We travelled to Belfast this weekend to play three games: two against the home team, Ulster Elks, and one versus Dublin-based DCU Saints. Though we lost all three games, making our pre-season record a shoddy 1-4, we were playing semi-pro Superleague sides without our top scorer, and last year's Player of the Year, Simon Flockhart, and a weakened squad of only nine players.
Our first game, after a quiet night in Belfast, was against Saints, who had played the Elks earlier in the day, losing 115-85. We stayed with them, but a combination of their aggressive defence, larger squad, and a collective 4th quarter mind fart on our part, meant that the Dublin side came out on top by about 14. With a further game to be played that day, against the Elks, things were looking rough. We resolved, then, to make sure we didn't embarrass ourselves against a team who had destroyed a side that had just beaten us by double digits.
We certainly achieved that, as we stayed with the Elks throughout. Two FTs from ex-King, Paul Cummins, put the Elks up 2 with only one play left in the game. We struggled to inbound the ball against their pressure, and were unable to run the play we'd tried for. One botched offense and a missed shot by yours truly later, and the Elks post a pretty fortunate win. A very encouraging performance from us, although Elks' ex-Maryland "Terp", Dave Neal, did torch us/me for 47 points!
The next day saw a rematch with Elks, after another quiet night in Belfast, and a further weakened Kings team. Captain, Laurie Costello, had injured his knee the previous day, so 16 year old Davie Rowan started in his place. In a game marred by strange refereeing, Davie picked up 3 fouls in the first few minutes, for perpetrating crimes that bore a striking resemblance to those deemed legal by the officials when committed by our hosts, and so we went further and further down our bench. The game was close throughout, and, although Elks opened up a 12 point lead at one point, we were able to claw it back to only a few points. After what would generously be termed "a few" more questionable decisions, Campbell Flockhart was ejected from the game in a bizarre incident, while Lee Pettet fouled out early in the 4th quarter. Luckily, Garreth Lodge went off in this game, scoring 34 points, and keeping us in it. Our crunch-time five of Garreth, Davie Rowan, Gary Beyer, Steven Dickson and myself, making possibly its one and only appearance on court, after Paddy Campbell had also fouled out, did well, and a free throw from Garreth brought the game within a point in the final minute. After a deliberate miss of the final FT, we were unable to get the offensive board, and Elks ran out winners by 4 points in a very closely fought match, in which the stars of the show, if only for entertainment value, were undoubtedly the men with the whistles.
Big thanks go to the Elks for their mini-bus service, and to Davie, The Captain of Our Ship.
Kings squad: Laurie Costello, Paddy Campbell, Davie Rowan, Garreth Lodge, Gary Beyer, Steven Dickson, Campbell Flockhart, Lee Pettet, Liam McCabe.
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Monday, 21 September 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Scotland U18 Men v Switzerland
Going into the final 7 minutes, the Scots lead by a single point, having come back from a half time deficit to take control of the game. The Swiss have, however, clawed their way back into things, and forced the Scots into taking a time out with 6:27 remaining in the game.
Ali Fraser leads the Scots with 18 points at this stage, with Falkirk club mate Johnny Bunyan on 17, including 4/5 from 3pt range. Ali McKay has also been strong for Scotland, scoring 11 points to go with his 9 rebounds (4 offensive), while Lee Reilly has been cool at the line, hitting all 4 of his free throws on his way to 12 points.
Out of the time out, the Swiss take the lead after a missed shot from the Scots. Jaunin hits a 3 to give the Swiss their first lead since early in the 3rd quarter, at 68-66.
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Swiss extend their lead to 4 points, after a made jumper from Koloudrovic, giving him his 15th and 16th points of the afternoon. Scotland seem to have gone a bit cold for the time being - hopefully this will change, and very quickly!
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Dubas commits his 2nd foul of the game, and his team's 4th foul of the quarter. With his team now getting ever closer to the penalty situation, this could be key for the Scots as they attempt a comeback.
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3:38 to go, and Ali McKay fouls out on an offensive foul call, replaced by Calum Nicol. The Swiss hit a 3 through Koloudrovic once more to extend their lead to 73:66, before Josh Crolley quickly makes a lay up, while being fouled, to take the score to 73:68 in favour of the Swiss. Crolley misses the foul shot, keeping the Swiss lead at 5.
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Koloudrovic hits yet another 3 to extend the Swiss lead still further, taking his personal tally to 22 points, off of Jaunin's 5th assists of the game. The Scots take a time-out at this point, and from the inbounds play, Lee Reilly hits a 3, taking the score to 76:71 to the Swiss.
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A Swiss lay-up takes their lead to 7 points, before Dubas misses 2 free throws in what is hopefully a sign of nerves in the Swiss ranks in the closing minutes. Tellingly, though, this play sees Scottish star Ali Fraser foul out of the game, picking up his 5th foul, and leaving the Scots to face the final minutes without either of their top big men.
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1:33 to go, and the Scots down 7 points, 78:71
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Lee Reilly goes to the line and hits 2 free throws to bring the Scottish back to within 5 points, at 78:73 after a foul committed by Jaunin.
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The Swiss split a pair of free throws to add a further point to their lead, going into the last minute. (Dubas, 3 points total)
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As the Scots are forced to foul to stop the clock, the Swiss are content to add points to their tally from the line, as Jaunin splits a further pair of foul shots to take the Swiss lead to 80:73, and his personal total to 12 points. Tom Campbell takes a time-out, as the Scots plan a comeback attempt in the final 38 seconds, with the score at 80:73 to the Swiss.
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Bunyan knocks down a 2, cu ting the lead to 80:75, before a Scottish foul gives Koloudrovic (a great Swiss-sounding name...) the chance to extend the Swiss lead to 82:75 from the line. Reilly advances the ball down the court, and drives to the basket, but his lay-up attempt is blocked by Dubas, for his only blocked shot of the game.
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6 seconds to go, and it looks like game over. Dubas breaks free for a dunk, to take the final score to 84:75 in favour of the Swiss.
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Final Score: Switzerland 84:75 Scotland.
Top Performers
Switzerland: Koloudrovic (24pts, 6/11 3pt FGs, 6 rebounds), Savoy (15pts, 5/8 3pt FGs, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks), Jaunin (12pts, 2/3 3pt FGs, 5 assists, 2 steals)
Scotland: Bunyan (19pts, 4/6 3pt FGs, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Fraser (18pts, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal), Reilly (17pts, 6/6 FTs, 1 rebound, 2 assists), McKay (11pts, 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 block, 1 assist)
Ali Fraser leads the Scots with 18 points at this stage, with Falkirk club mate Johnny Bunyan on 17, including 4/5 from 3pt range. Ali McKay has also been strong for Scotland, scoring 11 points to go with his 9 rebounds (4 offensive), while Lee Reilly has been cool at the line, hitting all 4 of his free throws on his way to 12 points.
Out of the time out, the Swiss take the lead after a missed shot from the Scots. Jaunin hits a 3 to give the Swiss their first lead since early in the 3rd quarter, at 68-66.
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Swiss extend their lead to 4 points, after a made jumper from Koloudrovic, giving him his 15th and 16th points of the afternoon. Scotland seem to have gone a bit cold for the time being - hopefully this will change, and very quickly!
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Dubas commits his 2nd foul of the game, and his team's 4th foul of the quarter. With his team now getting ever closer to the penalty situation, this could be key for the Scots as they attempt a comeback.
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3:38 to go, and Ali McKay fouls out on an offensive foul call, replaced by Calum Nicol. The Swiss hit a 3 through Koloudrovic once more to extend their lead to 73:66, before Josh Crolley quickly makes a lay up, while being fouled, to take the score to 73:68 in favour of the Swiss. Crolley misses the foul shot, keeping the Swiss lead at 5.
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Koloudrovic hits yet another 3 to extend the Swiss lead still further, taking his personal tally to 22 points, off of Jaunin's 5th assists of the game. The Scots take a time-out at this point, and from the inbounds play, Lee Reilly hits a 3, taking the score to 76:71 to the Swiss.
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A Swiss lay-up takes their lead to 7 points, before Dubas misses 2 free throws in what is hopefully a sign of nerves in the Swiss ranks in the closing minutes. Tellingly, though, this play sees Scottish star Ali Fraser foul out of the game, picking up his 5th foul, and leaving the Scots to face the final minutes without either of their top big men.
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1:33 to go, and the Scots down 7 points, 78:71
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Lee Reilly goes to the line and hits 2 free throws to bring the Scottish back to within 5 points, at 78:73 after a foul committed by Jaunin.
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The Swiss split a pair of free throws to add a further point to their lead, going into the last minute. (Dubas, 3 points total)
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As the Scots are forced to foul to stop the clock, the Swiss are content to add points to their tally from the line, as Jaunin splits a further pair of foul shots to take the Swiss lead to 80:73, and his personal total to 12 points. Tom Campbell takes a time-out, as the Scots plan a comeback attempt in the final 38 seconds, with the score at 80:73 to the Swiss.
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Bunyan knocks down a 2, cu ting the lead to 80:75, before a Scottish foul gives Koloudrovic (a great Swiss-sounding name...) the chance to extend the Swiss lead to 82:75 from the line. Reilly advances the ball down the court, and drives to the basket, but his lay-up attempt is blocked by Dubas, for his only blocked shot of the game.
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6 seconds to go, and it looks like game over. Dubas breaks free for a dunk, to take the final score to 84:75 in favour of the Swiss.
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Final Score: Switzerland 84:75 Scotland.
Top Performers
Switzerland: Koloudrovic (24pts, 6/11 3pt FGs, 6 rebounds), Savoy (15pts, 5/8 3pt FGs, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks), Jaunin (12pts, 2/3 3pt FGs, 5 assists, 2 steals)
Scotland: Bunyan (19pts, 4/6 3pt FGs, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Fraser (18pts, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal), Reilly (17pts, 6/6 FTs, 1 rebound, 2 assists), McKay (11pts, 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 block, 1 assist)
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