Road to the finals 2007
| Play-offs |
Quarter finals |
Probuild |
- |
BV Lely |
2-0 |
|
Semi finals |
Probuild |
- |
Renes |
3-0 |
|
Finals |
Probuild |
- |
Yellow Bike |
4-3 |
| |
|
| Scores Quarter- and Semi finals. |
|
| Finals game 1 (h) |
84 |
- |
69 |
Finals game 5 (h) |
54 |
- |
52 |
| Finals game 2 (a) |
73 |
- |
63 |
Finals game 6 (a) |
76 |
- |
68 |
| Finals game 3 (h) |
75 |
- |
43 |
Finals game 7 (h) |
73 |
- |
62 |
| Finals game 4 (a) |
73 |
- |
70 |
ProBuild kampioen |
|
| Schedule finals. (h=Home, a=Away) |
|
|
ProBuild Wins Championship
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 28, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
16 |
19 |
22 |
16 |
73 |
| Yellow Bike |
15 |
21 |
11 |
15 |
62 |
|
|
See also: Play-by-play.
In what turned out to be an exhausting but rewarding series ProBuild Lions ultimately came out as the better team.
Exact 24 hours after Game 6 in Den Helder the final game was scheduled in Landsmeer.
Home advantage proved to be essential.
Both teams stayed close in the first half. Yellow bike led 35-36 at halftime.
After the break the Lions came out of the locker room knife-sharp. They started with a 13-0 run, putting themselves up 48-36 in the 8th minute, when Cherry Lea scored the first points for Yellow Bike.
In the 7th minute of the last quarter Yellow Bike closed the gap to 64-58, but Jasmijn Overbeeke drained a 3-pointer to pull the game for good.
Overbeeke scored 19 points and three 3-pointers. Tanya Bröring had 14 points and Amy Taylor scored 10.
Coach Laki Lakner said he was relieved. "I really believed we should have finished the series in Den Helder yesterday. The outcome of a 7th game like this is always unpredictable, especially a back-to-back game like this one, because there's so much pressure. It all comes down to nerves and physical condition then."
"I think we won the championship because our team is a little deeper", Lakner said. "But I have a lot of respect for Yellow Bike, they really did a good job on their home court this series."
The Indoor Centrum Landsmeer was packed with almost 1000 people. The second half of the game was broadcast on Dutch national television.
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Play-by-Play
Datum: 27 mei 2007
|
ProBuild Lions wins the championship in game seven with 73-62. Tomorrow there will be a report. First the webmasters have to Parteeeeeeey!
|
ProBuild wins the championship
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
10 |
57-49 Roetgerink |
| 58-49 Overbeeke 1x |
9 |
|
| 61-49 Overbeeke 3pt |
9 |
|
| 63-49 Biesters lay-up, assist Heinen |
8 |
|
| Broring, 4th foul |
7 |
|
|
7 |
63-51 Lea, jumper |
|
7 |
63-53 Roetgerink 2x |
|
6 |
|
| Time-out ProBuild |
5.52 |
|
|
5 |
63-55 Roetgerink |
|
5 |
Donders 4rd foul |
|
4 |
63-56 Roetgerink 1x |
| 64-56 Broring 1x |
3 |
|
|
3 |
64-58 Klein 2x |
| 67-58 Overbeeke 3pt |
3.02 |
|
|
2 |
67-59 Pentury 1x |
| 69-59 Heinen, reversed lay-up |
2 |
|
|
1.50 |
Time-out Yellow Bike |
| 70-59 Heinen 1x |
1.30 |
|
|
1.12 |
Lea airball |
|
1.04 |
Lea, steal + airball |
| 73-59 Broring 3pt |
0 |
73-62 Donders 3pt |
| Vandaag is Rood.... |
ProBuild kampioen! |
|
|
|
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Third Quarter |
|
| 37-36 Boesaart, jumper |
10 |
|
| 39-36 Overbeeke, driving lay-up |
8 |
|
|
8 |
Roetgerink, 3rd foul |
| 40-36 Heinen 1x |
7 |
|
| 42-36 Heinen, driving lay-up |
7 |
|
| 44-36 Taylor, driving lay-up |
6 |
|
| 46-36 Boesaart, post-up |
4 |
|
| 48-36 Steal + lay-up Broring |
3 |
|
|
3 |
Time-out Yellow Bike |
|
2 |
48-38 Lea, drive |
| 50-38 Heinen |
2 |
|
|
|
|
| 52-40 Heinen |
2 |
|
| 53-40 Overbeeke 1x |
2 |
|
|
2 |
53-42 Lea, driving lay-up |
| 55-42 Overbeeke, driving lay-up |
1 |
|
|
1 |
55-44 Roetgerink, lay-up |
| 57-44 Overbeeke 2x |
1 |
|
|
1 |
57-47 Pentury 3pt |
|
End of quarter |
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Second Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
| 18-15 Vergunst, lay-up, assist Broring |
10 |
|
| 21-15 Taylor,3pt |
|
|
9 |
21-17Roetgerink |
|
7 |
21-19 Hartman 2x |
| 24-19 Overbeeke, 3pt |
7 |
|
|
6 |
24-21 Lea 2x |
| 26-21 Overbeeke, drive |
6 |
|
| 3rd foul Heinen |
5 |
26-23 Lea 2x |
|
4 |
26-25 klein, lay-up, assist Lea |
|
4 |
26-27Roetgerink, lay-up |
| 28-27 Taylor, lay-up |
4 |
|
|
3 |
Time-out Yellow Bike |
| 31-27, Broring, driving lay-up + bonus |
3 |
|
| Foul Overbeeke, technical Laki Lakner |
3 |
31-31 Donders, 4x |
| Biesters, 3rd foul |
3 |
31-33 Donders, 2x |
|
2 |
31-35 Donders, steal and lay-up |
| 33-35 LeCuyer, lay-up |
1 |
|
|
0.40 |
Time-out Yellow Bike |
| 35-35 Boesaart, post-up |
1 |
|
|
1 |
35-36 Lea, 1x |
|
End of 2nd period |
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
First Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
| 2-0 Biesters, 2x |
10 |
2-3 Lea, jumper + bonus |
| Overbeeke 2x mis |
9 |
2-5 Donders, drive |
|
8 |
2-7 Lea, drive |
|
7 |
2-11 Donders, driving lay-up |
| Time out ProBuild |
6.14 |
|
| 4-11 Biesters, drive |
5 |
|
| 7-11 Taylor, drive + bonus |
4 |
|
| 9-11 Broring, spin drive |
3 |
|
|
3 |
9-13, Hartman 2x |
| 11-13, Biesters, jumper |
2 |
|
|
2 |
11-15, Lea offensive rebound |
| 14-15 Broring, lay-up + bonus |
1 |
|
|
1 |
14-17 Pentury 2x |
| 16-17 Bos, drive |
1 |
|
|
end of 1st period |
|
|
|
Yellow Bike Forces Game 7
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 26, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Yellow Bike |
14 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
76 |
| Probuild Lions |
16 |
15 |
13 |
24 |
68 |
|
|
>>Movie by Johan Kaal, click om Probuild (48 mb). Or Movie by Johan Kaal.
>> TV-broadcast National TV
Tomorrow will be decided which team may call itself Champions of the Netherlands the next year.
ProBuild Lions dropped game 6 and missed the chance to win the championship in Den Helder. Yellow Bike stayed alive, beating ProBuild 76-68.
Coach Laki Lakner gave his opponents a lot of credits. "They were the better team today", he said. "They played good, we played bad. That's how simple it is. We were not ourselves this afternoon. And partly I'll have to credit Yellow Bike for that."
"We took some bad decisions", Lakner said. "Like making unnecessary fouls and shooting without having a good look at the basket."
Lakner was right.
ProBuild's fouls allowed Yellow Bike to make 22 points from the free throw line in the second half.
ProBuild's Captain Gerda Heinen said the referees should be blamed partly for that. "I don't like to criticize the refs and everything, she said, but they definitely called differently from the first five games". "All these little things, like hand checking, which were allowed in the first five games, were called for now. Far less was allowed. I think that's wrong. Different referees should have kind of the same attitude to all games of the series, as much as possible at least, so players can prepare themselves for what's being called and not."
Heinen was right about that. But something else was wrong too.
ProBuild shot 2-out-of-24 3-pointers, which comes down to little more than 8%. Over all the Lions shot 33% from the floor.
"Missing shots is something that just happens", coach Lakner said. "You cannot do anything about that, except for driving to the basket a little more. We're a jump-shooting team and sometimes shots don't fall. But I was not happy with the decision-making too as it came to shooting. It seemed to me we did not always had good looks at the basket."
Lakner also said the Lions allowed to many points in the paint, especially from Marloes Roetgerink.
And it has to be said, Yellow Bike's center played a formidable game, fouling out in the last period with 23 points, hitting more than 90% of her shots.
With the Lions Tanya Bröring had 17 points and Gerda Heinen added 15.
Amy Taylor shot 0-out-of-6 3-pointers, but hit all of her eight free throws, contributing 14 points.
In the second period ProBuild built a 9-point lead, but blew it in the last minutes before haftime, allowing Marloes Rotegerink to score 11 points in the quarter and to put Yellow Bike up 33-31.
In the third period Yellow Bike accumulated a 10-point cushion, capitalizing from the free-throw-line on the situation that ProBuild reached the maximum amount of team fouls in just a few minutes.
In the last quarter the Lions trailed 66-51, closed the gap to 6 points, 72-66, but could not come any closer.
Game 7 starts at Sunday May 27th, 3 PM CET in Landsmeer.
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ProBuild Wins Game 5
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 22, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
18 |
16 |
9 |
11 |
54 |
| Yellow Bike |
17 |
19 |
9 |
7 |
52 |
|
|
Amy Taylor missed two crucial free throws in the last minutes of Game 4. Tonight ProBuild's main scorer found herself in the same situation, but did not falter at the line.
After Taylor made it 53-52 with 47 seconds on the clock and next she stole the ball at the other side.
With 12 seconds to go Tanya Bröring was fouled by Cherie Lea, made the first free throw, but missed the second.
Jasmijn Overbeeke came up with the offensive rebound and ProBuild ran the clock down to the last second, turned over the ball, but it was too late for Yellow Bike.
Amy Taylor said she was thinking about last game while standing at the line with 47 seconds to go. "But this time both shots went in, to my relieve."
Coach Laki Lakner said he anticipated a difficult game. "This game was crucial and somehow I thought it was going to be tough. It was an ugly game, but this time we had the strength to win it in the end."
Tanya Bröring scored 16 points and Amy Taylor had 15.
With Yellow Bike Kim Hartman had 12 and Cherie Lea 10. Center Marloes Roetgerink ran into foul trouble in the third quarter and scored 8 points.
The Lions hit just 31% of their shots from the field and 67% from the free-throw-line.
The lead changed 14 times. The largest gap was 6 points, when Krista van Alten put Yellow Bike up 39-45 in the 6th minute of the third period.
Saturday the Lions travel to Den Helder for Game 6.
See also the play-by-play.
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Play-by-Play
Datum: 22 mei 2007
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
| 45-45 Taylor driving lay-up |
9 |
|
|
8 |
|
| 48-45 Broring 3pt |
7 |
|
|
6 |
48-46 Roetgerink 1x |
| 51-46 Taylor 3pt |
5 |
|
|
4 |
51-48 Lea lay-up |
|
3 |
51-50 Hartman drive |
| Time out ProBuild |
1.48 |
|
|
1.11 |
51-52 Roetgerink |
| 53-52 Taylor 2 x |
0.47 |
Time out Yellow Bike |
| steal Taylor |
0.23 |
|
|
0.23 |
Foul Lea |
|
0.12 |
Foul Lea |
|
0.12 |
Time out Yellow Bike |
| 54-52 Broring 1 x |
0.12 |
|
| rebound Overbeeke!!!! |
0.12 |
|
| end of Game |
|
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Third Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
|
9 |
|
| 36-36 Taylor, lay-up |
8 |
|
| 36-39 Lea jumper + bonus |
8 |
|
|
7 |
36-42 Van Alten, 3pt |
| Time-out ProBuild |
6 |
|
|
6 |
36-43 Roetgerink 1x |
|
5 |
Roetgerink 4th foul |
|
4 |
39-43 Broring 3pt |
|
4 |
39-45 Van Alten lay-up |
| 41-45 Heinen, jumper |
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
| 43-45 Broring drive |
1 |
|
|
end of 3rd peeiod |
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Second Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
18-19 Roetgerink, lay-up |
|
10 |
|
| 19-19 Biesters 1 x |
10 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
9 |
19-20Lea, 1 x |
|
|
|
| 21-20 Lecuyer,jumper |
7 |
21-22 Hartman,lay-up |
|
7 |
21-24 Hartman, drive |
|
6 |
23-24 Heinen, drive |
| 26-24 Broring 3pt |
5 |
26-26 Lea jumper |
| 27-26 LeCuyer, 1 x |
4 |
|
|
4 |
27-28 Hartman, jumper |
|
3 |
27-30 Donders, drive |
| 30-30 Bos, 3pt |
3 |
|
| 31-30 Bos, 1 x |
2 |
|
|
2 |
31-32 Van Alten, layup |
| 34-32 Taylor, 3pt |
2 |
34-34 Roetgerink |
|
1 |
34-36 Donders, lay-up |
|
end of quarter |
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
First Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
| 2-0: 2 x Biesters |
10 |
2-2 Hartman, jumper |
|
8 |
|
|
8 |
2-4 Hartman,lay-up |
|
7 |
|
| 4-4 Biesters, post-up |
7 |
4-6 Lea, Jumper |
|
6 |
|
|
6 |
4-9 Pentury, 3pt |
|
5 |
|
| 6-9 Broring, driving lay-up |
5 |
6-11, Van der Beek, steal en layup |
|
5 |
|
| 9-11 Taylor, 3pt |
5 |
|
|
4 |
|
| 11-11 Broring 2 x |
3 |
11-14 Pentury 3pt |
|
2 |
|
| 13-14 Bos, drive + bonus mis |
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
| 15-14 Overbeeke, driving lay-up |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
| 18-14 Biesters, 3pt |
1 |
18-17 Donders, 3pt |
|
|
ProBuild Drops Another Game in Den Helder
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 20, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Yellow Bike |
26 |
17 |
16 |
14 |
73 |
| Probuild Lions |
17 |
9 |
26 |
18 |
70 |
|
|
Home and Away are different worlds in this series. After Thursday´s 75-43 rout of Yellow Bike, ProBuild had a hard time in Den Helder this afternoon, turning a 17 point 43-26 halftime deficit into a 5 point lead in the 4th period, but ultimately letting the game slip away, 73-70.
And it has to be said: ProBuild played sloppy the first two periods. Allowing Yellow Bike 43 points before the break, just as much as they scored during a whole game on Thursday, offensively the Lions shot 8 out of 33 in the first half, tallying just 26 points.
Tanya Bröring scored 16 points, Theresa LeCuyer had 14, Jasmijn Overbeeke 13 and Gerda Heinen 11. Amy Taylor had 9 points.
Coach Laki Lakner had difficulties finding the right words after the game, trying to control his irritation. "It is difficult to win in Den Helder. Somehow the referees never seem to rule in our advantage here, as they didn't today, to put it mildly. There are little things on and around the field which make it hard. But nevertheless we should have won this game. But we started not working hard enough and being sloppy, like in the last away game. In a series like this it is not always an advantage to win with 40 points, as we did on Thursday. I seems we took it a little too lightly, today."
In the locker room during the break Lakner obviously said the right things to his players.
ProBuild started the third period with a 0-10 run, defending furiously and forcing turnovers. In the 5th minute the deficit was almost erased, 46-43.
In the 4th quarter, Tanya Broring drained a 3-pointer and Gerda Heinen had a lay-up and a bonus to pull the Lions within one point, 59-58.
Cherie Lea made it 61-58, but a driving lay-up from Jasmijn Overbeeke and a 3-pointer from Tanya Bröring gave the Lions their first lead in the game, 61-63.
Marloes Roetgerink evened the score, but Jasmijn Overbeeke made it 63-65 and Theresa LeCuyer hit 3-out-of-4 free throws to give the Lions their biggest lead in the game, 63-68, with four minutes on the clock.
Next Jasmijn Overbeeke got an offensive foul and a technical after crying out in frustration. Cherie Lea hit both free throws, Marloes Roetgerink made a jump hook and Tirza Pentury had a score and a free throw to put Yellow Bike up, 70-68.
Jasmijn Overbeeke made it 70-70 in the 9th minute, but Cherie Lea scored 72-70 and split a pair of free throws to pull the game away for Yellow Bike.
>> TV broadcast National TV
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Lions Rout Yellow Bike in Game 3
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 17, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
26 |
11 |
22 |
16 |
75 |
| Yellow Bike |
9 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
43 |
|
|
Amy Taylor bounced back from her zero-point-game on Tuesday, and scored 18 points from 6-out-of-7 shooting to lead her team to a lopsided 75-43 victory.
Rookie Ilana Vergunst and starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke both scored three 3-pointers and 13 points.
Coach Laki Lakner said he was very proud of his team. "We played a very, very good game. This time we showed we really wanted to win. The girls came out of the locker room full of energy and wanted to take revenge for Tuesday's game."
The Lions raced to a 29-9 lead in the first period. Jasmijn Overbeeke hit a 3-pointer a few seconds after the tip-off. Tanya Bröring made 5-0 before Marloes Roetgerink made one of two free throws for Yellow Bike, 5-1. Next ProBuild had a 14-2 run, with treys from Anouk Biesters, Jasmijn Overbeeke and two from Amy Taylor, 19-3.
Theresa LeCuyer started the second quarter with a 3-pointer. Nicole Campbell split a pair of free throws for Yellow Bike and Marloes Roetgerink scored 31-14, but rookie Ilana Vergunst drained a 3-pointer to put the Lions up 34-14. At halftime the Lions led 37-19.
Cherie Lea scored het first points of the game in the third period and Marloes Roetgerink pulled Yellow Bike within 15 points, 42-27, but Amy Taylor answered with a lay-up and a 3-pointer, 47-27.
In the last minutes of the quarter Ilana Vergunst had a burst with two hits from behind the arc and a lay-up. By the end of the period the Lions led 59-31.
In the 5th minute of the last period Theresa LeCuyer hit a jumper to put ProBuild up 40 points, 71-31.
By that time coach Laki Lakner had brought his bench players on the court, and the Lions cruised to a 75-43 victory.
Pictures
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|
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Play-by-Play
Datum: 17 mei 2007
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Fourth Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
| 67-31 Broring 3pt |
7 |
67-31 Donders 2 x mis |
|
7 |
|
| 69-31 Lecuyer drive |
6 |
|
|
5 |
|
| 71-31 LeCuyer layup |
5 |
71-33 Roetgerink layup |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
71-35 Pentury |
|
|
|
| Time out |
4 |
71-37 Campbell lay-up |
|
|
|
| 73-37 Boesaart lay-up, assist LeCuyer |
4 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
73-38 Lea (1x) |
|
2 |
|
| 75-38 Suokari |
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
75-41 Lea 3pt |
|
1 |
|
| Vandaag is Rood |
1 |
75-43 Lea (eindstand) |
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
Third Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
37-21 Hartman |
|
9 |
|
| 40-21 Overbeeke 3pt (3e) |
9 |
|
|
8 |
|
| 42-21 Overbeeke 2x |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
42-23 Lea jumper |
|
7 |
|
|
7 |
42-25 Lea |
|
6 |
|
|
6 |
42-27 Roetgerink layup |
|
5 |
|
| 44-27 Taylor drive |
5 |
|
|
|
|
| 47-27 Taylor 3pt |
5 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
47-28 Roetgerink 1 x raak van 2 |
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
47-28 Campbell 2x mis |
|
2 |
|
| 49-28 Taylor drive (13 pt) |
2 |
|
| ProBuild Lions |
Minute |
Yellow Bike |
First Quarter |
|
|
10 |
|
| 3-0 Overbeeke 3 pt |
10 |
|
|
9 |
|
| 5-0 Broring |
|
|
|
|
|
| 13-1 Amy Taylor 3 pt |
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
13-3 Roetgerink |
|
5 |
|
| 16-3 Taylor 3pt |
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
| 19-3 Overbeeke 3 punter |
5 |
|
|
4 |
|
| 23-3 2x Broring |
4 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
23-5 Van Alten jumper |
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
23-7 2x Roetgerink |
| Time out |
1.48 |
|
|
|
ProBuild Drops Game 2 in Den Helder; Series Tied
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 15, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Yellow Bike |
19 |
14 |
22 |
17 |
72 |
| Probuild Lions |
13 |
13 |
17 |
20 |
63 |
|
|
ProBuild Lions shot a poor 33% from the floor and an even poorer 55% from the free throw line. Not enough to beat Yellow Bike in the second game, although the Lions came close in the last five minutes.
Coach Laki Lakner said he thought his team played reasonably good defense, but that not all his players showed enough aggressiveness and responsibility attacking Yellow Bike's basket. "At some points we gave extra passes when we had perfectly good looks at the basket. I guess you can say we struggled on offense."
ProBuild's main scorer, Amy Taylor had been bothered by an upset stomach for a few days and stayed completely silent, taking just two shots and missing both. During the season Taylor averaged 19 points, rarely scoring less than 10 .
Tanya Bröring scored 18 points and Jasmijn Overbeeke had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Theresa LeCuyer had 7 points and 7 rebounds in 18 minutes of playing time.
With Yellow Bike Cherie Lea scored 13 points, Marloes Roetgerink 12 and and Francis Donders 10.
Jasmijn Overbeeke split a pair of free throws to give the Lions their first and only lead in the game: 0-1. Cherie Lea made two jumpers to put Yellow Bike up 6-1, but Tanya Bröring hit a 3-pointer and a free throw to make it 8-7. By the end of the period the Lions looked at a 19-13 deficit.
In the second quarter Tanya Bröring hit her second trey and Belinda Bos had an lay-up and a bonus to even the score, 25-25, but Yellow Bike took the lead again behind 3-pointers by Demelza ten Caat and Cherie Lea, extending it to 33-26 at the break.
Jasmijn Overbeeke drained a trey and Anouk Biesters hit a baseline jumper, but Marloes Roetgerink answered with two lay-ups and Cherie Lea made it 39-31.
A steal and a lay-up by Anouk Biesters, Jasmijn Overbeeke's second 3-pointer and a jumper by Gerda Heinen closed the gap to 39-38, but by the end of the quarter Yellow Bike had built a 12-point lead again, 55-43.
In the fourth period the Lions came back to 5, 6 points a few times, but did not manage to come any closer. Tanya Broring drove the lane to make in 68-63 in the last minute. At the next possession Jasmijn Overbeeke took a 3-pointer, but it bounced of the rim. Nicole Campbell grabbed the rebound, was fouled by Overbeeke and hit one of her two free throws at the other side.
Theresa LeCuyer took a last shot from behind the arc, but also missed. With 12 seconds to go Francis Donders burried a 3-pointer for Yellow Bike.
Thursday night the series start all over in Landsmeer.
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Highlights Game 1 on Dutch National Television
Author: Henk Wals
Date: May 13, 2007
Dutch
The Dutch National Television Company (NOS) showed some highlights from Game 1.
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All*Stars
Author: Henk Wals
Date: May 13, 2007
Dutch
In a short ceremony the All*Star awards 2007 were presented May 12 in the Indoor Center Landsmeer. Cherie Lea (Yellow Bike) was chosen MVP.
Pictures here.
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ProBuild Lions Victorious in Game 1
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 12, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
19 |
28 |
24 |
13 |
84 |
| Yellow Bike |
25 |
11 |
22 |
11 |
69 |
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ProBuild Lions dealt a first blow to Yellow Bike in the first game of the Finals. In a sold out Indoor Centre Landsmeer the Lions beat Yellow Bike 84-69.
Amy Taylor hit four 3-pointers in the pivotal second quarter, helping to turn a 21-32 deficit into a 47-32 lead. Taylor finished the game with 20 points and led four other Lions in double digits: Theresa LeCuyer with 16, Gerda Heinen with 14, Anouk Biesters with 11 and Jasmijn Overbeeke with 10 points.
While ProBuild shared the scoring load, Yellow Bike was highly dependent on the productivity of their starting center Marloes Roetgerink, who scored 30 points, but who got little help from her teammates. Cherie Lea, who was crowned as the season's MVP after the game, was the only other player from Yellow Bike in double figures.
Lea scored 12 of her 14 points in the first period.
Coach Laki Lakner said he thought his team played well, though he also saw some room for improvement, especially on the defensive end. "We gave Marloes Roetgerink too much room to score easy points, for instance. But offensively we had a great night, scoring 52% from the floor and 88% from the free throw line."
Lakner: "In the second quarter we showed we are mentally strong, overcoming an 11-point deficit and turning it into a decisive lead. I thought Amy did an excellent job during that stretch, taking responsibility and hitting those treys."
Gerda Heinen scored ProBuild's first three field goals, and Amy Taylor had six points to put up the Lions 12-6, but Cherie Lea hit two 3-pointers to give Yellow Bike a 17-19 lead.
Marloes Roetgerink proved to be nearly unstoppable under the Lions basket, extending Yellow Bike's lead to 19-25 after the quarter.
Things began to look bad for the Lions when Tirza Pentury hit a 3-pointer and Roetgerink made it 21-32 in the second minute of the second period.
But that was when Amy Taylor stood up.
With her father watching and cheering in a front-row-seat Taylor sank two consecutive 3-pointers, narrowing the gap to 29-34.
After a time-out by coach Laki Lakner Amy Taylor drained another trey, 32-34.
Anouk Biesters evened the score and hit a bonus free throw, 35-34. Next Biesters made a lay-up and hit a 3-pointer, scoring 8 points in-a-row.
In the last minute before the break Amy Taylor made her fourth shot from behind the arc and Jasmijn Overbeeke had a lay-up, capping a 26-4 run and putting the Lions up 47-36 at halftime.
In the third quarter ProBuild kept Yellow Bike at a distance of 12, 13 points. Marloes Roetgerink scored 13 points in the period.
In the 4th quarter the Lions cruised to a 84-69 victory. Theresa LeCuyer capped the win with 3-pointer in the dying seconds of the game.
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Live scoreboard
Author: Henk Wals
Date: May 12, 2007
As a service to all of those who are not able to attend the game, we will give live updates throughout the game on this website tonight.
ProBuild Lions vs Yellow Bike, Saturday May 12th, Indoor Centrum Landsmeer, Game 1:
First Quarter:
2-0 Gerda Heinen
6-0 Amy Taylor (2x)
8-4 Gerda Heinen
10-4 Amy Taylor
12-10 Cherie Lea
Time Out Probuild Lions
14-13 Kim Hartman
14-16 Cherie Lea, 3
17-16 Anouk Biester, score and bonus
19-19 Belinda Bos
19-21 Francis Donders
19-23 Marlous Roetgerink
19-25 Marlous Roetgerink (8 pnt)
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Second Quarter:
19-28 Tirza Pentury (3)
21-28 Theresa LeCuyer
21-23 Marloes Roetgerink
24-32 Amy Taylor (3)
29-34 Amy Taylor (3)
Time Out Probuild
32-34 Amy Taylor (3)
34-34 Anouk Biester
Time Out Yellow Bike
37-36 Daisy van de Beek
40-36 Anouk Biesters (3)
Time Out Yellow Bike
42-36 2x Jasmijn Overbeeke
45-26 Amy Taylor (3)
47-36 Jasmijn Overbeeke
Amy Taylor 18, Anouk Biesters 11
Cherie Lea 11, Marloes Roetgerink 10
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Third Quarter:
51-38 Gerda Heinen
51-40 Marloes Roetgerink
51-42 Cherie Lea (steal)
54-42 Theresa LeCuyer (3)
56-42 Jasmijn Overbeeke (drive)
56-44 Marloes Roetgerink (layup)
58-44 Gerda Heinen (jumper)
58-48 Marloes Roetgerink
60-48 Jasmijn Overbeeke (hook shot)
64-50 Gerda Heinen (drive)
67-51 Nadine Boesaart (layup and bonus)
71-58 Thersea LeCuyer (jumper)
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Fourth Quarter:
71-60 Marloes Roetgerink (layup)
73-60 Theresa LeCuyer (layup)
75-61 Steal Ilana Vergunst
Time Out Yellow Bike
77-64 Jasmijn Overbeeke (steal) Layup Theresa LeCuyer
Time Out ProBuild
79-67 steal and layup Amy Taylor
81-69 Marloes Roetgerink (layup)
84-69 Theresa LeCuyer
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Coach Laki Lakner Has Confidence in Team's Chances to Win Championship
Author: Henk Wals
Picture: Tine Sierink
Date: May 9, 2007
Dutch
It has been a busy week. Coach Laki Lakner and his team sharpened their teeth in demanding practices and worked on the finesses of their game in long DVD-sessions. Everybody agrees: we are ready for the finals.
Things could not have been better. Lakner: "We are lucky to have nobody on the injured list. Last year it went differently and we had to play the semi-finals with just eight players. And we lost. Now we are all healthy, and because we have no games for a week, we can prepare ourselves well."
In preparation Lakner does not intend to miss any detail.
"That's just the way I am. Everything has to be exactly right. When you look at me pacing up and down in front of the bench, gesticulating wildly, you might think I just thrive on emotions, but basically I am a very analytical person. I spend whole nights analyzing game-DVD's and my practices are prepared in detail and written out on paper completely. I know exactly which skills every player of the opponent possesses, which plays they run, and so on. I don't like to leave anything to chance."
I have every confidence in my team to win the championship. We are the number-one-team of the regular competition, and we beat Yellow Bike five times this season. They had just one victory over us, which is still bordering me, actually. We were not on top of our game then, and we did not have a good enough answer to a zone-defense. I still blame myself for that. But since then we learned how to handle a zone perfectly, so that won't be a problem anymore."
Still many basketball fans think Yellow Bike has a good chance to win the championship.
"I know. They are like: coach Meindert van Veen probably will do it again, like he did for the last three years. In the end he will have his team prepared perfectly. And I'll have to give him that: he just did that a few times. That's why I have a great deal of respect for him as a basketball coach. He knows the game well and he prepares his teams very thoroughly. But, like I said, that is what I do too. So, assuming he and I cancel each other out, the quality of the players will be decisive. And I really have a lot of confidence in mine."
Between the preparations for the finals Laki Lakner is already looking ahead to next season.
"Well, not just me. We have a whole team of people working on that. Preparing budgets, housing, cars, transport, contracts: all these kind of things. We are an amateur-based organization, but we try to make it a little better every year. And we are working on the basketball skills of our junior teams, hoping as many players as possible make the first team."
I feel at home here and I like to coach for another season in Landsmeer. The Board asked me to. Through some less than trustable Dutch basketball websites rumor has been spread this season is my last with the Lions, but they did not bother to ask me or the organization about it. It's typical."
But first Lakner is looking at the challenge to bring the championship to Landsmeer. He is looking forward to that. "Definitely. Times like these, that's what I am living for. It's thrilling. I hope for a supportive crowd and an exiting series. If we win the championship, we can call this an almost perfect season."
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ProBuild To Finals
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 5, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
19 |
8 |
27 |
18 |
72 |
| Renes |
13 |
13 |
6 |
13 |
45 |
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TThe ProBuild Lions have reached the finals through a 3-0 sweep of Renes/Binnenland.
The Lions used a balanced attack to outscore Renes 72-45 in the final game of the semi finals. Jasmijn Overbeeke and Anouk Biesters both scored 11 points, Theresa LeCuyer added 10 and Amy Taylor and Ilana Vergunst both had 9.
By halftime the Lions led just by one point, 27-26, but in de first seven minutes of the third period they placed a decisive 20-2 run, 28-47.
Coach Laki Lakner said his team played solid defense during the whole game, but that they struggled on the offensive end in the first half. "Maybe we were a little too hasty. We did not finish the plays well, acting a little erratic, not taking shots we should take and the other way round."
In the locker room during halftime Lakner just told his team to take some more time to set up the offense.
That seemed to be working out well.
After Tahnee Vogelsang and Jasmijn Overbeeke exchanged baskets, 29-28, ProBuild scored 18 uncontested points to race to a 47-28 lead. Jasmijn Overbeeke, Anouk Biesters and Tanya Bröring all had 6 points during the run, which was broke by Anneloes Kodde.
In the last period coach Lakner called his starters to the bench, giving some of his junior players the opportunity to show they can play on this level.
They obviously could.
Ilana Vergunst drained to 3-pointers around a trey by Nadine Boesaart to put the Lions up 32-65, their biggest lead in the game. Heini Suokari hit a shot from behind the arc to make it 36-71.
In the finals, a best-of-seven-series, ProBuild will meet Yellow Bike Den Helder, who sweeped AutoCAD Amazone in the semi's.
The series starts in Landsmeer on Saturday, May 12th.
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ProBuild Lions Win Second Game in Semi-Finals: 58-79
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 3, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Renes |
8 |
16 |
23 |
11 |
58 |
| Probuild Lions |
17 |
10 |
27 |
25 |
79 |
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Renes Binnenland managed to stay within a ten-point margin for most of the first three quarters, but lost ProBuild in the fourth, when the Lions pulled away for a 58-79 win.
Amy Taylor had 21 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Jasmijn Overbeeke added 19 .
The Lions struggled on offence, shooting a poor 27% from the floor in the first half.
Coach Laki Lakner said he could not even watch, sometimes. "Obviously the basket was very small today. We had some offensive streaks, and we did not let them score more than 60 points, which was our goal, but there were stretches in the game we could not hit a shot."
Binnenland had the same problem at times. Their main scorer, Anna Vicenzetto, was sidelined with an injured Achilles-tendon.
ProBuild had a cold start, shooting 2-out-of-6 from the floor and 1-out-of-3 from the line in the first five minutes. However, after coach Laki Lakner's first time-out 3-pointers started to fall, with Amy Taylor, Theresa LeCuyer, Nadine Boesaart and Jasmijn Overbeeke all hitting one. At the end of the period the Lions led 8-17.
At half time Binnenland had almost closed the gap and the Lions were up only 24-27.
In the third period ProBuild and Binnenland exchanged runs, resulting in a 7-points Lions lead, 47-54.
In the fourth the Lions finally stepped on the pedal, with Jasmijn Overbeeke scoring 8 points to sandwich Amy Taylor's 4th 3-pointer. Nadine Boesaart scored the game's last 5 points posting up in the paint.
Saturday ProBuild can finish the series in Landsmeer. Game starts at 8.30 PM CET.
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Amy Taylor Elected as an All*Star
Author: Henk Wals
Date: May 3, 2007
Dutch
Amy Taylor was elected as one of the best five players of the regular season, the Dutch Basketball Association announced today. The All*Star team consists of the following members:
O'Keisha Howard - Matrixx Magixx
Cherie Lea - Yellow Bike
Marloes Roetgerink - Yellow Bike
Amy Taylor - ProBuild Lions
Anna Vicenzetto - Renes Binnenland
Ilse van de Lagemaat (Amazone) was chosen as rookie of the year, René van der Wiele (Matrixx Magixx) as coach of the year and Edwin Wallaart as referee of the year.
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Overbeeke, Taylor Lift Lions Over Binnenland in Game 1
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: May 1, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
27 |
15 |
25 |
22 |
89 |
| Renes |
14 |
14 |
18 |
16 |
61 |
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Amy Taylor scored 23 points and Jasmijn Overbeeke had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the ProBuild Lions to a lopsided victory over Renes/Binnenland in Game 1 of the Semi-Finals.
Tanya Broring (16), Gerda Heinen (10) and Anouk Biesters were the other Lions in double figures.
Coach Laki Lakner said he was proud of the way his team played defense. "We were sharp en concentrated. Our goal was to allow them not more than 60 points, but I can live with the 61 they managed to score. They got a little too much points from the line, but that's just the way the refs decided to handle the game."
The Lions jumped on Binnenland, with Gerda Heinen scoring 6 points to spark a 9-0 opening run. In the 4th minute Anna Vicenzetto made Binnenland's first points, but the Lions rolled to a 25-10 lead before Vincenzetto and Amy van Blitterswijk made it 27-14 around a lay-up by Belinda Bos at the closing of the quarter.
In the second period ProBuild slowed down a little, but did not allow Renes to reduce it's deficit. At halftime the Lions still led by 15 points, 42-27.
Right after the start of the third period the Lions delivered the knock-out punch, with Jasmijn Overbeeke draining two 3-pointers and Amy Taylor and Anouk Biesters both hitting one, 60-35.
In the 10th minute Amy Taylor knocked down her 5th trey, 67-42.
In the 4th period Binneland stayed powerless against ProBuild's smothering defense, also because their main scorer, Anna Vicenzetto, was sidelined with an injury right after the break.
In the closing minutes coach Laki Lakner let his junior-players Ilana Vergunst and Lotte Nijenhuis finish the game. Vergunst responded by hitting a 3-pointer, which put the Lions up 85-59.
Thursday night the Lions travel to Barendrecht to battle Binnenland in the second game of the best-of-five series.
Game starts at 8.15 PM CET.
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ProBuild Meets Renes in Semi-Finals
Author: Henk Wals
Date: April 30, 2007
Dutch
History repeats itself. Like last year, ProBuild battles Renes/Binnenland in the semi-finals of the playoffs. Last season the Lions lost the series 3-1.
The best-of-five series starts on Tuesday May 1 in Landsmeer. Thursday ProBuild travels to Barendrecht and Saturday May 5th the series will be back in Landsmeer.
Binnenland did not reach the semi-finals without trouble. It took them three games to eliminate Matrixx Magixx, who were in the lead until the closing minutes of the last game but in the end lost by two points.
Obviously Binnenland, which is loaded with talented and experienced players, is not doing too well this season. The reasons are unknown, but coach Gertjan van der Linden was told by Binnenland's Board his contract will not be extended after the season. Van der Linden coached Binnenland for more than eight years.
In the mean time the ProBuild Lions practiced and had a DVD-session on Sunday to prepare for Tuesday's game. With the Lions everybody is healthy and ready to revenge last season's defeat.
In the regular season, including December's Final Four tournament, the series Lions-Binnenland is 4-0.
Game starts at 8.30 PM CET.
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ProBuild's Junior Team Wins Championship
Author: Henk Wals
Date: April 29, 2007
Pictures.
ProBuild's second team decided to set an example for the first unit.
In a thrilling final game of the Final Four tournament the young Lions beat Cangeroes Utrecht 47-59.
Lotte Nijenhuis led the Lions with 16 points and Ilana Vergunst and Belinda Bos both scored 12.
Unlike in the first division, in the second division the Final Four tournament is a season-closing event, in which the four highest seeded teams battle for the championship.
In the regular competition the Lions ended in third seed, behind Cangeroes and Almonte.
After beating second seeded Almonte Eindhoven in the semi-finals on Friday night, the young Lions, who were coached by Brian Benjamin, went to the finales to encounter Cangeroes, the first-seeded team, loaded with first-division-veterans.
At halftime coach Benjamin and his team trailed by eight points, 25-17, but in the third period they tightened the defense and held Cangeroes to just six points, and went up 31-38.
"It seemed having younger legs and a better condition paid off in the second half", coach Brian Benjamin said after the game.
In the 4th quarter ProBuild managed to hold the lead.
Coach Benjamin, who took over from coach Robin van de Bilt just three weeks ago, said he was very proud of his team. "They all worked extremely hard on defense and offensively four or five players shared the load. I thought Lotte Nijenhuis was our MVP, but I really have to credit the whole team for reaching our goal to win the championship. During the season there were some difficulties here and there, but in the end they really showed that they can play and fight."
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ProBuild Advances to Semi-Finals
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: April 26, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| BV Lely |
5 |
17 |
8 |
10 |
40 |
| Probuild Lions |
14 |
18 |
27 |
25 |
74 |
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This time the ProBuild Lions left no room for misunderstanding about their goal for this season.
Jasmijn Overbeeke scored 15 points and pulled down 8 rebounds to lead her team to a lopsided 40-74 victory on BV Lely, which sent the Lions to the semi-finals of the playoffs.
Belinda Bos and Theresa LeCuyer both had 10 points and Amy Taylor and Gerda Heinen both added 9 in what can be called a balanced attack-mode.
At the break the Lions were up just barely by double digits, 22-32, but in the third period they stepped on the pedal, leaving Lely behind in a cloud of dust, 59-30.
Coach Laki Lakner explained that this was exactly his game-plan. "We are a so-much deeper team than Lely, so we used a lot of players, keeping ourselves fresh for the second half. By that time they were tired and we could jump on them."
Lakner said he changed the defense a little in the second half, to prevent Lely driving to the basket. "We kept some more distance, forcing them to take jumpers in stead of driving the lane", he said. "That kind of worked, I guess."
Rinske van Schooneveld scored 21 points for Lely.
Van Schooneveld scored 2-0, which turned out to be Lely's only lead in the game. Jasmijn Overbeeke evened the score and Anouk Biesters set up Amy Taylor for a 2-4 Lions lead.
Van Schooneveld split a pair of free throws, but next ProBuild placed a 0-9 run, closing the quarter with a 5-14 lead.
In the second period the Lions could not extend their lead much further, but in the third Jasmijn Overbeeke and Theresa LeCuyer both drained a 3-pointer and both scored 2 more points to put the Lions up 24-42.
Next Overbeeke dished out an assist on Gerda Heinen, who beautifully went under the basket for a reverse lay-up.
After that the Lions easily cruised to a 40-74 victory.
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LeCuyer Leads Lions to First Playoff Victory
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: April 23, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
19 |
17 |
15 |
32 |
83 |
| BV Lely |
15 |
15 |
14 |
17 |
61 |
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It took her a few weeks to get into shape, but it seems Theresa LeCuyer is ready for the playoffs just in time.
ProBuild's American power forward scored 32 points and pulled down 8 rebounds to lead the Lions to a 83-61 victory on Lely Amsterdam.
LeCuyer was 10-out-of-11 from the floor and 12-out-of-13 from the line.
Thursday night ProBuild can decide the series in the Amsterdam Apollohal.
Tanya Bröring (12), Anouk Biesters (11) and Amy Taylor (10) were the other Lions in double figures.
It was not an easy win, however. It took the Lions until the 4th period before they could pull away and decide the game.
Coach Laki Lakner credited his opponents for that. "Lely was at the top of its game. They were as good as they can get. And I'll have to say: we played one of our worst games of the season. We weren't concentrated as much as we should have been and we simply missed too many shots."
"But on the other hand we have so much quality in our team, and there is almost always somebody who stands up and carries the load", Lakner continued. "This time it was Theresa, and I'm very relieved she finally lives up to the reputation she earned two seasons ago as the most productive player of the league. We always told her: take your time, just be ready for the playoffs. And to my great pleasure: there she was."
Rinkse van Schooneveld scored 18 points for Lely and Nienke Geerts had 17.
Lely took a 4-6 lead, but Theresa LeCuyer scored 5 points in a row and Rianne Philippo had 2 to put the Lions up 11-6.
In the last minute of the period LeCuyer grabbed an offensive rebound and made it 19-15.
Amy Taylor made a lay-up, 21-15, but Lely closed the gap again, to take the lead a few minutes later, 26-27. A score by Theresa LeCuyer and two consecutive 3-pointers by Anouk Biesters gave ProBuild the lead for good, 34-27.
Tanya Bröring converted a pair of free throws to put the Lions up 36-30 at halftime.
In the third quarter the Lions still were not able to pull away, 42-40, until Theresa LeCuyer sparked another surge to widen the gap to 47-40. Rinske van Schooneveld answered, 47-44, but Tanya Bröring produced 4 points to make it 51-44 and Amy Taylor drained a 3-pointer to give the Lions a 10-point lead, 54-51.
Theresa LeCuyer's next series of 8 points pulled away the game. With 5 minutes on the clock ProBuild went up 64-48 and cruised to a 83-61 win.
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Playoffs: ProBuild Hosts Lely in Round 1, Game 1
Author: Henk Wals
Date: April 22, 2007
Dutch
Monday night ProBuild Lions host BV Lely in the first game of the playoffs 2006-2007.
Lely clinched the 8th playoff-spot with a 6-out-of-20 record. A less than successful season? No. "A fine accomplishment", as Lely's President Menno Fluks put it on their website. "I am proud of coach Frans Griffioen and his team". And Fluks is right in saying that. After all, Lely probably has the lowest budget of the league and it is the only all-Dutch team. It left American- and Canadian-aided teams like Grasshoppers and DAS behind it.
Meantime the Lions prepared for the playoffs in a relaxed manner. Thursday Laki Lakner skipped a practice, and Saturday a low-keyed practice game was held between ProBuild's first and second units, which was won 69-27 by the first team. The second unit is preparing for the Final Four-tournament, which is to be held in Landsmeer next weekend.
Except for Annicke van der Burg, who is injured, everybody is healthy.
Monday's game starts at 8:30 PM CET.
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ProBuild Ends Regular Season With a Win
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Anneke Wals
Date: April 14, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
T |
| Probuild Lions |
7 |
17 |
23 |
13 |
11 |
71 |
| Yellow Bike |
16 |
11 |
19 |
14 |
2 |
62 |
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If ProBuild Lions and Yellow Bike happen to meet each other in the Finals, some exciting games are to be expected.
The first and the second seeded team battled each other in the last game of the regular season and needed an overtime to decide the game.
In OT the Lions outscored Yellow Bike 11-2 and pulled away the win.
Amy Taylor led the Lions with 18 points and Gerda Heinen added 17. Theresa LeCuyer scored 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke was sidelined due to an ankle injury, but will be ready for the play-offs, trainer René Wormhoudt said.
Coach Laki Lakner praised his team for ending the game the way it did. "We obviously started the game not being ready, trailing 7-16 after the first period. But then we kind of grew into the game and in overtime we just finished them off."
Lakner said the Lions came up short under the boards, due to the absence of Overbeeke, but nicely compensated for that. "Theresa LeCuyer did a good job rebounding, for instance", he said.
The Lions had a cold start indeed. Yellow Bike's center Marloes Roetgerink dominated the paint and scored 6 points in the first five minutes to take her team to a 0-8 lead. At the end of the quarter Cherie Lea drained her first 3-pointer for Yellow Bike, 5-16, but Tanya Bröring hit a running jumper to make it 7-16.
In the second quarter the Lions kept on lingering behind, but while trailing 17-25 Amy Taylor converted two free throws and Gerda Heinen hit a trey to close the gap to 22-25. Next Taylor scored 24-25, but Yellow Bike's Krista van Alten made her only two points of the game in the last second before halftime: 24-27.
Cherie Lea and Amy Taylor exchanged 3-pointers at the beginning of the third period. Next Gerda Heinen made a lay-up and hit a bonus free throw and Amy Taylor drove the lane to even the score: 32-32. Taylor's next score, a jump shot, put the Lions up for the first time in the game.
At the start of the 4th period ProBuild led 47-46. The game stayed close and the score was evened again when Kim Hartman hit a trey for Yellow Bike in the last minute of the regular time: 57-57. With time running out Nadine Boesaart buried a 3-pointer which would have brought the Lions the victory, if not Cherie Lea had hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the very last second to take the game into overtime.
"We were on her with three men", the Lions' captain Gerda Heinen said after the game. "But she managed to threw the ball up and her shot fell."
Amy Taylor set Gerda Heinen up for a lay-up at the start of the OT, 62-60 and then Heinen hit two free throws to make it 64-62. Cherie Lea answered, 64-62, but Theresa LeCuyer scored 66-62 and Belinda Bos drained a 3-pointer to put the Lions up 69-62.
In the last minute Amy Taylor and Gerda Heinen both hit a free throw to seal the win, 71-62.
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Huddle
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Closing Game of the Regular Season
Author: Henk Wals
Date: April 12, 2007
Dutch
Saturday ProBuild Lions hosts Yellow Bike for the closing game of the regular season. For the Lions the regular season was successful, as they reached their goal of ending in first seed. The last time that happened was in the 2000-2001 season, when ProBuild became Champions of the Netherlands for the first time. In the Play-offs, which start next weeks, the Lions will try to repeat this sequence. The most likely main obstacle on the road to a championship is second seeded Yellow Bike.
As both teams have nothing to gain or loose, the game will be about tactical finesses, trying out things, and, of course, pride and honor.
With the Lions everyone is healthy again, so the bench will be wholly occupied. Game starts at 8:30 PM CET.
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ProBuild Tops Binnenland in "Practice Game", 59-63
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: April 9, 2007
| Scoreboard |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
| Renes |
16 |
11 |
14 |
18 |
59 |
| Probuild Lions |
14 |
16 |
11 |
22 |
63 |
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As ProBuild Lions and Renes Binnenland both already clinched their play-off spots, there was nothing much at stake at Monday night's game in Barendrecht. So both coaches used the game to experiment and seemed to look upon it more or less like a practice game.
Amy Taylor led the Lions with 25 points and Anouk Biesters returned from a foot-injury adding 13 points.
Ilana Vergunst re-debuted after being sidelined for almost half a year recovering from a torn ankle-ligament. Starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke sat on the bench in street clothes, after getting injured in last week's game against Amazone. She's expected to play next week or the following week.
Offensively the Lions struggled, shooting 37% from the field (season's total 43%) and 16% (42% season's total) from behind the 3-point line. Nevertheless coach Laki Lakner was satisfied. "Bad shooting nights can happen. That's why we emphasize playing hard on defense so much. And in a game like this that pays off. We kept missing, but held them to 59 points, while they average 76. That's why we won, playing good, solid defense. And I am proud of that."
The gap never became larger than 5 points, with the Lions leading most of the game.
The Lions took a 4-8 lead behind 4 points from Amy Taylor, but Anna Vicenzetto scored 8 consecutive points for Binnenland to put her team up 14-16 after the quarter.
Amy Taylor hit two 3-pointers in second period to take the lions to a 30-27 lead at halftime.
In the 3rd period both teams stayed close, being tied at the beginning of the 4th.
In the first minutes of the last quarter Amy Taylor drained a 3-pointer and made a lay-up to put the Lions up 43-46 and the rest of the period ProBuild managed to maintain that gap. Tanya Bröring drove the lane and made a lay-up in the 9th minute to seal the victory.
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Road Trip to Renes/Binnenland
Author: Henk Wals
Date: April 6, 2007
Dutch
Monday April 9th ProBuild travels to Barendrecht to battle Renes/Binnenland for the last time in the regular season. To the Lions the game is of no importance anymore, but Binnenland still has a slight chance to reach the third play-off spot. For that it needs a victory against ProBuild, while at the same time AutoCAD Amazone has to drop it's game against Matrixx Magixx. If that happens, and Binnenland beats the Magixx next week, they move to a third position.
But is that likely to happen? Binnenland obviously is in a slump at the moment. After loosing to AutoCAD, 52-67, two weeks ago, Binnenland was completely humiliated by Yellow Bike last week, suffering a 113-71 rout.
In Den Helder tribute was payed to Binnenlands point guard Inge Huitzing, one of the Netherlands' all time great players, who decided to retire a few weeks ago due to a chronic injury. Huitzing is the only player who played for Den Helder, Binnenland as well as (long ago, one season) for the Lions.
With the Lions starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke will not be able to play due to an ankle injury, which she suffered in last weeks game against AutoCAD. Trainer René Wormhoudt is working with her to have her ready to play in the first play-off round.
Back-up guard Annicke van der Burg had a minor traffic accident last week and also is injured.
On the other hand Anouk Biesters and Ilana Vergunst are recovered and expected to be in the line-up.
If Binnenland remains in 4th seed, the Barendrecht team and ProBuild almost certainly will meet each other in the second round of the play-offs.
Game starts at 8.15 hrs PM CET.
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Coach Van der Bilt Steps Down
Author: Henk Wals
Date: April 6, 2007
Dutch
Coach Robin van de Bilt decided to step down from coaching ProBuild's second team earlier this week. General Manager Brian Benjamin and head coach Laki Lakner will take over coaching during the last games and the Final Four. Robin van de Bilt will remain on as assistant-coach with the first team.
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