Molly McDowell scored 27 points as the ProBuild Lions advanced to the semifinals with a lopsided 54-85 victory over Challenge Sports/Renes Binnenland in Game 2 of their first round series.
Chelsey Warburton contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds. She hit five 3-pointers, just as Molly McDowell did.
Marie Hoogstraten added 12 points.
The Lions shot 50.8% from the floor and 44.4% from behind the 3-point line.
Jeanette Woodberry scored 16 points for Binnenland. Milly Watkins and Priscilla van Andel did not see playing time due to injuries.
Coach Laki Lakner said his team did a good job on defense, but offensively played a sloppy first half, scoring just 27 points. "In the second half the execution of our offense was much better; we passed the ball faster and the timing was right. So we got some easy baskets and things started to run smoothly. In my opinion it was the best half we played this season."
The Lions trailed for the last time when Binnenland led 7-6 in the 5th minute after a 3-pointer by Jeanette Woodberry. Chelsey Warburton immediately answered with a trey, 9-6.
After the first quarter ProBuild led 11-16. In the second period Molly McDowell and Chelsey Warburton hit consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the margin to 11 points, 13-24, but by halftime Binnenland had closed the gap to 7, 20-27.
In the locker room coach Laki Lakner credited his team for holding Challenge Sports to just 20 points, but made some critical remarks about the execution of the offense.
Apparently, that worked.
Offensively the Lions were much sharper and more aggressive in the second half. After Jeanette Woodberry made it 27-24 ProBuild posted a 4-18 run behind 8 points from Molly McDowell and 6 from Marie Hoogstraten, leading 31-52 in the 7th minute of the 3rd period.
Starting the last period with a 36-58 lead, the Lions cruised to a lopsided win with coach Laki Lakner using all of his players.
Chelsey Warburton scored 15 points, Marie Hoogstraten had 14 and Belinda Bos was 1 rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds, as the Lions pretty much had their way against 7th-seeded Challenge Sports/Renes Binnenland.
After the first period finished tied, 14-14, the Lions built an 8-point cushion at halftime, stretching the margin to 36-48 after the third quarter and cruising to a 16-point win in the fourth.
Coach Laki Lakner credited his team for playing solid defense. "Jeanette Woodberry is their go-to-girl and she did good job scoring 24 points, but we kept the rest of the team to just 19 points. That was the key to the victory. Offensively I thought we stayed beneath the level we can reach if we could be just a little more focused and aggressive. "
Lakner said he thought he and his team have a good chance to finish the series in Rotterdam on Wednesday. If not, there will be a third game in Landsmeer on Saturday.
ProBuild sprinted to a 7-0 lead, with Chelsey Warburton hitting two jumpers and Marie Hoogstraten draining a 3-pointer.
After a time-out by coach Petra van Schaik-Weeda, Binnenland posted a 0-8 run, taking a 11-14 lead with 60 seconds to go in the period before Molly McDowell nailed a 3-pointer to even the score, 14-14.
Jamailah Adams made in 20-22 in the 6th minute of the second period, but ProBuild posted a 10-0 run, capped by two consecutive baskets by Chelsey Warburton, which made it 30-33 at intermission.
Binnenland clawed back to 35-33, but looked at a 48-36 deficit after Marie Hoogstraten made a lay-up and hit a trey to spark a 12-3 Landsmeer run.
In the fourth period the Lions cruised to a 59-43 win.
Coach Laki Lakner and his team obviously wanted to make a statement.
After barely holding Binnenland off in the Dutch Cup Finals the Lions felt it was necessary to paint a realistic picture of Binnenland's chances in the playoffs.
Chelsey Warburton was 1 rebound shy of a double-double, with 19 points and 9 rebounds. She hit 5-out-of-8 3-point-attempts. Jasmijn Overbeeke contributed 15 points and 3 blocked shots, Marie Hoogstraten 12 and Belinda Bos and Nadine Boesaart both added 11.
Molly McDowell made a quick recovery from her ankle-injury, but saw limited playing-time because the coaching staff did not want to take any risks with her. McDowell started in the second half and played for 10 minutes, scoring 5 points.
The Lions shot 51.7% from the floor and 46.4% from behind the 3-point line.
"We wanted to take away any impression Binnenland might have got during the Cup Finals as if it were possible to beat us in the playoffs," coach Lakner said. "We took the Finals as a wake-up call. The week after, we started to play defense. It looks like that took us to a different level."
Marie Hoogsstraten drained a 3-pointer in the first minute, but Binnenland answered and stayed close until the 6th minute, when Chelsey Warbuton drilled two consecutive treys. Hoogstraten and Jasmijn Overbeeke both scored to make it 22-10.
It was 22-14 after the quarter. ProBuild started the second period placing a 12-0 run, which was capped by 3-pointers from Nadine Boesaart and Chelsey Warburton.
Leading 36-14 in the 5th minute the Lions slowed down a little. At intermission they led by 25 points, 47-22.
In the third period Nadine Boesaart nailed a 3-pointer to mark ProBuild's biggest lead, 59-28.
After this the Lions cruised to the end of the regular season.
Saturday ProBuild Lions hosts Challenge Sport/Renes Binnenland for the last game of the regular season. Both team clinched their playoff seeds, so there's not much at stake anymore, except for staying without injuries.
On the other hand, the game offers an interesting preview of the first play-off round, when ProBuild and Binnenland will battle each other in a best-of-three series. ProBuild did not lose a game yet to Binnenland this competition, but came close during the Finals of the Dutch Cup Tournament, barely escaping with an 80-74 win.
Molly McDowell is making a quick recovery from her ankle sprain, but will not see substantial minutes, if playing at all. The coaching staff and the physiotherapists made it clear they do not want to take any risks with their star point guard and the season's apotheosis coming up.
Game starts at 8.30 PM CET.
Lions Lose without McDowell
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: April 13, 2009
Without their injured point guard Molly McDowell the ProBuild Lions ran out of gas down the stretch, as their nine-game winning streak was snapped by HLB Accountants in a game which had no importance for playoff seeding anymore.
The Lions trailed by as many as 14 in the second period, but battled back before going cold late and eventually falling to HLB 55-63.
Molly McDowell watched from the bench. In the game vs Woonbron DAS she was carried of the court with a sprained ankle. McDowell said she was prepared to play on Monday, but she was sidelined by ProBuild's medical staff. Physiotherapist René Wormhoudt said he does not want to take any risks with the playoffs coming up. He expects McDowell will be ready to play again within two weeks.
With McDowell on the bench Chelsey Warburton was called to point guard duty. Warburton skillfully distributed the ball and also carried most of the scoring load, posting a double-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 6 steals.
After losing the game the Lions showed little signs of frustration. "A win would have been nice, but this game was about something else," coach Dwight van West said. "It was a trial of strength for the playoffs. HLB managed to reinforce their team in February with the signing of Leonie Kooij and Nana Rivers , while we lost Gerda and Anouk. But without those two, and even without Molly, who is very important for us, we matched them today until the last two minutes. So this loss should give us confidence for the playoffs."
Coach Laki Lakner said he was proud of the defense his team played. "Playing a well-organized defense, we almost beat them while shooting just 31% of the floor and 52% from the free throw line," he said. "Offensively we will have much better shooting nights than today, I am not worried about that. So if we can keep up this level of defense, we will be good most of the time."
As is often the case this season, the Lions dug themselves an early hole but climbed out in the second and third period. After the first quarter ProBuild trailed 6-17, having hit just one shot out of 19 attempts from the floor.
In the 6th minute of the second period ProBuild looked at its biggest deficit of the game, 12-26, but Chelsey Warburton had two baskets around a driving lay-up of Ilana Vergunst, narrowing the gap to 18-26. At halftime the deficit was cut to just 5 points, 23-28.
After the break Chelsey Warburton drained a 3-pointer to even the game, 28-28, before driving the lane to pull the Lions to a 31-30 lead.
ProBuild kept the lead until the last two minutes of the game, as Nana Rivers made it 55-56 for HLB before Nadine Boesaart fouled Laura Kooij, who did not fail from the free throw line, 55-58.
After Marie Hoogstraten missed a trey for the Lions, Laura Kooij nailed one from the corner on the other side, securing the win for HLB with 14 seconds remaining.
Chelsey Warburton scored 28 points, pulled down 8 rebounds and had 7 steals to lead the ProBuild Lions to a 58-61 victory over Woonbron DAS.
Warburton hit six 3-pointers.
No other Lions reached double figures, except for Jasmijn Overbeeke, who posted 12 boards. The Lions shot just 31.5% from the field and 22.9% from behind the arc.
Defensively, on the other hand, they did a more than decent job, holding DAS to just 58 points. Coach Laki Lakner stressed this point in his post-game talk. "We kept ourselves to our tactical assignments and we played solid defense. Our main goal was to stop Theresa LeCuyer inside and we held her to just 8 points. "
"It shows what type of team we can be if we bring that type of approach every game. With the play-offs coming up, I am glad we are finally starting to put up the kind of defense I know we're capable of."
Less positive was the fact that Molly McDowell got injured in the last 30 seconds of the game. She had to be carried off the floor with a sprained ankle. McDowell probably won't be able to play next Monday against HLB Accountants.
Theresa LeCuyer and Reggie Maddox both scored to make it 4-0 before Chelsey Warburton drained two straight 3-pointers to put the Lions up 6-9.
ProBuild never trailed again. The score after the first period was 15-20 and at halftime the lions led 28-31.
Chelsey Warburton burried her 4th 3-pointer to make it 31-38, but Amy van Blitterswijk, Tahnee Vogelzang and Reggie Maddox all scored to cut the margin to 1 point, 37-38. Warburton answered with her 5th trey, helping the Lions to a 40-44 lead after the quarter.
With 4 minutes to go ProBuild led 47-53. Nadine Boesaart beat Tahnee Vogelsang in a one-on-one duel under the basket, 47-55, but Vogelsang replied from behind the arc and Theresa LeCuyer made it 52-55.
Both teams stayed scoreless for almost three minutes before Chelsey Warburton hit a short jumper to put up the Lions 52-57, leaving DAS with no other option than making fouls to regain ball possession in the last 60 seconds.
Reggie Maddox made two obvious intentional fouls on Molly McDowell, grabbing her around the waist on one occasion, but the referees decided to call a regular foul two times. As the penalty situation was not reached yet, ProBuild had to take the ball out of bounds on both occasions, and Maddox was forced to make a third straight foul on McDowell, this time resulting in her hitting the floor with a sprained ankle.
"I thought the refs made two bad and even irresponsible calls at this point", coach Dwight van West said after the game. "If these were no intentional fouls I wonder what you have to do to get one. A player should be protected against this. That's the responsibility of the refs and they did not handle that well, I am sorry to say."
Junior player Eline Vink went in for McDowell and made both free throws, 52-59.
Reggie Maddox nailed a 3-pointer for DAS and Chelsey Warburton converted a pair of free throws before Maddox hit another trey in the last seconds, 58-61.
The Lions did not celebrate the win, while Physiotherapist Angelique Hartog was icing Molly McDowell's swollen ankle.
The Easter long weekend will be busy for the Lions with two tough games scheduled.
Saturday ProBuild travels to the city of Delft to battle third seeded Woonbron DAS. The last time the Lions did that, they pulled out a 66-69 win, after losing their home game 50-67.
Monday ProBuild hosts first seeded HLB Accountants, who are undefeated until now in the regular competition. In the Dutch Cup tournament, however, they were eliminated by the Lions.
But since then HLB only gained strength, signing American guard Nana Rivers and welcoming back Dutch star forward Leonie Kooij, who played for ZKK Sibenik in Croatia but was waived after being injured for 6 months. Once back in Den Helder Kooij recovered remarkably fast.
The Lions on the other hand lost their own star forward in Anouk Biesters, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
There is nothing at stake but honor in the meeting, with both ProBuild and HLB having clinched their play-off spots. But no doubt it is an interesting game to watch, with the play-offs coming up and both teams having a clear ambition to reach the finals.
Game starts at 4 PM CET on Monday april 13th.
Warburton, Lions Rout Lely
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Date: April 4, 2009
Chelsey Warburton posted a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds as the ProBuild Lions pushed around Lely in an 80-38 victory. Molly McDowell added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Belinda Bos chipped in 11 with points.
The ProBuild Lions turned the game into an early rout as they jumped to a 9-30 lead after the first quarter and led by as much as 29 points at halftime.
The Lions played with passion and energy that Lely was unable to muster.
Coach Laki Lakner said he was happy with the way his team played defense. "I had a long talk with the team at the first practice after the Cup Finals. I thought we played far below our level defensively in the Finals, allowing Binnenland to score 74 points."
"I told the team that if we continue to play defense this way, not carrying out our tactical assignments, our season might end up being a little shorter than we expect. I think everybody got the message. We practiced well this week and tonight we played very good defense. Lely is a better team than Binnenland is, and we held them to 38 points."
After the third period ProBuild led 30-61, posting a 2-19 run in the first 9 minutes of the last quarter to reach their biggest lead in the game, 32-80.
Saturday the Lions do not have to travel far, as they play Lely in the city of Amsterdam. Lely is the former team of coaches Laki Lakner and Dwight van West, as well as of Molly McDowell and Jasmijn Overbeeke.
If they win, the Lions officially have secured the second seed in the ranking. Lely is battling AutoCAD Amazone for the 5th spot.
The first two games in the regular competition were won by the Lions.
Game starts at 8:30 PM CET.
Lions Win Finals
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Video: Johan Kaal
Date: March 21, 2009
The game was a little closer than expected, but in the end the Lions kept their heads cool and pulled out an 80-74 victory on Challege Sport/Rene Binnenland, taking the Dutch Cup home for a second consecutive year.
Chelsey Warburton scored 22 points and Molly McDowell posted 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals. Belinda Bos contributed 18 points and Ilana Vergunst had 11.
Jeanette Woodburry scored 30 points for Binnenland.
The Cup and the medals were presented by former WNBA-player Sandra van Embricqs and Alice Felter, who both played for ProBuild Lions in the early decade.
The Lions shot 37,7% from the floor and 34,3% from behind the arc, but allowed Binnenland to stay close for most of the game. Defensively things did not went too well and on the offensive side it took them too long to set up and run the plays, coach Dwight van West said in his post-game talk with the Press.
"It was kind of an ugly game, as often is the case with Finals. We came in very well-prepared, but it did not work out the way we would have liked to. Binnenland raised their level and played above themselves, while we stayed under our normal level. But heck, we won the Cup, and that is what will be remembered, not how we did it."
The game stayed close until the break, 33-32. In the third quarter ProBuild built a 10 point lead, 48-38, but at the end of the period Binnenland had cut the margin to 60-53 again.
In the 7th minute of the last quarter Milly Watkins made it 72-70, but Jasmijn Overbeeke nailed a 3-pointer, giving ProBuild some air, 75-70.
With ProBuild in the penalty situation, Binnenland went to the free throw three times, converting just 2 out of 6 attempts, 75-72.
After Molly McDowell split a pair of free-throws, 76-72, Jeanette Woodberry made it 76-74 with 60 seconds remaining.
Being forced to commit fouls to get in possession of the ball, Binnenland sent Ilana Vergunst and Molly McDowell to the free-throw line, but both Lions did not falter.
In the Dutch version of March Madness, ProBuild Lions takes on Challenge Sport/Renes Binnenland in the Finals of the Cup Tournament on Saturday.
The match-up is the same as in the 2003-2004 Finals, when Binnenland won the cup by beating ProBuild 82-73.
This time, however, the polls are clearly in favor of the Lions.
Grossly exaggerating, on Binnenland's website their chance of winning the Cup was estimated at 5%. Maliciously embracing the underdog role, Binnenland's Webmaster went a little too far. Coach Laki Lakner was falsely cited stating he expected ProBuild to win by 30 points.
Lakner never said such a thing.
On the contrary, the Lions' coaching staff is taking the Finals very seriously.
Yesterday a long video-session was held, with coach Lakner dissecting Binnenland's plays and going through every individual player's skills. To get used to the court and the baskets, tonight the Lions are practicing at the Topsport Centre in Almere, where the Finals will be held.
Coach Lakner will help to fill the 3.000 seats on Saturday, sitting out the second game of his two-game suspension for criticizing the referees. Coach Van West will take the helm. He too is an experienced basketball coach at the highest level, so the Lions won't be in trouble.
Game starts at 7:30 pm CET.
Lions Rout Grasshoppers, 106-61
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Video: Johan Kaal
Date: March 21, 2009
ProBuild Lions rolled to a 106-61 victory on STOL Grasshoppers, with coach Dwight van West at the helm, due to head coach Laki Lakner's suspension. Lakner was suspended for two games by the Dutch Basketball Association for receiving two technical fouls after criticizing the referees in the Perik Jumpers game two weeks ago.
Chelsey Warburton fell two steals shy of a triple double with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 8 steals and 5 assists, having scored more than 20 points now in 6 out of the last 7 games.
Molly McDowell also posted a near-triple double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Marie Hoogstraten contributed 18 points and Belinda Bos netted 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Reserve center Mara Hessling had 13 points and 8 rebounds in 10 minutes of playing time, shooting 5-out-of-5 from the floor.
Starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke is recovering from a lung infection and watched the game from the bench, next to the injured Anouk Biesters and the pregnant Gerda Heinen.
Coach Dwight van West said he was satisfied with the team's performance. "We did not play perfect, but we managed to stay concentrated and sharp for almost the whole game. We are in the process of adjusting our game, now Anouk Biesters is out for the season. Tonight's game showed us we're on the right track."
Chelsey Warburton scored 14 of her 23 points in the first period, helping the Lions to build a 27-13 cushion.
In the second period the Lions led 30-19 before stretching the margin to 39-19 behind a basket of Nadine Boesaart, 4 points of Molly McDowell and a 3-pointer of Chelsey Warburton. At intermission ProBuild led 53-26.
In the third quarter Grasshoppers more or less managed to prevent further damage, losing the quarter by just 4 points. Coach Dwight van West rotated all of his players, and no-one stayed scoreless. Rookie Eline Vink scored her first points at the highest level.
Leading 82-50 after the third quarter, the Lions did not hold back in the last period, scoring 24 points and finishing the game with a 12-0 run.
Saturday the ProBuild Lions host last seeded STOL Grasshoppers in the last of three consecutive home games. The Grasshoppers caused the Lions not much trouble in the two meetings they had before. In Landsmeer the Lions won by 27 points, 78-51. In the town of Katwijk Grasshoppers was overpowered 57-93 by the Lions in the second half of the game after an even score at halftime, 29-29.
Chelsey Warburton was 3 steals shy of a triple double that game, with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 7 rebounds.
The Lions took it more or less easy last week, practicing some new plays which are to be tried out on Saturday. Thursday they took the night off to watch the men's team of Eclipsejet MyGuide, who played Proteas AEL from Cyprus in a EuroChallenge game.
Saturday's game starts at 8.30 PM CET.
McDowell, Warburton Lead Lions to Win over Wereldtickets
Author: Henk Wals
Picture: Tine Sierink
Date: March 14, 2009
Molly McDowell scored 24 points and Chelsey Warburton added 23 to lead the ProBuild Lions to a 80-70 victory over Wereldtickets Leiderdorp.
McDowell also grabbed 8 rebounds, while Warburton had 7 boards and hit 5 3-pointers. Marie Hoogstraten contributed 13 points.
Starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke did not play due to showing flu-symptoms.
Coach Laki credited the American duo for pulling the game away. "Molly and Chelsey are good enough to score 20 or more points every game. However, I prefer my team to run a more balanced attack-pattern, with more players scoring in double figures. But tonight we had no choice, with original starters Anouk Biesters, Gerda Heinen and Jasmijn Overbeeke sidelined."
Lakner said the Lions did not play a great game overall, but had their moments. "We had a good start, with a 7-0 run, but half-way the first period we started to play sloppy, not running our plays well. It took us until the third quarter to recover and decide the game."
Junior Eline Vink made her debut on the highest level.
It took Chelsey Warburton not long to calibrate her shot this time. She started right away with a 3-pointer and added two free throws to put the Lions up 5-0. Another trey by Warburton and one from Nadine Boesaart helped to pull ProBuild to a 17-5 lead, but next Wereldtickets placed a 2-16 run, putting themselves in front 19-21 at the end of the period.
The lead changed to 27-24 for the Lions in the second period, but Jeanna Hoffman scored 8 consecutive points to put Wereldtickets up 27-34 at intermission.
Hoffman continued het streak after the break, 27-36, but Ilana Vergunst drained a trey before Molly McDowell produced a burst of 13 straight points to put the Lions up 46-42.
Kris Biesters and Marie Hoogstraten took over the scoring load and Chelsey Warburton nailed a rainbow from behind the arc to pull ProBuild to a 45-60 lead after the third quarter.
Warburton buried her 5th 3-pointer in the 5th minute of the last period, taking the Lions to their biggest lead in the game, 78-57.
At this point coach Laki Lakner called his starters to the bench, allowing Wereldtickets to finish the game with a 2-13 run.
Saturday ProBuild hosts Wereldtickets Leiderdorp, the young and talented team of coach Joris Zandbergen.
Wereldtickets has won just 4-out-of-21 games this season. The first meeting of ProBuild and Wereldtickets took place in Landsmeer. The Lions cruised to a lopsided 91-51 win.
The away-game gave the Lions a whole lot more trouble. Marie Hoogstraten hit a 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining to pull the game way, 72-74. Molly McDowell scored 30 points for ProBuild, but fellow-American Venessa Wilt had 36, proving to be almost unstoppable for the Lions' defense.
Hopefully coaches Laki Lakner and Dwight van West have figured something out to prevent this from happening again.
Game starts at 8.30 PM CET.
McDowell, Warburton Lead Lions to Win over Wereldtickets
Author: Henk Wals
Picture: Tine Sierink
Date: March 14, 2009
Molly McDowell scored 24 points and Chelsey Warburton added 23 to lead the ProBuild Lions to a 80-70 victory over Wereldtickets Leiderdorp.
McDowell also grabbed 8 rebounds, while Warburton had 7 boards and hit 5 3-pointers. Marie Hoogstraten contributed 13 points.
Starting center Jasmijn Overbeeke did not play due to showing flu-symptoms.
Coach Laki credited the American duo for pulling the game away. "Molly and Chelsey are good enough to score 20 or more points every game. However, I prefer my team to run a more balanced attack-pattern, with more players scoring in double figures. But tonight we had no choice, with original starters Anouk Biesters, Gerda Heinen and Jasmijn Overbeeke sidelined."
Lakner said the Lions did not play a great game overall, but had their moments. "We had a good start, with a 7-0 run, but half-way the first period we started to play sloppy, not running our plays well. It took us until the third quarter to recover and decide the game."
Junior Eline Vink made her debut on the highest level.
It took Chelsey Warburton not long to calibrate her shot this time. She started right away with a 3-pointer and added two free throws to put the Lions up 5-0. Another trey by Warburton and one from Nadine Boesaart helped to pull ProBuild to a 17-5 lead, but next Wereldtickets placed a 2-16 run, putting themselves in front 19-21 at the end of the period.
The lead changed to 27-24 for the Lions in the second period, but Jeanna Hoffman scored 8 consecutive points to put Wereldtickets up 27-34 at intermission.
Hoffman continued het streak after the break, 27-36, but Ilana Vergunst drained a trey before Molly McDowell produced a burst of 13 straight points to put the Lions up 46-42.
Kris Biesters and Marie Hoogstraten took over the scoring load and Chelsey Warburton nailed a rainbow from behind the arc to pull ProBuild to a 45-60 lead after the third quarter.
Warburton buried her 5th 3-pointer in the 5th minute of the last period, taking the Lions to their biggest lead in the game, 78-57.
At this point coach Laki Lakner called his starters to the bench, allowing Wereldtickets to finish the game with a 2-13 run.
Saturday ProBuild hosts Wereldtickets Leiderdorp, the young and talented team of coach Joris Zandbergen.
Wereldtickets has won just 4-out-of-21 games this season. The first meeting of ProBuild and Wereldtickets took place in Landsmeer. The Lions cruised to a lopsided 91-51 win.
The away-game gave the Lions a whole lot more trouble. Marie Hoogstraten hit a 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining to pull the game way, 72-74. Molly McDowell scored 30 points for ProBuild, but fellow-American Venessa Wilt had 36, proving to be almost unstoppable for the Lions' defense.
Hopefully coaches Laki Lakner and Dwight van West have figured something out to prevent this from happening again.
Game starts at 8.30 PM CET.
Chelsey Shines as Lions Breeze past Jumpers
Author: Henk Wals
Pictures: Tine Sierink
Video: Johan Kaal
Date: March 7, 2009
Chelsey Warburton drained six 3-pointers, scoring 26 points to lead the ProBuild Lions to an 82-67 victory over the Perik Jumpers. Warburton also collected 8 rebounds.
Molly McDowell contributed 16 points and Jasmijn Overbeeke added 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Belinda Bos chipped in with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
The Lions were coached by Dwight van West most of the game, as coach Laki Lakner was ejected in the first quarter after receiving two consecutive technical fouls for criticizing the referees.
ProBuild led 40-28 at halftime, but Perik cut the deficit to 1 point at the end of the third period, 56-55. In the fourth quarter ProBuild regained control.
Coach Dwight van West credited his team for taking the game. "We introduced some new defense plays this week and the girls handled that well. We also showed a fighting spirit from the beginning this time. For a change we did not trail at intermission. Perik had a strong third period, but we kept our heads cool and we pulled the game away in the fourth. "
"This was an important win", van West added. "We are more or less save now for the second seed and this allows us coaches to concentrate now on preparing the team for the play-offs and the Cup Finals."
Molly McDowell nailed a 3-pointer to make it 14-14 in the first period before coach Laki Laki got ejected after receiving two consecutive technical fouls. Perik converted two of the four free throws and former Lion Natalie Hudec made it 14-18.
The margin of four points was still there at the end of the period, 18-22.
Chelsey Warburton hit two 3-pointers in the second to cut the deficit to 27-28 before Nadine Boesaart hit a trey which gave the Lions the lead for good, 30-28.
The Lions continued their 16-0 run behind two more 3-pointers from Warburton, pulling to a 40-28 lead at halftime.
Chelsey Warburton's 5th and 6th 3-pointer at the start of the third period could not prevent a come-back from the Jumpers, who clawed back to 56-55, led by the talented junior Myrthe Beld.
Marie Hoogstraten pulled down an offensive rebound and scored two points to make it 58-55 at the start of the fourth quarter. Laura Dinkins made it 58-57 before Ilana Vergunst answered with a 3-pointer and Molly McDowell hit four free throws. Next Marie Hoogstraten fed Chelsey Warburton for a lay-up to give the Lions a 67-57 lead.
Natalie Hudec and Michell Willson cut Perik's deficit to 71-65, but Jasmijn Overbeeke broke the last resistance by blocking a shot from Sharon Beld and making a basket on the other side of the court, 73-65.
Natalie Hudec made it 73-67 before the Lions placed a final 9-0 run to secure the win.
Saturday ProBuild Lions host third seeded Perik Jumpers for the fourth meeting of the season. In the first three matches the Lions came out on top, but all games were close. The last battle took place in Landsmeer. The Lions trailed until the last minutes of the game, before Chelsey Warburton marked her debut with two late 3-pointers and a lay-up, pulling the Lions to a 54-52 win.
Hopefully ProBuild have recovered from last week's loss to AutoCAD Amazone and the news that Anouk Biesters is out for the season with a torn crucial ligament in her knee. Biesters, who is averaging 14 ppg, probably has to undergo surgery.
Braakman Financiële dienstverlening
Ruud en Marjan Nassette
Hans Larooi
Vincent Post
mevr Roele
Inge Schaft
Tine Sierink en
Henk Wals
Hans van Veen
mevr de Vries
Anneke Wals en
Ferdinand v. Veen
