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NBL Review: Sutton wipe sheen off Stars
NBL Conference: Sutton 97 Solent 91
Solent Stars crashed to their fourth league defeat when they visited Sutton Pumas. Sutton have recently signed Marcus Knight (from the Basketball League's Milton Keynes) and Mark Quashie (from Ealing Tornados) to strengthen their team which has led to wins over Worthing and Coventry in the last two weeks and the Surrey outfit maintained their belated climb with a 97-91 victory.
The new-found confidence of the Sutton team showed as they brushed Solent aside in the first quarter to lead 17 - 33. Solent had no answer to accurate outside shooting (three three pointers) and the physical presence of Quashie and Roger Lloyd with both Nic OHarabe and Chris St Omer being given a torrid time. With 7' Roger Cook also working well for Sutton under the basket at both ends, Solent were left to call a time-out when the lead went to ten points in (13 - 23) in the sixth minute. Once Mark Scott joined the gKoame in the eighth minute (still anxious to protect his heel injury) Solent were able to stem the flow of points.
The second quarter was a completely different story as Solent outscored Sutton by ten points (26 - 18) to peg back the half time deficit to juast six points. This was the period when most of the on-
court Solent players contributed to the scoring and Solent played as a team and with Scott keeping the bigger Sutton players in check, Solent were able to gain more rebounds.Solent finally had their reward when two free throws from Scott put them ahead in the game for the first time (71 - 70) in the ninth minute. This followed a period where Solent scored eight points
without reply and looked to be taking control of the game. Two late baskets by Sutton gave them a slight advantage going into the last quarter.Solent took the initiative at the start of the final quarter with Scott's four points and two from John Bynum, who would hit a game-best 34, giving Solent a three point lead (79 - 76). By the fifth minute Solent had their biggest lead of the match (85 - 81). Sutton then lost Lloyd with a gashed elbow but rallied strongly to score seven consecutive points to gain a lead that they never surrendered.
Solent now take a two week break from league action. A game have been arranged to help the players keep match fit at River Park Centre, Winchester (Saturday 7.30pm). One major problem for the squad is the obvious factor that their tactics are based on a big man presence and it is noticeable that Solent's defeats have come when either or both Mark Scott and Alan Cunningham have not been able to play a full part.
Coventry 86 Teesside 97
The race for the Conference League title looks like a straight fight-out between TVL Mohawks and Plymouth after the two sides broke away from the rest of the division with victories over the weekend while third placed Solent slumped to a shock defeat at Sutton.
Mohawks took the spoils with a 97-86 success at basement club Coventry to ensure they continue to occupy top spot. But Crusaders’ belied their lowly position with a gritty performance, and Tony Hanson’s side was really made to fight for the points in a fast-paced and exciting game.
Hanson was thankful that his side was in fighting mood. He said: “Coventry are a team that plays hard and keeps coming at you. And they certainly played very physical and competitive in this game, making us work for everything.
“I knew it was going to be this kind of game and was very impressed by the way we responded to it. We really needed to dig deep and never stopped digging until we got the right result.”
Pete Knechtel made the starting five for the second successive game at the expense of Neil Hopper in a nine man squad missing Leon Gabbidon.
The first opportunities of the game fell to Mohawks’ Lijah Perkins and Knechtel, with both players missing the target, leaving it to Crusaders’ Drew Barrett to start the scoring.
Jason Swaine was quick to snuff out the Coventry lead with a trademark three point response before Barrett, who was in good form throughout and went on to top score with 28 points, sank both his basket and the free throw awarded for a foul by Perkins while shooting.
Perkins replied with four points to restore Mohawks’ lead, but powerhouse Derrick Pope who, with 23 points was a real handful around the basket, went on a 6 point run that undoubtedly gave Coventry a sense that there was potential for an upset.
By the seventh minute Mohawks found themselves five down, and it was another two minutes before they took the lead again after Hopper sank two frees, Dennis Ley posted five points in quick succession and James Nicholson sank his own rebound following a defensive steal by Ley. But it was a decisive break, which the side never again relinquished, although the home side drew level on a number of occasions.
The first interval saw Mohawks up by 31-28 courtesy of a three pointer by EJ Harrison.
Coventry number 8, Colin Rhooms, could have levelled up the score with the first play of the second quarter, but his three point effort was woefully short of the target.The first basket drew a response from Mohawks bench however, when Manny Sharland’s shot was allowed to stand while the player was called for an offensive foul.
Solid teamwork was beginning to emerge in Mohawks’ play, with a particular emphasis on tough defence, which generated a glut of steals, turnovers and blocks while offensively they forged 12 ahead with contributions from Perkins, Bucci, Nicholson, Knechtel and Harrison.
Deadly home duo Barrett and Pope put up the next 7 points to prove Coventry were not out of contention, but Harrison again had the last say of the half with a basket that gave Mohawks a 7 point interval lead (49-42).
Coventry were immediately on the back foot when play resumed, with a timeout needed after just two minutes following an 8-0 blitz by Mohawks.
The advice from Crusaders’ coach Dip Donaldson had an immediate effect with Matt Collins posting the second of his four threes to temporarily stem the flow.
But it was shortlived as Perkins, who was having a field day and, with 19 went on to top score for Mohawks for the second game running, sank a basket and followed up with an interception that turned into two points for Harrison to open up the gap to 16.
Up again stepped Barrett and Pope, plus captain and player/coach Dip Donaldson to launch into a 10-0 run of their own, and before the session was out, a final three from Collins reduced the gap to just 7 with 10 minutes to play.
Honours were even for four of those minutes, with the respective defences keeping scoring down to just 6 apiece before Harrison, Perkins and Ralph Bucci, who slam dunked the ball after intercepting a Coventry sideline ball, eased 11 ahead again.
Crusaders’, again through Barrett and Collins’ three point form, pulled back to 6 before Swaine, with another two threes, and Harrison poured cold water on any sustained fightback and always had a reply to a Coventry score.
This really was a game that could have slipped away, but with another performance that saw five players in double figures, including Pete Knechtel who had one his best games of the season, coach Hanson is grateful that his side goes so deep. “Having 5 or 6 players in double figures is the key to winning games. But I feel that we have a 9 to 10 deep team and it is just finding a way to get the rotation where everyone can contribute a little bit more,” he said.
Inter Basket 67 Plymouth 92
A disastrous final eight minutes cost Inter Basket dearly as they fell to a heavy 67-92 defeat at home to Plymouth Raiders at the Space Centre in Hackney on Saturday.
Plymouth started the stronger as their American duo of Todd Cetnar and Drew Samuels combined for their first nine points as the visitors took a four point lead. Inter's Ben Smart levelled up
matters and a Franck Batimba foul shot gave the hosts a one point lead. A Cetnar three-pointer
restored his sides advantage but neither side could establish superiority as the Raiders held a
20-19 margin at the end of the first quarter.Batimba's basket at the start of the second again took the Londoners in front. Plymouth replied
with a 5-0 run but a James Miller three-pointer and a foul shot from Andrew Bailey, meant the scores were tied at 25 midway through the period. Another Cetnar long range effort opened the lead to six as the Londoners' offence started to falter but an 8-2 run, with Perry Lawson contributing six, again levelled matters at 37 apiece going into the final minute. Inter's Simon Fisher was then adjudged to have fouled Cetnar who calmly made all three foul shots but controversially Smart's dunk on the buzzer was ruled as being after time giving Plymouth a 40-37 half time lead.Neither side could find the basket in the first two minutes of the third quarter before a 6-0 run
took Raiders out to nine. A Grant Ebanja three-pointer and another inside move from Laurent Irish
brought it back to four, but the visitors composure came through as they put together another nine
unanswered. For once, the home side showed their mettle as they ended the stanza with a 7-2 run to trail 49-57 going into the final period.Irish made the first three points of the quarter and despite another Samuels inside score, a Lawson
three point play made it 55-59 with the crowd sensing a nailbiter. But incredibly Plymouth scored
11 points in the next minute, Cetnar (2) and Williams contributing three-pointers, to effectively
settle the match. Inter got as close as nine but the damage had been done. A 16-5 run over the
last five minutes gave the scoreline a lopsided look to what had been a fine contest for 32 minutes.Samuels with 26 and Cetnar 23 had been the major factors in the game with Lawson 15 and Irish 13 the only Inter players to score with any consistency. Inter will need to regroup quickly as they travel to fast-improving Sutton Pumas next Saturday as all of the teams jockey for placings in the end of season play-offs.
Manchester Magic: 103 Argyll Worthing Thunder: 85
Worthing came to the George Carnall Centre for the first time full of confidence after an excellent run in the Conference which had seen them beat the leaders, Teesside, and move to fourth place, above the Magic, who were smarting after their close defeat at Inter-Basket the previous week. The first quarter saw some lively play from both teams, with strong moves under the baskets from Wayne Mulgrave and Jon Linsley for the Magic, countered by some excellent distance shooting from Marvin Addy and Sean Hampton for the Thunder. Young John Shaw was rebounding well at both ends for the Magic and Gaylon Moore was an ever-present threat for the visitors.
Going into the second quarter with a lead of 29-26, the Magic opened very brightly, with Matt Hogarth coming strongly into the game and Sean McKie showing his class. James Jones, gaining in confidence with experience at this level, had plenty of well-justified court time as the Magic moved smoothly into a 55-46 lead at the half, having led at one stage by 15 points.
In some home games, the Magic have had a sluggish first half, followed by a dynamic revival in the second. This time, things were reversed, as their game deteriorated into a series of unforced errors and unwise options. Even when they were awarded a number of free throws for technical fouls by the Thunder, their normally reliable shooting from the free throw line deserted them. Fortunately, their opponents were also going through a poor spell and failed to take advantage of this temporary lapse and the Magic ended the quarter 70-59 ahead.
After the ejection of the Thunder coach just after the break, the Magic got a grip of the game again and Kevin St. Kitts, Sean Mulgrave and Sergio Lara-Bercial made the most of their last-quarter experience to ensure what turned out to be a fairly easy win by 103-85. Jon Linsley putting his recent problems firmly behind him, had made a valuable contribution to his team’s’ success and once again, the blend of youth and experience looked very promising for the future.The last few minutes were made enjoyable for the home fans by a little showboating from James Jones ( a long three pointer followed by a nice 2) and a three pointer from Haris Charalambous on the buzzer.Kingston Wildcats 75 Reading Rockets 70
Reading got out of the blocks first in this game and jumped to a 13 - 7 lead after 5 minutes. Starting forward for the Rockets Matt Eames meanwhile managed to accumulate four fouls in the first quarter and had to go to the bench for an extended break. American Ted Smith was on hot form as he scored 10 points in the first quarter helping Reading to establish a 21 - 13 lead at the end of the period. At the start of the second quarter Reading scored the first six points, whilst Kingston found it increasingly difficult to score falling even further behind their visitors. Chris Jeremiah and Jamie Whitaker were the only Wildcats managing to have an effect at the offensive end. However a three pointer from Tim Barber sparked a run for Kingston that pulled them back to a six point deficit at the half 35 - 29.
In the second half Kingston looked like a new team. Player coach Solomon Ayinla was drawing double teams in the low post allowing the Kingston shooters open shots on the perimeter. It was now the Rockets who were finding it difficult to score, mainly due to committing eight turnovers in the quarter. It was neck and neck after eight minutes but then an Ade Orelaja three pointer followed by a monster jam from Chris Jeremiah got the Kingston fans on their feet and boosted the Wildcats confidence. Ex-Rocket Andy Powlesland capped the Kingston run to take a 56 - 51 lead into the final quarter.
The Wildcats came out for the last period with renewed enthusiasm, twice they beat the 24 second clock with long range jump shots to push the lead out to 68 - 56 after five minutes. Reading were now looking shell shocked and struggled to hit the target. Evan York who had been used sparingly came on to hit three 3 pointers in the quarter, one from past NBA range. Four missed fouls in the last minute didn't help Reading's final effort as Kingston held on for another important win.For the visitors, the absence of David Washington and the unavailability of Coach Titmuss in recent weeks have also been contributory factors in a series if disappointing results. It is clear that in their first season in the Conference Rockets have been on a steep learning curve and the experience gained thus far will be invaluable for the future. "We must ensure that we qualify for the Play-Offs by finishing in the top eight in the League so winning our next game against bottom team Coventry is absolutely vital" commented Team Manager Gary Johnson.
NBL Division One: Westminster Warriors 67 Derbyshire Arrows 95
The Derbyshire Arrows turned in another impressive performance on the road as they comfortably defeated the Westminster Warriors by 67 - 95 . The Warriors had previously taken the coveted scalp of the Arrows nearest rivals the Ealing Tornados, in overtime earlier in the season but found the Arrows too powerful in all departments on the night. This win takes the Arrows record to 13 – 1 with 8 games to play in the regular season.
The arrows made their customary strong start with Bevington, King & Gayle prominent as the arrows raced into a 16 – 4 advantage . The Warriors rallied with two “3’s” from Wood but a further basket from Gayle saw the Arrows end the quarter with a lead at 17 – 24.
The Arrows exploded offensively in the second quarter with Ellmer, Davidson & Bevington combining repeatedly as the Arrows went on a 29 – 6 scoring burst which quickly ended the contest, the arrows eventually reaching the interval ahead at 53 – 28.
The Arrows controlled the game in the second half, David Waite, Rick Marsh & Jamie Goodwin all found the basket as the Arrows secured victory by 67 – 95.
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