Tues 18th Jan
The first game back after Christmas is always a tricky one. Pupils have been concentrating on mocks and the break always highlights the cracks in our game. Facing the league leaders and undefeated Weymouth Bandits, away from home, wasnt going to make it easier.
As our first away trip of the season, its always difficult. Travelling in a min bus to games, for over an hour to Weymouth, means you start cranky and in a foreign environment. Saying the court was dusty was an understatement. But we came out firing in the first quarter. Henry Cheng quickly found his range on tight, unfriendly rims, adding 2 threes, whilst Iraj got his tally open, to take it to 8-0 before they opened their account. We kept it ticking over with good offence, moving the ball well against their zone, and playing good defence but unable to stop too much inside. The quarter closed 12 -16.
The second quarter the offence became stagnant, relying on long shots, which didn't drop, and and going 1 from 6 from the charity stripe didn't help. The transition running game was good, but couldn't capitalise as the Bandits played a younger quicker team, with some great young National League players. Their offence went to where it was stronger, inside, although some great defence from Niklas and Jack, couldn't hold them down. The won the quarter 23-10 and had stretched to 22 - 39 by the half.
When our zone offence got sorted and started finding open men in the 3rd, they switched to man-to-man and pressed us hard. Some good screens and motion kept getting us looks, but some great 1-1 D contained us to just 10 points. Again our defence pressed well, but gave up too many fouls, giving them 10 free throws in the quarter, (of which they only made 4) but saw Niklas foul out early. 32 -58 at the end of 3.
The fourth was a similar story, and in true Seahawks fashion we never bowed out. but clearly couldn't match the Bandits. They rolled on to another win and go 5-0 at the top of the division. We still need to get that tick in the W column in the Solent league. It ended 43 - 78.
[Scorers: O Wood 12, H Cheng 11, I Safaee 8, N Colonius 4, P Hueng 4, G Angstwurm 2]