Thurs 3rd Nov.
The young Seahawks team were ready to face the Tres Barilles Predators, at home, in their season opener. We always knew the threat was the sheer size of Ejele inside and the 3 point shooting of the Filipino team and on the night we couldn't handle the better team.
The first started well, with our offence getting good looks and working the ball well, but to be expected on opening night, we need to add that little bit of fire and zip. Kiwi Luke Germon took control early on, getting to the line on 2 successive offences and getting good looks on his shots. Newcomer Henry Cheng quickly opened his tally to make it 4-5 before the 3 ball made it 4-8 Preds. When Ejele checked in (arrived late) the inside threat was dominant and although Luke and Myself both blocked him throughout the game, he was too much to handle. He had 7 by the end of the first quarter, in which he had played approx. 3 mins. The first ended 13-29.
The second and third periods were much of the same. Our offence was working well, getting players good open looks and driving strong and kept our scoreboard ticking over. Henry Cheng was scoring well from mid range, although a little timid when facing a larger team for the first time. Harri Bates, on his return to the Seahawks (after a year off to concentrate on Football) was running well and found the basket from the corner on a well worked play but defensively we could not contain both the inside threat and the hot shooting of the Predators. It was 28-62 after the half.
Iraj Safaee had a good intense game, with some good solid strong defence (gaining some blood in the process) and working well inside. Our offence was finally coming alive with our usual run-and-gun transition, as the new guys started to find their rhythm. Henry Lau was getting good break aways and pressed the guard into a steal, Gabe Angstwurm was controlling the ball from the top and managed to get a crazy reverse layup to drop, Harry Warren and Myles Rothenburg, on limited minutes tonight, made an impact, pressing high up to the guards and showed good intensity running the floor. I finally found a little of my range, draining one 3 ball at the end of the quarter, but throughout the Predators hit five 3pt shots in the quarter, missing only once, and extended their lead to 47-92 after 3.
The forth was our best quarter, and props to the guys for never giving up and never rolling over. We kept running and pushing up high. Luke found a 3 early on, Henry Lau added to his tally, but simply we couldn't match the opposition inside (Ejele finished with 26pts) or out (8 x 3PG).
It finished 66-113.
On a night where we used a lot of young talent, we can be proud of our performance. It was no means perfect, and the main thing we need to improve is our intensity and fight for the game, but simply we were beaten by a bigger, stronger and better side; a side that hope to be topping the table come.
Again a massive shout out to the supporters who showed up and cheered throughout.
[Scorers: L.Germon 22, H.Cheng 13, O Wood 9, G.Angstwurm 8, I.Safaee 6, H.Lau 4, H.Bates 2, ]