WHAT A GAME!
Mon 18th we hosted the Bournemouth Uni Development team in a friendly. The Seahawks were fired up after last weeks agonising loss to the Storm, and it showed in the first. However, it ended after about 2 seconds for Yera, who managed to twist his ankle on the initial jump ball, and had to sit the game, but did manage to grab 2 points, with even one leg! But the first quarter was all Seahawks, with Boris doing the damage inside, and the ball moving well. It was 18-10 after 10 mins.
The second quarter saw the Uni find their rhythm, but also having to bring on some of their bigger players. Whilst we rotated our players, and even saw Rich H-P get his first Seahawks minutes!! Although he could grab any points to his name he added an asset to a beautiful swished 3 from Shawn. We kept the lead, however, they had cut it to 30-27 by the half.
The third was a close affair, with the Uni in the ascendency, but a Boris 3 put us back ahead and Vito cutting and driving well. However we played well, it wasn't perfect, with too many players dribbling into zone D, and lacking that final pass we were shooting contested shots, and could only grab 8 points through the quarter. 39-35 after 3.
The final quickly saw the Uni jump out to a lead, with a 10-0 run, but the game was not over.... As the game drew to a close, I stole a basket, Nathan answered with a sweet 3, and it was back to 4 points. We were having to play "Stop the Clock" and over playing on D, sending them to the line. But at the other end Abner was then fouled on a 3, and went to the line and made 2 of 3, to cut the lead to 3. Seetep, player coach went to the line, and made 1 of 2, to make it 4 points and as time was running out... I grabbed the rebound on the 2nd, found Vito on the outlet, who ran the court with Nathan on the wing. The D overplayed Nathan, so Vito took the shot himself from deep back with 1.3seconds left... and swished it!! AND WAS FOULED!! As he made the free-throw to complete his 4 point play on the buzzer to take us to over time.
Now we had the fire and belief that this game was ours! I put us ahead with a great assist from Boris, but they replied with big #40 Mohet grabbing a 3 point play. But then Vito replied, twice, to take us ahead, which they replied to with a nice move from the big guy. But another cut, drive and dish, this time from Nathan, saw him draw defenders and left me open to put us ahead. Great D then from Vito, putting their PG under pressure and forcing a steal, and easy fast break lay-up to seal the game 63-59!!!!
A great team performance with every player doing their part, a great first quarter with Uni just coming back at us all game, to finish with a once in a lifetime moment from Vito at the buzzer, which im sure we won't forget in a hurry.
[Scorers: Cheng 17, Petrov 14, Wood 11, Wickens 9, Li 5, Krairit 3, Walker 2, Aimaganbetov 2]