Kats U18 Women v Glasgow Rocks
Kats fight hard to take the win over Rocks
Kats juniors stepped onto their home court on Saturday for the first time this season to play Glasgow Rocks. Knowing this was not going to be an easy game, Kats needed to work hard to continue their winning streak.
The first half showed both teams trading baskets throughout, with no team taking a big lead. Glasgow Rocks were physical from the word go and did not allow Kats to get any easy baskets. Rebounds were lacking in the Kats stats but a change in defence saw an improvement in this department. The front of our zone worked hard to cover and put pressure on Rock’s shooters, while good rotation from the back triangle produced no uncontested lay-ups. Quick outlets from our rebounders allowed Kats’s forwards to get on the end of some fast breaks. At the end of the first half Kats lead 27-24.
In the second half, pressure defence from Rocks’s forwards and guards made it difficult for clear passes to be made and at times resulted in turnovers. Kats fought back from this and began to create more space for themselves while taking care of the ball. Crucial rebounds and put backs towards the final minutes of the game allowed Kats to be level with seconds to go. A last offence score saw Kats up by 2 with 12 seconds to go. A final steal from Kats gave Rocks no time to reply.
Final score Kats 58 – Rocks 56
Top scorers: Ciara and Rowan 15, Shannon 14.
Kings Senior Men v Glasgow University
Another interesting game for the senior men, with yet another different starting line-up due to Audrius’s late call off due to illness, Steven Dickson (working), Matt Kruczynski (coaching course) and also a buzzer beater 3-pointer to win by a point.
1st Quarter: Could be best described as starting slowly and not getting going ( we also lost Menelaos to a pulled hamstring after 5 minutes), as we again did a good defensive job but failed to capitalise on offence with the score after 5 minutes a titanic 2-2 , with Glasgow Uni leading 14 – 6 at the end of the quarter.
2nd Quarter: Continued defensive pressure and a scoring run mid-way through the quarter sparked by back to back 3’s by Craig Reilly saw the scores tie at 26 – 26 at half time.
3rd Quarter: A poor defensive effort saw Glasgow, led by John Bustin, take an 11pt lead into the final quarter 52 – 41.
4th Quarter: Kings slowly ate in at Glasgow’s lead in small bites throughout the quarter with Simon coming alive to score 14 of his game high 18, including some key free throws. Conversely, Glasgow were missing free throws including the 1st of 2 with 21 seconds to go leaving the score at 64-62 for the university. After a time out, we inbounded the ball eventually finding its way to Garreth, who with 6 seconds to go ‘banked’ a three pointer to take a one point lead. Glasgow managed to advance the ball but could not get a shot off.
Final Score 65 – 64
Kings scorers: Simon 18, Garreth 15, Craig 14
