2 CLOSE GAMES CLOSED OUT IN TENSE MATCHES

Wins for U16 v Phoenix and U18 v Comets 

LLJBC U16 faced Rushcliffe Phoenix in their penultimate match off the season, with the opposition sitting one place above them in the league, this was another chance to show their progression over recent months. They started dominantly running the court the way we have practiced many times, outlets were fast and up-court distribution by Evans was effective, hitting the runners along the sidelines, and accelerating into the paint when gaps appeared in front of him. Korynickyj constantly prowling the side and baselines throughout the game, unnerving the opposition. As a team, they defended the paint, forcing Phoenix to take outside shots which were not falling. The team took a well deserved 14-2 lead into the end of the 1st.

The pace slowed in the 2nd as the opposition managed to get back into shape and defend the break more effectively. They clawed their way back into the game 20-11 at the half, a warning that LL should not be complacent. 

However in the 3rd, it started to go wrong. The intensity in ‘D’ dropped, the running of the break didn’t happen and shot selection was poor. The players stopped playing as a team, they started dong their own thing, putting up hopeful shots that weren’t dropping, and jogging back to ‘D’ instead of running. Losing the 3rd quarter 2-11 they gave up their hard-earned lead and the match was tied.

An impassioned talk from the coach resulted, as players sat shell-shocked - ‘’play the way we train, play as a team, not as individuals” was the message. The 4th was tense, the intensity was on display from both sides, but layup misses were proving costly, fortunately some excellent free-throw shooting from Jennings kept the team in the game as he kept hitting his shots from the line. With 8 seconds to go and all square, LL took a defensive board and pushed the ball up the court. It fell to Carr at the half way, who took it toward the 3-point line and put up a shot with 3 seconds to go….it dropped, his first score of the game, and with no time to respond brought the win (33-30) which should move them to third in the league. 

LLJBC U18 were up next. LL finished 8th in league regular season after a slow start, and although improving as the season went on, beating the 6th placed team, couldn’t climb the ladder after early losses. In the playoffs though, they have made their mark, with convincing wins over Hucknall and a well-fought loss to the league leaders. This time they were against the 4th-placed team - Chilwell Comets.

The 1st quarter didn’t go our way as the Comets showed why they had been so successful throughout the season, shooting well and hitting 3x 3-pointers they took a 10 point lead. There was renewed purpose in the 2nd, as Jagminas  turned on his aggression, with the team feeding him the ball he ran the line and drove to the hole, scoring an amazing 13 points. The group defended better, closing the open players down quicker and restricting Comets’ options, they won the second by 11 taking a 1pt lead into the half.

The game was tighter and lower scoring in the 3rd with LL increasing their lead to 2-pts. The bench was rotated throughout the game but with 4 regular U18 and 4 U16s playing up, the older players took the majority court time as the younger players had already had one emotional, physical game. Hatherley led the team throughout with good decision making, distribution, and athletic play, he was also charged with pressuring the opposition playmaker. When Jagminas fouled out at the end of the 3rd, Jennings was charged with stepping up.

“Don’t let their key play-maker get the ball, and stop missing layups” was the message into the 4th - the team responded. Hatherley hit 14 in the quarter but the whole team knitted together to spread the opposition and provide the options. With about 3 minutes to go, a 6pt lead was established and the team slowed the offence, running the clock down, taking good shots. With 23 seconds to go and a 5pt-lead they looked after the ball and played the game out (57-52). A well deserved win against a strong opposition. 

Next week we face either Rushcliffe or Derby who finished 6th and 7th in the league - teams we know we can beat if we play our game, but they will also be aware that we are on a roll.