Tyler Mutemasango was the star man for the Titans Under-13s, scoring a massive 35 points as they clained a dramatic 81-79 double overtime win over Hertfordshire Warriors in the EBL Boys Midlands South Conference.
It was a slow start for Titans on Sunday, as they seemed to take the ‘day of rest’ literally when entering the early afternoon game.
After the first few seconds Titans realised this game was a complete contrast to the one the previous weekend.
Hertfordshire Warriors came with a strong, steady pack of players and they were able to run our team up and down the court, while making simple shots as soon as the jumpball was tossed.
A shocked Titans took five minutes to score their first basket. The combination of Titans’ unreadiness and lack of focus was reflected when finishing the quarter trailing 9-14.
Now aware of what Warriors had in store, Titans stepped up their game and began to show the Hertfordshire side that Titans were not about to lay down and let their homeground get taken over.
The second period of play consisted of both teams displaying a balanced game of scoring and turning the ball over, and each team was steadily putting points on the board.
However, Titans were battling both Warriors and the referees as Herts’ illegal zone defence play was not picked up on.
But it also played to Titans’ favour when they were brave enough to drive to basket, as the Northampton players were more likely to get fouled with Warriors swarming the player with the ball.
With Titans slowly creeping up on the Warriors they did not come off their backs, drawing in the second quarter and pulling back the overall score to 27-30. Mutemasango scoring 14 points of the 17 scored that period.
After a quick half time, Titans were ready to get back out and fight, but again found it difficult to get the ball rolling, due to the unorganised defence they were up against.
Fortunately, the referees picked up on this and awarded free throws and possession in Titans’ favour and this picked Northampton heads up and sparked a new scoring streak for them.
This included a vital ‘downtown’ three-pointer from youngest Titan Bradley Powell.
Titans managed to stay within the three points, finishing the quarter with an overall score of 44-47, although this time, Titans won the quarter 18-16.
Titans had been in touching distance all game, but this only hungered them to fight even more.
The fourth quarter demonstrated which team desired the win more.
Both teams (and the crowd) stepped up, and points were continuously going up on the score board to and fro and each team was taking turns to have the lead.
The ambition of both teams was clear as this quarter finished at a 59-59 tie with both teams only having nine points of combined missed shots between them.
For the first time for the majority of the young Titans players, they were going into overtime.
Mutemasango, Joseph Mcgrady, Philip ‘PJ’ Preston, Leah Alcindor and Matt Simons were about to embark in an added tense five minutes of play and four of these five players had only one foul left before getting kicked off the court, so fouling the opposition would be a very costly option.
Each side was in a hurry to score, and with both on team fouls, this period consisted of many three throws.
Players were under immense pressure when going to the line and these foul shots were regularly missed by both Warriors and Titans.
Following a minor foul, Titaness Alcindor was sent off court and was sadly unable to take part in the rest of the nail-biting game.
After four and a half minutes of play, Titans were one point down and in need of a quick bucket. Starting guard Mcgrady sealed the deal with an essential free throw to again tie the period 71-71.
This meant double overtime! This was now a game of stamina and focus, but with a great home crowd behind Titans they were now more ready than ever.
Titans got off to a great start, and scored the first basket, however Warriors reacted immediately and took a five point lead, the highest difference in the last three periods and when Matt Simons was fouled out with two minutes remaining,
Titans were acutely aware time was not on their side. A great replacement in Bradley Powell entered the zone and as Titans fought hard they were able to pull back the score to another tie of 79-79.
With six seconds to go, recent substitution Powell took in a fast, contested lay-up and seem to make it with ease.
Titans watched Warriors offer up one last prayer from the other end of the court, but this was not enough. Titans had won 81-79.
The court was rushed by players, coaches and families celebrating a great win for the underdogs throughout an evenly-sided game.
Mutemasango top scored with 35 points combined with a even bigger 12 blocks, playing a key role throughout. Preston contributed with 15 points and McGrady with 11.
EBL Under 14 Boys Midlands Conference
Milton Keynes Lions 53 Northamptonshire Titans 79
In their season opener at Weavers on Saturday, the under 14 NEBC Titans started their campaign as they meant to go on with a convincing win over MK Lions.
It was a match that was always going to test the nerves of the newly formed squad, but they settled quickly and sharply took control of the tempo.
The Titans starting five, including new signing CJ Charteris formerly of MK Lions, took only one quarter to open up a 12-point lead in which Captain Elliot ‘Bosh’ Farrar managed to secure a 75% per cent record from the foul line.
In the second quarter the Lions closed the Gap to eight points as Trei St Vie-Hutchinson made his way onto the score sheet for Titans with some impressive rebounding at both ends of the floor.
With Trei dominating the scoring in the second quarter the Titans went into the locker room with a 34-26 lead.
The second half saw a similar story with both teams having separate three-minute dry spells.
The turning point for the Titans came in the sixth minute of the third quarter as Keenan Salmon lashed a three pointer.
This seemed to break down the Lions offense and they were only able to go to the bucket once in the remainder of the quarter.
The home squad, looking great in their new purple strip, went into the fourth quarter with a comfortable lead of 21 points.
The game was never again in doubt as Lions had no answer to the lead that Titans forged early on.
Hayden ‘The Truth’ Alcindor top scored with 18 points but will have some explaining to do at training after managing only 25 per cent from the foul line.
Keenan Salmon was second on 14, leaving CJ and Trei joint third with 12 points apiece.
EBL Under 15 Boys Midlands Conference:
Coventry Trojans 67 Northamptonshire Titans 62
The season opened with a tough away trip to Coventry Trojans.
Titans went into this game with confidence albeit with some nerves.
After early exchanges, the Titans fell behind by nine points but pulled this back to within four points by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter the team found the rhythm and with good defence and excellent open play ended the half two points down with a score of 33-31.
The second half continued to be a tight affair and with less than two minutes left Titans had a one point lead and will regret their missed opportunities down the stretch when the Trojans secured the next six points to take the win by five. However, the Under 15 boys played well and can take the many positives to the next game.
Top scorers were Sam Stopps with 20 points, followed by Devante Morgan with 16 and Alfie Fox with 11.
EBL Under 16 Boys Premier Division North:
Stockport Spartans 51 Northamptonshire Titans 125
NEBC Titans were way too good for Stockport Spartans.
The Titans began the game in style picking up a 23-point lead before a score by the Spartans in the eighth minute of the first quarter.
The welcoming quarter saw the Titans take a healthy lead of 31-9.
The Spartans woke up in the second quarter using speed to get through the middle of the defence.
But the Titans used inside plays to Terrell Salmon and Reuben David who both had to cover for the absence of ‘big men’ Reece Parillon and James Andrews to take easy baskets, extending the lead at half time to 58-28.
The Titans, leading by 30 in the third quarter, changed the defence which led into a number of steals by Jamal Brownbill enforcing the fast break to Dom La Mura who finished strongly down the other end.
The fourth quarter saw the crowd in the sports hall take the Titans to a comfortable win at home, winning 125-51.
The whole of the Titans team scored with leading scorers Terrell Salmon (21) and Dom La Mura (20) Sharif St John (16) Timi Grill and Reuben David (14 apiece) and captain Jordan Francis (10) taking the NEBC Titans into second place of the Northern Premier League.
They play local rivals Northants Thunder at NSG on the13th of October hoping to continue their winning efforts.
EBL VCARS.co.uk Division Three Men South:
Hackney White Heat 83 Northamptonshire Titans 51
Titans’ new-look men’s squad took their first steps in their division three campaign at an improved Hackney side on Saturday and came away on the wrong end of an 83-51 scoreline.
They ultimately never recovered from a 17-0 opening when they looked like the new squad they are.
Titans did get a foothold in the game in the second half of the first quarter when they managed to stem the offensive tide with some much improved defence and closed the gap after the first period to 19-8.
Titans continued to improve in the second quarter and closed the gap to five at one stage before the home side hit a three-pointer on the buzzer to go into half time 31-20 ahead.
Hackney came out in the second half and scored freely, hitting a high shooting percentage, and allied with too many turnovers Titans struggled to maintain their control on the game as the home side went on to win comfortably.
There were encouraging signs and flashes of what will be at different stages throughout the game once the players are more familiar with each other, but the season is about rebuilding for Titans, but there it was clear there is a lot more to come from this group.
Anthony Ghatt top scored for Titans with 11 points, Mark Swann and Illy Murison scored seven each.
Coach Pete Burgoine was not too downbeat after the performance, and said: “There is a long way to go and the players are still getting to know each other, we will improve quickly as the guys get to work on the systems we need to implement.”
This weekend’s fixtures
Saturday, October 13
11.15am: Northants Thunder v Titans Under 14 Boys at NSG
13.15: Northants Thunder v Titans Under 16 Boys at NSG
Sunday, October 14
5pm Titans Men v Ipswich Tomcats at Weavers Leisure Centre, Wellingborough
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