 |
RAF Careers - Click here for Info |
Men Conference Men Division One Men Division Two
Schedules
Women
|
Results Round-Up |
RAF Careers - Click here for Info
NBL
Men Conference
Men Division One
Men Division TwoWomen Conference Women Division One
Schedules
Men
Conference
Division One
National Trophy
Division Two North
Division Two SouthWomen
Conference
Division Two North
Division Two South
Britball.com Front
More.. Profiles Archive Search Features Hang-Time The News Wire
Interactive Betting Zone Book Store Auctions News by Email Frequently Asked Questions London present united front
Results Round-UpSutton Pumas 66 London United 89
London United impressively blew away Sutton Pumas in Carshalton on Saturday night in the National men’s Trophy divisional section.
London United have already beaten Solent All stars from the Conference league and now claim the scalp of another well known name.
Sutton compete in the National Conference League, due to start in November whilst London United were not allowed access into the Conference this season due to the merger of Lords and Ealing to form United. They will play in Division One this season with a firm goal to reach the Conference league next season.
United started the game “on fire” after arriving late due to London demonstrations which held the whole team and coaches up. The hunger of the young United team is there for everyone to see as the half court defensive trapping press paid its usual dividends for the Majewski, and Schiller coaching partnership.
Time and time again Pete Deppish was freed up to nail long distance three pointers which helped United gain an early lead in the first quarter. By the time the second quarter was over Sutton didn’t appear to know what had hit them and were trailing by 26 points.
Sutton have a very strong squad of players, some of whom have played at the very highest level in the UK. It was surprising for the two United coaches how Sutton folded so easily under pressure and were just unable to cope with the speed of the United defence.
The game was won in the second quarter and Sutton had no real chance of getting back into the game as long as United remained focus. They eventually won by 23 points, sending out a very clear message to all NBL Clubs – United are a team!
Manchester Magic 100 Teesside Mohawks 101
Tension was high in the Magic camp before this National Trophy clash at the magnificent new Amaechi Centre in Manchester. It was a game the young Magic team knew they could win, but they also knew how hard this Teesside squad play, particularly in the last quarter when the holders held off their challengers for the narrowest of wins.
Both teams started confidently, with the Mohawks 7 points up after four minutes, but the Magic soon fought back, with strong contributions from the whole team, to end the quarter 23-24.
The second quarter saw Magic coach Jeff Jones using all his bench, keeping the Mohawks under constant pressure, in an attempt, largely successful, to unsettle their usually lethal 3 point shooters. The young Magic big men were making a real impact under both baskets and all the guards were playing well, but the Mohawks used all their great experience to stay just ahead, 45-43 at the half. Crucial for the outcome of the game were the two turnovers gifted by the Magic to give the Mohawks easy baskets during this second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Magic once again made up a 7 point deficit with excellent all-round play, and in particular some heroic defence in the last minute, to end the quarter 67-68 down.This staunch defence continued against the Mohawks’ first possession in the last quarter, timed out after 24 seconds. But a silly turnover in the third minute gave the Mohawks a game-high 9 point lead and it was looking all over for the Magic, as they went into the last minute 83-92 down. Then the unthinkable happened: ever dependable Ralph Bucci missed two free throws for the Mohawks. With 26 seconds left, Steven Gayle scored two of three free throws to make the score 92-95, then James Nicholson made it 92-97 for the Mohawks. Gayle shot a magnificent 3 pointer to take his tally to 38 points, Bucci made two free throws to make it 95-99 with 14 seconds to go.
Callum Jones replied with two points to make it 97-99. The Magic fouled E.J. Harrison on their own line and he brought the score to 97-101 but Samit Nurijev scored a wonderful 3 pointer on the buzzer to make the final score 100-101. Jeff Jones and his team were despondent that they had come so near to victory, but had nothing to show for it. As an advert for British basketball, it could hardly have been bettered.
Solent 83 Westminster 104
It speaks much for the re-building phase for both teams that in the corresponding National Trophy match at the Moberly Sports Centre eleven months ago - which Solent won 83 - 71- only three of the present Solent team and two of the Westminster squad were names on the scoresheet. On the evidence from the present game, Westminster have found more athletic and determined players than Solent with the Warriors running out 83-104 winners.
Westminster's young squad - at least five were Under 20 - tore into the Solent defence in the initial stages and opened up a 9 - 16 lead by the fifth minute. With coach Mark Scott forced to take a time-out as Solent tried to come to terms with being out-paced and out-
rebounded, it took a three pointer from Trevor Donaldson and four quick points from Mark Jackson to bring Solent back into the game. A couple of steals by Jackson gave Solent heart as they raised their game with a late rally to reduce the difference to just one point (25 - 26) at the end of the quarter.Solent then began the second quarter in more promising style and opened up a seven point lead (34 - 27) by the third minute with baskets from Jackson, Chris St Omer, David Butterworth and a three
pointer from Alan McDonald. Westminster, at first thwarted by Solent's change to zone defence, soon got back into scoring mode and levelled the score at 34 all in the fifth minute. Solent's undoing was their inability to score, other than a Chris St Omer drive, more than two points in the next six minutes, with all the players guilty of missing chances. The earlier seven point lead was turned into a 14 point deficit at half time (41 - 55).The third period was more even and for that Solent were indebted to David Butterworth who scored eight consecutive points midway though the quarter. Two baskets by Westminster in the last minute opened
the difference to eighteen points (63 - 81)Any hope of a late Solent revival was dashed after a disastrous start to the final quarter when Westminster scored from the tip-off and Solent then immediately turned the ball over to gift the home team two more points all in the first twenty seconds. With Alan McDonald off with a twisted ankle and several Solent players on four fouls, Westminster were able to gain their biggest lead in the game (74 - 99) by the fifth minute. Solent then restricted Westminster to just
five points in the remaining five minutes, but were still unable to score freely themselves, finally succumbing to a 21 point defeat.Kingston 85 Black Country 71
This was the second game of the first round of National Trophy matches. This initial round is played in a round robin format. Wildcats have been grouped with Hackney, Reading and Black Country. The Bears are the only first division team in the group.
The lower division opponents made an excellent start outplaying the home team. The highlight of the first quarter was when Wildcats French forward Femi Okinrinyo made a power move into the zone dunking the ball so powerfully it startled the opposition. Nevertheless Black Country was not phased by this and ended the quarter 10 points ahead. There was a complete change of fortunes for Wildcats in the second quarter when they outscored their opponents almost 3 to 1 leading at half time 48 – 40.
The third quarter went the same way as the second for Wildcats with them overwhelming their opponents to lead 74 – 50 at the end of the third quarter. The Wildcats had restricted the Black Country to just 20 points in the second and third quarters. In the fourth quarter Wildcats lost their intensity and Black Country rallied and outscored Wildcats almost 2 to 1, halving their lead. This however was too little, too late and the home team ran out winners 85 – 71.
Wildcats shooting guard Mark Bottiglia hit 5 of 6 three pointers to end the match having scored 19 points. This was supported by player/coach Solomon Ayinla who also scored 19 points. Third highest scorer for the Wildcats was Chris Jeremiah with 11 points. Highest scorer for Black Country was Carl White with 20 points.
The next home game for Wildcats sees them pitched against higher league opposition in the shape of Essex Leopards from the BBL in the first round of the National Cup.
Hackney White Heat 77 Reading Rockets 80
Hackney finally got their home season underway, with a National Trophy pool match against Reading Rockets at the Space Centre on Sunday. Rockets are
largely unchanged from last season, having added former England Junior Lloyd Gardner to their ranks following his return from college in the US. The
White Heat side however has a number of alterations to their line-up welcoming back a number of old favourites, none the least being coach Joe White, despite still fighting serious illness.Rockets took an early 4-0 lead before a James Miller three-pointer opened White Heat's account. A Ted Smith trey moved the visitors out to 9-7 before five unanswered from the home side gave them a 12-9 advantage. Reading, however, were showing the greater discipline and with Hackney in the foul penalty, the visitors took advantage from the foul line, shooting 9 from 11 to lead 22-19 at the end of the first quarter, Miller and Smith sharing the spoils on 8 apiece.
Hackney's pressure defence was starting to impede Rockets' progress as both sides showed early season rustiness with some poor shooting. But the hosts
were unable to take advantage and with six minutes played in the second period, Reading led 32-23 as John Hodds got to work inside. Six straightv
for Hackney, including a three-point play from Franck Batimba, reduced the deficit to 32-29 but with mostly foul shooting over the final two minutes, the visitors led 38-31 at the half.Reading again started with greater control and with Hodds scoring 8 of his sides first 10 points, the lead stretched to 48-37 after 5 minutes. But the Rockets big man collected his fourth foul, which forced him to the bench and brought about a remarkable change in the match. With space to work near the basket, Batimba took the match over entirely. Over the remainder of the quarter, the hard-nosed Londoner scored 18 of his sides 20 points with a dazzling array of inside moves. The visitors could find no way of stopping him and at the end of the third stanza, the margin was back to 2 at 57-59.
Smith regained his sides composure, with the first five points of the final quarter before a 9-0 run gave Hackney the lead at 66-64. Reading replied with six unanswered, Damon Cooper with 4, but neither side could establish an advantage. Batimba with another 5 straight, tied it up at 73 with two minutes remaining. Hackney gave themselves clear opportunities to take the victory but misses from close range sealed their fate as Reading's coolness from the line gave them an 80-77 final winning margin.
Ted Smith 27 and John Hodds 21 had led the way for them but the undoubted star of the afternoon was Hackney's Franck Batimba. He scored an incredible 45 points off of 64% shooting combined with 16 rebounds. But his sides 57% shooting from the line against 74% for Reading was a most telling factor.
Hackney resume battle on Saturday with the rearranged fixture against Kingston. The match is at the Space Centre, tip-off at 8 pm.
Copyright Britball. Download is subject to Britball's Terms and Conditions
