A superb team effort helped Northants Lightning to a 49-33 victory over Bromsgrove Bears in the Cadette Women’s Midlands South-West Conference.
Not for the first time this season the girls ‘won ugly’, but this win over Bromsgrove Bears in a cold uninviting gym was very much down to determination and superb defensive organisation.
At the start of the game both teams looked distinctly ‘ring rusty’ after the long Christmas break, and the Northants girls were guilty of missing several easy shots and found themselves trailing 10-7 midway through the first period of play.
They recovered strongly and thanks to a number of fast break scores from Charlotte Berridge eased out to a 14-10 lead but were then hurt by a trio of Bears scores from ‘pick & roll’ offences that boarded on the illegal.
With her team trailing 16-14 at the end of the period, Lightning coach Karen Goodrich switched her team to a zone defence and this had the effect of curbing the Bromsgrove scoring threats close to the basket but they did hit some critical perimeter shots to extend their lead to five points at 24-19.
Lightning then went on a 12-zero run to lead 31-24 at half time.
With scoring difficult, Goodrich made some adjustments to her defensive set for the third quarter and the result was quite amazing with Bears restricted to just one scoring shot in the next 10 minutes of play. Lightning too found scoring difficult and could only 10 points themselves but leading 41-26 in a low scoring game victory looked assured.
Lightning were able to extend their lead to 20 points midway through the final period of play but to their credit Bears kept battling and were able to reduce the final deficit to 14 points against a tiring Lightning outfit.
In the win, four players in Berridge, Lauren Milne, Sarah Round and Ruchae Walton all scored in double figures, while Milne and Walton also had double figures rebounding, but Goodrich was quick to point out that all 12 of her players had contributed to the defensive effort.
Cadet Men’s Premier Division North
Derby Trailblazers 90 Northants Thunder 69
In the period leading up to the Christmas break the Derby Trailblazers Cadet Men had recorded some impressive results and they showed just why with this conclusive win over a determined but eventually outgunned Northants Thunder team.
Faced with a team that had speed in the back court, plus good perimeter shooters and capable inside players, Thunder coach John Collins elected to employ a zone defence and initially this was successful with Pauli Laurinolli making a number of steals for breakaway scores.
For their part Trailblazers were able to put the Thunder ball handlers under pressure with a full court defence but at the end of the first period of play Northants were still in touch at 16-21.
The Northants zone continued to be successful but eventually the Derby pressure began to tell and Thunder were guilty of turning the ball over on a number of occasions leading to easy Trailblazer scores.
This was the main reason for the 27-16 second quarter score which took the score to 48-32 in favour of the home team at half time.
At the end of the first half, Derby’s Wesseleigh had hit three huge three-point shots and this prompted Collins to switch his team to a man-to-man defence at the start of the third quarter.
In the first few minutes of the period his worst fears were realised as his team struggled to control the penetrative play of the Derby guards as Trailblazers rushed out to a 27 point lead.
Collins switched to a combination defence and this proved to be more successful with his team outscoring their opponents over the final 12 minutes of the game.
In the defeat Laurnollini top scored with 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
He received excellent support from Josh Round who scored 20 points but no other Thunder player was able to make any significant points contribution.
At the end of the game Collins conceded that his team had been beaten by a better team but was full of praise for the efforts of his players who never gave up.
Under 15 Boys Midlands Conference
Coventry Tornadoes 38 Northants Thunder 65
Earlier in the season the Northants under 15 boys had seen off Tornadoes by a massive 58 points, and the Coventry-based team have been unable to record a win all season so far.
Imagine their unbridled joy when a successful three point gave them an 11-8 first quarter lead against a disorganised and lethargic Thunder outfit.
Thunder were able to raise level of their performance in the second period which they edged 16-12 but with a half time score of 24-23 the game was still very much in the mix.
During the half time break, coach Rob Crump had some stern words for his players, reflecting on a distinctly below par first half performance and his team responded well with Carlo Nieva scoring the first five points of the third period.
Thunder were now negating Tornadoes scoring close to basket and from missed shots they were able to launch a number of fast breaks with Josh Arimoro scoring ten points as his team swept into a 51-32 lead by the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Thunder limit Tornadoes scoring to single figures while Ed Hall and Jacob Killeya struck up a good scoring partnership.
Thunder took the period 14-6 to run out comfortable winners by 65 points to 38 but against City of Birmingham this coming Saturday they will need to make sure they don’t start in such a lethargic manner.
In last Saturday’s win the Northants scoring was led by Arimoro with 20 points and he was well supported by Ed Hall and Jacob Killeya who scored 16 and 12 points respectfully.
Under 14 Boys Midlands Conference
Wolverhampton Slam 80 Northants Thunder 79
After overtime. Score at full-time 72-72
The Northants under 14 boys journeyed back from the Black Country last Saturday afternoon reflecting on a one point overtime loss against Wolverhampton Slam in a game they should have won.
In the first game of the season Thunder had seen off Slam by almost 30 points, but from the outset it was clear this was going to be a much tighter encounter as the home side edged the first period of play 20-13.
The second period saw two scoring surges, the first 10-zero by Slam and then 14-zero by Thunder as they took a narrow 39-35 half time lead.
Thunder’s third quarter effort was restricted by an injury to Jacob Round and with the two teams exchanging baskets Slam were able to reduce the deficit by two points by the end of the period.
With everything to play for Round returned to the game for the final stanza, but a combination of missed scoring opportunities and slack defence saw Wolverhampton score the last two baskets of the game to tie the scores at 72 all and take the game into overtime.
In the extra period the two teams continued to exchange baskets when leading by a single point Thunder were awarded two free throws but missed both shots from the charity stripe.
Slam pulled down the rebound from the second shot and from the ensuing offence managed to score and take the lead.
Thunder were able to get away one last shot but it missed and Slam had won by 80 points to 79.
In the disappointing loss the Thunder scoring was dominated by Jacob Round and David Nieva who scored 47 and 23 points respectively.
Under 13 Boys Midlands South Conference
London Feltham Warriors 95 Northants Thunder 51
The Northants under 13 boys travelled to league leaders, London Feltham Warriors last Saturday, missing several key players but determined to put up a fight.
Coach Mike Round’s game plan was based on working as a team and trusting each other and with this message in the forefront of their minds Thunder started the game well but despite their best efforts they were unable to contain Feltham’s numerous scoring threats.
They also had problems dealing with the home side’s full court pressure defence as Warriors took control of the game.
The hosts were also able to take full advantage of their superior height looking after their own boards and successfully challenging for offensive rebounds.
Thunder weren’t able to fast break as well as normal and the set offence appeared a little rusty; no doubt as a result of the Christmas break and by half time they found themselves trailing 47-25.
On occasions during the first two periods of play Thunder had shown a distinct lack of grit and determination which earned them a stern talking to from coach Round during the half time break.
Feltham comfortably won the second half to run out winners by 44 points.
Round was pleased that his team had scored more than 50 points and had prevented Warriors from reaching a century.
Laurence Williams led the Thunder scoring with 19 points. Jared Ryan contributed 11 points while William Charter and Josh Hannay chipped in with seven and six points respectively.
The team now has two weeks to re-group and re-focus before its next game.
THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION
Saturday 12th January
9.30am to 11.00am: U11 & U12 Practice
10.00am to 11.00am: Junior Ballers 11.30am: Under 15 Boys v City of Birmingham 1.30pm: Cadet Men v Manchester 3.30pm: Junior Men v Trafford Cadette Women travel to Bromsgrove Bears Under 15 Girls travel to Gloster Jets Sunday 13th January
10.00am: Under 13 Girls v Brentwood Fire
10.00am: Junior Women v Bucks Hornets
12.00pm: Under 14 Girls v Ipswich Bobcats
12.00pm: Cadette Women v Bristol Storm Junior Men travel to Sheffield Sharks (Sure Shot Cup 1/4 final)
All the home games will be played at the Northants Basketball Centre at Northampton School for Girls
in Spinney Hill Road, Northampton. Spectators are welcome and admission is FREE
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