Week 10 of the 2022/23 Junior National League season saw 8 of our junior teams in action across the region.
The weekly roundup will highlight the results and key performers from each weekend across the programme along with quotes from coaches about each performance. We continue the series with Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th December.
Saturday 3rd December
COLBC U14 Girls Gold vs COLBC U14 Girls Black
Result: 55-14
Coach Ben Allen: "Wonderful to see the youngest cohort of the girls program taking to the show court this weekend! Great atmosphere and result for both sides! We managed to work on things that we put in place in training and with some players out it gave the opportunity for others to step up and lead!"
Performer of the game: Rebeca Dragomir
Coach Sian Wood: "It was brilliant to see all our girls on the floor this weekend. We took on a fight against the really strong and highly experienced Gold team. Our spirits remained high, both on the bench and on court, and the girls had lots of fun playing against their friends."
Performer of the game: Jessica Woodward
Doncaster Eagles vs COLBC U14 Boys White
Result: 127-21 (L)
Coach Jake Shuttlewood: "An extremely tough game for the boys which resulted in a hard loss. They played hard while creating opportunities to attack from strong drives. We stuck together as team and continue to hold our heads high despite the hard loss. A real testament to the boys willpower and persistence to continue to learn in a tough setting against an experienced team.
Lots of positives to take away from the game but also lots to continue to work upon.
Performer of the game: Mario Fuya
COB Rockets vs COLBC U14 Boys Gold
Result: 71-57 (L)
Coach Ryan Weir: "After the boys strongest performance of the season last week against Manchester, we faced a tough test in City of Birmingham Rockets. In what was a hectic start from both teams, we found our footing and started play some excellent defensive basketball and capitalised in transition. Key contributions from every player who stepped on the floor pushed Birmingham to their max but unfortunately we came up short. The progression of our group is extremely encouraging and we hope to go into the Christmas break with another strong performance under our belts."
Performer of the game: Romero Della Verde
COLBC U16 Boys Gold vs City Of Edinburgh Kings
Result: 95-28 (W)
Coach Sam Messam: "CoL Gold welcomed Edinburgh to the arena as part of their doubleheader weekend. Both games were marked as important as they would elevate the home side to a tie for 7th place. The traveling Kings were light on personnel due to injury and illness. However, this did not take away from their fight and determination. The first quarter started at pace with both teams eager to make their mark on the scoreboard. After several competitive minutes the home side managed to grab control and never looked back."
Performer of the game: Will Tracey
COLBC U18 Boys Black vs Tees Valley Mohawks
Result: 33-71 (W)
Coach Murray Bingham: "A strong showing from a young group against a undefeated Mohawks side. We shot and rebounded the ball exceptionally at points but Tees Valley’s experience and size proved too much to match. The boys showed a lot of heart and were a pleasure to coach.:
Performer of the game: Jai'von Hamilton
Sunday 4th December
QE Knights vs COLBC U16 Boys Black
Result: 107-58 (L)
Coach Marcus Browne: "Playing shorthanded today, we started slowly but progressively got much stronger throughout the game and there are plenty of positives to take away."
Performer of the game: Dominic Vila
York Eagles vs COLBC U16 Boys Gold
Result: 56-57 (W)
Coach Sam Messam: "In the second game of the weekend, we travelled to York to face our local rivals. The fixture was to be everything you needed in a Yorkshire derby. The atmosphere was loud and tensions were high right up until opening tip. The home side grabbed the first 6pts before we pushed back. In several lead changes, every point was thought for and hard earned. However, the half-time whistle would see the advantage comfortably in favour of the home side. The break gave us the opportunity to reflect and refocus, and boy did they do that. With just 35 seconds gone in the third, the boys had poured in 7pts to tie the game and force the home side Eagles to take a timeout. The remainder of the 2nd half was much of the same nip and tuck with very little separating the two teams. With just one minute to go, York led 56-53 following a scoring drought and two key turnovers by the CoL. Following our final timeout in a bid to settle his players, the CoL re-entered the game and inbounded the ball searching for a score. Captain, and second year point guard, Ethan Utley did not disappoint, coming off a double screen he pulled up and drained a deep 3pt shot and was fouled. However, the drama did not stop there. Ethan missed his free throw, but then the ball was rebounded by CoLs high wire act, Daniel Onobrakpeya, who was fouled on his put back attempt. Daniel made one from two to give the CoL the lead. The home side called time in a bid to draw up a play, but it wasn’t enough as the travelling CoL held court to claim their second victory of the weekend.
York Eagles vs COLBC U18 Boys Gold
Result: 53-40 (L)
Coach Murray Bingham: "The boys played an excellent game against a undefeated and well versed top of the league side in the eagles. It was a versatile performance seeing the boys win the final two quarters but a slow second quarter created a deficit too great to overcome. Nonetheless the second half acts as a testament to the teams attitude and ability reaffirming my belief they are more than capable of competing against the top end of the league. I have full belief the team will carry this into the coming weeks and go into the second half of the season with momentum."
Performer of the game: Tom Dillon
That wraps up the tenth edition of the Weekend Roundup - Join us next weekend for more action across the Junior National League programme.
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