STOL-Grasshoppers DS1 win 4-point match in Tubbergen

STOL-Grasshoppers were successful in winning the important (for the end stand) 4-point match in Tubbergen by 83-91. This means that 3 teams (Eurosped, UBall, and STOL) have equal points. Since the team from Katwijk has the best results against the others, they rank on top with a possibility of reaching the 5th place to start in the play-offs.

Both of Grasshoppers’ American players had a strong match. Heather scored 24 points and took 18 rebounds, and Missy also scored 24 points with six 3-pointers on the sheet. Karin added 13 points with 5 assists, and Ingrid scored 11 points with 5 rebounds.

STOL-Grasshoppers began strong with a 3-pointer by Missy. Eurosped Twente scores an easy 2-pointer under the board, and then there’s a wait for the next score. Even though the tempo is high, or maybe because the tempo is high, both teams have trouble scroing in the first quarter. After 5 minutes of play, it’s 4-7 on the scoreboard for STOL. In the last 2 minutes of the quarter, both teams score 7 and 5 points to end the period at 16-17.

The second quarter is a different story. Both teams pull out the stops on their offensive plays and score 27 points each in this quarter. Eurosped begins strong and take a lead of 24-19 after 4 minutes. STOL comes back to 27-23 in the 5th minute, and everything’s possible. After the 6th minute, the far away shots start hitting their mark, and STOL shoots in five 3-pointers (Ingrid, Missy, Anouk, Charley, and Missy again). The ladies from Tubbergen keep fighting back, and the period ends at 43-44 for the Katwijk’s formation.

“The first half was reasonable” says Bo Melis after the match. “Both teams played in a high tempo, and we’re on track. It’s a high tempo without a time-out from either team, and the match went as expected.

Eurosped begins clearly sharper in the second half, which resulted in a (12-0 run) 55-44 stand after 4 minutes. After a time-out from STOL, the Katwijk’s team sharpened their defense and started taking the defensive rebounds again. The team takes more control, and are able to make some good offensive plays. The team brings Heather into position and, therefore, are able to make 13 points. Eurosped doesn’t give up and keep up the high tempo. The period score is 27-24 for Tubbergen and that means a small lead of 70-68 at the end of the quarter.

After 4 minutes in the 4th quarter, it’s STOL who has taken a small lead at 76-72. Missy makes 8 points (including two 3-pointers). Now everyone is concentrating, and both team exchange taking the lead (with a maximum difference of 5 points). The scoreboard doesn’t stand still for long (about 10 seconds max.) because both teams kept on fighting in the last quarter. The 4-point match demonstrated that the plays are not always perfect, but still very exciting. The last 2 minutes begin with a stand of 80-83 on the scoreboard. Then, it’s a free throw contest that STOL is finally able to win. Noteable is that of the last 18 free throws (total of both teams),16 are successful. The stops work, and the free throws are hitting their mark. STOL are ahead and, therefore, don’t need to make as many fouls to control the match, which means a 83-91 end score for the Katwijk’s formation.

“A real 4-point match, and a real STOL – Eurosped match”, says the coach after the game. “A high tempo with a reasonably high score, which would have been higher if both teams shot better in the first quarter. A good win against a good playing young opponent. I’m happy with the result and this is a boost for the team”, according to Bo Melis.

STOL-Grasshoppers have secured a place in the play-offs. The question is which place the Katwijk’s formation will be in when the play-offs begin.

The team plays a quarter final cup competition match next Tuesday, Feb. 1, against Binnenland in Katwijk. The match begins at 21:00 in Cleijn Duin.

 

Period scores: 16-17; 27-27; 27-24; 13-23;
Scores & rebounds: Heather 24pt. and 18 rebounds; Missy 24pt.; Karin 13pt.; Ingrid 11pt.; Eline en Anouk 6pt.; Julia 4pt. en Charley 3pt.