STOL-Grasshoppers: The pressure of being a leader

For exactly 1 week, STOL-Grasshoppers were enable to enjoy being the unexpected leader of the 1st Division. Against Landslake Lions, in the match that only got interesting in the second half, STOL-Grasshoppers had a difficult time. It seems that the pressure to win was too much, and they suffered a 56-71 loss.

It’s been a long time since the team from Katwijk was the leader in the 1st Division. That fact brought an additional tension to the young team, who had until now won every home game. Before the match started, coach Bo Melis warned that he didn’t expect it to be an attractive game. His intuition proved true, especially in the first half. Both teams had trouble making their shots. After a low scoring first period (9-13), the second period wasn’t much better (21-25 at halftime).

STOL-Grasshoppers might use the excuse that they had to fight against a zone defense from Lions for the entire 40 minutes. But that didn’t excuse the many cases of unnecessary ball loss, especially before halftime. Melis: “That was caused mostly by a number of players who weren’t giving sharp passes, and also the receivers who were not moving well.”

Only in the second half, did STOL-Grasshoppers finally score the 3rd 3-pointer of the match via Corine Manuputty. Corine proved to be an important asset on the Katwijk side when she scored another 3 3-pointers in this period, the one being even further than the other. This put her team in a small lead, 40-35, late in the 3rd period. Unfortunately Manuputty, who scored 17 points in this period, received too little support from her teammates. Rianne Philippo and Kelli Valentine managed to help a bit, but the rest of the team were unable to do enough to hold back the opponent from Landmeer. A 3-pointer from Lions closed the period and they again took over the lead: 43-44.

With Manuputty on the bench for a short breather, STOL-Grasshoppers suffer two costly ball losses. From 45-47, the score goes to 46-56 and STOL-Grasshoppers are unable to recover. They try to get contol of the ball, but don’t do it well. This allows Probuild to score 16 points from the free-throw line.

Melis was, of course, disappointed with the home game loss, but saw a positive side. “We didn’t have the necessary confidence to play against such a zone, we weren’t sharp enough in our passes. In the first half we played chiefly against ourselves. This doesn’t change the fact that, for the first time in 10 years, we were playing as the competition leader. This was, for that reason, a good learning tool.”

A small consolation is that STOL-Grasshoppers, according to the present standings, will take part in the Final Four to be held in Katwijk halfway throught the competition.

Stats:

STOL-Grasshoppers – Landslake Lions 56-71 (9-13, 12-12, 22-19, 12-27)

Topscores STOL-Grasshoppers: Manujputty 27, Philippo 14, Valentine 12 (10 rebounds)