WARWICKSHIRE Bears showed no mercy in a 92-6 destruction of Blackhawks 2 at Henley College in the British Wheelchair Basketball League on Sunday.
The visitors, who included a lot of youngsters, have not won a match all season in Division Two South and Bears provided a lesson in disciplined defensive play and sharp finishing.
Woking-based Blackhawks were without one of their best players – Joy Haizelden – who was training with the GB squad at the weekend.
However, even if she had been available, it is hard to see how the Bears could have been stopped in this mood.
Delighted coach Tom Masterson said: “It was a strange game because I knew we should win but I told the team to show respect to the other team and treat them no differently than if they were top of the league.
“I was pleased everyone got court time and also got on the scoresheet.”
The Bears led 24-4 at the first break, increased their lead to 48-4 at half time and added a further 44 points in the second half.
Ben Haigh and Dan Gill took the lion’s share of the points with 41 and 40 respectively.
In Third Division Central, Bears’ second team were pipped 54-44 by Plymouth Storm at Henley College.
With 30 seconds of the match remaining the scores were level when Gill, of the Bears, was fouled and put on the line with two penalty shots.
He missed both but collected his own rebound and scored to put Bears two ahead.
Storm, however, raced to the other end and scored to level at 43-43.
This took the match into extra time and it proved too much for the Bears. When Gill was sent off after picking up his fifth foul, Storm took advantage and pulled away to take the spoils.
“I was so disappointed for the team. With the effort they all put in they deserved to win,” said Masterson.
“I thought Dan Gill was amazing the way he played and both Jagdeep Tiwana and Andy Stow’s pressing game was fantastic.”
Bears are in action again when they travel to London Titans on Sunday.
The Bears are still looking for a sponsor for the team and also looking to recruit new members, especially female and junior players. If anyone is interested, e-mail [email protected] or call 07946 518354.
