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Wildcats tamed by Mohawk chop
NBL Conference: Kingston Wildcats 84 Teesside Mohawks 108
Teesside Mohawks travelled to Kingston and left with their 100% record still intact. But this 108-84 win did not come as easily as the scoreline suggests, with the Wildcats holding the lead for the majority of the game. The Mohawks were first out of the blocks, pulling a 9 - 2 lead with the first three minutes. However three consecutive three pointers from Solomon Ayinla helped Kingston sure past the visitors. A stiffling defensive effort from the Wildcats curbed the high scoring Mohawks, star guard Ralph Bucci being held to just 3 points in the half. With Kingston's confidence high, and Teesside struggling to achieve their usual high standards Kingston took at 46 - 43 lead into the halftime interval.
However the game turned late in the third period when two three's from Jason Swaine and Bucci finishing numerous fast break layups caught Kingston out. The Wildcats put up a spirited fight during the fourth quarter, but Teesside were firmly in control of the game and their experiece and poise was evident right
up to the end of the game. Ralph Bucci recovered from his slow start to lead the Teesside scoring with 27 points, with Jason Swaine adding 25. Solomon Ayinla led the Wildcats with 28.Worthing Thunder 111 Reading Rockets 100
Even though Reading produced their best five minutes of basketball of the season during the first quarter, they eventually succumbed to the relentless Worthing pressure and inside the last two minutes lost the
game despite scoring a magnificent 100 points. Rockets may well need to strengthen their squad if they are to compete at this level but the signs are very good as they have produced some excellent basketball in close contests against both Worthing and Solent where they have only narrowly lost."We're still suffering from our available players carrying injuries and having no cover for John Hodds as our other two big men Goode and Ricketts are unlikely to play again this year" commented Team Manager Gary Johnson "But it was a tremendous performance and I am confident that when we have a full strength squad who are fully fit we will win these type of games."
Rockets opening five minutes was simply stunning as they took a 17-5 lead thanks to Captain Matt Johnson finding his best form of the season with some great driving runs to the basket coupled with some determined defense. Ted Smith opened the Rockets account with a penetrating run to the basket, John Hodds scored two from under the basket from an impossible position and Pem Bristol demonstrated his great athleticism with some tremendous rebounding. Such was Rockets dominance that inevitably Worthing had to take a time out and this signaled a transformation of their form as they came back with some extraordinary plays that enabled them to take a 29-21 first quarter lead. Rockets also made some costly unforced errors during the last minute and there were strong words from Coach Titmuss during the break.
Ian Durrant's return to form was a welcome bonus for Rockets and he opened the scoring in the second quarter with a clever lay up. Worthing responded with a three pointer and Rockets failed to box out on the next Worthing offense and gave away a senseless foul allowing Worthing to move 36-23 ahead. Hodds, carrying a hamstring injury, produced a couple of smart plays under the basket to score two and then one from the line but despite this Worthing maintained their lead at 40-28. Then came two quite astonishing refereeing decisions, charging fouls against Pem Bristol and moments later Damon Cooper but this served to spur on Rockets with Durrant scoring four in a row and Bristol producing a fantastic block to enable Rockets to re-take the lead 41-40 with just two minutes remaining. Rockets increased their intensity and Smith showed amazing dexterity to score two and draw the foul. With seconds remaining Johnson was fouled attempting a three pointer and he converted two of three from the line to give Rocket a half time lead
56-52. A brilliant and spirited comeback by Rockets in a physical and tight game.Rockets had a poor start to the third quarter as they ran out of time on their first offense and Worthing duly punished them scoring an easy two. However Matt Eames came up with a nice jump shot for two and Smith was fouled driving to the basket and he scored two from two at the line. After Adam Kelly had taken what looked like a painful charging foul Worthing scored seven points without reply from Rockets which prompted a time out from Coach Titmuss. The blistering end to end pace continued and Bristol scored with a great jump shot and Smith again made a three point play with a drive to the basket and a foul. At 79-77 to Rockets with a minute to go Rockets ran out of time on their offense allowing Worthing to level the scored at the end of the third quarter 81-81.
Johnson didn't start the fourth quarter as he was already on four fouls but Kelly stepped up his game scoring four points superbly. But Worthing edged ahead 88-85 as Eames was fouled out forcing Matt
Johnson back into the action and he immediately scored another two. Smith made another three point play and Rockets closed their deficit at 90-89 with six minutes remaining. Durrant scored a long two but
Worthing responded with a three and then crucially Rockets squandered possession prompting a very animated time out from Coach Titmuss who stressed the need to play with intelligence in the end game. But Worthing scored another three for a 100-93 lead. Johnson again bulldozed his way to the basket for two but JHodds was penalised for a foul which the referee deemed unsportsmanlike which gave Worthing points and possession. At 105-100 with 44 seconds remaining both Johnson and Smith were fouled out and Worthing scored six points without reply from Rockets who ended by missing a straight forward lay up.Manchester Magic 107 Interbasket London 69
After last week’s uncharacteristic loss, the Magic bounced back with a powerful win against a lively and spirited Interbasket team. The visitors started confidently enough, but by the end of the first quarter were down by 9 points to a Magic team who were playing with a quiet authority. The introduction of Matt Hogarth, returning for the Magic from his adventures in the USA, gave them a massive presence under both baskets as well as some reliable distance shooting. In spite of this, Interbasket went to the dressing room at half-time with a chance of winning the game, 33-46 down.
For the Magic, this solid foundation had been built up by the more experienced players, but as Jeff Jones brought on his younger players, the lead grew rapidly until it was 30 points by the end of the third quarter. The whole squad was now playing confidently and with cohesion, controlling both boards and scoring at will close to and from distance. No team relishes the start of the last quarter when they are 30 points down and Interbasket were no exception. Although they fought hard all the way, they were clearly dispirited by the end, as the Magic ran out easy winners by 39 points. Two key elements of the Magic’s game, confident long-range shooting and rebounding at both ends, showed distinct improvement in this game and this is very promising for their future prospects.
Division One: Mansfield Express 79 Derbyshire Arrows 99
The Derbyshire Arrows continue to display their dominance over their local rivals the Mansfield Express, this time with a 79–99 league victory on enemy territory at the Mansfield Leisure Centre. This victory follows the Arrows Trophy double over the Express earlier in the season.
The Arrows with the impressive Davidson – Bevington combination once again taking centre stage, together with baskets from David Waite took a 22–12 end of quarter lead.
The Arrows introduced Ellmer, Hackett and Garnett Gayle in the second quarter as the Arrows were to build a gamedeciding 23–41 interval advantage. Although never playing at their best the visitors appeared to have too much firepower for the Express.
The Express rallied after the interval but baskets from Marsh, Davidson & the impressive Bevington saw the Arrows still leading 64–51 entering the final quarter. The hosts closed to with eight with just 4 minutes to go, however Davidson's re–introduction plus baskets from Ellmer & Gayle quickly ended the contest.
Hull Icebergs 87 North London Lords 91
The Hull Icebergs squandered a golden opportunity to register their first league win of the season against the North London Lords. Hull started brightly with Tarryn Algar hitting a three pointer on their first possession. However, that was the only bright spot early on as the Lords went on a 6-0 run and led 13-7. After a time out Hull came back with a 7-0 run of their own, and at the end of the first quarter they led
23-21. The Icebergs came out strongly at the start of the second. They went on a 5-0 run including a three pointer from Chris McKenna, and led 28-21. That kick-started the Icebergs offensively as Jason Shakespeare, Karl Seamarks and Algar all hit from 'down town' to power the home side into a 41-30 lead with 2.32 left. North London came back with one of their own, but with 10.5 seconds left Algar hit another three to put the Icebergs up 49-35 at the half.After the first six minutes of the second half Hull led 61-37, then the game transformed. A 13-0 run by North London, with Sharif Faye leading the way, pulled the score back to 61-50 with 3.00 left. Two more three pointers in another run for the Lords, and it was 66-64 with just over 1.00 left, and to round the quarter off for North London a three pointer at the buzzor left them just one point behind going into the final quarter.
Hull started with a 5-0 run, and a three pointer by the Icebergs smallest player, 5'4'' guard Richard Jennison, meant they led 77-71 with 7.30 left. However, North London were not to be denied, and started to make virtually everything they shot. A three pointer from Ian Burrell with 5.00 left put them in front 79-78. Hull battled back to take the lead at 85-83, but Strong defence and good freethrow shooting allowed the Lords to be in control after that and run out narrow winners. (Marty Whitely)
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