Senior Men Shot Down By Bears With 3 Points

Result Warriors 70 BC Bears 73

The Senior Men’s team travelled to the Black Country this evening to match up against the Bears, looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Lasers a fortnight ago, the Warriors look to recapture the intensity that startled Wolverhampton in the first game that was cancelled shortly into the second half. An absent Head Coach meant that Dave Cockerill took hold of the reins for the game and with a strong squad the team hoped for a victory to kick start their season.

After a slow start that saw the Bears run to a 7-0 lead within 3 minutes , the Warriors got into early foul trouble seeing the Bears on the line three times within this 3 minutes. The defensive strategy employed gave the Bears trouble throughout the first quarter, having to rely on inside play to gain the advantage forcing them to run out the clock and rely on poor outside shooting when our defence turned on the screws to their ever dwindling inside play. After a slow offensive quarter for the Warriors it ended up 21:12 in favour of the Bears.

After re-establishing our focus on both ends of the floor Simon and Ash sparked into life with 8 points between them within a 4 minute period that saw the Warriors reverse the ball round with ease finding the open men. A spirited fight back and tough defence kept the Bears to only 11 open court points. The 2nd quarter ended 35:28 with the warriors edging out 14:16 points in this individual quarter.

The half time interlude turned into a fight night spectacle, as the Bears ever present internal bickering turned into a circus as they failed to control their own players who turned on each other. After receiving what could only be called a knockout punch their guard had to be dragged away three times before the 2nd half could start. As the Bears focus and team sprit were left shattered the Warriors regrouped and kept their mental toughness that saw them outscore the Bears 22 to 14 and put us on the line within 1 minute, a trend that continued where were in a free throw shooting position no less than 20 times within 10 minutes. Simon played superbly inside as the Warriors reversed the ball with confidence and our team spirit was ever present on both ends of the floor. Rich Onions was an ever present defensive threat that saw him notch up what seemed like his 20th block of the night. The quarter well and truly belonged to the Warriors and we could feel that the game was for the taking.

Throughout the game all players (in yellow) were plagued with diabolical refereeing decisions that saw Rich, Damien and Ash in foul trouble towards the end of the 3rd and this continued within the 4th which saw excellent squad rotation for those in foul trouble, to get valuable rest and recuperation. The game remained close, but with the Warriors in foul trouble the Bears went to the inside game. The defence instigated by Coach Dave still worked brilliantly as they failed to make any outside threats (an issue that was worked on after the loss to the Lasers). The Bears began to edge out slowly after ending up on the free throw line 10 times within the final 6 minutes. After Josh came alight scoring 12 points in the final 7 minutes the Bears inside play was too strong as they edged out a 3 point victory, out-scoring us by only 4 points.

In a game that we thought we both deserved and should have won, all the aspects of the game we worked on we rectified, team spirit and enjoyment in the game was ever present as Coach Dave made reference too throughout the competition. Excellent defensive play from all areas of the court and all players in the squad, saw a renewed vigour in many of our players. It was a game of needless foul calls that saw 51 free throw attempts in a game that was within our grasp, periods of brilliance was present as we continued to reverse the ball with ease and defend with toughness, characterised by a steal, a calm offensive move that saw all players touch the ball which was finished by Everton cutting back door to lay in up for the easy 2 – more of the same....I think so!

 

Points

Simon Hoar – 20

Josh Crutchely – 21

Ash Cookson – 7

Rich Onions – 6 points and 7 blocks

1st Quarter – 21:12

2nd Quarter – 35:28

3rd Quarter – 49:50

4th Quarter - 73:70

 

 

Match Report: Jimmy Morris

Photography: Charlotte Nadin