Heat progress in National Shield with convincing performance
Published on: 29th September 2011
Huddersfield Heat progressed into the second round of the National Shield with a comprehensive display of defensive and offensive basketball, by defeating Division 4 side Oldham Titans by 119-61. The Heat will now face fellow Division 3 side Leeds Carnegie II in the next round.
HUDDERSFIELD HEAT 119
Andrew (7), Irving (29), Woodward (7), Gray (8), Huggett (10) – Walker (6), Kraus (7), Swaine (31), Perez (3), Bigley (6), Stanger (5).
OLDHAM TITANS 61
Seed (19), Allen (9), Graham (11), Marston (12), Gent (10) – Atkinson (0), Walsh (0), Kelly (0).
The Titans were something of an unknown quantity going into the game, having just been accepted in the EBL for the first time, and had in their line-up former Manchester Magic guard Connor Gent. It would be the visitors who got off to a flying start with a quick 7-2 run to open the quarter. Following a Heat timeout however, that would be as good as it got for the visitors. Joe Irving started to score at will, with 17 of his game 29 coming in this quarter, as the Heat began to score freely. Further scores from Jason Swaine and Chris Bigley, saw the home team amass an incredible 35 points in the quarter, to take it 35-14.
Oldham, clearly taken aback by this onslaught, tried to find some momentum in the second quarter, but again met a Huddersfield side clinical in their play. As Huddersfield rotated their line-up, the scoring continued at a rapid rate. Sam Gray would have his best performance to date since joining the Heat this summer, with 6 of his game 8 points in this period, and every Heat player seemed to come into the game and get on the scoresheet. Another impressive 35 points meant the score at the half would be 70-27, with the game effectively over.
After the restart, Irving would continue where he left off, having had a long break in the second quarter, with another 10 points. Swaine would also continue to keep the scoreboard ticking over, on his way to a season high 31 points. The visitors had their best scoring spell at this point, to only lose the quarter by 5, but 92-44 behind. The fourth quarter saw the Heat’s line-up rotate again, with all eleven players getting considerable court time, and everyone getting on the scoresheet. Player-coach Eduardo Perez was a pleased man after the game:
“I thought today after a horrible first 3 minutes we started to show what we are really capable of. I thought everybody did their jobs well, and to see the some of the bench guys play at a good level was also very satisfying. These guys deserve a lot of credit, as they practice hard week in week out, and go about their business well whether many minutes come their way or not. I was very impressed with the attitudes shown, and for everyone to score, it caps off a very impressive win. However, I did stress to the guys to keep everything in perspective as next week we face a very talented Loughborough side in the start to our league season, who have some very, very good players.”
The Heat play Loughborough next Saturday at 5.30pm at Rishworth.
