NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ELITE BASKETBALL CLUB a company limited by guarantee Email: [email protected] Web: www.nebctitans.co.uk Twitter: @NEBCTitans Phone: 07900 993211 or 07830 215296 PRESS RELEASE 16th February 2015 Here is this week’s report: BEL Under 13 Boys Midlands Conference: Derby Trailblazers 72 Northamptonshire Titans 82 This was the first meeting this season of NEBC Titans and Derby Trailblazers, both with opportunities to win the Under 13 Boys Midlands Conference title, should Titans be successful then Blazers were out of the title race, so there was everything to play for. It was Blazers that hit Titans right from the tip, Captain Bradley Powell responded with a couple of baskets of his own off some excellent Titans passing. Dane Carr commanded Titans boards as Blazers “bigs” tried to overpower Titans inside also with penetrating basketball through their top scorer Matimba. Titans Sam Grant began to find his scoring touch whilst the ever improving Taiwo Hamilton conducted Titans tempo, leaving a 16-16 score line after Dane Carr commander of the boards the first quarter. Powell and Grant kept the score board ticking over but Blazers where exploiting Titans defence, both teams found a rich vein of form scoring from the open floor and with Hannah Bird getting in on the act Titans enjoyed their most productive offensive spell. But concerns for both coaches was at the defensive end, Titans just edged the half 39-40. Titans defensive adjustments had done the trick as they went on a 14-2 run which was helped by Carr at the offensive end. Titans transition game was in full flow and with the defence stepping up Titans won the quarter 14-22. The first few minutes in the fourth was critical for both teams and when Blazers went on a 7-2 run, Powell stepped up and hit a down town 3 to give the momentum back to Titans. Not for the first time this season Titans showed maturity beyond their years and walked away with not just the win but a performance to match. Titans now travel to Worcester Bears next Saturday and a win will clinch the Midlands Conference title and they still will have the return fixture hosting Blazers. Coach Powell said “This was an excellent advert for U13s basketball, two well matched teams producing some of the best junior basketball I have seen in sometime, the return match will certainly be another exciting prospect.” Top scorers was Powell 30, Grant 27 & Bird 13 Company registered in England & Wales No: 8160039 Registered Office: 42 The Oval, Kettering NN15 6AY Directors: B Henderson; P Burgoine; S Elliott-King; D Alexis; B Powell; I Fox NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ELITE BASKETBALL CLUB a company limited by guarantee Email: [email protected] Web: www.nebctitans.co.uk Twitter: @NEBCTitans Phone: 07900 993211 or 07830 215296 BEL Under 15 Boys Midlands & East Conference: JMA Reading Rockets 85 Northamptonshire Titans 45 NEBC Titans Under 15 Boys fielded a significantly under strength team, though they made their best start of the season against third place JMA Reading Rockets. And at 12-10 with seconds to go in the first quarter, made a couple of silly turnovers costing 4 quick points, and mentally never recovered. They conceded a 17- 0 run during eight dry minutes in the second period that ultimately cost them the game. The positive for Titans was they were creating good opportunities, but came away too often with nothing to show for their efforts. Titans did continue to battle away, and had two or three good spells during the remainder of the game, it has to be said that missing 18 free throws did not help their cause. But considering Titans lost by 65 points at home back in November, when they really struggled against Rockets tight defence the result did represent more significant progress for the team. Cameron Samuels led the offense for Titans with 25 points, with support coming from Tzion Essel-Jaji and Jamie Butler who both chipped in with 6 points each. BEL Under 16 Boys Northern Premier: City of Birmingham 66 Northamptonshire Titans 70 NEBC Titans Under 16 Boys travelled to take on mid-table City of Birmingham, a team that the Northamptonshire boys narrowly beat in their earlier season match-up also COB included two England Development squad players. This was a highly competitive and physical match up right from the start. Titans held on to take the first quarter 18 – 19 and were looking to continue the frenetic pace that had given them the lead. After an exchange of scores, COB started to click and it was their half court executions that lead to 6 consecutive scores to which Titans had no answer. This would prove to be COB’s highest scoring quarter of the game as they won the quarter 26-18. After some stellar perimeter shooting the home side connected on 6 three-pointers and headed into the half-time break with a narrow lead 44 – 37. The home side regained the momentum in the 3rd quarter and scored the first 5 points of the quarter and at one point stretched their lead to as many as 14. Titans knew that they would be heading for defeat if they did not step up the defensive intensity. After a renewed focus at the defensive end the Northamptonshire side started to close down COB shooters and held the home side to just 12 points as they scored 18 points winning the 3rd period and narrowing the deficit to just 1point. After a positive start to the 4th the away side they eventually took the lead 59 – 56. Titans showed a steely determination and physical side to their game as the 4th quarter continued and they dominated the backboards at both ends and increased the pressure which led to some costly COB turnovers. Some composed team play as the clock ran down helped Titans gain an excellent road win chalking up their 9th league win of the season. It was a good road win with a solid all round team performance in which 7 players got onto the score-sheet. Top scorers were Keenan Salmon 23, Hayden Alcindor 19 and Ailbhe Cooper 13, however Titans will be disappointed that after a recent improvement from the foul line in previous games that they only managed to shoot 10 of 24 on the day. Titans face a double header weekend for their next 2 fixtures, they play host to Manchester Magic on Saturday 21st February and travel back to Birmingham on Sunday 21st to face Team Birmingham. Company registered in England & Wales No: 8160039 Registered Office: 42 The Oval, Kettering NN15 6AY Directors: B Henderson; P Burgoine; S Elliott-King; D Alexis; B Powell; I Fox NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ELITE BASKETBALL CLUB a company limited by guarantee Email: [email protected] Web: www.nebctitans.co.uk Twitter: @NEBCTitans Phone: 07900 993211 or 07830 215296 BEL Under 16 Girls Midlands South West Conference: Exeter Eagles 0 Northamptonshire Titans 20 Exeter Eagles were unable to make the long trek to Northampton due to coach illness, so they forfeited the game BEL Under 18 Men Northern Premier: Northamptonshire Titans 83 Sheffield Junior Sharks 77 NEBC Titans U18 Men were at home to play Sheffield Junior Sharks and were trying to win their 2nd game on the trot. Titans were soundly beaten at Sheffield back in November by 22 points, so during the pre-game preparations the Coaching Staff stressed to the players to limit Sharks to one shot and defend the outside Two of Reece shooting. Titans opened up in a 3-2 zone defence that Parillon’s hard was able to challenge the outside shooting as well as earned 11 curtail Shark’s penetration drives to the basket. With points seven players scoring, Titans were able to take a 5 point lead at the end of the end of the 1st quarter, 23 to 18. The 2nd and 3rd quarters were closely fought, with 14 tied scores or lead changes, however Coach‘s Johnson and Morrison were more pleased with the fact that the entire team were contributing with scoring and defensive work on the floor. Going into the 4th quarter both teams were tied at 59 apiece, so it was all to play for in the last quarter. With 3 minutes left in the game and Sharks ahead, 72 to 73, Lewis Kain, scored 5 points for Titans to take the lead 77 to 73. Sharks tied the score at 77, on some extremely physical play basketball that they were allowed to get away with playing. Rueben David stole the ball and drove in for a lay-up. After Sharks missed two crucial free-throws that would have tied the game for them, Lewin Kain scored on fast break lay-up and then Matt Alker was inserted into the game to coolly make 2 free throws with 6 seconds left to seal the victory for the Titans at 83 to 77. In the 6 point win, the team had balanced scoring with all players scoring at least 5 points with 4 players in double figures. Jordan Grant and Lewis Kain both scored 17 points, while Terrell Salmon had 12 and “Sonic” Matt Alker sealing the victory Reece Parillon scored 11 points. with his second free throw Company registered in England & Wales No: 8160039 Registered Office: 42 The Oval, Kettering NN15 6AY Directors: B Henderson; P Burgoine; S Elliott-King; D Alexis; B Powell; I Fox NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ELITE BASKETBALL CLUB a company limited by guarantee Email: [email protected] Web: www.nebctitans.co.uk Twitter: @NEBCTitans Phone: 07900 993211 or 07830 215296 BEL Under 18 Men Northern Premier: Sporting Club Albion 66 Northamptonshire Titans 68 NEBC Titans Under 18 Men went on the road on Sunday to play Sporting Club Albion (SCA) to try and keep the winning streak going.