A WIN FOR DS1 AGAINST CHALLENGE SPORTS BINNENLAND!!!

The first place in the 1st Division, that’s the result after the win from Challenge Sports Binnenland Saturday night in the Driesprong. Naturally, you haven’t won the championship, naturally, you haven’t won any prizes with the win. However, it is a victory and accomplishment that this young team can and should be proud of. .

You can understand this pride when look at the progress of the match. STOL-Grasshoppers start strong from 0-4 to an 11-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. You would think this was the start of any easy night, but things changed quickly and a different STOL-Grasshoppers had to stand-up, which is exactly what happened. The team worked hard, defended, and kept going when their shots were not falling. They kept believing in the team. This meant, for example, that in the fourth quarter all five players in the field managed to make their scores. Important scores that decided the outcome, which meant that the win, the 2 points, and the lead in the 1st Division went home with the team from Katwijk.

Coach Bo Melis: “This was a game where you could see where we are at this moment in the season. An away game against a strong playing Binnenland. That was always difficult for us the last 2 seasons. It was difficult today also, and not very pretty to look at. The difference is the 2 points we earned and a first place in the competition. That proved that the ladies have grown and the team has grown. That’s always good for a coach to see from the sideline. Now we have 3 more difficult matches and then we’ll really know where we stand.”

So, a strong start with the first 2 scores of the evening for STOL-Grasshoppers via Ingrid and Eline. A 3-pointer from Rianne follows, and then Eline comes through – it’s 4-9 after 3 minutes of play. At the same time, the necessary stops are made at the other end of the court. The defense is strong, and pressure is kept on the ball. This makes scoring very difficult for Binnenland in the first quarter. Fast offensive plays follow which allow Charley, Karin, Corine, and Kelli to score. A 3-pointer from Kelli closes the first quarter with 11-24 on the board.

In the second period, Binnenland demonstrates why they are leading the competition. It’s a good team that knows how to win, and doesn’t give up. They put the pressure on STOL-Grasshoppers’ offensive plays, stop the fast plays, and make it difficult for STOL-Grasshoppers to score. Luckily, the Katwijk defense is still holding, which means not much scoring in the first 6 minutes. Kelli is the only one able to find the net (6 points) for STOL-Grasshoppers, which meant 3-6 after 6 minutes. In the next 4 minutes, only Ingrid manages to score for STOL-Grasshoppers. Binnenland does a bit better with 14 points in this quarter to bring the score at halftime to 25-32 for STOL-Grasshoppers.

When the match starts again, STOL-Grasshoppers take their lead to over 10 points for the last time. With a score and 2 free throws from Ingrid, and a number of stops in the defense, the score is 25-36 in the third minute. Then Binnenland fights back to within 4 points, and then it’s Kelli with a score and bonus to widen the lead to 7 points. This back and forth scoring continues a few times, with Karin scoring for STOL-Grasshoppers and sister Sonja closing the quarter with a 3-pointer to keep a 6 point lead on the scoreboard. The team is holding on, not so much with it’s normal fast offensive plays, but with a continueing strong defense. They aren’t giving away any gifts, and Binnenland is searching for a solution.

The fourth quarter is similar to the third, the only difference being that the lead for STOL-Grasshoppers is now between 2 and 4 points. So, a lot of pressure on the team to keep playing. Their offense is not going well, as they try to collect some points. They finally have some success, and this due to all the players on the court. Except for Ingrid and Kelli, no one is playing well in the offense tonight. But it’s finally all the girls on the court who manage to make important scores. In the 7th minute, It’s Charley with a 3-pointer over the screen. A minute later, Ingrid scores twice from the free-throw line. Then it’s Corine with a faraway 3-pointer, and in the last minute Rianne with a steal and lay-up. Karin shoots 4 from 4 from the free-throw line, and Ingrid finishes her fantastic performance with 1 free-throw. From the beginning of the match, STOL-Grasshoppers managed to stay in the lead. This with all the pressure, a strong opponent, an away game, and all the other reasons the team used to have problems with, they still won.

Individual stats:
Ingrid van der Plas: 17 points (86% shot), 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists; Karin Kuijt: 14 points (44% shot), 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals; Kelli Valentine, 12 points (43% shot), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and a blokshot; Corine Manuputty: 11 points (27% shot), 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 assists; Rianne Philippo: 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist; Charley Kranstauber: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 assists; Eline Kraayenoord: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blokshots; Sonja Kuijt: 3 points and 2 rebounds; Julia Dijkman: 4 steals and a blokshot; Randell van der Lee: 3 rebounds and an assist.

Team stats:
47% Lay-ups (8-17); 38% 2pt shot (38% 2pt schot (8-21); 42% totaal 2pt shot (16-38); 29% 3pt shot (7-24); 90% free-throws (18-20); 39 rebounds (13 offensive, 26 defensive); 17 steals; 13 turnovers; 17 assists and 4 blokshots.