Different game, different team, different venue but the same old story. Arawak Braves would not bury their shots or their opponents. True their opponents had players with premier division experience and even national experience but looking at the game you could not tell that. To say that that was the difference between Royals winning would not be the truth either.
The truth is that Arawak Braves are not scoring consistently. Their defence and vastly improved offence tonight were creating a number of easy baskets but the team only converted about 15% of these. Their opponents are getting less shots but are converting a higher percentage.
The first quarter started slowly with Arawak Braves missing a number of easy baskets. Royals had problems getting easy shots but the settled down and worked hard for their points. The problem for braves was that the defence forced a number of turnovers which they failed to convert too often. The offence lacked movement and when there was a defensive breakdown the pass given was not at the right speed or in some cases direction. The starting five was Adrian, Andrew, Shane, Ron, and Roland. I think that our starters take too long to get points on the boards and to long to work out the opponents. this quarter ended with Royals on 13 and Arawak on 6.
This quarter saw an increase in intensity on both the defensive and offensive sides of the court by Braves. Andrew started to find his range. there was a better team shot selection and the score began to move. What caused this change. I will say when the point guards were changed. New energy came. Fresh legs entered and team work came to the fore. The quarter ended Royals 27 and Arawak Braves 17.
The coach recognized that the team who ended the half had injected the right kind of energy and restarted the third quarter with them.They did not disappoint. Arawak Braves started to control Royals offense to the point where they started to question the officials. The whole Braves team then got involved so that when the coach made substitutions they just went straight in and performed. the result was that this quarter ended with Royals on 40 and Arawak braves on 39.
This energy continued into the fourth quarter. Good defence and good offense were played and they scored alot more with everyone playing a part but led by Andrew Gibbs. Arawak Braves even took the lead with three minutes to go in this quarter but then their lack of experience showed. With the officials calling touch fouls players then stated to rush the offense. There were two plays that gave the game to Royals in the end, a drive to the basket down through the middle by Roland that should have been an assist and a turnover by Adrian on a poor pass to a cutter in a crowd when we could have pass the ball to a player on the perimeter from where we were scoring. Final score Royals 57 Arawak Braves 52.
I must say that i was very impressed with the standard of play. The result dont reflect how well the team played. Yes there are areas we have to work on and quickly but we are on the up. Finally Light at the end of the tunnel. I think we are ready for the big league. With hard work it is not that imposible to wish for. I think everyone knows what has to be done and i will make sure that what is to be done will be done.
Areas of great concern…(1) Poor Shooting. The shooters are moving to much. Their feet and wrist actions are very weak. Elbows moving during shots. Players fading away on the release. There is no use of the back board when there is that angel by the shooters.
(2) Poor individual defence. All players are not marking their opponents completely. that is, after about four dribbles they stop playing defence. They are not going on to box out the opponent if he shots or if a shot is taken.
AND (3) Awareness of situations. Who are the best shooters for the opposing. How to handel the final seconds in games. Who to build our offence around . Little things like this count.
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS ONLY IF I KNOW THAT WE CAN. A great quote from a great person. Mr ammmm wait that is my quote. Mr Hutson
