Self-Inflicted Wounds, or Heavy Weather

Sheffield Junior Sharks V Cheshire Jets

3.15 pm, Sunday, November 1st 2009

All Saints Roman Catholic High School (Goals)

1 2 3 4Final

Sharks: 2126 2612 85

Jets: 1523 18 24 80

Of the League teams this year Cheshire Jets and Manchester Magic are the ones that most people wanted to know about given the change in personnel. Three of the U18 players playing with Saints in Division Three have already had first-hand experience of Manchester in the Sheffield win that they were a part of on Saturday October 31st. All players, coaches and supporters now know about Cheshire. The League, then, is getting to be more of a known quantity which is useful when looking deeper into the season.

A day of vile weather greeted the Cheshire team just as it did those waking up to the rain and cold in Sheffield. Soon this gave way to giddy, windy weather and things were still blustery as the teams took to the court. It might have even have been reflected in some of the play. It was Cheshire that opened the scoring after local fumbling. Soon after John Stewart was fouled in the process of shooting a three-pointer and so went to the line. Perhaps in sympathy with the mail strike he failed to post any of the three free-throws awarded. He did, however, take an offensive rebound and take two points and then a safety dunk to ensure that the ball was pushed home as he was being closely challenged. Mykel Moodie, Ben Cepulis, Joseph Baugh (through a trademark put-back) all quickly followed to score always keeping the Sharks in the lead. Jim Rose sank a long and satisfying two-point shot having been fed by Ben. Conor Faulkner also joined the effort supporting all his team mates. For Cheshire, Neil Gillard was a threat taking six, and Banks, Moore and Helsby helped to take the Jets’ response to fifteen points. They were particularly effective in calling for screens. A nine point lead during the quarter was nibbled away at by Cheshire so that the end of the first quarter saw the score at Sheffield Junior Sharks 21, Cheshire Jets 15. It was good to see six assists in the quarter, but disappointing to see a similar number of turnovers each of which might have been avoided. The assists came to be a highlight of the full game and it was good to see a high number of effective shots.

The second quarter began with John pushing through the defense to the basket to be fouled. He took one point with an uncharacteristic free-throw ‘spook’ beginning to take shape like an albatross. Ben, to his relief, found his three-point range and was thereafter comfortable through the game most often being assisted by John. Some silly mistakes of casualness allowed Cheshire to come back. John took a very difficult pass to convert it and soon Joseph made a determined and secure progression through the opposition to score. The split in the home side’s play between great play and the not so good became a frustration. Mykel showed yet again his train-like speed and toughness across the court with an added basket aided by Ben. Both George Brownell and Dave Price entered the game with George being immediately effective taking a powerful rebound, a basket and a charge in a short space of time. By the quarter’s half’s end there had been a Shark’s lead of thirteen tapered back to nine: Sheffield Junior Sharks 47, Cheshire Jets 38.

The Third quarter began too quickly for some. Soon, however, Sharks’ heads were in the right place. Ben began the wake-up assisted by John and the period became more certain with a lead extending to thirteen. With Vonn Tapiz and Oliver Bourne giving sterling support from the bench, Joe had a tremendous quarter with five from five field goals. John accompanied him with four from five as well as four rebounds and four assists. Their good understanding was appreciated. Mykel remained a rock of solid foundation with four defensive rebounds, two assists and two steals. Jim maintained the obligato with a basket, a steal and a rebound. Conor and Louis came into the mix of play, Conor contributing to steals and rebounds and Louis Francis-Edge a basket. In terms of the team the ten assists within the stanza compared to Cheshire’s four, together with ten rebounds to Cheshire’s five helps tell the story of a team side. The quarter ended with a seemingly comfortable seventeen point lead: Sheffield Junior Sharks 73, Cheshire Jets 56.

The final quarter began with an unfamiliar Sheffield five and eight points were banked by Cheshire before a home-side point was made. It became more a struggle than it needed to be for the Sharks and self inflicted wounds were the reason. In the end Cheshire was adequately contained and a win was Sheffield’s, though with a modest five point advantage. It could, and should, have been more.

Training game for the week ahead: ‘Spot the Cutter’.

Thanks go to coaches Ransom and Nagle, Joe and Alexis Moodie for the stats and to all supporters.

Personal Stats: John Stewart 27 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot. Ben Cepulis: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists. Joseph Baugh: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot. Jim Rose: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. Mykel Moodie: 7 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. George Brownell: 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 charge. Louis Francis-Edge: 2 points. Dave Price, Vonn Tapiz, Oliver Bourne.

Next Game: Doncaster Danum Eagles, away at Danum Technology College, 11.30 am, November 7th 2009.