CT v Southside Flyers 10/12/2011

First Half:

Flyers made a start to match their name. For the first 5 minutes of the game Cheadle couldn't keep hold of the ball, letting SF score some easy baskets. After Andy called a time-out, CT pulled themselves together in defence. They made the effort to get back quickly when SF went on the attack so that only SF's brilliant #5 had the skill to break through. There was some aggresive man-on-man defence here from Sean, and good transition play by Sol, breaking out of the pack and outrunning the opposition down the court.

Sean and Joe made CT's first 2 baskets in the 16th minute, but at this point the CT defence seemed to break down. The half ended with SF taking 10 more points in 3 minutes, despite some outstanding rebound work (and a basket) from “Boomerang” and some sharp drives from Joe.

Half time Score: SF 28 - 6 CT

Second Half:

CT started well with Matt F first to score. Cheadle looked good defensively and kept their opponents out of the key. With SF #5 off court the Flyers found it hard to score, and were reduced to making wild long-shots. CT weren't so successful in attack, but Sol foxed the SF defence to make two baskets - the first a second was a classic following a great pass from Sean out of a scrum of players.

The return of SF #5 to the court with a 3-point shot seemed to knock CT's confidence, and for the last 5 minutes the Cheadle defence fell apart; there was some tired looking play that allowed SF a further 10 points in the last minutes. Kudos to Harry here for flying up and down the court right to the final seconds.

Final Score: SF 47 - 12 CT.

Stats:

CT: Sol 4; Matt F, Matt A, Joe, Sean - 2 each.

SF: #5 - 22; #8 - 8; #6, #9 6 each; #7 -3; #14 - 2.

Pros and Cons:

CT often looked good in this game. Although sleepy play at the start of the match let SF take a quick lead, Cheadle recovered well and put their game back together. There were some weak points in the match, at the ends of both halves CT gave up coordinated defence and just followed the ball - the result being more scores from SF. But the first 15 minutes of second half showed that with the right strategy CT could halt the SF attack - waking up at the beginning and sticking to the defensive plan right to the end of the game could make this team beatable.

Man of the Match:

For me, it was Sol. We know he's fast but in this match he really showed he could use that speed and drive right to the net.

Pictures:

See the Gallery for new pics of this game!

Match on 10/12/11 at 8:30:

Sorry, I can't make it. I'll be back the week after. Let me know the news

CT v. NR Dynamos 26/11/11

This was a difficult game for Cheadle against an older and very skilful team. Dynamos took control from the tip and kept up a high scoring rate from the tip-off with #5 and #13 taking the lead role in the attack in the first half, and #10 and #0 in the second half.

CT did put some effort into defence. At the 10 minute mark this seemed to be holding NRD back on a man-to-man basis - it looked scruffy but it seemed to work. But in the long run the Cheadle lacked the coordination needed to stop their opponents' confident attacking manoeuvres.

The Dynamos' defence, on the other hand, was united and well drilled. CT players rarely got close enough to the hoop to score though there were some valiant attempts, and kudos to Josh for his baskets in the final minutes of both halves.

Final score: CT - 2: NR Dynamos - 77

Stats:

CT: Josh - 4

NRD: #13 - 21;#5, #6, #10 - 10 each; #8 - 2 

Post Mortem:

Most of us on the supporters bench thought that CT put up a much better show this week than last - though this wasn't reflected in the score. Sean's absence due to injury highlighted the team's tendency to rely too much on one player and the reluctance of some players to drive and shoot.

But the main difference for the big points difference in this game was surely CT's disorganised defence.

On the other hand, everyone was making more effort this week, and it was a big improvement on the last game.

CT v. TV Aces 12/11/11

Team 1: Joe, Josh, Tom, Sean, Dan
Team 2: Harry, Karl, Matt A & F, Sol.

First Half:
TVA came out attacking, and Cheadle's defenses just weren't up to it. Apart form some olid work by Joe in reovering the ball, and some dogged attacks by Josh, Team 1 looked sleepy and uncoordinated. Team 2 looked more organised, but couldn't find a response to the Aces' #31, who scored 15 points in the last 8 minutes.
Half Time score: 40 -2 to TVA

Second Half:
Again, TVA made all the running, with #0 scoring early, and #32 towards the end. Oddly, CT started to make a bit more effort in the second half - Team 2 certainly did a lot of running - but a couple of field goals from Sean and a good free throw from Josh (with seconds to go) was poor consolation for a pretty disastrous final score:
Final Score: 80 - 7 to TVA

Stats:
CT: Sean - 4; Josh - 3
TVA: #31 - 26; #0 - 26; #32 - 9; #5 - 6; #25 - 6; #35 - 4; #21 - 2; #6 - 1

(Pros and) Cons:
Cheadle, with one or two exceptions, didn't make enough effort to get the ball, with some players just waiting for opportunities. When CT had the ball, they gave it up too easily, with some careless play and some easy rebounds missed. Players seemed nervouse to to grips with their opponents,
One particular failing: not a few baskets were lost immediately after a failed free throw. It was easy to see why! TVA stood at the edge of the paint looking hungry for the ball, CT looked like they were waiting for a bus. Disappointed.

MOTM:
Joe and Matt A deserve honourable mentions for doing most of the defensive work. But for sheer persistant effort (and then for subbing for Harry immediately after recovering from being doubled up with the stitch) the gong this week must go to Josh.

Serious Advice:
Harry, don't forget to breath.
Matt F, leave the roller blades at home, next time!

Can't make the game on 19th, see you all on the 26th.

CT v. Southside Hornets 5/11/11

Late, and very short post on this match because.... I mislaid my notes and despite all efforts haven.'t traced them yet. Humble apologies. I'll fill in the details when I finally track them down.

It's a pity because all the supporters bench agreed that it was a really good match! SH came out looking confident and won 38-12 (I think) but that score doesn't tell the whole story. Cheadle made them fight for every point, with everyone playing bolder and more co-ordinated Basketball than we've seen before.

Southside were a good team but had one excellent player (#8). He made a huge effort to get to the right place at the right time, and scored most of SH's points. Without him the team would have found CT much harder to beat. Closer marking next time?

What I most liked about this game was that players were doing things that they don't normally try to do. Playing in Division 1 was too easy; we may not be winning yet, but we're playing the bog boys now, and we're starting to give them a game.

CT v. Southside Flyers

Tom and I couldn't make this match, so no match report.

Final Score: Southside 50 -11 Cheadle


Ouch! Still, we've been there before and survived, we can do it again.

On a lighter note, if you click on the tab marked "Gallery Summer 2011" above you'll find some pictures Barry took of the presentation last month.

See you soon.

CT v Dynamic Allstars 22/10/11

First Half:

(Initial line up for Cheadle – Joe, Sol, Sean, Josh, Tom)

Cheadle attacked from the tip-off with Sean making the first score. Quick steals and long, fast drives left All-Stars at the wrong end of the court wondering where the ball had gone. There was some accurate passing from CT too – Sol's long pass to Joe for a great basket in the 5^th minute looking particularly smart. DA, against a robust defence from Cheadle, failed to make anything of the few chances they were allowed.

(New line-up – Matt F, Karl, Dan, Matt A, Harry)

The new line-up began in the same spirit, with Karl scoring within a minute of coming on. Then All-Stars turned on the aggression at last. Cheadle responded with a close contact defence. It looked scruffy, but, despite a couple of free throws from their #11, it stopped DA from scoring. A last minute basket from Dan ended the half.

Half time score : CT – 20, DA – 0.

Second Half:

(Back to initial line-up)

Having failed to score in the first half, DA came out looking as if they didn't want to play. Cheadle responded with an old favourite routine – get the ball to Sean and watch him score. All-Stars failed to mark the man, and after 10 minutes Cheadle were another 14 points ahead.

(New line-up)

Matt A made a great drive to score almost as soon as he came on court. But DA, perhaps relieved at seeing the back of Sean, looked more relaxed after the exchange, made their first basket in the 33^rd minute and then added a couple to it. But, with 2 baskets in the final 30 seconds of the match, Harry ended the game decisively for Cheadle, and in high style.

Final Score: CT – 42, DA – 6.

Stats:

CT: Sean – 18; Josh – 6; Joe, Harry – 4 each; Tom, Karl, Dan, Matt F, Matt A – 2 each.

DA: #13 – 4; #0 (unnumbered) – 2.

Pros and Cons:

Cheadle have beaten DA 52- 2 so the result is no surprise. It was a pleasant surprise to see more players driving confidently up the court as this has been a weakness in the past. More, please!

I'd say the second line-up played too defensively. Given the weaknesses of the All-Stars you could afford to take a few more chances.

Man of the Match:

I'll say Sean – for making some great steals (we knew already that you could shoot!).

Nickname:

I can't think of one this week, but I'll just put on record that the DA player with the crazy shaved head (#11?) is called “Logo”. Watch out, lads. If I find out that there's a sponsorship available I'm getting out my clippers.

And Finally:

I really enjoyed seeing the match at the Amaechi Centre (and the pizza). It was such great value that I'll be taking Tom to see magic play as soon as work permits; let me know if you want to get rid of your child for a couple of hours! Thanks to Grant for researching and organising, and to Andy for being the occasion. 

 John Amaechi - jumping