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For Kingston the physical Odom lead all scorers with 12 points in the paint but struggled at the line making one of six. Price followed with 6 points, Pique added 5 and Berk, Winston and Jakeman each added 2.
This was a good start for the young season. The next NL match is Saturday evening at 17:00, October 6th, away at Aylesbury against the Bucks Hornets.
28th Sept 18: Farnborough Phantoms 23 V Woking Blackhawks 27
So, another season has started and the Blackhawks were back in action against the Phantoms with an all new team playing together for the first time.
The first quarter started at a fast pace and it wasn’t long before Youssef scored and put the Blackhawks on their way. The game went back and forth with neither team able to score until Jack got a rebound and scored. The Phantoms pulled one back but Luke stole the ball, scored to put us 02- 06 up at the break.
The second quarter was a much tougher start with the Phantoms scoring two baskets in quick succession and a lot of defending. Temi then got a great rebound and scored to ease the pressure but the Phantoms were on their game, putting us under more pressure with a free throw until Max decided to score two baskets. Temi scored again leaving the game 11-14.
The third quarter was the same end to end, fast paced game as the first two quarters with both sides stealing and breaking away but missing until Kiran ran the length of the court turning past three defenders and brilliantly scored. The Phantoms then reciprocated straight away. Kiran would not have any of it and scored another basket! Luke was fouled and put one of his free throws away, Jai then joined in and scored his first basket with Youssef scoring again! The Phantoms manage to score, ending the quarter 19-23.
The final quarter was going to be more challenging with both teams thinking they could both win the game and the points being so close. The Phantoms scored first to narrow our advantage and without some fantastic defensive rebounding from Thomas, could have drawn level. The Blackhawks were being made to work hard until Max scored again twice in a quick succession and with some brilliant defending from the five playing. They were slightly more comfortable until a foul allowed the Phantoms to score both shots but they held on and at the end the Blackhawks came out on top 23-27.
A great start with some great work from Darragh, Federico and Thomas who defended, stopping them drawing level.
A great team effort and hard work.
A special mention to Thomas who was playing his first ever game and was man of the match for the Blackhawks, well done boys.
TEAM : Jack V, Youssef C, Luke H, Federico S, Max G, Thomas R, Kiran C, Darragh M, Jai T.
08September 18: Woking Blackhawks sweep the London Hoop Dreams U14 Nationals Preseason Regional Tournament topping Kingston to win the Championship
Cobham — The 2018 U14 Blackhawks added some new faces this year and took an early pre season test in the London Hoop Dreams invitational applying a tactical dominance over their three game sweep. Multiple players scored but in the end it was team defense that sealed the championship. With two of the three games tied at the half, Woking locked their opponents up and separated down the stretch cruising to a clean sweep of the 2018 Tournament.
Henry Winton was dominant in each game working the glass, grabbing boards on both ends and driving the lane as he took the coveted Tournament MVP; an honor bestowed by the opposition’s coaching staff and the referees. Noah Ayivi-Knott controlled the point dishing dimes and slashing to the hole as he picked up from where he left off last season displaying his patented flair for creating his own offense and generating points. When the team needed boards, Winton, Ayivi-Knott and Gabriel Guimares went beast-mode, physically imposing themselves in the paint and on the boards limiting the opposition on defense and contributing big buckets on the offensive glass. After being side lined with an ankle in the first half of the final Guimares drew deep and returned with key contributions to help seal the victory. Sean Trinder found his range from outside hitting key three pointers to answer and distance margins on the scoreboard and Max Gough made opponents pay for open looks. Liam Marsh won his match ups adding key points in the paint and Julian Fernandez and Jai Toor came up with big contributions off the bench with transition stops and rebounds.
As a team Woking matched up well and kept one or two steps ahead of the rest of the field with second half defensive stands when they needed them. Offensively Woking outworked the boards including several possessions where multiple offensive rebounds kept scoring alive. The U14 Blackhawks found a multitude of ways to outflank and outfinesse their opponents.
In their first game against Brighton, pre season rust, a slow start and some missed opportunities left the two teams tied at the half. The Cougars proved they were not going to give away anything fighting back from small deficits knocking down open looks. In the second 12 minutes Woking found its groove getting key stops from Winton and Ayivi-Knott, and steals in transition enabling the team to generate a 39-31 victory.
Game two Woking faced the Abington Eagles who brought size and a comfortable 40-8 game one win against Surrey’s Rams into the matchup. Despite the Eagle’s game one margin the Blackhawks were confident that if they could control the boards and limit second chances they could prevail in this match up. Woking got off to a fast start and applied pressure early to establish a halftime lead. As the game developed the hard work on the boards brought second chance buckets and enabled our Blackhawks to build comfortably on the margin. When the final buzzer sounded Woking prevailed with a 33-21 victory.
Having successfully closed their two pool matches to ensure a seat in the finals Woking (2-0) had to wait for the results of the final pool match between Kingston (1-0) and Surrey (0-1). Kingston came into that matchup off a tight 3 point victory over Brighton’s Cougars. Kingston proved to be the better of the two teams building an early lead in this game and holding it throughout. The win placed the two undefeated teams in a winner take all championship game.
The final game of the afternoon brought a solid matchup of size and skill together. Woking got off early with key buckets by Noah A-K and Henry Winton building a quick lead. Kingston was able to answer shifting the momentum as Gabrielle Guimares left midway through the first half with a tweaked ankle. Kingston responded with small runs of their own as the half came to a close and drew the two teams level at 11-11.
In the second half Guimares willed a return to the floor and Woking regained control with turnovers in transition and strong, physical play in the paint. Key steals by Ayivi-Knott, Guimares, Winton and Trinder lead to several fast break scores as Woking stretched the lead. Down the stretch Woking’s offense opened up and the defense tightened, securing a 20-6 second half run and sealing the championship victory 31-17.
The tournament’s MVP, Henry Winton, lead the team with 9 points and 4 steals. Gabrielle followed with 8 points and several rebounds. Ayivi-Knott gave the Blackhawks 6 points, 4 steals and several boards and dimes. Trinder added 4 points and 4 steals. Max Gough scored 4 and grabbed several boards. All in all this was a great pre season start for the Blackhawk U14’s.
