STOL-Grasshoppers shoot Binnenland out of the cup competition

What a world of difference with last week. Then we saw a listless Grasshoppers aganst a sharp shooting Binnenland. Last night the roles were completely reversed. Grasshoppers shot the visitors to pieces with a total of fourteen 3-pointers.

When the jumpball is taken at 21:00, Cleijn Duin is pretty well full. The surprising win in Tubbergen, and the knowledge that this team can win from anyone, has brought in the supporters dispite the cold weather. Even the team and staf from Leiderdorp were again present, to check out who their next opponent in the cup competition will be.

The first score is for Binnenland, and is directly followed by one of Anouk Breel’s five 3-pointers. After 5 minutes, it looks like a walkover for Grasshoppers, but four points in a row by Kelly Versluis bring Binnenland back in the game. Versluis has replaced Leonie Kooij who is sent to the bench with 2 fouls. Kooij is kept under control by Heather Stec and Eline Kraaijenoord. The other threat, Launa Hochstetler, who played almost the entire 40 minutes, was kept in tone by Missy Mitidiero and Charley Kranstauber. This allowed Grasshoppers to take the angle out of Binnenland’s plays. Binnenland is able to take a small lead at 16-18, but then it’s Grasshoppers who rule the match. Via a period stand of 27-25 (whereby 12 points from Heather), the home team widens their lead to 55-41 at halftime. The team is alert, and what we haven’t seen in years, they’re ruling again under the boards. The period ends with four 3-pointers in a row by Anouk and Missy, and a free throw by Karin Kuijt who scores 11 points in the first half.

In the third quarter, Grasshoppers sometimes give away a big lead, but not tonight. Even though Binnenland begins with 4 points in a row, Grasshoppers hold a lead of about 12 points until the 5th minute. Then the visitors seem to come back in the game by scoring 7 points in a row, but Grasshoppers have a direct answer. Heather via the free throw line, a bomb from Charley, and an backward layup by Eline help lift Grasshoppers to a 68-56 lead. The fighting spirit and will to win is clear in this period. Missy first blocks a shot by Hochstetler, and later dives to the ground for a loose ball. Karin fights to keep Willemijn Kallenberg out of the match, and Ingrid and Julia don’t give an inch on the inside.

The final conclusion is entirely for Katwijk, via 5 (!) bombs in a row they bring Binnenland to their knees. Even Hochstetler is missing her shots. A time-out doesn’t help the visitors, and Grasshoppers take a maximum lead of 22 points. With 2 minutes left, Heather goes to the bench with loud applaus from the spectators. Willemijn Kallenberg and Natalie van den Adel manage a few scores for Binnenland, but the match is played. Grasshoppers win decisively from a top team and advance to the semi finales. The match ends at 93-77.

Scores:
Heather Stec(24 points, 17rebounds), Anouk Breel(19 points, 5 out of 10 3-pt), Missy Mitidiero(19 points, 5 out of 8 3-pt), Karin Kuijt(16 points).

Next Tuesday at 20:15 the cup competition continues, but then against Leiderdorp.

Next Saturday is the last home game of the regular competition at 20:15 against Lekdetec.nl.