Sureshot Champions: Lead Taken and Kept After Second Basket
The Sureshot Cup Final
Sheffield Junior Sharks U18 V Bristol Academy Flyers U18
2.15 pm, Sunday, February 21st 2010
Amaechi Basketball Centre, Manchester
1 2 3 4Final
Sharks:21132010 64
Flyers: 716 1215 50
Sheffield U18s won a worthy, sure victory with some great basketball and tremendous effort at both ends of the court. The day did not start with the same confidence, however, with unexpected heavy snow. A long and testing Journey threading up the M1 and across the exposed M62 amidst snow ploughs and in slow moving traffic made a demanding drive. A delay was inevitable to the game. Coaches and three players arrived within what would have been fifteen minutes of the tip. An accommodating Bristol team, Amaechi Centre and England Basketball agreed to a thirty minute stay. Before this and to show the Sheffield intent, players went to change, Alexis Moodie attended the team meeting, and Keith Rooney did what comes naturally and took care and charge of the players for the coaches. He kept them in a good frame of mind with positive Sharks’ basketball as the focus. Supporters meanwhile were gathering and waiting to take possession of the stand behind the Sheffield home bench.
All assembled on the court, the snow and the journey was forgotten. Sheffield players, coaches and supporters were intent on the game ahead. As the game neared it was clear that the most vociferous voices in the house were those of the Sharks. Joseph Baugh won the tip against Bristol’s Garcia, but lack of ability to get the ball in the basket saw their eventual possession and two points from Garcia. Ben Cepulis began his critical and excellent rebounding campaign of the first quarter, especially in defense where he snatched, plucked and protected the ball from the Flyers. His eventual fourteen rebounds were much needed. With Sharks’ assured attacking and tough defense it was Bristol that began to make fouls, and Jim Rose was the first to notch one up to his credit. John Stewart insistent on going to basket was soon fouled too by Bristol’s danger man, Loftman, but the time at the stripe was barren. An offensive rebound from Joseph became a basket in his clearing up, and the score was levelled. Further hustle from Sharks saw Garcia foul and this time John took one from two and from that small picking the lead that was never lost again. Along side this Mykel Moodie was doing spectacularly well in marking Loftman and took a charge that were interpreted as a foul, but Mykel had well made his point as he so often does. What had been a slow beginning soon began to motor with turbo-charging from the Sharks. John forced through the paint to make two points, Joseph did the first of his mega-blocks and John was at it again. Soon he was to block, defensive rebound to trundle all the way down the court for two. After a great steal from Mykel Moodie temporary Flyers’ possession saw Sharks with the ball in Jim who made a magnificent, selfless assisting pass to john who stowed it away for both of them. It took six and a half minutes for Bristol to obtain their second basket and fourth point of their ration of seven for the period. Fast breaking Joseph made a quarterback shot to sure footed Mykel who put the ball away soundly. A second charge foul on Mykel in his close work on Loftman saw Coach Ransom looking at the clock and substituting Mykel for later when he would be more in need. Behre came on and well played his part. Loftman finally wriggled open and he took advantage with a three pointer. Before long a basket from Ben, a put-back from Joseph, a basket from John and finally Joseph placed the Sharks in a grand position: Sheffield Junior Sharks 21, Bristol Academy Flyers 7. Twenty two rebounds against six help tell the story of quarter, but the lock-out of the Flyer’s attack was surely the other.
To open the second quarter, Dave Price took the floor for the first time while Joseph took time out. Bristol did some good work in repelling Sharks and Garcia, especially, in Mr Tickle fashion. Soon a harmless call from Sharks’ supporters sitting close behind the bench was wrongly attributed to Coach Ransom and a technical foul was given: Bristol’s Loftman took two points. A niggling worry wormed away at what a second would mean. Back in the play John drew a foul from Garcia and he was removed to safety by Bristol. John cashed a shot. Soon Joseph Baugh returned to court and Bristol were pressured to risk and return Garcia to the court; it made sense with John and Joseph working in tandem. Again Coach Ransom placed Dave Price on Watchman duties taking John off the court for a longer half-time break. In the end it was Joseph and Ben that were making the most telling calls to the basket. Sheffield Junior Sharks 34, Bristol Academy Flyers 23. Whilst it was time for a well earned break the Sheffield lead was not taken for granted. Perhaps the season’s litany of lost second quarters and third quarter resurgences had just been part of training for this day?
Sharks came back from the break in the dressing room with a palpable sense of purpose and confidence. In fact, the team performance throughout betrayed not a glimmer or suggestion that the game’s ‘big’ status was ever an issue. This was a credit to everyone involved. The third quarter did what it was meant to do, and within it they pushed the game to a substantial twenty two point Sharks’ lead with a basket from Jim. Jim and Mykel made strong contributions in the quarter whilst Ben, Joseph and John quietly accumulated points and rebounds. Assists were more evident in the period, with seven, ensuring that the Sharks kept true to team basketball in a way that seemed to puzzle others in its simplicity. Simplicity or not it did the business and provides a lesson to all. Some of the assists had their own elegance proving that good basketball does not have to be flamboyant. Joseph aided the first basket with a sweet and sure assist to Mykel, Jim for John, Ben a wonderful assist to Mykel, Ben for John, Joseph for John, John for Ben and Mykel for Jim. After being stuck in the corner, John made a statement with a Dunk. Quarter closed, Sheffield Junior sharks 54, Bristol Academy Flyers 35.
The final period of play was the most tense of the entire game in terms of withstanding Bristol, in something of a last ditch effort. Garcia was their most potent player taking ten points in the quarter before fouling out, achieved either by design or chance in a Mykel pass to Joseph that saw Garcia coming over the top of him to try to get the ball. Everyone knew that there was no Bristol comeback. The sense of the inevitable was well understood with even the commentator noting that John’s subsequent Dunk was done almost apologetically. A further two points from John and final Sharks’ baskets from Ben (two) courtesy of Joseph, and Joseph himself wonderfully closed the play. Fitting for the captain.
This was a brisk and energetic game with fitness and attack being a strong element in both team’s play. Sharks did well both being highly effective close to the basket and using Ronseal in defense without attracting the fouls that cost Reading in the Semi Final. Fifty eight rebounds to thirty seven underline this. Calm coaching, attentiveness to basics and flexing play at will saw Sharks looking more obviously the experienced side. Three of the Sharks’ players had double doubles against Bristol’s singleton in Garcia.
Coach Ransom’s only regret of the day was that the game did not allow him the player flexibility that he wanted and to play everyone. Thanks must go to those in the creation of a great day at the Amaechi Centre, and within the club itself and its supporters. All the team well deserve their gold medals.
Personal Statistics from the Table: John Stewart (Most Valuable Player Award): 23 Points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 7 fouls drawn; Joseph Baugh: 16 Points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 1 foul drawn; Ben Cepulis: 15 Points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls drawn; Mykel Moodie: 6 Points, 3 rebounds, 1 assists, 3 steals, 2 fouls drawn; Jim Rose: 4 Points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul drawn; Behre Tesfayohannes: 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 7 fouls drawn; Dave Price: 1 rebound. Conor Faulkner, Louis Francis Edge, Vonn Tapiz, George Brownell.
