The City of Sheffield Saints extended their unbeaten run in Division 4 North with an 80-68 win over Wear Valley Warriors at All Saints School on Saturday night. After a poor start, the Saints trademark style of unselfish basketball and team defence brought them back into the game. Although the Warriors fought bravely in the 3rd quarter, it was the Saints who went on the final run of the game to win comfortably in the final minutes.

Pete Olusoga started the game with an easy lay-up but it was the Warriors who then went on a 13-2 run, ignited by two three pointers from John Palmer and one from Norton. But the Warriors' freedom of space was short-lived as the Saints gathered themselves on defence. 2 points from Andy turner on the fast break and a 3 pointer from Tilly Hackett were followed by 6 unanswered points from Olusoga, all lay-ups as the Warriors' defence was stretched by the Saints' ball movement. 2 points from newly signed big man Nick Savage, and a 3 from Law saw the Saints end the quarter tied 20-20.

Law scored again for the Saints to open the second period but Steutel and Attah responded for the visitors, putting them up by 5. The Saints continued to move the ball well on offence and Oluosga hit a 3 as the shot clock ran down. Wear Valley was kept scoreless for 2 minutes while Garnet Gayle connected on back-to-back 3 pointers at the other end to put the Saints ahead 31-27. Franz-von Shorter replaced Law midway through the quarter and immediately contributed with a drive to the basket and 2 points. Gayle also went to the bench in foul trouble but the Saints offence was flowing as they went on a 15-6 tear, Olusoga scoring 4 more easy points and Turner contributing with 7 of his own, putting the Saints up 49-40 at the half.

Gayle opened the second half with another 3 pointer but after picking up and early 4th foul, was forced to sit for the remainder of the 3rd quarter. Sam Attah scored a flurry of quick points to bring the Warriors right back into the game but after a Saints' time-out, the home team seemed to find a way to deal with the Warriors' only real threat. Four more points from Turner, including two from the line, and a lay-up from Law saw the quarter end with the scores tied at 58-58.

The Saints came out for the final period ready for a battle. Gayle marked his return to the game with a strong move to the basket, draining the two and going to the foul line for 1. Savage continued to work hard on the inside for the Saints at both ends of the floor, and the Warriors' offence struggled to find a way to score. After scoring 28 points in the first 3 quarters, a solitary 3 was Attah's only contribution in the 4th and the Saints' hard work and boxing out helped Gayle to clean up on the defensive boards. With the Saints up by 4, Hackett drained a massive 3 from way beyond the arc and the fight was well and truly taken out of the Warriors. Norton's second 3 pointer of the game was too little, too late for Wear Valley and two more lay-ups for Turner sealed the Saints 80-72 win.

The Saints are now 3-0 in the league and face Loughborough in the second round of the National Shield on Sunday 19th November at All Saints, 2.15 tip.

Scorers
Saints
Olusoga/Turner(19), Gayle(16), Hackett/Law(10), Savage(4), Shorter(2)
Warriors
Attah(31), Norton/Palmer(9), Steutel(7)

Posted on: Sunday 5th November

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