Back to training on...

Leadonites Basketball resume training, after the Christmas and New Year's break, on Thursday, 4th January 2018.

A reminder of training nights and timings:

TUESDAY
- 7:30 to 8:30 = CUBS (Year 7 and younger)
- 8:30 to 9:30 = SENIORS (Year 11 and Year 12 with some Inters thrown in for numbers sake)

WEDNESDAY
- 6:45 to 8:30 = Mish-mosh session (Year 8 plus players from year below and above - also open to year 10 by prior agreement with Head Coach)

THURSDAY 
- 7:30 to 8:30 = JUNIORS (Year 8 plus players from Years 7 and 9 by prior agreement with Head Coach)
- 8:30 to 9:30 = INTERS (Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11)

________________________________________________

MATCH RESULTS - U17 @ Worcs Bears

Sunday, 17th December 2017
Worcester Bears Pre-Xmas Invitational

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Worcester Bears (NL) U16 91 vs 47 Leadonites Basketball U17

(Q1: 22-11 / Q2: 28-18 / Q3: 14-11 / Q4: 27-7)

Worcester Bears U16s currently sit top if the Midland Conference of the U16s National League. Leadonites started off this match like a house on fire, racing out to an 11-5 lead, but that pace simply could not be maintained and Bears lead 22-11 at the end of the first. Thereafter it was a lesson in gym-style basketball as Bears simply ran their fast break style of play to perfection and the score deficit mounted up. Despite a final quarter collapse it was still a very good effort from our boys and girl. Back to training court in January and plenty of things to work on.
Tom_D 17 points
Kaisan_T 14_points
James_S 10 points
Teo_C-W 6 points
Special mention to Blandine_B who becomes only the third girl to ever play for Leadonites.

________________________________________________________

MATCH RESULTS - U15B @ Worcs Bears

Sunday, 17th December 2017
Worcester Bears Pre-Xmas Invitational - Under 15s-B

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------

Game 1: Worcester Bears U15B 38v20 Leadonites U15B (ht: 15-8)
Time and again Leadonites defence was caught out by the Bears fast break and baseline cuts, leading to a disappointing result. Much to work on defensively from this match. Josh_S top scored with 10 points.

Captain Joseph_F breaking out of defence

Samuele_M fronting up defensively

Michael_F putting up a jump shot

Ed-J caught passing out of defensive traffic

Samuel_N shooting 

Michael_S bringing the ball up court

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game 2: Shrewsbury Storm U16 29v32 Leadonites U15B (ht:15-13)

A poor first half that earned some harsh, and as it turned out premature, comments at half-time from Leadonites coach Chalkley. A true team effort from all 8 boys in the second half pulled this one out of the bag. Mentions in Dispatches for Ed_J (6 points) and team captain, Joseph_F each for their best performances in a Leadonites jersey yet. Fin_C top scored with 13 points including 3 of 4 free-throws at the death.

Finlay_C driving past a Storm defender

Michael_S shooting

___________________________________________________________

MATCH RESULTS - U14-B @ Worcs Bears

Sunday, 17th December 2017
Worcester Bears Pre-Xmas Invitational - Under 14s-B

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worcester Bears U14B 74v37 Leadonites U14B 
(Q1: 18-8 / Q2: 12-8 / Q3: 23-9 / Q4: 21-12)
With neither side playing their NL or main YBL players this was a chance for other players to get valuable game-time in a full 4x10-minute game-clock quarters match. Some nice positives but also several things to work on in training.
Thanks to Sandra D for helping out with the coaching.
Well Done to Captain Tom_S with 10 points and Toby_B with 15 points; welcome to the Leadonites Double-digit club, boys. :) You each owe Ben_L a thanks for a chunk of assists.

Thomas_S making a defensive block

Ben_L fronting up defensively

A typical Joseph_F manoeuvre as he steals the ball from a Bears opponent 

Thanks to Indriani Richardson (Worcester Bears) for the use of the action photographs.

______________________________________________________________

MATCH RESULTS - U12s @ Worcs Bears

Saturday, 16th December 2017
Worcester Bears Pre-Xmas Invitational - Under 12s

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game 1: Worcester Bears (Orange) 31v2 Leadonites (ht: 17-0)
Bears U12 first team is the best team for their age in the 3-counties and the gulf in class shone through. But the Leadonites boys competed and this is all good preparation for next season's U13s YBL.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game 2: Worcester Bears (Silver) 7v12 Leadonites (ht: 2-4)
A very equal game with the score at 7-8 with just a minute left to play.

_____________________________________________________

MATCH RESULTS - Mid-season Friendlies

Mid-season Friendlies
@ Ledbury Leisure Centre (sports hall @ JMHS)
Saturday, 9th December 2017
--------------------------------------------
Leadonites U17s 75-66 Worcester Wolves
(Q1: 26-13 / Q2: 20-19 / Q3: 16-17 / Q4: 13-17)
**** **** **** ****
A devastating first quarter followed by two very close quarters then an end of game marred by ill-discipline.
Congratulations to James S. who, in his club debut, set a new club single match scoring record with 32 points. Other scorers were:
Kaisan T - 15 points 
Tom D. - 14 points
Kieran R. - 6 Points
Lewis C. - 4 points
Josh S. - 2 Points
Ed J. - 2 points

Top score for Wolves was Luke J, with 28 points.
__________________________ 
Leadonites U15s 56-24 Stroud Sharks
(Q1: 12-4 / Q2: 14-4 / Q3: 14-9 / Q4: 16-7)
**** **** **** ****
With both teams missing key players from their line-ups this was an opportunity for others to get game time. Top scorer was Josh S. with 22 points. Other scorers were:
JJ H. - 12 points
Mike F. - 8 points
George R. - 4 points
Ethan W. - 4 points
Sam N. - 2 points
Ed J. - 2 points
Joseph F. - 2 points

Top scorer for Sharks was No.11, Wheeler, with 13 points.

Upcoming Matches

Saturday, 9th December 2017
@ Ledbury Leisure Centre (sports hall @ JMHS)

LEADONITES U17s Vs WORCESTER WOLVES U17s (1:15pm tip-off)

With 2017 almost at a close Leadonites U17s will take to the court for their first match of the season when they entertain Worcester Wolves U17s of the YBL. Having had such a successful 2016/17 season the current seniors came close to dissolution over the summer and then had the ignominy of having to withdraw from the YBL WMFS Trophy in September. But the Seniors training group, now in their last season with Leadonites youth programme, have nine players to select from with seven returnees and two newbies, though one player is unavailable after an autumn broken arm. 

For their part, Worcester Wolves are five games into their YBL U17 South Division regular season sitting fourth out of seven teams with a current record of 2 wins and 3 loses; having lost 59-47 away to Frankley Falcons last time out. This match comes ahead of the following week's tough home match with WBA D-Squad who are on a run of two wins from two. Wolves head coach, Gareth Dalley is no stranger to Leadonites having been the training session assessor for Leadonites head coach, Matthew Chalkley, when he was undertaking the level 2 coaching award. Gareth also filled in as a coach, at short notice, for a Leadonites intramural friendly match a couple of seasons ago.


LEADONITES U15s Vs STROUD SHARKS U15s (3:15pm tip-off)

Stroud Sharks have been proud members of the Basketball England National League Regional Conference set up for some years but are now on a break from those competitions. They are no strangers to Leadonites with the two clubs having played each other at various age groups last season, and this, at Gloucestershire College's Glozball CVLs. In fact many of the players competing in Saturday's friendly will be familiar with each other with last season's U14s Glozball CVL. It was against Stroud Sharks that last season's U14s Leadonites team got their first win of the campaign in what was otherwise a tough (3-21) losing season. But the Sharks won out with an overall series record of three wins and just that one defeat against Leadonites.

Game 1: (04/02/2017) Stroud Sharks 24 - 8 Leadonites (ht: 16-2)
Game 2: (24/02/2017) Stroud Sharks 8 - 10 Leadonites (ht: 8-4)
Game 3: (01/03/2017) Stroud Sharks 16 - 13 Leadonites (ht: 5-6)
Game 4: (29/04/2017) Stroud Sharks 22 - 9 Leadonites (ht: 8-7)

This will be an interesting contest with Leadonites U15s, now under the stewardship of head coach Ian Robb and his assistant, Rich Davis, currently on course for the YBL end of season play-offs.

______________________________________________________________

Congratulations to Irene

Irene Wilkinson has become the first Leadonite to become fully qualified as a Level 2 Table Official.

Last summer six volunteers undertook the Basketball England Table Official Level 2 course that was held at the Halo Swimming Pool complex in Ledbury, with all six passing. However, to become fully qualified a candidate must then complete four matches that are signed off by a BE Level 2 graded referee; two matches on the score sheet and two matches as the score board operator/time keeper. Evidence of these are then sent away to the regional assessor before Basketball England issue the certificate.


Four more of those Leadonite volunteers should complete their mandatory matches and become fully qualified by the close of this season.

 

(Irene seen here, closest to camera, on table duties at Coventry Tornadoes in September 2017)

Thank you to all of our adult volunteers because without you this small club cannot operate.

________________________________________

MATCH RESULTS - Glozball U14 CVL

Glozball U14 CVL PM Pool
@ Gloucestershire College on Sunday, 26th November 2017
--------------------------------------------
RESULTS
Exeter Spartans 8 - 22 Leadonites (ht: 6-6)
Swindon Shock II 18 - 24 Leadonites (ht: 4-10)
Leadonites 26 - 27 Abingdon Eagles (ht: 18-14)

--------------------------------------------

Nearly a clean sweep of three from three but for some errant shooting in the last match and some disappointing refereeing calls pulling us back down to reality.
But as the emotion of the final contest ebbs we have to realise that weak defensive resistance to opposition dribble drives to the basket, sleepy defence against opponents getting in behind us for long outlet passes and uncontested lay-ups added to a number of missed shots and five missed free-throws (worth 8 points in total in a match lost by one point!) were the real reasons for defeat rather than a couple of unfortunate refereeing calls/non-calls.
What we got today were a number of opportunities to work on our game to come back stronger next time around.
A big thank you to coach Sandra Dudley for helping out today and to all the parents for getting the players to and from Gloscol. Added to that thank you to all at GlosColl for inviting us and running the event.

(More in depth reports to follow)

___________________________________________________

Upcoming CVL Matches

GLOZBALL U14 CVL

MATCH SCHEDULE: Pool B

TIME	TEAM A	TEAM B	SCORE
13.30	ABINGDON EAGLES	SWINDON 2	-
14.00	LEADONITES	EXETER SPARTANS	-
14.30	SWINDON 2	LEADONITES	-
15.00	ABINGDON EAGLES	EXETER SPARTANS	-
15.30	EXETER SPARTANS	SWINDON 2	-
16.00	ABINGDON EAGLES	LEADONITES	-

EVENT DETAILS:

========================

Venue: Gloucestershire College, Gloucester Campus, Llanthony Road, Gloucester

Date: Sunday, 26^th November 2017

Arrive at venue: by 1:15pm

First Tip-off time: 2:00pm (second match on court)

Competition: Glozball U14s CVL

Match Code: N/a

LEADONITES TEAM (8 players)

Colour of Kit: Black jerseys and Black shorts.

#2        - 47414 - Michael  S                             (White #6)

#5        - 47254 - Riley B                                  (White #7)

#6        - 47259 - Ben D                                    (White #3)

#7        - 47324 - Toby B                                  (White #5)

#8        - 47256 - Finlay C (Captain)                (White #16)

#10      - 47287 - Rufus W                                (White #4)

#11      - 47284 - Tom S                                    (White #17)

#23      - 47275 - Samuele M                            (White #8)

Coach:             47290 – CHALKLEY Matthew

Assist Coach:  TBC

Match Subs: £3.00 per player

 __________________________________________________________________

MATCH RESULT - YBL U15 South Division

Venue: LQ Arena, Stourport on Severn
Date: Sunday, 19th November 2017

YBL U15 South Division

SPARTANS 45 Vs 58 LEADONITES

(Q1: 9-13 / Q2: 13-10 / Q3: 12-22 / Q4: 11-13)

 Having lost at home to Spartans, back in September, it was not only important to win this return fixture but to win it by 7 points or more to secure the head-to-head should the two teams finish the season on equal points.

 Leadonites took the lead in the second minute and though they were soon pegged back to 4-4 they were never behind at any time in the first period. After recent criticism from their head coach regarding the lack of points scored overall the boys set about building the points margin required. 7-points from Robb (including a 3-pointer), aided with 2-apiece from Nicholls, Calvo-Whitelegg and Chalkley allowed Leadonites to end the first quarter 13-9 ahead.

 Spartans hit back and and briefly lead in the second minute of the second quarter. Six straight points from Calvo-Whitelegg (4 pts) and Chalkley restored Leadonites prominence but, despite anther two long range twos from Robb, it was two 3-pointers and a converted And-1 that gave the hosts the second quarter and a fittingly tight half-time score of Spartans 22-23 Leadonites. It could have been worse, Fisher making a vital defensive block, it could have been better, Spriggs missing two late free-throws and clearly struggling with an ankle injury sustained in a school training session.

 The third quarter started with Spartans tying the scores up at 23-all but this was the decisive period of the match with guards Chalkley and Hobson finding quick outlet passes and fast break long passes time and again. With the normally proliferate scorer Spriggs limping coach Ian Robb called time on his contribution for this match and he watched from the bench as his Leadonite team mates stretched out their advantage to 11 points; scores from Nicholls, French and Miccio (4 pts) contributing to the power quarter enjoyed by Calvo-Whitelegg (6 pts) and Chalkley (8 pts - including 4 converted free-throws) to leave Leadonites entering the fourth quarter 45-34 up.

 Robb stretched the lead to 13 points in the first minute of the final period. Spartans cut the lead to 9 points before French sank a lay-up. Spartans scored again before Robb hit his second 3-pointer of the match in the fifth minute as his final score of a team-high 16 points. Fouls started to mount up against the Leadonites defence with Spartans going to the free-throw line 12 times but only able to sink three of those chances. Calvo-Whitelegg scored the last of his 14 points in the seventh minute before fouling out of the game one minute later. Miccio stretch the lead again, in the nine minute with a fast break lay-up to make the score 56-45 just before French fouled out. Chalkley missed two free-throws but the match, and the margin required, were secure and just to ice the victory Hobson scored the final points of the match.

With two Leadonites players fouling out in the last two minutes of the match the value of a rounded squad game that has been developed by Coach Robb and Assistant Davis this season was proven; notably Fisher and Wheeler getting game-time minutes in meaningful parts of the match. 

It was nice to see a good spread of points with 7 of the 10 players scoring but, crucially, everyone pulling their weight on defence in a grind of a match.

__________________________________________________

Basketball England - IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OFFICIALS

Basketball England have released a mailshot regarding their interpretation and amended regulations concerning officials (referees and table officials). To read the full article please click here.

CONTENTS:

1) 2017/18 CHANGES TO THE OFFICIAL RULES OF BASKETBALL 

2) LICENSE CARDS ONLINE PLATFORM

3) CREW CHIEF CHECKS FOR ALL GAMES

4) ASSIGNR INFORMATION & GUIDANCE

5) NATIONAL LEAGUE HANDBOOK

6) SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY FOR ALL OFFICIALS

__________________________________________________________

FIBA's new travel rule explained

STAYING on top of the newest FIBA interpretation, Basketball Victoria’s Technical Officials Commission (TOC) has posted the latest travel interpretation video. Please click this link here to view.

_____________________________________________________

Next Match

SPARTANS Vs LEADONITES BASKETBALL

Leadonites Basketball Inters squad travel up to Stourport on Sunday looking to atone for their only home defeat of the season when they lost 45 - 51 to Spartans at Ledbury Leisure Centre back in mid-October. Having since gained league victories over Bournville Bears and Redditch Rockets this has become a pivotal match for Leadonites. However, by a strange quirk of the fixtures schedule, although this will be the fourth league match of the season for Leadonites it will be only the second for Spartans. 

MATCH DETAILS:

===============

Venue: LQ Arena, Windermere Way, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 8LA

Date: Sunday, 19^th November 2017

Tip-off time: 4:00pm

Competition: YBL U15 South

Match Code: F30

LEADONITES TEAM (10 players)

Colour of Kit: Black jerseys and Black shorts.

#5        47281 - George R

#7        47266 - Michael F (Cap)

#8        47256 – Finlay C

#10      47291 – JJ H

#11      47264 – Joseph F

#12      47255 – Teo C-W

#13      47273 – Alessio M

#14      47276 – Samuel N

#15      47285 – Joshua S

#19      47288 – Ethan W

Team Coach:   47294 – ROBB Ian

Assist. Coach: 47292 – DAVIS Richard

_____________________________________________________

MATCH RESULT: Lorna Tull Griffith Cup

Date: Sunday, 12^th November 2017

Venue: Sandwell Academy, Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, B71 4LG

Competition: YBL U15 Lorna Tull Griffiths Cup Preliminary Round 3

WBA D-Squad 54 v 45 LEADONITES BASKETBALL 
(Q1: 14-12 / Q2: 13-11 / Q3: 16-6 / Q4: 12-16)

Having played the same team at the same venue in Preliminary Round 2 of the same competition, U15s head coach, Ian Robb, decided to use this match as a chance to try out some different plays in the environment of a competitive match setting.

This was the second match of the weekend, coming on the back of an excellent league win over Redditch, and in certain parts of this match some players looked a bit leggy. However, ultimately a withering combination of poor defensive rebounding and weak lay-up shots were the tale of this defeat and as much as WBA deserved their victory Leadonites only had themselves to blame for the end result. 

With close, but losing first and second quarters(Q1: 14-12 / Q2: 13-11) the Herefordians were trailing 27-23 at half time before the hosts effectively put Leadonites to sword with a 16-6 third quarter; built on some excellent three and long range two-point shooting.

A mini comeback in the final quarter reduced the final deficit to nine points but coach Robb’s recent warnings over profligate shooting came to bear in this match. Better concentration will be required in next weekend’s crunch league match away in Stourport against Spartans.

_______________________________________________________________