holiday season.
Romeo Travis works on the block against Trier's George Evans.
In the win, ratiopharm Ulm shot 48% from the floor but made only 3 of their 15 three point attempts. Ulm was accurate from the foul line making 17 of 20 free throws for 85% and outrebounded Trier 33-21. Trier finished shooting 54% from the floor including 10 of 20 from three.
Talented young point guard Per Gunther made several key plays in the fourth quarter helping Ulm earn their 10th win in the 82-74 victory over Trier.
ratiopharm Ulm was led by Romeo Travis's 22 point 5 rebound performance. Dru Joyce added 14 points 4 assists and Jeff Gibbs totaled 12 points with 9 boards. Lee Humphrey finished with 9. Strong from the Ulm bench, Per Gunther contributed 9 points 2 assists, Sebastian Betz 7 points and Michael Schroeder grabbed 6 boards. For Trier, Kevin Houston led scoring with 17 points followed by 14 points apiece from Maksym Shtein and George Evans. Jamal Shuler and Christian Hoffmann added 11 each.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs finishes in the lane as former teammate Maksym Shtein attempts to take a charge. Jeff totaled 12 points 9 rebounds in Ulm's 10th win of the season.
ratiopharm Ulm's win over Trier was their 10th victory of the 2008-2009 season and gave everyone involved with the team a terrific close to the 2008 part of their schedule. Celebrating the holidays, immediately after the game on Friday December 19th, ratiopharm Ulm enjoyed a week-long Christmas break that allowed players to return to their homes and enjoy time with family and friends. The positive performance and home win over Trier gave the team a terrific feeling heading into the break. Opening preseason August 10th, the teams one week Christmas break is their first significant time off during their first four months of the 2008-2009 season. The win over Trier and positive news from SWU and Lee Humphrey gave Ulm basketball much Christmas cheer.
ratiopharm Ulm is pointing in a positive direction for 2009!
ratiopharm Ulm returns to practice Monday December 29th and will begin preparations to tip off 2009 Wednesday January 7th in Paderborn. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
