ProBuild Lions beat HLB Accountants 74-78 to exclude them from the nr 1 spot.
It looked like the Lions would cruise to another lopsided victory in Den Helder, but it turned out differently this time.
Leading 18 points in the third period, the Lions saw their lead melt away in the fourth, as HLB closed in to a minimal margin of one point.
Molly McDowell scored 19 points, Anouk Biesters had 16 and Kati Harty contributed 15. Jasmijn Overbeeke and Ilana Vergunst both scored 11. Biesters also grabbed 9 rebounds and Overbeeke had 8.
Coach Laki Lakner happily credited his team for pulling out this important win, but was a little worried by HLB's comeback in the final period. "Usually we have no trouble breaking a press, but tonight we got ourselves into trouble, turning over the ball and allowing lay-ups. We have to work on that next week before entering the Cup Final. But overall we did a very good job. It is always a great pleasure to win here.""
ProBuild trailed 7-3, but Molly McDowell hit two free throws and three jumpers to help her team gaining a 14-15 lead, before stretching the margin to 16-24 after the quarter.
With ProBuild leading 28-35 in the fourth period, coach Meindert van Veen of HLB drew a technical for yelling at a ref after one of his players got fouled. Anouk Biesters converted four free throws Belinda Bos made a basket out of the following possession: 28-41 at halftime.
In the third period ProBuild built an 18 point margin, 36-54, but HLB cut it to 61-74 at the end of the quarter. In the fourth period coach Van Veen ordered a full court press, which led to a 13-0 Den Helder run, cutting the margin to 65-66.
Jasmijn Overbeeke who made a driving lay-up and Molly McDowell and Anouk Biesters both hit a pair of free throws to give the Lions a 7-point edge, 65-72. Leonie Kooij scored for HLB, but Biesters and McDowell went to the line again to make it 67-75.
With two minutes to go Ilana Vergunst nailed a 3-pointer (see video) to finish it off, 67-78.
A last 7-0 run of Den Helder turned out to be too little and too late.
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