Leadonites Basketball 45 Vs 51 Spartans (YBL U15 South)

Saturday, 30th September 2017

MATCH RESULT: YBL U15 South League
Leadonites 45 Vs 51
(Q1: 11-16 / Q2: 10-19 / Q3: 6-6 / Q4: 18-10)

Referees: Martin Kozel and Joshua Solvason

Another big day in the short history of Leadonites Basketball as the Ledbury club played it's first ever competitive home match, at any age level, in entertaining Spartans Basketball from North Worcestershire, at Ledbury Leisure Centre.

U15s head coach Ian Robb selected a club policy 12 players for this match with no fewer than four players making their YBL debut.

As with last week's match the opening minutes were scoreless as both sides struggled to hit and open shot before Josh Spriggs broke the deadlock in the third minute then added to his tally with two swished free throws. Spartans captain, Fin Brittongrey, scored the first of his team-high 22 points before George Robb and JJ Hobson pushed the Leadonites lead out to 8-2. Spriggs replied to another Brittongrey score to make it 10-4 before Leadonites profligacy in the front court allowed Spartans to run up a 14 points to 10 lead. A solitary free-throw from Leadonites captain Michael French was the only addition to see Leadonites trailing 11-16 at the end of the first quarter.

Despite baskets from Hobson, Spriggs, Robb and Finlay Chalkley the second quarter was a horror show of poor shooting and failures to adequately box out for rebounds and the Ledbury club found themselves on the wrong end of a 21-35 halt-time score line. The damage being done by Dearn (9pts), Brittongrey (6pts) and Brown (5pts)

Two free-throws from Chalkley and another two-shot from Spriggs reduced arrears early in the third quarter but momentum waned as Leadonites consistently failed to penetrate the Spartans zone defence and instead elected for long range shots without players in position to rebound and recycle possession. The saving grace was that Spartans were also failing to convert their chances to leave the end of quarter score at 27-41 to Spartans and a mountain to climb for Leadonites.

Ultimately the score differential was too great for Leadonites to haul back in and despite 14 last quarter points from Spriggs, on his way to a game high 24, with two-points apiece from Chalkley and French the 8 points from Dearn, playing the entire fourth quarter on 4 fouls, was enough to keep the visitor's noses comfortably ahead. 

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