It Pays to Stick to the Script

Sheffield Junior Sharks V Stockport Falcons I

Target Life Cheadle College

Saturday, October 24th 2009

1 234 OT Final

Sharks: 27201812 6 83

Stockport: 8291812 8 85

This game, the first loss and approaching the end of the first quarter of the season, brings an opportunity for individual players and coaches to assess where they and the team are, what has been successful so far, and what needs to be addressed for the future. Sadly the game was without two of the starting-five, who were unavailable, and the head coach who was on regional duty. Even so, the match should have been a win.

The game was slightly delayed in starting as a result of the home team finding it difficult to get the better of the traffic. The game began without all the Stockport players present, but it was not for that reason that Sheffield Junior Sharks actually started with such gusto in a quarter that saw their score total twenty seven. It was simply the knowing need to get busy straight away. Braced after an ankle turnover in training earlier in the week, John Stewart made an immediate impression with a three-pointer from right in front of the Stockport bench. Stockport responded with a two before John took the three more baskets. Dave Price, started, was fouled but was out of luck at the free throw line. Conor coming on took a nice two and then immediately a three-pointer pushing the lead to ten points, with John adding seven to take a seventeen point high. Joseph ‘iced’ the quarter with a two and three-pointer. Assists seemed plentiful in the quarter which was good to see, but not some curious late whistles. Sheffield Junior Sharks 27 points, Stockport Falcons I 8 points.

Undimmed by the deficit Stockport came back with a winning quarter of twenty nine points to Sharks’ twenty. Whilst still leaving the Sharks with a lead of ten at half-time it was a defining period when the home team showed what was possible with the determination. Sharks showcased a period of crisp play that then dwindled toward the half-time whistle of something of an undignified scrabble. That is always best as a board game. Louis Francis-Edge was added to the mix and help of others before john and Joseph pushed the score further to a nineteen point lead. Both showed yet again the importance of follow-throughs to make characteristic put-backs as well as his much needed rebounding and blocks. Ben took advantage of the fast-break capability of the Sharks, Taking four points from it and an and-one. David returned and came to be fouled again from which he took a stripe-point before he Ben and Joseph alternated points punctuated with a basket from Dave and Joseph closing the half with his twelve-high. Sheffield Junior Sharks 47 points, Stockport Falcons 37 points.

There was still the opportunity at the break for the Sharks to assert themselves. In the end the quarter was tied. Ben, Joseph and John were again significant and Conor provided a welcome nail of a three-pointer and two secure conversions from the stripe. What began to be evidenced however was missing executions of what practices had planned and the coaches’ directions had asked for. This was to be the unravelling.

The fourth quarter was eventful. The putting back of the clocks in the night to come manifested itself at the quarter’s end in a mysterious situation when a critical Sharks twenty-four second violation was extracted in a remaining clock time of just 22.6 seconds. None of this is written in excuse. But for it the result might well have been different. The quarter fell with a whole ten point advantage to the home team that thus erased the Sharks lead and tied the game in the very last seconds of the regulation time. It was Stockport’s numbers eleven and twelve that did most of the damage. The game was tied at 77 points.

Overtime began with a ‘clutch’ three from John. Stockport answered with a two before Ben took his three-pointer to create a lead of four points. Thereafter points from Stockport in normal play and in response to possession-attempt fouls saw Stockport steal the day by a margin of two points. Stockport will be stronger from the win: Sheffield Junior Sharks 83, Stockport Falcons I 85.

Amidst the disappointment it was tremendously consoling and kind when the Stockport team provided Sharks with sandwiches from caterers and individual bags of a drink, snack and a sweet snack. This generosity should not be overlooked. The team needed a restorative.

Thanks go to Coaches Nagle and Fearnley, Travelling supporters and to Henry and Nicky Cepulis for the Statistics.

Next game: A potentially challenging game against Cheshire Jets at All Saints RC High School (Goals) at 3.15 on Sunday, November 1st 2009

Personal Stats: John Stewart: 28 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks. Joseph Baugh: 24 points, 22 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks. Ben Cepulis: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals. Conor Faulkner: 12 points: 2 rebounds, 1 assist. Dave price: 7 points: 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Louis Francis-Edge: 1 rebound, 1 assist. Von Tapiz, Oliver Bourne.