Second Quarter Cups of Tea…Again
Sheffield Junior Sharks V Doncaster Danum Eagles
3.15 pm, February 6th 2010
Springs Leisure Centre
1 2 3 4Final
Sharks:29 42416 73
Eagles:151620 8 59
With two of the starting five having been ill during the week, there were a few questions about the outcome of this Sharks/Doncaster encounter. In the end Sharks won this game after a match that the team made heavy-weather of for significant periods of the time. It would be difficult to argue that Sharks took home-court advantage, save only that their supporters were more numerous and more vociferous. The score-line could really have been better for the Sharks had they cut more, stuck to the opposition’s shooters more, and trusted each other more. With the number of shots that were thrown at the basket by the home team it makes sense that a number must have gone in, and this is what happened. Defensive play was better in the balance, but yet again Sharks took an extended tea-break in the second quarter. Both teams relied on outside shooting with each team converting nine. At times in the game that the Sharks appeared to suggest that a pass on the arc meant that the passer simply did not feel confident enough to shoot rather than them giving air to the ball. The result was that someone else shot, sooner rather than later; not keeping the faith and waiting for the penetrating cut. Patience and trust. Too much respect was afforded to a Doncaster zone defense. But this is the overview.
The first period of play was an excellent quarter with superior rebounding, assists to baskets, steals and the forcing of turnovers saw a determined Sheffield assault on Doncaster to remove the bitter taste of the previous defeat by them before Christmas. These and slightly better efficiency in shooting saw the home team winning the quarter without question. The deployment of Mykel Moodie in a key defensive role helped in this, as did a tighter defensive display overall. It was actually Mykel who made the first Sharks basket driving through the middle of the key in equally robust fashion as his defense after a Joseph Baugh assist. Jim Rose took a terrifically strong basket and soon after a powerful rebound under pressure. For Doncaster it was Collwill and Fisher that made most of the Doncaster running. Joseph cast a secure three from seven o’clock beyond the arc assisted by John Stewart. Then after some tough-D forcing Doncaster to take the ball out of play to obtain Sharks’ possession, John went into the paint several times for six points doing his work including some disorientating spin moves and behind-the-back hand changes to avoid the opposition. At this point it was Ben Cepulis who stepped up for what would be his eleven point quarter severally assisted by team-mates, the foundation for his game-high twenty seven points. Jim picked up his second foul and was preserved for later with Behre Tesfayohannes taking the court and adding to the defensive hustle and intensity immediately. Again it was the same Doncaster men creating the trouble. The quarter closed on what was thought to be a comfortable Sheffield Sharks 29, Doncaster Danum Eagles 15.
The second quarter was a most unhappy affair. It started seeming well, however, with Mykel being fouled and confidently taking the two points made available. From then on this period of play was dismal. What else positive that could be said was Dave Price’s most positive contribution to the game with some extremely tough and well judged defense where he gave little space to perimeter players trying to find space to shoot. It was Doncaster, though, with the prize for attack and finishing. They reeled-in the Sharks substantial fourteen point lead from the first quarter and reduced it to just two. The certain inevitability was unpleasant. Sheffield Junior Sharks 33, Doncaster Danum Eagles 31.
After the break the third quarter was event-full. It began with another Doncaster basket and there were fears that quarter two would repeat itself. Sharks committed some thoroughbred misses, and then a foul on Joseph led to a point. In quick following John assisted Joe and a basket was sunk. Doncaster replied and John posted a three-pointer aided by Mykel. Doncaster made two threes and took the lead with a point. Joseph returned to do the same. Mykel made great sense of the big men not finishing and deposited a two. In the heat things started getting a bit rough with Ben going down smack onto his hip and Jim’s head coming in for a knock at the other end of the court. Appeal about the lack of calls more than filled the air, and John wanted to blame that for his first missed free throw as some balance was restored to the game. The single point that he took was at the watershed of the game and the single point advantage was grew with the lead never returning to Doncaster. Calls were also more forthcoming. Tough defense from John forced Doncaster across the line to regain possession. A Successful And-1 followed. Doncaster would not stay quiet and they took a three. The response was four more Sharks’ points from John including a three-pointer assisted by Behre. A foul gave Doncaster two free points. Ben gave the appropriate response with five points, before Doncaster closed the quarter with a pair of free throws reducing the Sheffield lead to six. Sheffield Junior Sharks 57, Doncaster Danum Eagles 51. Though winning the quarter the stats show that in terms of rebounding that Doncaster had the upper hand. It was their turnovers that kept them in check.
The final quarter saw the Sharks’ lead further reduce to just two points. John was fouled and he took a point as an introduction to a fourteen point tear with Ben taking centre stage with three threes and a two, helping Joseph to a basket as extra. Depositing twenty seven points for the game, this gave Ben a great game-high total. Extending the lead so well meant that with four minutes remaining that Doncaster has an uphill task if it was to overturn the Sheffield advantage. With Vonn Tapiz muscling away and Louis Francis-Edge similarly the job for Doncaster was made more difficult. In closing, Joseph taking two free throws and getting the points, the four points that Doncaster registered were simply not enough. This quarter saw Sharks with the edge in rebounds, assists and steals. Rebounding saw some particularly strong interventions by many players that was good to see. The game was a Sharks’ victory. Game won: Sheffield Junior Sharks 73, Doncaster Danum Eagles 59.
Personal Statistics Spotlighting Rebounds: John Stewart: 12 rebounds, 18 points, 5 assists, 4 steals; Ben Cepulis: 7 rebounds, 27 points, 2 assists, 1 steal; Joseph Baugh: 6 rebounds, 18 points, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 block; Mykel Moodie: 5 rebounds, 6 points, 6 assists, 5 steals; Jim Rose: 2 rebounds, 4 points; Behre Tesfayohannes: 1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Dave Price: 1 rebound; Vonn Tapiz; Louis Francis-Edge; Oliver Bourne.
Next Game: Away to Newcastle Eagles on Saturday, February 14th 2010 at Tyne Met College. Game tips at 12.30 pm. This is the furthest away fixture for the Sharks requiring an early start for travelling.
