SL Colliers vs Lockerbie Tornadoes
Strathclyde League Division 3
20th October, 2015
The Colliers made the long trip south to Lockerbie in what was thought to be their toughest game of the season so far. With only 8 players able to make the journey and head coach Derek Milligan out of action for the game left the Colliers outnumbered and under sized with Lockerbie having a noticeable height advantage.
The Colliers however started the game fast and settled into a rhythm first opening up a 12-1 lead off the back of tough defence getting stops and boxing out. Lockerbie soon began to settle and started to notice the shape of the Colliers zone pulling the game back to a four point Colliers lead by the end of the quarter.
From the start of the second quarter the Colliers decided to go to a more familiar 2-3 zone changing to a 2-1-2 zone when required, with both teams playing very well on defence the half ended with the Colliers leading 33-32.
From the start of the third quarter the Colliers continued to defend well limiting Lockerbie’s second chance opportunities but failing to break Lockerbie’s defence down at the other end on a regular basis with the lead going back and forth by no more than a couple of point either way.
Mid way through the fourth Lockerbie managed to open up a 7-point lead, with the Colliers in need of a basket to keep in touch with the now confident Lockerbie team they came up court and scored a 3 point shot off a pick and roll. With the gap being only 4 points and both teams in foul trouble opportunities came at both ends from the free throw line and with 16 seconds left and the Colliers down by 2 we called a time-out.
Deciding what play to run the Colliers hit the floor knowing there was a real chance of getting the points to at least tie the game if not win, unfortunately Lockerbie played really well on defence to prevent the Colliers from scoring.
FINAL SCORE: SL Colliers 54 - Lockerbie Tornadoes 56
Key Player Mark Neilly commented: “We didn’t win but left with our heads held high, that thought has been echoed by every player in the squad as all the odds were against us and we showed our fighting spirit to push a very good team to the last play of the game.”
Next up for the Division 3 Colliers is a league game against Clyde Cavaliers at home Sunday 1st November.