Heat bounce back with solid home performance against Lions
Published on: 1st November 2011
Huddersfield Heat bounced back from last weekend’s disappointments with a solid win against the Birmingham Lions, 92-77, a win which moves them up one place in the EBL 3 North table with a 2 and 3 record.
HUDDERSFIELD HEAT 92 (31+24+23+14)
Huggett (8), Gray (14), Irving (29), Allison (9), Woodward (8) – Kraus (5), Kozlowski (0), Perez (0), Stanger (3), Bigley (14), Quinn (0), Treen (2).
BIRMINGHAM LIONS 77 (20+21+16+20)
Marshall-Baqueno (1), Brace (20), Morris-Davis (12), Rigsby (2), Ullet-Waul (30) – Kitchen (5), Hoare (3), Jaenicke (4).
The Heat started the game without guards Jason Swaine, Eugene Andrew and Kingsley Walker who were all unavailable for this fixture, but it was in from Joe Irving who provide the perfect start. He would score 16 out of his team high 29 points in this opening period, including the Heat’s first 8 points, to open an 8-2 lead which the Heat would never relinquish. Centres John Huggett and Sam Gray would get on the scoring act as the Heat pounded the ball inside exploiting their opponents lack of size, leaving the quarter score at 31-20 to Huddersfield.
The second period would follow the same pattern, with only the impressive Ullet-Waul being able to keep pace for the visitors. Gray, having his best game to date in a Heat shirt would score 8 points in the quarter as the Heat stretched their lead to 14 at the interval, 55-41. After the restart, more good work, this time by Chris Bigley and Jonathan Woodward, would stretch the home team’s lead to 21 at the end of the third, 78-57.
The final quarter would see the Heat use all their bench players with very valuable minutes for all of them, with talented junior James Quinn getting his second successive game. Although Lions would rally and cut the deficit, the result was never in danger as the Heat closed out the game for a very valuable victory. Coach Eduardo Perez commented:
“We were looking to bounce back after some recent disappointments, and we certainly played a lot more like we are capable of. I think we are a way off our best at the moment, so it was a good win that we needed, with the bonus of everyone getting some match time as well. Now we focus on a tough trip to Shropshire to face the Warriors who I am sure will not want to be beaten on their home floor.”
The Heat now face the Warriors next Saturday at 6.00pm away at Telford College.
|
Team |
Wins |
Losses |
Void |
% |
For |
Against |
Pts Diff. |
Points |
|
Loughborough Students Riders |
4 |
1 |
0 |
.800 |
442 |
344 |
98 |
8 |
|
Leeds Carnegie II |
4 |
1 |
0 |
.800 |
397 |
303 |
94 |
8 |
|
Sefton Stars |
4 |
2 |
0 |
.667 |
412 |
426 |
-14 |
8 |
|
Manchester Magic |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
258 |
191 |
67 |
6 |
|
Warrington Wolves |
3 |
1 |
0 |
.750 |
320 |
286 |
34 |
6 |
|
City Of Sheffield Saints |
3 |
2 |
0 |
.600 |
401 |
345 |
56 |
6 |
|
Shropshire Warriors |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
261 |
236 |
25 |
4 |
|
Sheffield Sabres |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
273 |
259 |
14 |
4 |
|
Derby Trailblazers II |
2 |
3 |
0 |
.400 |
351 |
388 |
-37 |
4 |
|
Huddersfield Heat |
2 |
3 |
0 |
.400 |
386 |
432 |
-46 |
4 |
|
Nottingham Hoods |
1 |
4 |
0 |
.200 |
323 |
326 |
-3 |
2 |
|
Birmingham Lions |
0 |
4 |
0 |
.000 |
216 |
344 |
-128 |
0 |
|
Stockport Falcons |
0 |
5 |
0 |
.000 |
257 |
417 |
-160 |
0 |
