Misery compounded for Basketball Reserves

By James Baines

St Mary’s ran out 47-37 winners over Kingston 2nds in a bottom-of-the-table clash yesterday night.

The Twickenham side’s number 11 Claydon Nicholson ran rings round the home side, spinning players like a human turnstile and it was only when he was subbed in the second half that Kingston were able to get back in the points.

St Mary’s tight man marking stifled early Kingston pressure and any passes into the key were shut out, forcing the home side to work from around the three-point line.

This enabled Kingston, spearheaded by captain Pierre Morris, to rush on the offensive which led to some neat jump shots from Asher Nwokedi to close the gap and at a first half timeout the two sides were 14-14.

Kingston’s persistence did sometimes get under the skin of the Saints’ defence with Konstantinos Kalantzis earning back-to-back shooting fouls.

But St Mary’s lie just above Kingston at the foot of the league table and were intent on keeping their defence solid. They led 23-17 at the end of the first half.

“We played well but we lacked confidence and it cost us,” Morris said.
Despite a spirited effort nothing would drop for the home side and they finished the night welded firmly to the bottom of the table.