Carnegie Off To A Flyer

Well having been away from the game for a good few months, I will start off by saying what a joy it is to be on the road to Leeds Carnegie for my first commentary game of the new season.

Today the game will be played in Carnegie’s brand new arena style venue with seating down one side.

I arrive in good time for the D1 game to find a D3 game taking place.  I was immediately told that we were in the second period of overtime of the game between Leeds Carnegie and Sheffield Sabres.  I was amazed to see Sharks and England legend Peter Scantlebury coaching the Sheffield side.  The team included another name from the Sharks history books, Locka Okorie.  Also there was his dad Legendary Sharks and BBL Medic, Doc Mo.

It would take another period of overtime (the 3rd) before this one would be resolved and it would end in victory for Sheffield Sabres by a scoreline of 71-80.  Everyone I spoke to was raving about this game and I must say congratulations to the Sabres and commiserations to the Leeds Carnegie second team.

Now on to the main event of the day and firstly I want to say what a fantastic venue this is.  There is no doubt in my mind that Leeds Carnegie are serious about Sport and basketball in particular.  The only disappointing thing about the venue for me personally is that the commentary position means that I have my back to the crowd.

I do not know if that’s the way it’s going to be forever but I suppose I should be grateful and I can now see the clock and the scoreboard.

Well the Carnegie boys began their warm-up and there were some familiar faces and a few new ones as well.  I think I have commented in the past on the situation in College Basketball in the US where coaches have to constantly recruit new players as older members of the team gain their degrees etc. and move on.

I am delighted to say that last year’s Carnegie backcourt of Wilkins Stannard and Clifford were back on the floor with no changes.  Also back were Armand Anebo and David Ajumobi.

There were a couple of new faces including Mark Elderkin signed from Durham Wildcats and big man Robert Marsden.  There was an even bigger man Bryan Mokeski son of Great Britain Assistant Coach Paul Mokeski, but more on him later.

And what a game this one turned out to be for the home team.

Games between these two teams have, for as long as I have been watching them, been close encounters that have at times become a bit tetchy.  That was not going to be the case today as once Carnegie took control they would never relinquish it.  Mind you it didn’t start that easy for the home team.

The scores remained fairly close during the early exchanges and at the end of the 1st Quarter it was 15-14 in favour of Carnegie.  the big man Marsden was killing it in the paint and had 8 points personal. For the visitors, Akeem Abdul had 6.

Into the second and now Henry Wilkins would come to play.  He was quite stunning and had 10 personal including 1 from beyond the arc.  Also coming to the fore were Ajumobi and Anebo who had 6 and 7 respectively.  ‘Nebo’s 7 including 1 big triple.

To be honest, the Warriors really did not have an answer and at the half would be trailing by 14, 42 – 28.

From here on in Carnegie would simply run things with everyone chipping in.  The score at the end of the 3rd was 61 – 44 with Ajumobi going for 9 in that stanza including 1 from beyond the arc.

It has to be said that the final quarter was a formality and Coach Newby rotated his bench to great effect keeping the Warriors at bay with ease.

I had been waiting to see just how good Mokeski was. He is big and my guess was that he must be 7’1 or 2. But it was not until very late in the game that we got a chance to see him.  On the final play of the game the ball was lobbed to him in the paint and to the delight of the crowd, he duly threw it down with both hands.

Carnegie had won the game by a score-line of 76 – 57.  The leading scorers were Marsden with 20, Ajumobi with 18 and Wilkins with 13.  For Westminister Abdul would lead all with 11 while there would be 9 from Johnson and 8 from Larty.

Carnegie led by as many as 21 in this one and everyone got some time on the floor.

I have to say I like the look of the 2012/13 outfit but tomorrow was going to be a tougher assignment as Coach Newby would have to take his guys to local rivals Bradford Dragons.  This had not been a happy hunting ground for Carnegie but was this encounter going to be different?

Well, as well as doing games for Carnegie, I had also been booked for a few dates at Bradford and this was one of them.

This one got under way again with the teams keeping up with each other.  At the end of the 1st Carnegie would have a slight edge 17-22. Ajumobi and Wilkins had started like they finished the night before.

Wilkins would go to the line 4 times for his first 4 points but would then hit 2 monster triples to take his personally tally to 10. Ajumobi had 7 including 1 triple while ‘Nebo had just 1 score but that was from beyond the arc.

Three of the dragons had 4 points each.

At the half it had been more of the same as Carnegie continued to go at Bradford but Dragons big man Fetske would get 6 points to keep his guys in it. Ajumobi had 8 including another triple. The score at the end of the half was 29 – 37.

Into the 3rd and the Dragons would finally begin to get going. They would actually outscore Carnegie 18-15 in this stanza. Edmunds had 5 in the 3rd while Scott and Silcott chipped in with 4 a piece.

Two monster triples from Ajumobi would ensure that Carnegie would finish the quarter still ahead of Bradford 47 – 52.

Into the 4th and now it would get interesting.

The home team would keep coming back at Carnegie who would then do just enough to edge away again. When Wilkins nailed another 3 it would take the lead to 50 – 58, then more from Wilkins and Clifford would take it out to a 10 point game 53 – 63. A full court press by Bradford would force a few turnovers but it was all in vain as Carnegie held on to win this one 61 – 68.

This was not as easy as the night before but the boys from Leeds got their noses in front and did what they had to do to stay there.

My 1st weekend of the new season was now complete.  Three excellent games.  Next for me would be my first commentary game at Sheffield when the Sharks take on Cheshire Jets.

Later

Mike S