 |
RAF Careers - Click here for Info |
RAF Careers - Click here for Info
NBL Britball.com Front
More.. Profiles Archive Search Features The News Wire
Interactive Hang-Time News by Email Hoopchat Frequently Asked Questions
Arrows pierce the Pumas
Derbyshire Arrows 72 Sutton Pumas 68
Derbyshire Arrows secured their place in the National Trophy Quarter Finals with a thrilling 72–68 victory over Conference team Sutton Pumas, giving the Arrows a 1 point aggregate victory having lost the corresponding away fixture.
The Arrows - with the temporary loss of player coach Garnet Gayle - began brightly with spectacular baskets from Davidson & Bevington, they went on to take a 23–15 advantage. A score line, which had already featured five different Arrows scorers.
The Pumas responded in the second quarter with Cook & Lloyd very much to the fore, Marsh & King responding for the Arrows, however only a buzzer beating shot from Tilly Hackett, kept the Arrows leading at the interval, 40 – 33.
The battle continued throughout the second half with David Waite making a decisive contribution for the Arrows well supported by the consistent Jeff Bevington. Late “3 pointers” from the Pumas’ Jones & Hopper closed the deficit to 70 – 68 before a last second “Dunk” from Kelly secured not only the victory on the night 72 – 68, but on aggregate 144 -143 to take the Arrows into the quarter - finals.
David Waite was the Arrows top player on the night, eventually shackling the dangerous Lloyd & responding on the offensive end with a telling 12 points. It is now clear that he is settling into the Arrows system & beginning to show why the Arrows organisation were so keen to secure him for the campaign ahead.
A large Chesterfield crowd of some 200 + were thoroughly entertained & went away happy on the night. They were also able to witness the presentation of a Sportsmatch grant to further the development of basketball in North Derbyshire.
Manchester Magic: 117 Worcester Wolves: 103.
The Wolves had won the first meeting in this National Trophy contest, beating the Magic convincingly on their own floor and proving themselves to be the surprise package of this year’s competition. After a bright start by both teams, the Wolves pulled ahead strongly, with the Magic, despite playing well, having no answer to the excellent distance shooting of their opponents, nor to their inside game. Iain Goodwin was having a sound game for the Magic and Haris Charalambous was looking strong from the free throw line, but their team was 16-28 down at the quarter.
The Wolves stormed ahead in the second quarter and the Magic were kept in the game by Sergio Lara. Bercial driving for the basket and either scoring points or drawing fouls. After five minutes, with the Magic down by 29-47 coach Jeff Jones went over to a full-court pressing defence which had the desired unsettling effect on the Wolves. On came James Jones for the Magic, scored a stunning 3 pointer from deep in the corner and suddenly the mood of the game changed, with all the Magic players raising their game and they went to the changing room at half-time, having cut the deficit to 47-52. The home fans were delighted by this turnaround, feeling a win was now possible.
Within three minutes, the Magic were ahead for the first time and the third quarter was a very close-run thing, with the lead changing constantly. Kevin St. Kitts, Wayne Mulgrave and Sean McKie, along with a Sergio Laral-Bercial on top form, supported by their teammates made it an excellent quarter for both teams, ending with the Magic down by 2 at 75-77.
Matt Weedall set the tone for the last quarter with a brilliant steal in his own half, followed by a long pass to Kevin St. Kitts, who scored an easy lay-up. Confidence is a wonderful thing. Star of the ten minutes was young Haris Charalambous, suddenly looking the part of the big centre, dominating both boards and scoring freely, but all the Magic players were outstanding The crowd were thrilled to see their team outscoring opponents who maintained their outside shooting amazingly well, despite their inside game losing its impact.
Coventry Crusaders 71 Reading Rockets 75
Reading Rockets produced yet another gutsy and compelling performance to snatch a 71-75 victory from the jaws of defeat after being behind for most of the game. The victory was all the more impressive given the squad's decimation due to injury, illness and unavailability. "I was really impressed with this victory" commented Head Coach Dave Titmuss "We really stuck at it even when it looked as though the game was beyond us".
Rockets suffered an injury blow even before the game had started with John Hodds pulling up with a hamstring injury in the warm up. With Evan York and Neill Ricketts unavailable, Ben Drury recovering from illness, Adam Kelly only 70% fit with ankle problems, Matt Johnson awaiting surgery for a knee problem, Pem Bristol head injury, Jon Goode still recovering from a chest infection and Ted Smith with a sore knee, the task against a full strength Coventry looked formidable. However Coventry Coach Robert "Dip" Donaldson did not underestimate the Rockets threat "We will need to play 40 minutes in order to have a chance of beating them because they don't give up". Profound words indeed as the Rockets victory was only secured in the last minute of the game.
The start of the game was delayed as the home side were unable to provide a 24 second clock and both teams had to agree to play without one and rely on the referees judgment. Coventry started strongly scoring two from the tip off but Smith opened Rockets account with one from two from the line and Pem Bristol made a steal and scored two. An indication of things to come from the referees was demonstrated as Matt Eames standing still was adjudged to have fouled when a Coventry player ran into him. Smith dominated Rockets play with his usual 100% commitment but Coventry had the advantage after five minutes at 15-11. The sheer physical presence of the Coventry team was tough to cope with but Rockets continued to play their own game with some excellent work from Kelly and Durrant. Rockets finished the quarter 23-15 down but were still extremely positive during the team talk at the break.
Coventry failed to convert their first possession to points as Ted Smith intercepted for Damon Cooper to score two at the start of the second quarter. Although Rockets missed a couple of shots from open play they tightened their defense and were able to reduce their deficit to 23-21 after three minutes which prompted a Coventry time out. When play resumed Coventry piled on the pressure and Rockets were unfortunate as a number of shots rimmed out and this enabled the hosts to establish a 10 point advantage at half time 40-30.
Coventry again failed to score from the tip off at the start of the third quarter and Pem Bristol made a great pass for Smith to score two and Eames and Cooper scored two each without reply from Coventry. However they stopped the rot with a three point play on their next offense to bring the score to 43-36 in their favour. Cooper continued to have no luck when shooting but Jon Goode was showing his strength scoring two from under the basket and one from the line. Ian Durrant continued to be singled out for harsh treatment by the referees as he was flattened by a Coventry player from a standing position only to be penalised. After a Coventry time out and some great play by Rockets, Ted Smith scored four from four from the line for
Rockets to end the quarter only five points behind at 58-53.Reading struck early in the final ten minutes with Durrant and Bristol both scoring two without reply and the visitors' defense causing the Coventry offense to run foul of the 24 second limit. Damon Cooper gave his sides the lead for the first time in the game scoring two but Coventry came roaring back to punish Rockets when they failed to score on three offensive drives. Rockets visibly increased the pressure on the Coventry offense and forced some errors which allowed Bristol and Eames to score and Ted Smith to level the scores at 69 each with a marvellous finger roll. Cooper then missed a relatively straight forward lay up and Coventry scored two from the line. Ted Smith again drove to the basket to level the scores again at 71 each with just 30 seconds remaining. The tension was unbearable but the Rockets away support maintained their deafening encouragement as Cooper was fouled on the way to the basket and Coventry took another
time out. Cooper held his nerve superbly scoring both shots from the line and Rockets stole possession from Coventry who immediately fouled Smith and he also held his nerve to score both from the line with
only 4 seconds left.
Hull Icebergs 94 Liverpool 72
Hull Icebergs finally got off the mark in the NBLTrophy after losing their first five games, beating Liverpool 94=72. Hull started the game as they meant to go on. After only four minutes they led 13-7, Karl Seamarks and Miguel Canelo both hitting three pointers. Liverpool could only manage the odd basket and by the end of the first quarter Hull led 26-13. The second quarter had much of the same. Hull going on an 11-0 run in the first 2.30, Tarryn Algar hitting a three pointer for the Icebergs.
The only problem for Hull was early foul trouble. Fortunately Liverpool missed their free throws, in fact it took them 3.30 to score a point. After a timeout Liverpool did go on a 6-0 run while Hull had player/coach Kevin Penny ejected with 3.14 left, but they regrouped and regained the ascendancy and led at the half 46-28.
The third quarter was quite even in the number of points each side scored, and the way they played. Both started with an outside game that had little success, and then an inside game which proved more productive, and by the end it was the Icebergs that led by twenty, 66-46.
Hull went on another 10-0 run in the middle part of the final quarter, and with 5.17 left led 80-55.
Liverpool to their credit never gave in, and as Hull slackened off managed to put some points on the board to lessen the deficit slightly. All of Hull's players produced, but John Brignall was outstanding at both ends of the court, as the home fans celebrated for the first time this season.
Derbyshire Arrows 88 Kingston Wildcats 76
The Derbyshire Arrows completed their second win of the weekend over Conference teams by securing an 88 – 76 victory over the Kingston Wildcats in front of a large crowd at the Queens Park Sports Centre in Chesterfield.
The Arrows took control from the start, tenacious defense followed by outstanding offense saw the Arrows leap to a 25 – 7 lead. Gayle, Waite, Davidson & Bevington were all prominent in these early exchanges as the Arrows closed the quarter with a 26 – 12 advantage.
Tilley Hackett & Jeff Bevington continued the Arrows scoring spree in a second quarter, which saw the Arrows extend their advantage at the interval 48 – 27.
The third period saw David Waite combine with Bevington as the Arrows threatened to run riot at 69 – 46 but the Wildcats showed great resilience & as the Arrows began to experiment closed down the lead.
Copyright Britball. Download is subject to Britball's Terms and Conditions
