Saturday 17th September
TCAT SHROPSHIRE WARRIORS     vs.     DERBY TRAILBLAZERS
National Cup round 1

End score: 50 : 112

For their opening competitive match of the 2011/12 season, TCAT Warriors had drawn a home tie in the National Cup first round against EBL Division 1 side Derby Trailblazers. The visitors were pre-game favourites to win, but with the help of a very sizeable home support, the Warriors team new how hard they needed to work in order to pull off a shock victory.

The home side started the first quarter very tentatively though, with their defence proving to be a little too slow in closing down a strong Derby squad, and they looked very nervous in offense with a number of unnecessary turnovers. Some strong work in the Derby half from Luke Grant and Simon “Ziggy” Hoar did help to keep the score at the end of the first period to a slightly more respectable 14 points to 30.

Luke Grant

Unfortunately things didn’t improve in the second quarter. Constant pressure from the Trailblazers forced the Warriors into numerous uncharacteristic mistakes, allowing the visitors’ 9 Kakad and 14 Attewell a number of easy scoring opportunities. Considering the quality of the opposition there were some positive moments, with Sam Shepherd and Jared Rushton strong on defensive rebounds, and Hoar continuing to add to his personal points tally. The half time score though a disappointing:- Warriors 23 points to Trailblazers 58.

During his half time team talk, Coach McClean stressed to his team that at times they were actually playing very well, but being up against quality division one opposition required a lot more desire in defence and a lot less nerves in attack, but although levels of desire and effort were lifted, and with the introduction of a lively Thando Tyanase causing the Derby players some nervous moments, the third quarter was in fact Warriors’ worst score-wise, with only eight points against Derby’s thirty, giving a score-line of 31 points to 88 at the three quarter mark.

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In contrast, the fourth quarter turned out to be Warriors’ best, and although Derby may have lifted their foot off the gas slightly, the home side began to play with more confidence, and with more controlled offence from team captain Craig Strickland and point guard Matt Hardman allowing Shepherd, Grant and Hoar to score well worked baskets, along with a brace of two pointers at the end from new man Steve Brown, there were some quite encouraging positive moments to be taken from a  final score of:-
Warriors 50 points to Trailblazers 112.

Warriors top scorer – Simon Hoar : 16 points with 4 assists

Warriors MVP – Luke Grant : 15 points with 3 assists, excellent work at both ends, fifteen big points and 4 from 4 at the free throw line.

Many thanks from everyone at TCAT Warriors to all their wonderful fans who attended today, and for their much appreciated support throughout the game. Sadly it was not to be the contest we all anticipated, but as our relatively young squad gains in experience at this very high level, we are sure that performances and results will soon improve, with some excellent basketball to look forward to coming to the TCAT sports arena.

 

 

Match Report: Adrian Rushton