This game had it all. Fight, heart, running, effort, injury, huge support, a 17 point comeback, a 3pointer in the final minutes, and clutch free throws... and a massive 37points from Dan Walker!
The Classics were a team we knew we could compete with and knew how to beat them: use our youth and run. And it was working. The first quarter our offence had them on the ropes, driving and running, but lacking some finese on the finishing. From the off we led, after my corner shot, and didnt relinquish the lead until into the 2nd. Their offence was structured but so slow, but they relied on getting open shots, off screens which they were hitting. But Dan was already having a blinder and had 8 by the end of the first. 14-13 after 10mins.
The second started badly for me: a rebound off a missed free-throw meant as i stretched over the defender he grabbed my arm and hyperextended my elbow. A possible temporary dislocation and loud crack meant I was done for the evening, maybe longer.
But for the Seahawks we were still playing great basketball, trading baskets, with our lack of size, their was little we could do against their big guys, especially #15 Oboah who added 6pts in the quater, but it was the Dan Walker show as he was unstoppable as he found his range and driving confidence and he added 9 to his tally. The half ended 25-28.
The third was our downfall. They came out with a minor press and some turnovers and quick baskets they went 12-0 run and had us rattled at 25-40. A time out for a re-coop and a switch up of players refreshed us and we came out with a little more fight. The press was working well, Hani, Timo, Gabe, Josh all getting steals and forcing turnovers. Timo added 2 from the stripe, Josh swished one from the corner, but again it was Dan who was adding the points - another 10 to his column. He will be the first to admit that he was on fire, but the whole team was responsible for the comeback. By the end of 3, it was back to 9pts, 40-49. The support from the sidelines was again monstrous, with great chants of "DEFENCE" and "SEAHAWKS" bouyed the players to dig deep.
The forth was another tense affair and we needed to close the 9 or 11pt deficit. Our full press was sprinting and working as they lacked a true ball handler, and it went from 44-55 to 54-55 as we hit basket after basket. Timo driving, Gabe from the line, Hani on the run and Dan again before they answered. The place was erupting. HP's booming voice heard over all! Trading baskets until we finally took the lead 60-59 with minutes to go. Again they went inside and Oboah added more, before Rakhat steps up and drains the 3 ball to tie it 63-63 with 1:20 remaining. He then gets fouled and sent to the line but rattles both. And then Dan gets sent to the line. They call the time-out to steep the pressure of the hot shooting big guy, but he makes the first to give us the lead 64-63. But our press gave away a somewhat cheap foul and sent #6 Dickinson to the line but the crowd did their job and he rattled both and as Rakhat picked up the loose ball and was quickly fouled to stop the clock, it was down to him to put the game to bed... which he did nailing both, in their final offence good sensible D and a Dan Walker rebound as the buzzer went, and the crowd goes wild. It ended 66-63.
An absolutely epic game and outcome, and such maturity from our players, with out me on the floor, they held it together, played sensible down the stretch and gave us the big W that we needed.
[Scorers: D Walker 37!! T Schnabl 10, R Kabdygaliyev 7, H Mazloum 4, G Angstwurm 4, O Wood 2, J Strongman 2]
We now sit 3rd in the league at this early stage but with other teams with games in hand:
P.S. Saw the Classics in the pub after and was nicely bought a pint by the player who injured me. No hard feelings, part of the game!