WARWICKSHIRE Bears returned to winning ways in the British Wheelchair Basketball League as all four teams enjoyed victorious Sundays.
In First Division South, the Bears’ first team enjoyed a 51-27 victory over visitors Tornados.
From the tip-off the Bears were motivated to prove their last performance was not the standard people should expect. With Ben Haigh and Dan Gill back to their shooting best and a better organised and more mobile defence, the Bears led 14-4 at the end of the first quarter.
The Tornados regrouped for the second quarter to try and pull back the early lead the Bears had built, but both teams cancelled each other out in the quarter, scoring basket for basket, as the Bears led 26-16 at the halfway point.
The Bears pulled decisively clear in the third period as Ben Haigh and Jacob Robinson found the basket regularly and the hosts led 43-23 heading into the final quarter.
The healthy advantage gave coach Tom Masterson the opportunity to give court time to his bench in the last quarter and they did not disappoint as Bears junior player Aaron Grant scored on his debut for the first team and there were contributions from Dan Smith and Derek Hall.
Masterson said: “It was good to get back to winning ways but, although the scores don’t reflect it, the Tornados played hard and gave us a real game.
“It was really pleasing to see Aaron Grant make his debut and score. This weekend has been great for all our juniors who have played senior basketball and have done themselves proud.”
BEARS 2nds defeated Tornados 54-24 in Second Division South.
This was a first win of the campaign for the Bears, for whom Grant starred and Paul Colbourne and Neil Bunting took control of the boards and found their scoring touch.
In Third Division Central, Bears 3rds were 43-38 victors over Derby Wheelblazers.
The Bears were in top form as they avenged a defeat from earlier in the season and bagged their first win of the campaign in the process thanks to key contributions from junior players Grant and Jack Sheehy.
Bears 4ths secured a 36-18 win over Gloucester Blazers in a development friendly.
With a number of the team playing their first game, the Bears did not disappoint and secured a convincing win in their first ever competitive game.
With junior players Kieran Parker and Ellen Fraser scoring alongside other Bears debutants, it showed the strength of the Bears’ youth coaching policy.
Coach Jacob Robinson said: “It was a great performance from the team and good to get some of our younger players some good quality minutes and get them used to how we like to play at Bears.
“All the coaches are coming away with some very exciting thoughts for the future.”
The Bears visit Swindon Shock on Sunday.
