Last night, Thurs 15th Oct, saw the season opening friendly between the BCS Seahawks and the Bournemouth Classics. The Classics are made up of a veteran Dorset Storm players and are new to the SABA league this year.
The first quarter was slow, our offence was working, but we couldn't get the ball to drop. The Classics played to their strengths, size and strength under the hoop, making all their baskets from 2-5ft, and putting myself and Dan W in a bit of foul trouble. Hani scored our first basket of the year, and had 6 of our 12 by the end of the first. We were up 12-9.
The second was even slower for us, making too many simple turnovers and missing too many easy sitters. It was fair to say that our normal scoring players were quiet, Dan was off, Timo was lacking his normal flare and I hadn't done anything. We were not playing our Seahawks brand of run-and-gun basketball and it was showing as the Classics, again dominating underneath stretched us 12-17 (8-0 run) before we answered with Josh Strongman making a slick round the back dribble and running floater from 12ft. Dan Avery made his switch from the supporters side of the hall to the team side, adding "feels good to wear this kit" but couldnt open his tally as his 3ball rattled out. The half ended 22-29 to the Classics.
The third, normally our nemesis, we turned it on. As the Classics started to tire, we stepped up our running game. It was clear their guards lacked confidence on the ball, and we pressed well with our guards picking off loose balls and getting steals to release the outlets. Dan Walker came to life adding 11, including a triple, and Henry showed his strength off the bench grabbing 6 in the quarter. Shout out to Alex Zhong as he played his first minutes in a senior match (after a super strong wed practice) much to the crowds enjoyment and applause. We had overturned the 7 point defecit to lead 43-40 by the end of 3.
The fourth was going to be a close one. Tensions had risen and refs, Patrick Roberts and Steve Hunt, warned both teams about elbows and hand checking. However it quickly led to both teams being in the penalty and going to the line.
Underneath, we still had no answer for their dominant size, giving away inches and a few pounds, and the Classics played well to it answering to our baskets. Quick transition offence with our forwards Timo and Hani running well and scoring from the line meant it was tied at 53-53 with minutes on the clock. Their main man, Nicholas, picked up the slack for the Classics, adding 11 in the 4th, including a 3-point play to make it 54-58, before Gabe answered from the charity stripe. Big Dan tied the game with a put back and then with the clock running down, put us ahead from the corner. 62-60. With a minute to play, again they went inside, to tie it 62-62 with 25 seconds to play. I chose to run down the clock, to give us the last oppurtunity to either a) score, b) hope they'd foul and send me to the line, or c) go to overtime... however i dribbled round 2 guys and as I went to pass, I dropped the ball, and my lunge to recover lead to a foul, called unsportsmanlike, giving them 2 free throws and the ball. Nicholas made both and put the game to bed before they added another on the buzzer.
It ended 62-66 to the Classics.
Another good game by the Seahawks, again showing we can compete at this level. We played shocking offence in the first half and had we played our game, we should have blown these guys out the water.
Scorers:
Seahawks: Walker 17, T Schnabl 16, H Mazloum 15, H Lau 10, J Strongman 2, G Angstwurm 2.
[Classics: Nicholas 22, Oboah 19, Fox 8, Kriwald 4, Williams 4, Vigar 2, Wolffe 1]