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Mohawks continue Trophy run
NBL Trophy, Semi-Finals: Teesside 91 Manchester M 81
Tees Valley Leisure Mohawks secured a place in their fourth successive National Trophy final by maintaining their 100 pc record in the competition with a 10 point win over visitors Manchester.
Tony Hanson, the Eston club’s head coach, was all smiles at qualifying for the Sheffield final after edging out Manchester, although he knows just how close his side came to tasting defeat. “It’s fantastic to be going back to Sheffield again for another final,” said Hanson. “But Manchester put up a very spirited, physical fight which made us play hard all the way to the end of the game.”
And that fight was evident after the fourth minute of play, by which time Mohawks enjoyed a 10-2 lead. Magic had clearly not travelled to Eston Sports Academy just to make up the numbers, and transmitted their intentions when first Sean McKie, followed by new signing Matt Hogarth clawed them back into contention with a couple of baskets before the game erupted into the first of several skirmishes.
Manchester number 10 Jon Linsley started the ball rolling when being called for a technical foul by the referee. But Magic coach Jeff Jones decided he would like an in depth report on the reason for the decision from official Dimitrios Thomas and was himself given a technical.
Not content with one technical though, Jones continued to challenge the official’s authority, for which he was given a second, leading to his ejection from the game and five free throws being awarded to Mohawks. Jason Swaine grasped the opportunity with both hands and sank the lot to ease his side 9 points ahead.
The episode served only to spur on the visitors who, led mobile phone conversations from Jones with his bench, and sign language from the balcony (all in breach of the regulations), launched into their own attack mode that saw them reel in Mohawks and enter the first break just two behind.
By the seventh minute of the second quarter Magic overtook Mohawks for the first time in the game after the smallest man on court, Sean Mckie, blocked an attempt on the basket by Ralph Bucci, giving big man Hogarth a two at the other end while Hanson’s side failed to score for almost four minutes. But when they did, it allowed them to recover long enough to go into the dressing room at half time with an unconvincing 3 point lead (41-38).
While Mohawks entered the final quarter still two points ahead, it had to be done the hard way after the visitors twice regained the lead during the third session. And with a better defensive effort from the league leaders at the start of the fourth quarter, Manchester could add just two to their total over the first 5 minutes while the home side put on 13 of their own to go 12 up with four minutes to play.
But that was not the end of Manchester. Up went the shutters at the back to stop Mohawks scoring, while workhorse Hogarth with 7, and McKie, combined to bring the deficit down to just four and a few worried looks on the Mohawks bench.
But Magic were clearly running out of steam and had to resort to persistent fouling in the hope that Mohawks would miss while passing on possession. Thankfully, EJ Harrison, Ralph Bucci and Jason Swaine made no mistake with their 7 free throws, while Lijah Perkins could afford to miss one of two and still see the side come through by 91-81.
NBL Conference: Solent 92 Sutton 74
Solent Stars were without Trevor Donaldson (suspended) for this home game against Sutton Pumas. Coach Mark Scott chose an unorthodox starting five of Dimitry La Croix, Alan McDonald, Nick OHarabe, John Bynum and Marlin Capers but his condifence was repaid as Solent quickly went into a 16 - 6 lead in the second minute. There then followed a barren spell when neith side scored for three minutes before a final burst of scoring - in which John Bynum added the last six consecutive points - put Solent comfortably ahead at the end of the first quarter (29 - 11).
The second quarter was similar to the first in outcome. Sutton were unable to score a field goal until the sixth minute of the quarter. Prior to that they had scored only five of their eight shots from the free throw line. In contrast, Dimitry La Croix and Marlin Capers both landed successful three point attempts.
With Solent's recent history, the only question at half time was if they could outdo themselves and throw away a 30 point (55 - 25) lead in the second half. Sutton did make inroads into the difference in the third quarter, but Solent were in no mood to surrender too much of the lead. Brian Moore had opened Sutton's second half account with a three pointer and with many of the Sutton players contributing to the scoring, Solent were briefly held in check, but a short flurry of scoring restored the 30 point gap (74 - 44). By the end of the quarter, Nic OHarabe had received his fifth foul and Sutton were 24 points adrift.
Solent found it hard to find any sense of urgency in the last quarter and were leading 92 - 68 three minutes from time. Sutton never gave up and forced Solent into a series of fouls as their players drove in on the basket. This led for a protracted and untidy last few minutes, with Solent unable to score but winning their second league game of the season.
And to cap a busy weekend, the side also continues to look down on the rest of the Conference League from pole position after picking up another two league points at the expense of Coventry Crusaders.
Reading 81 Kingston 70
Reading Rockets workman-like victory was based on a sound defensive performance which pleased Head Coach Dave Titmuss "We set out to keep our defense tight and maintained our intensity throughout which was excellent". Ted Smith turned in yet another stunning performance not only top scoring with 29 points but also producing an extremely high standard of overall play "You'd be hard pressed to find a better player in the National Conference" commented a delighted Team Manager Gary Johnson. Although the game was close and the lead changed hands a number of times Rockets never looked in danger of losing the game.
Rockets started brightly and Captain and Player of the Month for
November Matt Johnson made a strong drive to the basket only to be
fouled but he made two from two at the line. Kingston replied in the
form of ex Rockets player Andy Powlesland who made a long three.
Johnson was again in the thick of things as he made a steal for Smith
to score an easy two and almost immediately Cooper made another steal
> to provide Smith with two more cheap points. Kingston weathered the
> storm well and despite some very intense defense by Rockets kept the
> scores close. After Hodds scored well from a rebound Kingston scored
> another three to take the lead at 12-10 with five minutes remaining.
> Although Rockets quickly levelled the score Kingston scored another
> three and Coach Titmuss called a time out. Apart from urging his
> defense to cut off the long shooting opportunities for Kingston,
> Titmuss was anxious to eradicate Rockets hesitancy on offense.
> Washington and Smith rounded off Rockets scoring for the first quarter
> but Kingston took the initiative into the second quarter with a 23-18
> lead.
>
> Neither team scored on their first offenses but Rockets David
> Washington came up with a nice long two pointer to which Kingston
> quickly responded. Rockets Adam Kelly, an unsung hero for all his
> defensive hard work, produced some great hussle to gain possession and
> score two. But Kingston by virtue of some excellent long shooting
> increased their lead to eight points at 33-25 with five minutes
> remaining. Ted Smith, the engine room and heart of the team, showed
> typical guts and determination to draw a foul from the Kingston
> defense, which put them on team fouls, and he scored both points from
> the line and then Damon Cooper scored a crucial three pointer to close
> the Rockets deficit to two points at 33-31. Matt Eames eventually
> levelled the scores at 35 each and right at the end of the quarter
> Smith made two from the line for a Rockets lead of 37-35.
>
> Smith and Washington made an early impact in the third quarter as the
> game moved into rather a scrappy phase with mistakes and fouls the
> dominating features. Kingston briefly took the lead thanks again to
> some more excellent long shooting but Ted Smith with a super human
> effort scored from his own rebound, John Hodds scored two from under
> the basket, Kelly made a nice jump shot and finally Smith made a
> stunning three pointer right on the buzzer to give Rockets a 55-52
> lead.
>
> Kingston scored two right from the tip off of the final quarter but
> Washington made two after a superb pass from Kelly. Then came the
> turning point in the game when Rockets demonstrated their defensive
> qualities as Kingston ran foul of the 24 second clock on their next
> offense. Smith and Washington scored again and Cooper came up with
> another big three to give Rockets a 63-56 lead. Kingston's frustration
> showed as they committed a series of fouls which disrupted the flow of
> the game but not Rockets superiority. Smith made a brilliant assist
> for Ian Durrant to make an easy two and Kingston continued to foul.
> Kingston took another two time outs but these had little effect as the
> Rockets players held their nerve from the line. In the final moments
> Cooper made a break for Smith to score another straight forward lay up
> and Rockets then ensured that their most consistent free throw line
> shooter Damon Cooper had possession as Kingston resorted to constant
> fouling in an attempt to gain possession. In fact Cooper finished the
> game with another three pointer and Kingston scored two after the
> final buzzer but the referees allowed the score.
>
Teesside 92 Coventry 81
Coventry Crusaders made the trip to Teesside in time to see the second half of the semi final game and try to plot Mohawks downfall in a league fixture. While that did not happen, they too gave Hanson’s side a scare before joining the list of clubs to go away from Eston with no reward for their efforts.
As with the Manchester game, events at times got very ‘tasty’, with James Nicholson and Crusaders’ Colin Rhooms both being warned about their conduct following a couple of bouts of wrestling. And in similar fashion to Saturday’s game, despite being as many as 11 points up during the early exchanges, Mohawks were unable to shake off the visitors until the latter stages of the match, and not before Coventry had enjoyed a number of spells in the lead.
Hanson’s side first fell into deficit just after the third quarter tip off which, having gone Mohawks way, was run out of bounds by Bucci. From the baseline throw Weaver, followed by Barrett, scored to take a 49-48 lead.
This was a poor session by Mohawks’ standards, with just 12 points scored against Crusaders’ 19. Four free throws – two each from Knechtel and Ley – failed to hit the target, while the uninspiring play also saw a backcourt violation and steals to see the fourth quarter get underway with a worrying three point shortfall for the home side.
It was not until eight minutes from time that Mohawks began to really look as though they had regained their shape. And it was Bucci, who went on to top the side’s scoring with 23, who put them ahead with two smoothly taken free throws. But much of the side’s ultimate success should be put down to Swaine and Harrison, who between them bagged five crucial three pointers in the 32-18 last ten minute session.
All-in-all Mohawks battled well and will feel ready to deal with anything that is thrown at them on Sunday, when the side has a dress rehearsal against National Trophy final opponents Worthing for league points at Eston Sports Academy (tip off 3 pm).
NBL Division One: Derbyshire Arrows 82 Ealing Tornados 89
The Derbyshire Arrows suffered their first League defeat in 15 months at the hands of the impressive Ealing Tornados by 82 – 89. The Arrows struggled to overcome the loss of star duo Jamie Davidson & Richard Marsh both struck down in the week by injury were powerless observers in an entertaining encounter.
The Arrows clearly missing the injured Davidson could not find their usual quick start and although Bevington was on target for the Arrows they still closed the quarter some 18 – 21 down.
The superior athleticism of the Tornadoes was evident after the break with only Bevington & Gayle registering for the Arrows in a quarter the Arrows lost 17 – 28, reaching the interval some 35 – 49 behind. This pattern continued throughout the third quarter with Cadogan, Jivens & Fontaine outstanding for the Tornados with Waite, Gayle & King responding for the Arrows who began the final quarter trailing by 52 – 68.
The final quarter finally saw the Arrows try and pull off a remarkable recovery. Ellmer began to shoot from distance while Gayle & Bevington were able to score inside. The Arrows closed remarkably at 82 – 86 but the Tornados were not to be denied and closed out the game.
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