No Cannons’ Fodder*

Sheffield Junior Sharks V Leicester Cannons

1.30 pm, Saturday, November 21st 2009

Beauchamp College, Leicester

1 2 3 4Final

Sharks: 25222923 99

Cannons:12131519 59

Only eight players were able to make the long trip south. This re-arranged tie meant that the U16 players were committed elsewhere and the team was without an injured, Dave Price. On arrival Leicester only had a roster of seven players and so there was relative balance between the teams. This was a game that started well for Sheffield, but which gave way to period of ‘chickens in the farmyard’ in terms of discipline and shape.

The first quarter was a solid quarter where shooting accuracy and composure was clear, despite the obvious athletic opposition of the Leicester Cannons team. John Stewart opened the scoring with a trumpet-call three-pointer before Ben Cepulis went to the free-throw line to take two. Between the two of them they then took the score to twenty five, with a further three-pointer from John and one from Ben. Mykel Moodie provided a loud exclamation mark of a basket after making an adroit cut preparing the way for his eleven points of the game. Louis Francis-Edge, Jim Rose, and Joseph Baugh allowed this to happen by providing assists and the wall of rebounding that other players added to. Sheffield Sharks 25, Leicester Cannons 12.

In the second stanza, though opening with a basket from John, Jim Rose came to the fore with a tally of nine points showing his fast break and slick cutting ability. Joseph and John took most of the rebounds – as well as making five and six points - whilst Ben made a mighty six assists. Mykel showed his close marking ability yet again, just as if he were a contender in Strictly Come Dancing. Vonn Tapiz joined in the taking of points with two of his game’s seven. Leicester kept plugging away. Oliver Bourne joined the action and earnest battled to take on the Leicester big men at either end of the court. Though taking the lead in their assertion there were clearly signs of missed lay-ups, or better termed lazy-lay-ups. The half closed: Sheffield 47 points, Leicester Cannons 25. Space to rest.

The third quarter opened with tear of six points from Ben. Nine assists spread across six players supported the highest scoring quarter of the game for the Sharks. Mykel paved the way for another monster dunk from Joseph. Jim made a terrific pass for Ben. Mykel, John and Joseph provided the bulk of the rebounds at either end, and John enjoyed making two blocks. Sometimes rebound opportunities were watched rather than taken. An incident occurred when John was fouled whilst fast moving along the base line going for basket. Only when he was squaring up for the second basket did the Leicester coach volubly and repeatedly objected, John missed the shot and a technical was given. Players decided it should be Jim that took the two free-throws and he made them both. The Sharks’ game deteriorated and became scrappy and unattractive. Mykel saved sense and invested two baskets with Vonn and John providing the bread either side; John’s a put-back that he and Joseph can do so well. Sheffield Sharks 76, Leicester Cannons 40.

Despite twenty three points the final quarter was the weakest of the four in terms of focus, accuracy, shot selection. Despite this there was good cutting and some extremely nice assists. The points were distributed across six players, with Vonn taking five, three from a shot outside the arc and far away from basket. Game closed: Sheffield Junior Sharks 99, Leicester Cannons 59. Not to forget also, this was a game of sixty two Sharks rebounds, twenty nine assists and sixteen steals; clearly to admire. This was a game with nearly a triple-double (Ben) and two other double-doubles (Joseph and John).

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

Personal Statistics (combined score-sheet and Sharks’ stats confirmed by report writer’s notes. In other words Jim and John lose two points apiece): John Stewart: 27 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks. Ben Cepulis: 24 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals. Jim Rose: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal. Joseph Baugh: 13 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks. Mykel Moodie: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals. Vonn Tapiz: 7 points, 1 rebound. Louis Francis-Edge: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals. Vonn Tapiz: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks. Oliver Bourne: 1 rebound.

* Cannon fodder: soldiers, especially infantrymen, who run the greatest risk of being wounded or killed in warfare.