18-Apr-2015: Blackhawks claim 3rd place in Atoms Tournament

Our U10s have gone from strength to strength in 2015 with a total of 7 wins and 1 loss. Three of those wins and the one loss came today during a local tournament hosted by the Spelthorne Atoms.

Without their influential point guard Noah Ayivi-Knott, Denver David or Luke Turner, the Blackhawks took to the floor for their first game against the Tamaraws and won by a small margin.

The initial nerves were now gone, confidence was high and the brave Phantoms were beaten by 16 points to 2 in the second group-stage game.

Six points from two wins were enough for the Blackhawks to share first place with the Richmond Knights but ended up second due to goal difference.

In the semi-final, we were drawn against the Bracknell Cobras and their physicality knocked our confidence. We lost 2-4 (yes, that was the score after 14 minutes of play) and we were denied a place in the final.

The small final against the hosts was a game that suited us more, and ran out comfortable winners to claim third place.

This was a great day out enjoyed by players, parents, coaches (Costa Rakitzis and Samantha Betts) and our team manager (David Betts).

Our player-voted MVP was Max Gough (a scoring machine), with Liam Marsh (ball handler extraordinaire) and supreme defender Ricardo 'Mr 3-pointer' Baldelli, not far off the honours.

Lucas 'rock' Barclay had a steady game and was one of the four most valuable players who could not be sub'ed off.

Nathan Cantor had to play in the starting five and held his place well as did Jimmy King, Will Bennett and Lewis Kelly (whose 'no fear' attitude earned him a field basket).