** MATCH REPORT **
The u14s travelled to Liverpool for the reverse fixture of our season opener, facing a tough Mersey mavericks side. Back in November, the Grizzlies only won by 5 in a tough battle at CHS Sports Centre. This meant the lads were under no illusions of how tough this game was going to be.
Opening the first quarter, the Grizzlies showed a great determination to insert themselves defensively, however this need to get the ball quickly allowed the Mavs some easy scores and the first unit struggled offensively. Halfway through the 1st, the second units for both teams entered the fold and this is where the Grizzlies excelled. With a combination of a size and speed advantage, the Grizzlies opened up a gap by the end of the first. Score 9-20 to the Grizzlies.
The second quarter meant more time for the Grizzlies second unit, with Reuben Barnett and Alby Watson starring offensively throughout the quarter, and Kobie Burton starting to hold his own on defence. However, the Mavs had their bigger line-up on the floor and used their mismatches well, taking back a few points and winning the second period by a tiny margin. Score 19-31 to the Grizzlies.
A short half time talk in which the objectives of the game were reiterated seemed to spark a fire in the belly of the Grizzlies, with them deciding that the Mavs were not allowed to score again. Perfect defence from all of the players throughout the quarter meant the Grizzlies were quite literally running away with the game, the defence being the catalyst for the offensive transition points that gave us a commanding lead. The Grizzlies won this quarter alone 30-0, not giving up a single point in the third quarter.
With a large lead, it was time for the second unit to shine, getting a lot of minutes to end the game and it showed. With the tremendous effort in the third, the youngsters started to drop off and needed to sit down, having played 10 minutes in a row with only the break between the third and fourth to rest. With some solid game control in the last three minutes, the Grizzlies saw out easily their best performance of the season, coming away 68-38 winners.
The u14 Grizzlies now hold a 6-0 record and remain undefeated heading into a week off from the league fixtures.
LETS GO GRIZZLIES!!
Match MVP went to Kobie Burton for his insane defence throughout the entire game.
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