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.