Holmes Chapel 1 – 68
YMCA – 69
Hornets started well in this game, scoring with outside shots, inside cuts and breaks and, but for some sloppy defence, could have closed the quarter in better shape than the 22-13 scoreline. Kris Wood looked unstoppable for his 10 points and the offense continued to find good openings as tom Lee drained a trio of 3 pointers in Q2. The problem was on the defensive end where YMCA’s Jordan was proving difficult to handle. At half time, 40-31 to Hornets, Jordan had over half of his team’s points.
In Q3 the visitors shut down on Tom and a variety of defensive assignments failed to hold Jordan whose profitable night continued. At the end of the period, taken 23-17 by YMCA, Hornets lead was down to 3 and momentum was with the away team going into the final quarter.
The Coach asked for a sharp start to Q4 but instead Hornets leaked two quick scores and a tense, error-strewn period ensued. Hornets could find little fluency and the few effective offenses they found ended in easy chances being spurned.
At 69-68 down, and with a full clock to work with, Hornets needed to work a good shot from somewhere but YMCA defended well and the chance of a precious win eluded the Home team. This game should have been sealed long before the final shot, against opponents similarly placed in the league. Kris top scored with 19 and Josh Grooms worked hard for his 16, but it was Dean Jordan’s 34 which really decided the issue.
