BIRMINGHAM BLAZERS ‘B’ vs. SHROPSHIRE WARRIORS ‘C’

DAME ELIZABETH CADBURY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE

JANUARY 18TH 2012

A new year, a new kit and a new record for least amount of players taken to an away game (I think). Six of us travelled to Birmingham to take on the Blazers who weren’t short of a player or three. They had ten. It was looking pretty bleak to be honest, but we didn’t let it get to us. I think we were more excited about getting a lot of court time than the prospect of getting our behinds handed to us on a platter.

Worried we might have to wear the old kit, thinking that the Blazers were playing in blue, we were pleasantly surprised to see them wearing their Houston Rockets colours. So out came the new kit. A fine dark blue, hemmed by white elastic and sporting the Warriors emblem on both the top and the shorts. One thinks we should retire the old yellow kit and hang them from the rafters of TCAT. Sean didn’t seem to happy when he couldn’t find his beloved number. Turns out Chris had it. But when Sean put it on, it turned out you could house a family of four in it with room for a pony and a Jacuzzi.

.....

So we took to the court, warmed up and set off on a forty minute venture into the 2012 season. Much to our surprise, by the end of the first quarter we were leading 16 to 6, a feat rarely achieved with a full bench. Our man defence was working. The lazy zone we used last season was our downfall. It finally dawned on us we were fit enough to run a man defence for a full game.

We ran the game at our own pace so as not to get too tired too soon. After some time in the second quarter, it soon dawned on us they only had one play. Motion. Once we figured this out, we knew exactly where the ball was going. Managing to stay in front for the whole game, nothing much really happened. The most exciting thing to report is an unsportsmanlike foul called against Dom. Between the two teams, players went to the line seven times. One of which I don’t recall. Apparently I went to the line in the first quarter and made a bucket. I don’t think I did. Did I? If anyone has any evidence of this, please send me an email.

Intermittently through the game each of us got a blow. This worked out well, because that person turned into the coach, called the time outs and watched the game for any weak points. But in the last quarter, the Blazers pulled something out of somewhere. Replicating out first quarter score, they out ran us 16 to 6. With four minutes left on the clock, they were creeping up quickly and put us under some pressure. Luckily we held off and ran the ball down to almost 24 seconds every time we had possession. The game ended 44-39 to us. A great start to the season and a great last game for Jake.

*The scoring sheet I can’t figure out. They add up to 44, but when adding up individual points it comes to 41. And I’m sure Tristan put some in! But then again I shot a free throw I don’t remember shooting!

DOM - 15
SEAN - 14
JAKE - 5
EV - 4
CHRIS - 3
TRISTAN - 0