Game Reviews 2007/08
Brightlingsea Sledgehammers. Essex Cup Rd 2 (A) 93 - 90 LOSS
A superb performance from Stealers - bearing in mind that the Sledgehammers have won the first division for the past number of years, and represent the pinicle of first division opposition.
Even better when you discover that Stealers were 12 points up with just three minutes to play!
Brightlingsea were taken by surprise by the second division upstarts, having to fight for every point. At no point did the first / second division status ever become apparent, bar the inexperience displayed by Stealers to kill off the end game.
Stealers were more than a match for the seaside boys, scoring point for point throughout the 1st quarter. But for a number of near misses they could easily have been ahead from the very outset but found themselves trailing by 7 at the end of the first 27 - 20..
Purcell picked up a succession of personal fouls, finding himself on 4 early in the 2nd quarter. With Dexter and De'Lieto picking up 3 a piece, the fouls situation soon became an issue. Nevertheless, stealers remained focused and took control of the 2nd quarter by scoring a massive 32 points to go in at half time 49 - 52 up.
Stealers usual 3rd quarter duff spell was dispelled in the 3rd, dispite slegehammers turning up the heat. Stealers maintained a bucket for bucket exchange and kept the fouls at bay.
68 - 70 in Stealers favour at the end of the 3rd.
Stealers still had the bit between the teeth - nothing to lose and everything to gain - it was clear in faces of every player - the game was for the taking - they wanted in bad, and they went out firing on all cylinders. The man de' was defiant and the scoring first class - the Hammers were pinned down and could rarely score without Stealers return. Stealers meanwhile were spoiling and capitalising on every turnover, building themselves a ceditable lead.
With just three minutes to go, as Dexter took his fiifth, Stealers found themselves ahead by a worthy 12 points, a lead never before experienced against the mighty Hammers.
All that was required was to kill the game off with some keep-ball to draw out the defence in order to open up the inside game for the big guys.
But what was to follow was a travisty for the guys who had performed so well - we can only assume that the prospect of a sensational success was all too overwhelming. A catalogue of errors and missgudgements saw Brightlingsea score 14points without return, taking the lead off the Stealers with just 45 seconds left to play. Despite a late Weston equaliser and numerous attempts to put the opposition on the line, Stealers could do nothing to stop the onslaught. 93-90 the final score - in a fantastic encounter that must rate as one of stealers best ever performances.
The score is irrelavent, Stealers have demonstrated that they can beat the best - a little more big game experience and some fine tuning will ensure that they guys maintain in command of games that they have already won.
Little mention of individual performances above - pure and simply because this was the true team effort the club have been working towards. No stars, no thrills, just top-class execution of team plays and balling basics. The big guys - Purcel hit high, Weston controled the boards and inside distribution, and Dextar displayed some inspirational power plays that must have left the opposition gob-smacked. Elsewhere, Markie-Mark remaind safe hands and superb cover, diddy Pete found form from the side and De'Lieto the magician dazzled us all with his diversity of play. Perhaps unfair to name a man-of-the-match for this one, but it goes to Captain Clay who, from the top, dictated tha pace of play, team motivation, and never questioned the competance of his fellow team mates to rise to the challenge. Nice one CC - and well done lads - we have well and truely sent out a message to the first division -'STEALERS ARE COMING TO THE FIRST DIVISION - AND WE'LL NOT BE THERE TO MAKE UP THE NUMBERS' Roll on Season 2008 - 2009!!!!!!!
Cambs Cougars. Cambs Rec League (H) 18.11 07 69 - 77 LOSS
Match report to follow
Basildon Heat. Essex League (A) 16.11.07 36 - 74 WIN
Match report to follow
Southend Scorpions. Essex League (H) 4.11.07 96 - 60 WIN
Another stonking Stealers victory , romping home to a 36 point victory. Yet it could have been so much more, but for shoddy passing and poor finishing. Typically, Stealers lost the plot during the 3rd quarter, managing only a 16-16 draw, compaired to differences of 8 points in the first, 18 in the second, and in the last, 10 points, dispite allowing the school-boy opposition a 9 point run without return. These are aspects of the Stealers game that will have to be improved if Stealers are to compete at a higher level. Now is the time to perfect the plays, to try out derivitives, to gel with team mates, to grow in confidence. We can't allow ourselves to enter the second division competition half-heartedly, expecting a victory, - we have to come away from each game with much more than a mere win!
Non the less, certain achievements were made with a full home bench - a first for this season. The match saw the valuable return of Charlwood from injury, and the continued progression of young Pearse picking up roars of delight from his team mates on the bench as he sunk a couple of loose balls. Coach Haselton was delighted with the debute performance of Weersing, offering a strong and dependable link between guards and Base Line. His opening score of an unauthodox underarm-reverse hook brought the house down! Purcell continued his barrage of points, accumilating 14 of his 24 in the opening quarter. Captain Clay remained ever dependable in control from the point when things looked rocky, whilst offering inspirational comments at time outs. Coaches, Man-of-the-match goes this week to Weston, who continues on his return to fitness with invaluable assists throughout and a stonking score of some 29 points - not heard of from Weston since his series of operations. He remains, as ever, a fundamental hub to the team.
Cambs League Kelsey Kerridge Tournament 13.10.07 Win 2 Lost 2.
A fun tournament, 10 minute matches, beating the Lions and Philipinos but falling foul of the Blues and Cougars.
Highlight of the day was De'lieto taking on a dunk and removing the ring from its fixings!
Joe is now keeping a low profile in the Parkers Piece area of Cambridge, where his ugley mug adorns 'wanted' posters nailed to the trees! Serves them right for fitting kids hoops I say!
Wickford knights. essex league (A) 11.10.07 69 - 83 WIN
Stealers won this match last season as a full strength opening fixture, playing a five on five mixture of extreme pressure coupled with strong boards. They started this year with just seven players including rookie Andy Pearse and old-timer Coach Haselton. Once again, the squad rose to the challenge, and drove ahead an impressive first quarter talley of 32 points to 12 with all five regular members hitting the hoop. Conserving energy , saw the opposition fight back to wthin 7 during the course of the second and third quarters, but a solid final period saw the five pull away once again to a more than comfortable victory.
Sensible, thoughtful teamwork helped stealers reserve energy, keep out of foul trouble and keep the coach on the bench. Great to see Captain Clay and Predzius find their 3-pointer form that opens up so many more opportunities for the insiders, Weston back on scoring form following his numerous operations last year, and Purcell hitting a massive 33 points to slam home his dominence of the second division arena. A quality marksman, he is desperate to rise to first division competition, and deservedly so. Be sure to take your team-mates with you Alex, you stand out head and shoulders above the current oposition, but developing a telepathic awareness with your squad is essential for the larger arenas, so that they can assist you with your relentless onslaught..
........And woe-betide any of us who under-estimate young Markie-Marks contribution. Mark has made great strides during the past season and summer period, he spots an interception like no other, never gives the ball away, feeds in others impecably, and now, technically, has one of the best jump shots in the club. He slots perfectly into the starting five line up being equally comfortable in the central position of the 3-2 zone, on a mission with a man de, or picking up the turnovers on the press. He has it all. With confidence, no doubt he will go on to amaze us yet further. Mark is no longer the understudy to his older team mates, he is now an intrinsic part of every team play and maneuvre, - the assist that his high scoring team mates could not do without. Forthcoming score sheets will provide evidence of Marks growing confidence .........- look out big bro' , he'll be having your badge!!
Coaches man-of-the-match goes to Captain Clay, holding together a deminished team with sensilble, calm plays commanded with confidence from the top.
Cambridge Cats. Cambs League (A) 8.10.07 68-61 LOSS
The recreation involvement for the clubs old boys saw an opportunity to consolidate the Stealers unbeaten start to the 2007 season against their old team mates new club.
A level playing field throughout until key Stealers players Clay and Weston were questionably benched with five in the final quarter. A victory to the fitter youngsters was inevitable beyond this point.
One thinks things might be a little different in January when the Cats visit Stealers for the return game. The 13th - unlucky for some. Stealers look to make amends!
Baddow Eagles 1. Essex League CUP (H) 7.10.07 68-61 WIN
Wow, what a game. Baddows 1st team came to Walden knowing that their 2nds had not lost to Stealers at all last season. Complacent? - what a surprise they were to receive.
Short of injured players, Dexter, and Charlwood, the squad of Purcell, Cook, Weston, N.Clay, M.Clay, De'Lieto, Predzius and Saslauskas maintained complete focus and determination throughout to achieve a well deserved and memorable victory.
Stealers trailed by just a couple of points throughout a tight game, keeping unforeseen pressure on the Baddow team. Baddows nerve was slowly but surely eaten away, until the final quarter, when severely rattled, dicipline was lost and with it any hope of taking the game.
Purcel scoring his full total of 9 points, all within the first quarter, saw Stealers off to a good steady start, winning the first quarter 16 - 15. Weston and Predzius shared the points in an equaly tight second quarter, and the teams went into the interval all square at 29 a piece.
Baddow came out blazing with a pressure man in the third, and built a lead of some 9 points by the 7th minute. Stealers re-grouped, spotted the mis-match, and spread to leave Rimvidas the one-on-one from high post. In the remaining minutes of the third, stealers rattled home a cool 13 points to baddows solitary 2. Stealers yet again maintained their 2-point lead at the break despite trailing throughout.
Stealers took the early points in the last, building a gap of 6points by the 3rd minute. A lead that proved too much to bear for the visiting first division team. No.12 Linnaine was expelled for throwing a punch out of frustration, and with it, their balance was lost. Rimvidas continued his onslaught to a total talley on some 26 points and together the squad pushed their lead to an impressive 13 points at 68 - 55. But for a couple of last minute 3-pointers from the Baddow's guards the scoreline could have remained very embarressing for them.
The whole experience for Stealers was to test just how competetive they might be, should they fullfill their ambition for promotion this year. Winning (always desirable) was not essential, competing was absolutely imperritive. Stealers proved their potential tonight, shaking a worthy first division squad to the core - they couldn't possibly be beaten by a second division team!
Stealers, sadly say 'so long' to Rimvidas, playing what is likely to be his final game for the club, before returning home to Lithuania. His agility will be missed. We look forward to the return of Dexter, a similar, strong one-on-one center, who will undoubtedly take over the Saslauskkas mantle with ease.
Well done guys, we are on a roll!
Coached man-of-the-match. Everyone played their own valuable part in the inspirational victory tonght, but it has to be said that the strength and agility of Rim from high post one-on-one, ripped the heart out of the opposition. Rim, we will miss you.
Southend Scorpions. Essex League (A) 4.10.07 43-91 WIN
Meteoric ambitons for this season were commenced with stealth and precision. A fine win, but does the standard of opposition relate to the standard to which we aspire. Sundays fixture against 1st Div opposition will prove to be the true indicator of our aspiration to compete at the next level.
Coaches man-of-the-match goes to Purcell for this opening fixture - demonstrating a fine level of confidence, attained through the previous season and summer. He truely now is a scoring machine.
