Last weekend saw the Northants “Lightning” Junior Women pick up a hard fought win at Stockport while the Northants “Hurricanes Under 14 Boys got the much delayed National Passerelle League underway with a win and a loss at Cirencester.
Stockport “Lapwings” 59 - 74 Northants “Lightning”
The Northants “Lightning” made the long trip to Stockport for a Junior Women’s National League Northern Conference match and picked up an important victory in a physical encounter. After four minutes of the first quarter that win looked an impossibility as the county girls fell behind 11 to zero and had clearly ‘left their game on the bus’. A time out by coach Karen Goodrich was needed to wake them up and with the team being more focussed in their approach Angelina Browne began to cause the home side all kinds of trouble. Even so the “Llghtning” trailed 14-11 after the first period.
The “Lightning” started the second quarter with a tall line up and the combination of Browne and Vikki Hinds caused problems for the Stockport defence and a 13-four run gave the Northants girls the lead at 24-18. That was a lead they weren’t to surrender and with Andrea Wanstall looking sharp in the back court despite feeling unwell the “Lightning” went into the half time break leading 40-31.
The first half had been a very physical affair and Goodrich emphasised the need for her team to keep their concentration at the start of the third period. This they did with Browne proving unstoppable close to the basket and Wanstall driving to basket impressively. In fact it was a three-pointer on the buzzer from Wanstall that extended the “Lightning’s” lead to fourteen points at 58-44.
Stockport rallied impressively during the final quarter and with four minutes to play had narrowed the gap to just six points at 65-59. Once more Goodrich was forced to take a time out to calm her team down and ask them to think more about their shot selection. They did this to good effect closing out the game with nine unanswered and so pick up a very important win that keeps them one win behind Doncaster at the top of the Northern Conference table.
For the “Lightning” Angelina Browne and Andrea Wanstall led the scoring with 25 points apiece; Wanstall’s tally including four three-pointers while Vikki Hinds nine point contribution came at a crucial time.
After weeks of waiting the National Passerelle League finally got underway. The first week of competition was still far from complete because of the late arrival of fixtures. Birmingham were unable to field an Under 13 team for the tournament in Northampton or find a court for the Under 15 tournament they were due to stage. The Northants “Hurricanes” anxious for action travelled to Cirencester for their tournament against Gloucester and Norwich.
Gloster “Comets” 50 - 48 Northants “Hurricanes”
The Northants boys were badly in need of match practice but inspired by David Nuttall (Campion School) looked impressive in the first quarter and established what looked to be a convincing 20-five lead. In stark contrast to the impressive first period the second was dire with the county boys looking nervous and intimidated. The “Comets” won the quarter 11-4 and at 24-16 at half time were right back in the game.
The third quarter began well for the county with James French (NSB) causing the Gloster defence problems with his left handed drives. Then the influential Nuttall picked up his fourth foul and coach John Collins was forced to sit him down. Immediately the “Hurricanes” had problems advancing the ball up court and the “Comets” poured in 12 unanswered points to take the lead 36-34 at the end of the third quarter.
The final period was nib and tuck all the way with Gloster just keeping their noses in front. With the scores at 48 all the “Comets” missed a shot, the “Hurricanes” collected the rebound with ten seconds left to try and win the match. Inexplicably they threw the ball to a Gloster player who scored with ease to take the victory.
Northants “Hurricanes” 56 -43 Norwich Notre Dame
The “Hurricanes” were back on court with just ten minutes rest against a big Norwich side. This height disadvantage worked against them in the first quarter which they just lost 13-12. In the second period they played with much more confidence once more led by the powerful play of David Nuttall. That quarter was won 15-2 to give the “Hurricanes “ a 27-15 half time advantage.
By now the Northants boys were playing effective basketball and they were able to extend their lead to 45-20 going into the final seven minutes. Norwich came up with an aggressive press which caused panic in the Northants ranks but they held on to take the win.
Over the two games David Nuttall scored 37 points and James French 19 but the experience of just getting out and playing a competitive match was the most important thing for the county boys.
THIS WEEKEND'S ACTIONThis weekend is free of National League competition because
of national teams training and the England verus Slovenia senior
men’s European Championship Qualification match at Coventry Sky Dome. |
Karen Goodrich (Administrator)
01604 238950
07702 263813John Collins (Coaching Co-ordinator)
01604 238950
07801 533151