STOL-Grasshoppers DS1 fail to win in Landsmeer

STOL-Grasshoppers did not succeed in their mission to bring competition leader, Probuild Lions, their first loss of the season. In the beginning, it looked promising, but in the end, the team of Bo Melis drew the shortest straw.

STOL-Grasshoppers began confidently and quickly took the lead (7-11), and Probuild had no answer to the fast offensive plays of the Katwijk’s team. Via scores by Heather, Rianne, Karin, and Missy, they widen their lead to 9-21. The scoreboard goes to 15-25 at the end of the first period.

The beginning of the second period is a copy of the first. Ingrid has a strong period with 8 points in a row. With 4 minutes to play, the scoreboard shows a 14 point lead (28-42) for STOL-Grasshoppers. A weaker period for Grasshoppers, started with a technical foul by coach Lakner, gives Probuild the chance to catch up. At 37-46 with 1 minute and 7 seconds on the clock, Probuild add 10 points to their score, while Grasshoppers manage only 2. The score at halftime goes to 47-48.

“Until 3 ˝ minutes before the end of the first half, we were doing very well. Then we have loose the ball a couple of times and can’t control the situation”, say Bo Melis after the match. “One or two ball losses are not really so bad at such a moment, but giving away a 14 point lead is. We have to still grow as a team.”

The Lions begin sharper in the 2nd half which results in the 10-0 run (59-48). Via scores by Karin, Anouk, Ingrid, and Julia, STOL fights its way back in the match (63-58). Then the “Kati Harty Show” begins. With 14 points in a row and a number of steals, the fast American takes over to finally end with 35 points. This included 12 of 12 successful free throws.

The last period begins at 82-60 and the match seems to be lost, but Grasshoppers, led by Heather (scoring another 16 points), do not give up. Probuild sees STOL-Grasshoppers, helped by 2 3-pointers from Charley, slowly come closer by (93-87), but McDowell makes 4 of 4 free throws to end the game at 97-87.

“The second half was the opposite of the first. We don’t start well and missed determination in the 3rd period. Then we demonstrate in the 4th quarter that we really can play. We can’t let that happen in this type of match. Probuild was sharper than we were”, says the coach after the match, then adds “Heh, we did play against the number 1 of the competition who have not yet been beaten. If you manage to score 87 points in Landsmeer, then you’ve done pretty good”, Bo Melis closes the evening and the calendar year off for the Katwijk’s team who are clearing showing progress with confident, attractive, and winning basketball.

Period scoring: 15-25; 32-23; 35-12; 15-27;
Top scorers & rebounds: Heather 21pt. and 17 rebounds; Karin 16pt.; Ingrid 12pt.; Missy 12pt.;

The next home game against UBALL from Utrecht is after the Christmas recess on Saturday, Jan. 8, in Cleijn Duin. The match starts at 21:00 and there is no admission charge.