Good Basketball and Taking Responsibility When it MattersOr ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’*

Sheffield Junior Sharks U18 V Trafford U18

Amaechi Basketball Centre, Manchester, Saturday March 6th 2010

1 2 3 4 Final

Sharks:26172117 81

Trafford:102217 8 57

Saturday March 26th 2010 was something of a remarkable day for the Northern Premier League; at least for two of the clubs within it. Firstly Northants Moulton registered their very first win of the season, which lessened the sense of guilt for the Sharks so soon to be driving down the motorway the next day to play them (and driving another nail into their bottom placed club record of defeats). The second event was the ejection of the sole Sharks’ coach (Coach Ransom) midway through the third quarter which left the U18s with their most obvious lesson in taking responsibility against a Trafford team that were as eager to win as they were fast and athletic. Sharks were fit for the task and came away with a convincing win.

The first quarter was Sheffield’s with superior rebounding and good assisting play. Noted straight away for Trafford was their reading of passes and they intercepted regularly though often tipping the ball away from danger rather than stealing and making profit from it. After Trafford took the first basket Joseph Baugh spotted an open Mykel Moodie on the fast break and the basket was good. Trafford’s responded before John Stewart was spinning through the paint. Joseph soon added another with the help of Mykel, and Jim Rose then helped John to a further basket settling the question as to whether Trafford would be mounting a storming assault as they had in the first encounter. The prior game that day may have taken the zest away from them. Still showing an area for attention Trafford displayed the Manchester trade mark of drifting shooters open and their captain potted a three-pointer. John maintained the Sharks scoring momentum and took another basket. Another Technical foul on the Sharks Coach in this arena on the basis of what was thought to have been said rather than what was gave a foul point and then a lay-up Trafford had equalised the score and it was back to the start. An unbroken run of sixteen points saw the Sharks fix their intentions in everyone’s minds to finish the quarter sixteen points ahead. A nice finger-wagging block from John, excellent free-throw shooting from Jim, superb assists from Mykel in the baskets of Jim, Joseph (two) and Ben Cepulis were reassuring to see confirming that effective, simple and team basketball brings rewards. In the continuing purple period of play from Mykel, he moved like an express train cutting through all players receiving a no-nonsense pass from John and there was another Sharks basket. Better than that he was fouled en route and it was a converted And-1. Ben created two excellent baskets too and attracted fouls from the Trafford team. Coach Ransom rotated players and gave both Behre Tesfayohannes and Vonn Tapiz early time on the court and these two took the same positive attitude to winning the game as the rest of the team. Sheffield Junior Sharks 26, Trafford 10.

The second period of play was Trafford’s winning the quarter by five points. Trafford were left open to score four three-pointers. This and marginally better rebounding were the main differences and Dave Price helped this aspect of the game as he always does. Mykel continued his sterling performance and took eight points on the way to his season high score of the season. Good to see again was continuing assisting play with six players helping to stir the pudding. Ben aided most with three assists and it welcoming to see that Louis Francis-Edge joined along too. And Joseph made one of his obligatory blocks. Sheffield Junior Sharks 43, Trafford 32.

After the break the third quarter was won by the Sharks, but not without some concerns just as the quarter had settled and was moving to into the last four minutes. Before that the Sharks showed that they could shoot three-pointers too with John and Joseph letting fly. Mykel took his score to its season high. And then the drama began. After a displacement activity in the frustration of Sharks play, Coach Ransom collected his second technical and was asked to leave the arena. After a few moments of surprise and organised chaos the team had to set to and organise themselves for the remainder of period and the final quarter. With Behre Tesfayohannes sacrificed himself to keep order on the bench, move players in and out and the wider view of play while John and Joseph took the lead on the court. Sharks took the game to Trafford, showed great maturity and were a credit to the club. Meanwhile Keith Rooney from the Sharks supporters began his shuttle service relaying progress to Coach Ransom. Sheffield Junior Sharks 64, Trafford 49

In the fourth quarter better opportunity was taken by the Sharks players to assess what they needed to do. Rather than playing safe, Sharks progressed the game and were confident enough to shoot threes with the risk of losing possession. Both Joseph and John did the business here and with other basket-work split twelve points between them. These were well judged and appropriate. Jim, Ben and Louis added the remaining five to win the game. The great thing to see was that rotations were effected cleanly and naturally and this added to the stature of the team, and proved to everyone that when the going is tough it requires a team response. In this way all players took their turns on the court save Behre, with John being the only constant. Sheffield Junior Sharks 81, Trafford 57.

Thanks go to Coach Ransom, Joe and Alexis Moodie for the stats, Keith (L P Hartley**) Rooney, and travelling supporters.

Personal Statistics: John Stewart: 28 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks; Mykel Moodie: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals; Joseph Baugh: 16 rebounds, 15 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks; Ben Cepulis: 10 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals; Jim Rose: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals; Louis-Francis-Edge: 1 point, 3 rebounds; Dave Price: 4 rebounds; Vonn Tapiz; Behre Tesfayohannes.

  * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crFQpOCDfEc

** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Go-Between