 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There is currently 1 person viewing this website
The City of Sheffield Saints showed some of their early season form and clinched a playoff spot in their first ever season, as they smashed Tyne Met Trojans on Sunday by an incredible 71 points. The Saints were shorthanded but with all 7 players who travelled to the game reaching double figures, the Saints dominated with fantastic ball movement and a stifling defence which has been missing in recent weeks.
In a gym with no heating, the Tyne Met side jumped out to an early lead behind a Campbell 3 pointer and 2 points from Robinson. However, the Saints worked their way into the game, with Nick Savage and Andy Turner finding some easy opportunities inside. As Garnet Gayle picked holes in the Trojans defence with some great passes, Chris Law dominated the scoresheet in the first period, draining 3 consecutive 3 pointers and scoring 13 points, and was backed up by 7 points from Savage to give the Saints a 28-17 lead.
The Saints continued to dominate on offence in the second, passing the ball well and closing down the Trojans outside threats. Franz-von Shorter took his first half tally to 10 points, connecting on several jumpshots while Gayle also got in on the scoring helping the Saints go on a 21-2 run. Tilly Hackett and Turner finished on a series of fast breaks and Pete Olusoga drained a 3 to give the Saints a 63-27 lead at the half.
More of the same was to follow as a swarming Saints defence held the Trojans scoreless for the first 9 minutes of the second half. Hackett and Gayle did most of the damage at the other end, with Turner contributing 4 more points. The Trojans simply had no response and the Saints moved the ball as well as they have done all season to take an 83-31 advantage into the final quarter.
The 4th period saw the Saints continue to apply pressure on defence when perhaps earlier in the season they might have relaxed. Law drained a pair from the line and Hackett and Gayle took the score to 98-34. Nick Savage scored the basket that took the Saints over the 100 mark for only the second time this season and as Tyne Met wondered what had hit them, the Saints went on to seal the 111-40 victory.
The Saints final league game is against Mansfield Express II, 6pm Saturday at Goals Sheffield (All Saints School). The Saints currently lie in second place in Division 4 North and are guaranteed a playoff berth, but a win on Saturday could see them clinch the title in their first season if Leeds Met fail to win their final match away at Wear Valley Warriors.
Scorers
Saints
Hackett(23), Law(17), Savage(17), Gayle(15), Turner(15), Olusoga (12), Shorter(12)
Tyne Met Trojans
Campbell/Urwin (9), Higham (6), Robinson (5)