It was a breathtaking thriller in the Weide Wereld gym. But in the end it was Heather Zurich who kept control of her nerves and with two free throws she shot Amazone to the 75-74 win, while the clock after 45 minutes already pointed out 0:00. First Amazone had to work away a 65-72 disadvantage. Match winner Zurich lead her team with the help of a crucial three point hit of Charlotte Kromhout . Also she stopped an open, obviously decisive fastbreak of Grasshoppers by a shotblock. Zurich scores a nice double double (21 points and 14 rebounds), only Amber Jackson had better figures with 28 points and 21 rebounds.
Zurich was able to play after her nose operation because of a mask. Coach Jan Poels had to play against the old Amazone coach Bo Melis (Grasshoppers) without his top guards Marloes Renskers and Francis Donders. A hard job against the fast and small Grasshoppers team. Amazone had problems to control the game. It gave away to much balls in offense and made some defensively mistakes. It did give Grasshoppers change to grow into the game. In overtime the visitors from Katwijk even had the best chance for a win, but Amazone showed with Zurich the right mentality to turn the game and take the first competition win.
AutoCAD Amazone – STOL Grasshoppers 75-74 (20-14, 34-29, 50-48, 63-63)
Sigrid van der Toorn opens with a three point hit, Anouk Breel answers within the minute. After that Amber Jackson is unstoppable and takes Amazone to a 20-9 lead. In the final minute Amazone gives away five points, 20-14. The difference remains until 31-22, also because of a three point hit of Charlotte Kromhout. Then Breel hits another three and gets two more opportunities to release a shot another hit behind the arc, 31-27. The teams come to the halftime digits with free throws, 34-29.
In the third quarter Amazone can’t keep control on the game. Jackson is fast scoring the 38-29, then Amazone falls back. Some defensive mistakes give Breel another opportunity for two new three point hits, high via the glass, 45-44. Grasshoppers continues to 45-48. Jackson scores the 47-48. With 1.1 second coach Jan Poels takes a time-out. Heather Zurich releases a mid court shot in the buzzer and hits, 50-48. Jackson repears the margin to 56-48. Zurich keeps the difference to 62-55. Then Amazone falls back in level another time. Grasshoppers equals and even has the last shot, but it misses the basket.
Jackson immediately helps Amazone to 65-63, but with 65-65 Grasshoppers pulls the maximum out of an intentional foul during a score. Grasshoppers hits the bonus free throw and scores out of the extra possession of the ball, 65-70. Rianne Philippo hits with a drive the 65-72, and after 66-72 Jackson has to leave with five fouls. Zurich (playing with a protection mask) launches a jumpshot and Kromhout nails a crucial three point hit for 72-72. Grasshoppers hit another free throw, but Zurich first sweeps an open fast break of grasshoppers away with a blocked shot and then scores the 73-73. Grasshoppers then onlt hits one out of two free throws, 73-74. In the buzzer Zurich deserves a foul. With the time at 0:00 she exposes herself as the ice woman and with that as match winner.
Scores Amazone: Amber Jackson 28 (21 rebs), Heather Zurich 21 (14 rebs) Charlotte Kromhout 8, Sigrid van der Toorn 7, Maaike van de Bovenkamp 6 (7 assists, 6 steals), Gül Barut 3, Kiki Geelen 2.
Shot: Inside: 14/35 (40%), outside 15/40 (38%), free throws 13/24 (54%). Rebounds: 58-39 (60%), Steals/interceptions: 25-30 (45%), Fastbreak points out of steals: 2-6.
Luc Reuvers