your County Sports Partnership

• News
• Events
• Activities
• Calendars
• Jobs and Vacancies
• The Library

Heat show improvement but fall short again

Published on: 7th December 2011

Heat show improvement but fall short again.

Huddersfield Heat showed a marked improvement in their latest performance, ultimately going down 79-81 away to Derby in the latest round of the EBL Division 3 games on Sunday night at Noel Baker. With this defeat the Heat slip a place in the table with a 4 & 6 record.

The opening quarter saw defences dominate the early exchanges with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Derby would take the early initiative, but two early threes from guard Eugene Andrew would keep the Heat in touch. The quarter would end with a narrow Derby lead, 18-14.

In the second quarter, defence would give way to offence as both teams began to hit shots. The ever reliable Jason Swaine would hit three threes, to be answered by Derby’s Simon Spencer’s 9 points. A 29-23 partial would give Derby a ten point lead at the interval, 47-37.

Following the break, the Heat would switch to a zone defence and began to restrict the home team’s scoring rate. Forward Chris Bigley, having arguably one of his best games in a Heat shirt, would continue to score in the post. However the home team just did enough to maintain a slender lead in the quarter, the score 68-56 at the end of the third.

In the final quarter, everything would click for the Heat, as they restricted Derby to just 13 points. Joe Irving would finally come alive, hitting shots down the stretch as the Heat closed differences quickly. Ultimately, the game would come down to the final possession, as Swaine would appear to get fouled attempting the last shot, but the visitors would not get the call to give the Heat the opportunity to win it from the line.

The Heat finally return home on Saturday, when they face the Sefton Stars at Rishworth, 5.30pm.

Comments: