Div 3 Colliers vs Glasgow Storm
April 3rd, 2016 - A close and competitive game became a blowout in the fourth quarter as Colliers player James Wright put on an incredible shooting display to close out the game.
The game started with the Colliers team setting out their stall defensively, looking to pressure Storm’s ball handlers and make things awkward for their frontline players in the paint.
Great hustle from all of the Colliers perimeter defenders throughout the game meant that Storm did not have an easy time of things in terms of getting their offence going.
An outstanding performance from Justin Young, who was on our Under 18 team only last year, saw him play 40 minutes and provide impressive interior defence and limited Storm’s opportunities around the basket.
The Colliers hit some shots early and got a lead which, through their strong defensive play, they looked capable of maintaining. The team played unselfishly on offence, moving the ball well and looking for opportunities to get open shots or attack the basket.
It was a balanced attack through the first three quarters with everyone on the team making a contribution to the team’s success at that end of the floor.
The Colliers entered the fourth quarter feeling good about their chances of victory but knowing that Storm would feel they would have an opportunity to make a run at getting a win. Any doubt about the result was blown away once James Wright put on a show to close out the quarter.
Having made the first basket for the Colliers in every quarter of the game up until the 4th, James had shown his potential to ‘get buckets’ in the game and had played well against Storm’s zone defence in the team’s previous encounter too. But with the lead varying from 1 to 6 points for Colliers throughout much of the second half, and with the team needing some baskets to secure the win, James put on the kind of shooting display that Steph Curry of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors would be proud of.
James made 5 straight 3 pointers for the team from a variety of spots, off the dribble and off the catch, and in one instance with 3 defenders all over him.
It was great that a number of players from the U10, U12, U14 and U16 Colliers Boy’s teams were watching the game and were treated to a great team performance and a stunning shooting display from James too.
Final score: Colliers 60 - Storm 46
Head Coach Derek Milligan commented: “I was really pleased with the way the game had gone, the squad was very short handed and I was impressed with the way a number of players had great games for us.”
“It was good to have Calum Alexander from our U18 team get court time and make an impact, our perimeter play from Connor and Will was exactly what we needed in this game, Jack and Coty played key minutes in the heart of our defence and Justin Young’s interior play on offence and defence showed how far he’s come this season and the way he can impact a game for us at both ends whether he’s scoring the ball or not.”
“It looked like the game was going to go to the wire, even though I always felt confident we would get the win - especially when we got in front early - but J.W.’s shooting in the 4th was the most impressive thing I’ve seen from any Colliers Div3 player over the last 3 seasons.”
“He’s been working on his shot consistently in training and he’s hit big shots for us before but he put it all together in tonight’s game and absolutely ‘blew the doors off’ to get us a win.”
REMAINING FIXTURES:
There are 3 remaining games for the Div 3 team, an away fixture in Greenock against Clyde Cavs on Wednesday 6th of April. A ‘local derby’ with Calderglen Spartans at Duncanrig Sports Centre on Wednesday the 13th of April and our last home game of the season, a rearranged fixture with Renfrew Rocks, on Sunday April 24th (tip off at 8.15pm at the Alistair McCoist Sports Complex).