Ratiopharm Ulm lost the top game in the Basketball Bundesliga against Heidelberg. At the end of an exciting game the score was 67:69.
Hardly any experts predicted this constellation before the season. That on the tenth matchday, league leaders Ulm will meet second-placed Heidelberg. In the end, the second guy came out on top.
Top game from the start
Although Ulm scored the first points with Justinian Jessup, the guests played the better first quarter after a short run-up time. Above all, it is Heidelberg’s defense that the league leaders don’t like at all. The Heidelbergers chase the ball and their opponents across the field as if everything was at stake right from the start of the game. It is three-point games and the “energizer” Karim Jallow that keep Ulm in the game. The top game lives up to its name in the first ten minutes. Ulm is just behind after the first quarter (20:22).
Ulm sets off
In the second quarter, Heidelberg’s energy suddenly disappeared. Ulm is in the first little frenzy of the game, with the fans in the almost sold-out Neu-Ulm Arena behind them. The mood makers are Alphonso Plummer and Nelson Weidemann. The hall celebrates their threesomes frenetically. Heidelberg is looking for the leader in this phase of the game. Erol Ersek, with eight strong points in the first quarter, has disappeared a bit. Ulm exploits this mercilessly: Dunking Essengue, Dreier Weidemann, Dreier Jensen. Ulm deservedly and clearly led at the break (48:33).
Lots of fight, little shine
After halftime, the class was missing from the game – on both sides. There is a lot of fight in the game. Heidelberg is a bit lucky to get baskets in some scenes. On the Ulm side it is Alphonso Plummer who contributes points. Plummer is the only one at the league leaders who has scored double figures so far (12 points). Ulm’s lead was ten points before the last ten minutes (60:50). It’s no coincidence that the fans make the area shine. They sing “Snowflakes, Whitecoats” to a few thousand cell phone lights – it’s Christmas in the arena.
Heidelberg has the better ending for itself
The guests obviously feel more motivated as a result. Heidelberg is up to six points. Ulm’s coach Ty Harrelson takes a timeout when the score is 60:54. This doesn’t help his team at first. It becomes quieter in the hall – the Heidelberg fans (around 25) who traveled with us take over. Nothing works at Ulm anymore. The otherwise accurate long-range shooters Plummer and Jessup miss their three-pointers. On the other hand, DJ Horne does it better. Five minutes before the end, the second team is suddenly ahead of the first again (60:61). The tension can now be felt right up to the roof. The top game is great again!!! With a sensational attack, Horne puts the lid on this game. First, his team plays down the 24 seconds of attack time before Horne sinks the three-pointer with the siren. Thanks to an outstanding last quarter (19:7), Heidelberg deservedly wins the top game in Ulm.