Recap

U16 Boys look forward to fourth National Cup tie as run continues

The U16 boys celebrated a third National Cup win of the campaign after taking a 63-51 home success against Leicester Dynamite. Following on from earlier round wins against St Helen’s and York, the third victory was well earned in a much brighter performance.

The group had spent a lot of time preparing during the week around the concept of the team over the individual and that was telling in a much-improved display.

Sprinting down the floor whether rim running or leaking out on the wings was much improved and even if 13 turnovers was a concern in the opening 10 minutes, the Eagles still took a 19-15 lead.

Playing smarter, more active defensively and with plenty of energy and intensity from the bench as well as the floor, the good work continued in the second quarter. Reducing the turnovers, they extended their advantage to 40-27 at the half-time break.

However, the scourge of not taking care of the ball returned and it provided the key to the Dynamite coming back into the contest. Combined with the ball not dropping from some wide-open looks, the Eagles could only manage 8 points in the quarter.

By early in the fourth, Dynamite had made it a one-shot game and progression in the competition was briefly called into question. But to their credit, the Eagles ballers stuck together, got back to looking after the basketball and knocking down some good looks.

In the end they eased away and were good value for the win in what was a very good team effort.

“I am proud of the players as they have responded in the way that they needed to,” said head coach Chloe Gaynor.

“We showed the face that we have to every week with the level of energy, the support for each other, the concentration and togetherness any team needs.

“Most pleasing for me is that nobody reached double-digits in terms of a scoring return and everyone contributed.

“Having every player get onto the scoresheet in a hard-fought win underlines the ethos we are building and I am pleased with the work the lads put into it.

“As a young team, booking a fourth game in the National Cup is a big positive for them and for the club,” added Gaynor.