BBL Team of the Week – Week 19
It’s been a sensational time for Durham of late and that is reflected in our line-up which features two Wildcats’ debutantes.
BJ Holmes (One Health Sharks Sheffield)
Just a couple of weeks after making his debut, BJ Holmes is back again, after making sure it was a red-letter day for Sharks as they reached the BBL Trophy semi-finals by eliminating a crestfallen Glasgow Rocks who were extra eager to make it through with the Final being held at the Emirates Arena. Whilst Holmes was barely lukewarm from the perimeter, he was unstoppable at the hoop and sunk 14 of 16 from the free-throw line to finish with 25 points. He also added five assists, four rebounds and three steals on a great night for Sharks.
Michael Ojo (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders)
It was a mixed weekend for the Raiders’ guard, since he was part of the Raiders team surprisingly trounced in a big way by visiting Durham Wildcats, although he did make up for that disappointment slightly by starring in the subsequent victory against Mersey Tigers. Ojo, who also made our starting five only a few weeks ago, contributed an all-action 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals to get his team back to winning ways and further highlight his own growing influence on the team.
Brad Guinane (Durham Wildcats)
It’s a first ever BBL Team of the Week slot for Wildcats’ debutante Brad Guinane who was MVP in an outstanding win at Plymouth Pavilions – arguably the best of the season so far for the north-east club. He exploded for a mammoth 32 points after catching fire from three-point range, where he converted a simply stunning eight triples to put Raiders to the sword with one of the most deadly downtown shooting performances anywhere in the BBL this season.
Darius Defoe (Newcastle Eagles)
It’s a third appearance of the season in our starting five for the Eagles’ man having previously made it during weeks 2 and 10. He produced the best performance of the weekend with an excellent contribution against Mersey Tigers at Sport Central as the Eagles moved into the outright lead at the top of the BBL Championship table. He registered a huge double-double with 10 of 15 floor shooting helping him accrue 24 points, which was complimented by 13 rebounds. Defoe also worked hard defensively, coming up with three steals and a block.
Andrew Keister (Durham Wildcats)
The centre makes it a Durham debutante double this week after producing one of his best displays of the season to take down Cheshire Phoenix and make sure Durham completed their third win in just four games to really boost their play-off chances. Keister completed a huge double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds at Northgate Arena and even drained a rare triple to become the latest in a series of Wildcats’ players now beginning to hit top gear at just the right time.
Off The Bench – Rod Brown (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders), Joe Chapman (Newcastle Eagles), Matt Schneck (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders), Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles), Keith Page (Durham Wildcats), Ralph Bucci (Durham Wildcats)
