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BALANCED ULM MYSTIFIES MERLINS 100-78! ratiopharm Ulm used a balanced team effort putting 7 players in double figures to earn a nice road win over the Crailsheim Merlins 100-78 in 2.Bundesliga South basketball action Friday night from Sportarena in Crailsheim. Introducing recently signed playmaker Shaheen Holloway, a strong Ulm fan block turned out to support their team and see the high level talent. Shaheen fit in well with his new team making plays and making his team better. During a crucial third quarter run, Holloway hit three consecutive three pointers breaking the game open by shooting Crailsheim out of their zone. Despite only one day with his new team --- and no official practice --- Shaheen impressed in his debut.
SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY WARMING UP FOR HIS ULM DEBUT Starting fast, Ulm jumped out to an early lead behind full court trapping defense that led to steals and easy scores. Emeka Erege stepped in the passing lane for a steal and a two hand slam. Peter Heizer and Michael Bree pressured and played with energy early. Play went back and forth as the Merlins physically crashed the offensive boards and successfully scored on stick backs. Guards Sova Taletovic and Willie Young made plays and hit shots as the two teams traded baskets. Ulm guards Christian Grosse and Holloway subbed in half way through the first quarter and intensity picked up. The physical Merlins aggressively played Grosse and Ulms young point guard picked up 2 fast fouls. Big Mike Niebling also ran into fast foul trouble --- after an easy score in the paint, the 7 foot Ulm center was whistled for three fouls in just over a minute. Both Grosse and Niebling momentarily lost their composure in the crazy Crailsheim environment. Finishing the first quarter with a one point 25-24 advantage, ratiopharm Ulm focused on better blocking out and rebounding, stronger physical defense and making an adjustment on defending the Merlin ballscreens. Playing mostly man to man halfcourt and fullcourt defense in the first quarter, Ulm switched to mixing defenses in the second. Changing the tempo affected Crailsheim and Ulm opened a lead. Excellent perimeter shooting from Michael Bree, Peter Heizer and Florian Mobius provided the points Ulm searched for. Merlins forward Phillip Wildermuth earned an intentional foul when he decked Emeka Erege as the Ulm small forward attacked the rim on a baseline drive. Up 40-32, poor shot selection started to plague Crailsheim. Despite missing several free throws and blowing a few simple shots around the rim, Ulm took a 51-43 lead into the halftime locker room. (from www.basketball-ulm.de) At the half, Ulm discussed defensive rebounding, guarding ballscreens, finishing with strong plays and proper execution of sets. Unfortunately, the team did not make physical plays in the first half. Ulm players mysteriously missed too many free throws as well. Making an immediate mark, Ulm forwards Emeka Erege and Florian Mobius ignited the team starting the second half. Following a defensive stop, Michael Bree dropped off a dime to Erege running hard down the right wing of a 3 on 2 fast break. Erege finished strong firing up his teammates. On the very next possession, after another defensive stop, Ulm moved the ball through a simple set before Bree found Flo wide open behind the arc on the left wing. Mobius lined up his mark and sank his three point shot pushing the score to 56-43 forcing a Crailsheim timeout just 2 minutes into second half play. Ulm effort gave them control. FLO flushes a dunk!
But the Merlins made a run. Strong rebounding and excellent outside shooting helped Crailsheim claw back. Willie Young hit threes while center Lucian Kieser swooped through the lane for skilled finishes. Sova Taletovic used his dribble and ballscreens to make plays for the Merlins. A few helpful whistles also helped Crailsheim's cause. An intentional foul on Michael Bree, who slipped under a ballhandler while retreating on defense, gave Crailsheim momentum as the trimmed the Ulm lead to four at 65-61. Interestingly, Ulm reserves Shaheen Holloway, Christian Grosse and Antoine Sinclair seemed to be the key ingredients to slow the run. Sinclair rebounded on both ends while finishing strong plays in the paint and hitting open jump shots off ball reversal. Grosse played a key part in Ulm's ballmovement that helped the team get good shots and Holloway made the key plays to break the game open. After Crailsheim switched to a zone defense, Mike T pulled his new point guard off the floor to have the assistant coaches draw up Ulm zone offenses for him. Immediately re-inserted into the lineup, Holloway hit a corner three, a pullup three on the right wing and a wide open three from the top of the key off a brilliant pass from Maksym Shtein. Shaheen's 9 points re-established Ulm's lead at 9, 73-64 heading into the final quarter.
MIKE T communicates matchups to Emeka Erege (10) Playing the majority of the fourth with both Bree and Holloway on the floor, Ulm's ball movement and passing was brilliant. The team got and made high percentage shots. Ballscreens helped Holloway demonstrate his special handles and playmaking skills, while Michael Bree delivered beautiful passes to Mobius and Shtein for easy scores. Ulm built the lead to 19 points as the clock ticked time away. Michael Bree capped the evenings action with a halfcourt pick of Merlin guard Willie Young that led to a breakaway layup registering Ulm's 100th point with under one minute to play. Faithful Ulm fans stood and cheered a strong team performance and welcomed Shaheen Holloway with enthusiasm and energy after his strong debut.
MAKSYM SHTEIN was excellent for Ulm with 16pt 14reb Maksym Shtein and Florian Mobius top scored with 16 points apiece closely followed by Shaheen Holloway, Antoine Sinclair and Peter Heizer with 15. Emeka Erege added 11 and Michael Bree chipped in with 10 points on the evening. Both Maksym Shtein and Michael Bree produced "double-doubles" --- Shtein with 16 points, 14 boards and Bree with 10 points, 12 assists. For his effort, point guard Michael Bree earned his second consecutive Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game award. Ulm shot 54% from the floor and hit 10 of 26 three point attempts for a solid 38%. Outrebounding the Merlins 48-32, Ulm also distributed 22 assists. Improving to 12-2 in league play, ratiopharm Ulm faces 4-10 Breitengussbach on Sunday afternoon in Breitengussbach. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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