Too many Keys to the Door

U18-1Sheffield Junior Sharks U18 V Leicester Cannons U18

3.15 pm, Saturday, February 20th 2010

Springs Leisure Centre

1 2 3 4Final

Sharks: 2117 1919 67

Cannons:1017 1421 62

There’s a well known theatrical superstition that a bad dress rehearsal leads to a good opening night. Every hope is that this applies to basketball too. It would be disappointing if the weaknesses of this game repeated themselves in the Sureshot Final. Though the game was won, the five point win over the last encounter’s thirty point advantage tells a story. A non-cynical, energetic, eager and athletic Leicester Canons were tough opposition for Sharks, and Sharks added to the difficulties by often refusing to play as a single unit with suggestions of street-ball in the play. There were too many keys trying to open the door rather than time being taken to select the right one in the first place. With Leicester content to deploy zone attacking the basket was going to be the only answer. A four foot arc-extension was too attractive to the Sharks and the pass and cut principle was often forgotten. Whilst we are in pompous mode, the talent in the Leicester Canons signals the fact that if the clubs in Leicester considered becoming just one club, then they would be a force in youth basketball that would fundamentally change the established strongholds either side of the Pennines and even in the south.

No points for two minutes is an important point to note when looking at the quarter stats. Then a ten point Joseph Baugh haul showed Joseph in hungry mode and here he made one of his famous flying windmill dunks as well as his characteristic blocking. John, Ben and Jim basketed with him. Jim’s was a lovely wriggling progress through the key to make a left hand hook Assists were down, but rebounds were high with good steals. John was ‘bloodied’ again and soon Dave Price was on court rebounding and stealing. Sheffield Junior Sharks 21, Leicester Cannons 10.

The second quarter was split between the teams. Both Behre Tesfayohannes and Dave Price began the play and Dave took the first Sharks basket with a put-back at the start of what would be a confident, reliable performance throughout his court time. Joseph continued to lead on baskets. Five assists kept the game alive too. After an assist to John, Ben rested whilst Louis Francis-Edge joined the attack, achieving a good long two pointer off a Behre assist. Mykel Moodie continued to display excellent judgement and on this occasion it was a drive when passing and cutting was not appropriate. After being directed to go the boards more the team complied, and Louis turned on some tough defence. Later Louis showed his assisting skills too and lined up John for a basket. Before long Vonn Tapiz was on court for Louis and he was to work away until the quarter’s end when John provided the assist that gave Vonn the opportunity to take the score to thirty eight points and the half-time break. Despite the range of scorers the play was sometimes disjointed, un-flowing and not that well executed. Sheffield Juniors Sharks 38, Leicester Cannons 27.

The third quarter saw the advantage of play back with Sharks, and a quarter that started with the starting five once more. Good, tough, solid and thinking defense from Mykel was a thread of consistency and rebounding saw Sharks dominate the boards better (seventeen to three). Scoring was in the hands of four players: John, Joseph, Dave and Behre. Assists were afforded by Ben, Jim and Louis. Some frustration was seen with the lack of passing and on one occasion at least the ball was taken from defensive rebound to basket on account of it. Other notables within the period were a lovely twist and wriggle of Behre’s to score two points and yet another windmill dunk from Joseph. It was good to see Dave attempt a long two, not something often and more usually in practice. Before the end of the quarter a successful And-1 by Dave and a tremendous rebound indicates the maturing game that he is developing.

The final period of play was marginally Leicester’s and credit to them with a reduced travelling squad. Coach Ransom varied the five again with Jim, Joseph, Dave, Louis, Vonn and Louis taking to the floor. The period started well with a great Jim rebound and then Jim and Dave double-teaming to close out a Leicester threat. Jim figured more in rebounding and regularly cutting in the hope of receiving the ball. Louis made a great block, Dave was significant in rebounding again and Joseph took another basket before resting to be replaced by John. John paid his dividend and assisted Jim before taking a basket himself. Quick to follow was spin-two pointer, and a dunk. Using all his available resources Coach Ransom put Oliver Bourne into play and returned Ben to the court. Though Leicester took seven points, the outcome of the game had been determined by the Sheffield team some time before. Sheffield Junior Sharks 67, Leicester Cannons 62. (As a point of reference, Manchester’s win was by three points. Their previous win was by fifty two.)

Thanks go to the coaches Ransom and Nagle, to the Moodie Statistician ‘machine’, and to supporters.

After the game, and in discussion, attention focused on the Sureshot Final. Reference was made to Ridley Scott’s film ‘Gladiator’ with Russell Crowe in the main role, Maximus. This was the quote that we agreed on as the sentiment for Sunday’s Final. Before a testing time in the arena Maximus says, "You can help me. Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive." [We now the outcome of the game and that people did stay together!]

Personal Statistics Spotlighting Assists: Ben Cepulis: 3 assists, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal; Louis Francis-Edge: 3 assists, 2 points, 1 rebound 1 block; Joseph Baugh: 2 assists, 24 points, 20 (!) rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks; John Stewart: 2 assists, 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals; Behre Tesfayohannes: 2 assists, 2 points, 1 rebounds, 1 steal; Jim Rose: 1 assist, 4 points, 7 rebounds; Dave Price: 5 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals; Vonn Tapiz, Oliver Bourne, George Brownell, Conor Faulkner.