April 16, 2003 Lions have seasons end
The ProBuild Lions' season ended Wednesday night as they dropped another close game and fell to Lely Amsterdam for the second time, 52-58. Jolanda Jansen led the Lions with 18 points and Amy Houchens chipped in with 11. All other players were stuck in single digits. Lani Lawrence was fouled out in the 5th minute of the fourth quarter and ended the game with just two points. Her defensive rebounding skills were missed very much in the final minutes of the game. Lely won primarily because the Lions faltered down the stretch. With the game tied 50-50 in the 9th minute Jildis Pronk buried a huge 3pointer for Lely, 50-53. Next Jill Campbell hit one free throw, but Jolanda Jansen scored 52-54 for the Lions. With 30 seconds on the clock Jildis Pronk was fouled and hit both free throws. The Lions were not able to score in the last seconds and Lely took possession of the ball again. In the very last second Sarah Judd was fouled and hit two more free throws for Lely, 52-58.
It was the first time in five years the Lions didn't reach the second round of the Playoffs.
April 12, 2003 Lely takes first game, 62-58
Amy Houchens nearly saved the game with a late series of scores, but the Lions came up short as they fell to BC Lely Saturday night at the Amsterdam Apollohal. The Lions trailed by 15 points with five minutes on the clock, when Houchens scored eight points around a 3pointer by Leontine Doorn, to bring the Lions within 5 points, 57-52. A trey by Alice Felter with 30 seconds to go closed the gap to four points, but the Lions run proved to be too little and too late. Amy Houchens finished with 16 points, while Zuzana Sakova led the Lions with 17 points. Lani Lawrence was stuck in single digits with 8 points.
The Lions seemed kind of lethargic most of the game and lacking the intensity needed in the Playoffs. Coach Tony Vujanic thought the stretch just before the break was crucial. “We were leading 21-25, but next missed some easy shots, allowing Lely to come up with a 8-0 run. And I’m sorry to have to say this, but some of our players simply were not ready. We executed not well and missed too many shots and lay-ups.”
After trailing 15-6 in the first period Alice Felter came of the bench to spark a 0-10 Lions run, 15-16. Former Lion Marte Linthout answered with a 3pointer, but Zuzana Sakova scored 5 points to gain the lead again, 18-20. Next Lely’s Jildis Pronk and Alice Felter changed 3pointers and Nadine Boesaart had a lay-up for the Lions, 21-25.
In the third period the Lions fell behind 36-25, but Zuzana Sakova and Amy Houchens both had a 3pointer and a field score to close the gap to 38-36. But next Lely placed a 10-0 run, led by Marte Linthout and Jildis Pronk, 48-36. After Zuzana Sakova scored 48-38, another five points by Linthout gave Lely a 53-38 lead. With an admirable Alan Iverson-imitation Amy Houchens almost single-handedly managed to cut the deficit to 62-58, but it was not enough to win the game.
Next Playoff game is scheduled on Wednesday at the Indoorcentrum Landsmeer.
April 11, 2003 Playoffs
Saturday night the ProBuild Lions hope to win their first Playoff game, as they play BC Lely in the Amsterdam Apollohal. Fifth seeded ProBuild and fourth seeded Lely will battle each other in a best-of-three-series. Next game will be played on Wednesday in Landsmeer. If a third game is necessary, teams will meet in Amsterdam again, next Saturday. In the regular competition the teams met twice. In the first game in the Apollohal, Lely came out on top, 73-65, but the Lions took revenge in Landsmeer, 68-61. Next ProBuild and Lely met in the semi-finales of the Dutch Cup Competition. Lely's Sarah Judd (last year: Oakland Grizzlies, Mid-Con Player of the Year 2001-2002) took the game to overtime with a short jumper. Her fellow American Jill Campbell won the game for Lely, hitting two free throws with 2.2 seconds on the clock, 61-62. Frontcourt players Judd and Campbell are crucial players in the Amsterdam team, which is coached by Robert Nagel, and will give ProBuild center Lani Lawrence a hard time under the boards. Former ProBuild player Marte Linthout, one of the best 3point-shooters in the league, will be matched up to Jolanda Jansen and Amy Houchens will have to defend Lely's very talented pointguard Jildis Pronk, who also used to be a Lion in earlier years.
Game starts at 9:30 pm, CET.
April 5, 2003 ProBuild 72, Lieshout 52
Zuzaka Sakova scored 20 points and Lani Lawrence added 18, as the ProBuild Lions routed 3Es Lieshout 72-52 in their last game of the season. Amy Houchens chipped in with 11 points. In the first half ProBuild made just 10 of 40 shots, but somehow managed to came out on top, 29-27. In the third period Amy Houchens buried a 3-pointer to give the Lions a 36-29 lead. Lieshout almost closed the gap again, when Meg Bareo scored 40-38 in the 6th minute. Two Lani Lawrence-scores around a trey by Zuzana Sakova gave the Lions a ten-point lead at the end of the quarter, 51-41. A 19-0 Lions-run (!) sparked by eight consecutive points of Jasmijn Overbeeke gave the Lions a comfortable 68-41 lead with two minutes on the clock. In the last minutes of the game both teams spend a lot of time on the free-throw line.
The Lions stayed in 5th seed and will play Lely Amsterdam in the first round of the Playoffs.
April 3, 2003 Lieshout
Saturday ProBuild's last game in the "B"-pool of the Dutch competition is scheduled, when 3Es Lieshout visit the Indoor Centrum Landsmeer. The Lions managed to stay in the 5th seed, so in the first Playoff round they play 4th seeded Amsterdam Lely. Saturday's game won't change that, whatever happens. The same goes for 9th seeded Lieshout, who can't reach the Playoffs anymore. So, not much is at stake for both teams. Or maybe some old-fashioned pride and honour for the Lions, who'll on their own court hopefully try to bounce back from their stunning loss to Utrecht last week. Game starts at 9 pm GMT. The first Playoff game is scheduled for April 12.
The ProBuild Lions' season ended Wednesday night as they dropped another close game and fell to Lely Amsterdam for the second time, 52-58. Jolanda Jansen led the Lions with 18 points and Amy Houchens chipped in with 11. All other players were stuck in single digits. Lani Lawrence was fouled out in the 5th minute of the fourth quarter and ended the game with just two points. Her defensive rebounding skills were missed very much in the final minutes of the game. Lely won primarily because the Lions faltered down the stretch. With the game tied 50-50 in the 9th minute Jildis Pronk buried a huge 3pointer for Lely, 50-53. Next Jill Campbell hit one free throw, but Jolanda Jansen scored 52-54 for the Lions. With 30 seconds on the clock Jildis Pronk was fouled and hit both free throws. The Lions were not able to score in the last seconds and Lely took possession of the ball again. In the very last second Sarah Judd was fouled and hit two more free throws for Lely, 52-58.
It was the first time in five years the Lions didn't reach the second round of the Playoffs.
Amy Houchens nearly saved the game with a late series of scores, but the Lions came up short as they fell to BC Lely Saturday night at the Amsterdam Apollohal. The Lions trailed by 15 points with five minutes on the clock, when Houchens scored eight points around a 3pointer by Leontine Doorn, to bring the Lions within 5 points, 57-52. A trey by Alice Felter with 30 seconds to go closed the gap to four points, but the Lions run proved to be too little and too late. Amy Houchens finished with 16 points, while Zuzana Sakova led the Lions with 17 points. Lani Lawrence was stuck in single digits with 8 points.
Saturday night the ProBuild Lions hope to win their first Playoff game, as they play BC Lely in the Amsterdam Apollohal. Fifth seeded ProBuild and fourth seeded Lely will battle each other in a best-of-three-series. Next game will be played on Wednesday in Landsmeer. If a third game is necessary, teams will meet in Amsterdam again, next Saturday. In the regular competition the teams met twice. In the first game in the Apollohal, Lely came out on top, 73-65, but the Lions took revenge in Landsmeer, 68-61. Next ProBuild and Lely met in the semi-finales of the Dutch Cup Competition. Lely's Sarah Judd (last year: Oakland Grizzlies, Mid-Con Player of the Year 2001-2002) took the game to overtime with a short jumper. Her fellow American Jill Campbell won the game for Lely, hitting two free throws with 2.2 seconds on the clock, 61-62. Frontcourt players Judd and Campbell are crucial players in the Amsterdam team, which is coached by Robert Nagel, and will give ProBuild center Lani Lawrence a hard time under the boards. Former ProBuild player Marte Linthout, one of the best 3point-shooters in the league, will be matched up to Jolanda Jansen and Amy Houchens will have to defend Lely's very talented pointguard Jildis Pronk, who also used to be a Lion in earlier years.
Game starts at 9:30 pm, CET.
Zuzaka Sakova scored 20 points and Lani Lawrence added 18, as the ProBuild Lions routed 3Es Lieshout 72-52 in their last game of the season. Amy Houchens chipped in with 11 points. In the first half ProBuild made just 10 of 40 shots, but somehow managed to came out on top, 29-27. In the third period Amy Houchens buried a 3-pointer to give the Lions a 36-29 lead. Lieshout almost closed the gap again, when Meg Bareo scored 40-38 in the 6th minute. Two Lani Lawrence-scores around a trey by Zuzana Sakova gave the Lions a ten-point lead at the end of the quarter, 51-41. A 19-0 Lions-run (!) sparked by eight consecutive points of Jasmijn Overbeeke gave the Lions a comfortable 68-41 lead with two minutes on the clock. In the last minutes of the game both teams spend a lot of time on the free-throw line.
The Lions stayed in 5th seed and will play Lely Amsterdam in the first round of the Playoffs.