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Solent dent Plymouth chances
NBL Conference: Solent 113 Plymouth 97
Plymouth Raiders ceded leadership of the NBL Conference after their third defeat of the campaign, Solent Stars denting the Devon outfit's chances with a 113-97 victory.
The foundation for the win was set in the first quarter when Solent roared into a 15 - 2 lead after only four minutes. Plymouth tried hard to defend and reached four fouls before Solent had been charged with their first. In that spell also, Nic OHarabe had missed three of his four throws, but atoned with a three pointer which Steve Davison duplicated immediately. It was Solent's dominance of the boards that helped their cause and Steve Davison also was noticeable
with his rebounding. It was the fifth minute before Plymouth were able to score their second basket but Solent's man-to-man defence was tight and only eight points came from Plymouth's open play in the first quarter, the rest were from the free throw line.Solent opened the second quarter with nine more points before Plymouth could add to their score. By the seventh minute Solent had opened a 55 - 27 point lead before a brief rally by Plymouth pegged the score back by eleven points to 55 - 38. Then John Bynum added two more to take his total to thirteen for the quarter and Alan Cunningham also hit two to give Solent a 19 point half time advantage.
John Bynum and Marlin Capers continued the scoring assault on Plymouth immediately after the break and Solent moved to a 30 point advantage by the ninth minute (90 - 60) although they were showing some signs of tiredness as they gave the ball away on a couple of occasions. The only question remaining was whether Solent could protect their lead having twice previously this season surrendered big leads to Plymouth.
Plymouth were able to stage a rally in the last quarter with Gavin Love scoring a couple of three pointers and several of the Plymouth team adding to their personal scores as Solent relaxed on defence and went into a more static zone. Newcomer John Nottley grabbed several
important rebounds for Solent as they managed to keep a comfortable gap between the scores of the two teams. Although Plymouth outscored Solent in the last quarter, that was there only success as they were never able to recover from an excellent first half display from their hosts who remain in third place.Teesside 111 Kingston 68
TVL Mohawks shot back to the top of the Conference League with a comprehensive 43 point win over visitors Kingston Wildcats while last week’s leaders, Plymouth, lost out to third placed Solent Stars.
And to cap a good weekend for the Teesside outfit, Middlesbrough College Academy, the club’s under 20’ side, gave a stirring performance to defeat Ealing Tornadoes 82-76 and qualify for the Under 20s National Cup Final.
It was an unfortunate time for any side to be facing Mohawks. Knocked off the top of the league and completely knocked out of their rhythm a week earlier at Worthing, Tony Hanson’s crack side responded in the best possible way and poor Kingston really were made to pay.
Hanson described the win as a turning point for his side. “This was a big turnaround for us after Worthing and puts us back in the driving seat again,” he said. “It is now up to us to make sure the results go our way for the rest of the season.”
The first quarter saw Mohawks double Wildcats’ 15 point tally. But to complete a real first half rout, the second period saw the visitors add just 8 to their total, giving them a paltry 23 points against 52 for the home side at the halfway point, and no way of getting back in the game.
Only in the fourth quarter, when Mohawks had a forty plus advantage, did the foot come off the gas and allow Kingston a real sight of the basket. And the visitors responded by posting 27 points, although they still lost the quarter by two points (27-29).
Right from the opening tip, where Hanson opted for a changed starting five that included Pete Knechtel in place of captain Neil Hopper, the signs were that no prisoners would be taken. Lijah Perkins, who went on to carve out his first top-scoring performance since joining the club, and Ralph Bucci, put 6 points on the board while the side’s defence made their intentions clear by making good blocks and getting in the faces of the Wildcats’ shooters to foil early attempts from outside the arc.
It was almost three minutes before Kingston lit up their scoreboard, with player/coach Solomon Ayinla, who was behind most of his side’s better offensive work and top-scored with 16 points, posting just ahead of the only other visitor to put in a noteworthy performance, Jamie Whitaker.
Mohawks answered with 6 points from Perkins, Knechtel and Butler before hitting a three minute barren spell. But Kingston failed to take advantage and missed 3 out of 5 free throws before Steve Butler launched Mohawks into a 10-0 run by taking the first four points. The second two points came in one of the moves of the game.
Dennis Ley broke down a Kingston attack with some excellent defence and fired a pinpoint pass to EJ Harrison. And in good crowd-pleasing style Harrison picked out Swaine, who slipped the ball to Butler for conversion.
If the visitors weren’t already on the ropes at 15-30 down after the first 10 minutes, then within three minutes of the second quarter they undoubtedly were.
Kingston won the tip off and looked to Matt Bottiglia, who set himself for a try from three point range, for some inspiration. But another wayward shot failed to hit its target, leaving the first score of the session to Mohawks’ new boy Leon Gabbidon, who marked his home debut with two successful shots from the free throw line as the side put 7 on the scoreboard while the visitors took four minutes to get off the mark with baskets from Whitaker and Ade Orelaja.
But in possibly one of the most one-sided 10 minute spells seen at Eston, Mohawks were so dominant at both ends of the court that only four further points were added to Wildcats’ score over the next six minutes – three of them from Andy Powlesland – while a further 15 went onto the home scoreboard to give a dream 29 point half time lead.
Kingston coach Ayinla must have given his side a half time rocket in the dressing room, because they came out for the second half looking much more focused on the job and after three minutes had outscored Mohawks 9-5. But just 9 more points over the next six minutes, against 25 for Hanson’s side, saw Mohawk’s lead extended to exactly double Kingston’s 41 point total.
Knechtel got the last quarter scoring underway, but with a good shareout of court time for the squad’s bench players, Kingston were able to score a little more freely although they still fell short of Mohawks 29 points.
Steve Butler, who with 13 points was one of six Mohawks to hit double figures, took the side to the 100 mark and Gabbidon sealed his debut with the last score of the game - a two point play assisted by Bucci. All of Swaine’s 15 points came from three point range.
This really was a much-improved showing by a side that is head and shoulders above the rest of the division. And this showing was a tremendous response to the disappointing display of one week earlier.
Top scorer Lijah Perkins put the better display down to playing as a team. He said: “We played an all-round game today. We were good in offence, we stepped up our defence and rebounded well.
“But more than anything we played as a team. And when we play team basketball we will always win. In some previous games we have set off playing team basketball and them some players have switched to an individual game. But when we play as a team there isn’t a side in this league who can stop us.”
Reading Rockets 101 Worthing Thunder 104 (After Overtime)
Having played some breathtaking basketball that at times left Worthing and their supporters reeling with its quality, technique and execution, Rockets lost their composure in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter squandering possession and missing easy scoring opportunities to allow Worthing a 6-0 spell enabling them to level the scores on the buzzer and force the game into overtime. In overtime Rockets failed to score on three offensive drives whilst Worthing made sure of a 101-104 win either in open play or from the line. It was a game that Rockets should have won and stand in Head Coach Matt Johnson was disappointed "We played superbly for 38 minutes and tensed up in the last two and made some unfortunate errors in overtime".
The Rockets defense must have seemed like the Bank of England vault to Worthing as they failed to score during the first five minutes of play whilst Rockets scored ten points thanks to Hodds making two after a great assist by Kelly, a Hodds interception lead to the same combination
again for two more and Cooper scored four in a row, the second two thanks to a Durrant interception. A shell shocked Worthing took a time out at 10-2 down with just over four minutes remaining. On the resumption York made a nice jump shot for two and Cooper sunk a massive
three after another Rockets interception. Durrant scored another two as Rockets mesmerised the Worthing defense with clever and incisive movement. Coach Johnson called a time out and Cooper scored another three on the restart after some great passing by Rockets. Worthing's
mini revival started with a three to put them 20-9 behind with a minute
and a half remaining. Kelly took a crushing charging foul and Bristol
made a lay up after Eames rebounded well but some momentary lapses in
the Rockets defense allowed Worthing to cut their deficit to just 22-17
by the end of the quarter.Worthing reduced their deficit still further by scoring from the tip off of the second quarter but Eames made two of two from the line after
being fouled after taking an excellent rebound. Worthing's star player
Paul Mundy Castle started to make an impression with his speed and
agility which caused the Rockets defense some problems. However Smith
showing his usual tenacity scored two and Hodds made three from four at
the line after two consecutive fouls. Cooper made another big three and
Worthing called a time out as Rockets drew ahead 34-26 with four minutes
to go. Rockets were really playing well and this was typified when
Cooper made a break for Kelly to make two, Hodds fought on the floor for
possession and Bristol took his own rebound made two and drew the foul.
Rockets increased their lead to 41-26 and took a time out with two and a
half minutes to play. Rockets piled on the pressure and Hodds made a
clever pass for Durrant to make a lay up and Smith buried a big three
after a great multi passing move. The quarter ended with Smith getting
elbowed in the throat, an act that went unseen and unpunished by the
referees, and Cooper making a hook shot for two on the buzzer to give
Rockets a thoroughly deserved 52-35 half time lead.At the start of the third quarter Rockets continued where they had left off in the second with tight defense and incisive attack. Smith, Cooper,
Durrant and Hodds all added to the total as Worthing desperately tried
to up their game to contain a rampant Rockets team. The score of 63-45
in Rockets favour with four minutes to go prompted a Worthing time out.
At the restart Bristol and Durrant scored two each from the line and
Eames made a superb block to foil a certain Worthing score. Worthing
scored a three which seemed to give them a boost and they had the better
of the closing exchanges in the quarter cutting their deficit to 12
points at 75-63 down.The Worthing bench knew their moment had arrived and the team came out in determined mood at the start of the fourth quarter although they failed to score on their first possession. Ted Smith was fouled on his way to the basket and made two from the line and Bristol turned cleverly
under the basket to make two but Worthing were finding the basket with
more ease. Rockets took a time out at 80-73 with six and a half minutes
to go to re-organise as John Hodds was fouled out. Worthing's intensity
increased and Rockets became edgy and indecisive. The flow of the game
was disrupted by repeated fouls as tiredness and frustration set in.
Worthing took a time out at 88-82 to Rockets with two minutes remaining.
When Eames missed a straight forward lay up and Worthing responded with
four unanswered points Coach Johnson called a time out. At 88-86 with 19
seconds to go and Rockets possession it looked as though victory was
only moments away but quite incredibly Rockets lost possession of the
ball and Worthing equalised on the buzzer to force the game into
overtime.The five minutes of overtime started with a Worthing score and Rockets fouling on their first offense. Rockets missed another scoring opportunity and Worthing duly punished them by making two for a 92-88 lead. Eames and Kelly came to the rescue both scoring two from nicely
controlled jump shots. Rockets then fouled twice as Worthing piled on the pressure and they made three out of four from the line. The unfortunate Eames then missed another easy scoring chance and Rockets, in the form of the excellent Kelly, fouled again and Worthing made one from two at the line. Kelly was fouled out. Worthing then scored two on the breakaway and drew the foul, they missed the extra but still had a 100-96 lead with just over one minute remaining. Eames fouled, and was fouled out, and Worthing made two from the line. Cooper was fouled out in the last few seconds Worthing made their shots from the line and although Smith scored a three on the buzzer it was not enough to avoid a defeat.
Inter Basket 91 Manchester 78
Having lost the away match by 38 points earlier in the season, Inter Basket exacted sweet revenge
with a 91-78 victory over Manchester Magic at the Space Centre in Hackney on Saturday night.The match started in bizarre fashion with the first four baskets all being three-point shots with
Manchester's Kevin St Kitts establishing his presence early on. The home side moved out to 11-8
with a Perry Lawson 3-point play but neither side could establish an advantage before back-to-back three-pointers from Matt Hogarth gave the Northerners a 25-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.When Manchester moved out to 34-25 after four minutes of the second period, Hogarth with a further five taking him to 15 personal, another rout seemed possible. But this time the Londoners were in no mood to capitulate. Intense defence and good offensive control gave them a 13-0 run that opened a 38-34 lead; Franck Batimba finding the hot hand with two treys. Mansour Mbye and Laurent Irish combined to limit Hogarth to just two more first half points as Inter lead 46-41 at the half time interval; Lawson with 17 points, the same number as Hogarth.
Manchester's 15-6 run in the first five minutes of the third quarter threatened to give them back
control as they moved out to 56-52 but a 10-1 run in the remainder of the period saw the Londoners go into the final quarter up 62-57.But St Kitts had other ideas as he scored his sides first 11 points of the final stanza. For Inter,
debutant Vance Silcott made a sizeable contribution and with a Junior Bashorun three-pointer and
another score from Mbye, the hosts led by six. Manchester's 7-0 run took them ahead by 1 at 73-72 with four minutes to play as the home sides poor shot selection threatened to cost them the match.But a calming time-out seemed to have the desired effect as Batimba, Lawson and Irish combined for a 12-0 run that effectively settled matters. Manchester could never get back as cool shooting from the foul line gave Inter a convincing margin at the final hooter.
Lawson 23, Mbye 16 and Irish 14 were the top scorers for Inter, St Kitts 29, Hogarth 21 and Mulgrave 10 leading the way for Manchester. But for the home side, this was a real team effort with every Interbasket player providing valuable minutes as they recorded two wins in a row for the first time this season.
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