12/12/2009, St Mathews Centre

Sharks 13 12 6 5 (37)

Warriors 8 4 11 11 (34)

Looking at the players during their first game showed that they had some strength in the squad so this was always going to be a tough game. Marko tipped again but the Warriors came up with the ball but the Sharks defence held them to no score. Marko then drove to basket and scored plus got the extra shot which he couldn’t convert but he did get his own rebound to score 2. Marko got fouled again but failed to score both from the line. George got in on the act with a good drive to basket and his first 2 of this match. Sam Baines was rebounding and his efforts paid of with 2 of his own. In the sixth minute of the quarter George expertly hit a 3 pointer and Ross finished the quarter with a 2.

Period 2 saw a lot better play from the Sharks as they held the Warriors to just 4 points with the usual suspect Marko, George & Ross scoring and Dominic adding another 2. Marko never one to be out done bagged a 3 pointer for himself. This meant the Sharks took a 13 point lead going into the break.

Third quarter started well with George getting the first 2 point of this period. Then for some reason whether it was fatigue or complacency by the Sharks or inexperience by the rookie coach the Sharks eased up allowing the Warriors to go on an unanswered 11 point run closing the gap to 4. Two baskets from Ross & Marko did take it to 8.

Fourth quarter was going to be tough as the warriors were now in spitting distance to the Sharks score. Marko made 1 from 2 at the line but the Warriors hit straight back with a 3 pointer of their own then another 2. This took it to a 5 point difference. Lack of defence and unable to take care of the ball with too many turnovers saw Warriors score another 2 baskets this was now a 1 point ball game. The last few seconds of the game and literally the last drive of the game from George, saw him fouled and on his way to the line for 2 shots. George kept his nerve and hit both giving the Sharks their eighth win of the season.

Scores

Marko Backovic (14), George Darling (13), Ross Cawton (6), Sam Baines (2), Dominic Baugh (2), Sam Thompson, Sam Van Oostrum, Nathaniel Montgomery, Paddy Meleady-Hemme, Joel Fordham, Alex Martin, Xavier McIntosh,