Ludwigsburg finished the regular season on a high note by topping Panionios On Telecoms 86-95 for its third straight win. After starting the season 0-7, Ludwigsburg managed to climb to fifth place in Group G. Meanwhile Panionios, which had already clinched a spot in the Last 32, dropped to 5-5, but finished the regular season in third place. Michel Ferreira scored a season-high 18 points and Brandon Woudstra finished with 14 points and 11 assists to pace the winning side. The game was close throughout the first period-and-a-half, before some hot shooting from Ludwigsburg gave the visitors a slim lead at halftime, 48-55. Panionios stayed close, but Woudstra kept his team organized and got the ball to the right guys in the right places to preserve the lead. Some big shots from Nils Mittmann down the stretch allowed Ludwigsburg to seal the victory. Coleman Collins added 15 points and Mittmann scored 13 for the winners. Brad Newley led Panionios with 21 points, Yannis Giannoulis and Ivan Zoroski scored 15 points apiece and Dusan Sakota had 11 in defeat.
Collins started the game with a three-point play for Ludwigsburg, but Newley and Giannoulis soon put the hosts on top. The teams began trading baskets, with Panionios getting points from Giannoulis and Sakota while Woudstra and Ferreira led Ludwigsburg as the score stayed even until a Stefan Fahrad triple gave the visitors a 23-26 lead after 10 minutes. Vasilios Xanthopoulos tied it with a triple as the second period got underway. Back-to-back triples from Heiko Schaffartzik and Mittmann provided Ludwigsburg with a slim edge and Ferreira helped boost it in little time. Woudstra made it a 10-point game from the line, but threes from Ioannis Kalampokis and Newley brought Panionios within 48-53 before a Ronal Ross jumper made it a 7-point lead at the half. Collins converted a three-point play to help Ludwigsburg pick up where it left off in the first half. Nothing was over yet though, as experienced Giannoulis scored 4 points and swatted away Woodstra’s layup attempt to pull Panionios within 55-58. Giannoulis was now the focal point on the hosts’ offense, however the guests remained in charge mainly thanks to floor general Woodstra, who was doing a great job feeding his teammates. As a result, Ludwigsburg pushed the margin to 69-79 with one period remaining. Zoroski tried to ignite a comeback, only to see sharp-shooter Mittman loading his pistol and allowing the guests to hold an 81-88 edge. Then, with the score at 84-90, Kalampokis missed a crucial open triple and eventually Ludwigsburg got away with a well-deserved away victory.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Epameinondas Tsakalos, Athens
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