Belief is Everything Or Remembering Who You Are

The U18s Final Fours

EIS Sheffield, May 2nd 2010
Semi Final
Sheffield Junior Sharks V Westminster Warriors

1 2 3 4 Final
Sharks: 13 17 20 20 70
Warriors: 23 23 16 13 75

Much has already been put into print by others about the arrangements at the venue, and on the matter of the refereeing of the games. For those that want their fill of these visit http://www.whatsbev.com/ and then click Junior and Youth, and then Predictions. The concentration in this reporting will be about what was and what might have been from the perspective of the games as played.

Before the story of this lost game a brief pause. Westminster Warriors later scored in the Final over one hundred points against Reading Rockets. What needs to be noted here is that much was done by our Sheffield lads to contain the Londoners’ scoring overall, and that they had respect for the Sharks. That said our issues were around allowing them early inroads to their total, our missed lay-ups and providing them with free possessions thus denying the Sharks more offensive opportunities. Losing points in this way is as simple as not even attempting to answer a question in an examination. The story became a very different one in the second half of the game when purpose and confidence in offense dramatically changed the picture of the game, but failing – finally - to be able to capitalise of the wonderful change in character and effort displayed. The change had simply been too late.

The first quarter was dominated for Westminster by Ryan Martin (captain) and Teddy Okereafor, despite the fact that it was Sharks that made the first four points through Jim Rose and Joseph Baugh. Mykel Moodie began his outstanding defensive play that he maintained throughout. Ryan Martin replied with five points before John Stewart assisted Jim Rose to two more and then with a spinning penetration took two points himself. A Sharks’ lead of three was soon taken away and Warriors took a straight eight points despite some tough defense from the Sharks. Joseph replied with a magnificent three pointer, but Warriors took another eight. John posted up to take another two and the Sheffield score to thirteen. Not staying close to players saw Sharks allowing another long shot at basket which was converted to three points and ten point lead at the break: Sheffield Junior Sharks 13, Westminster Warriors 23. Had the better belief in what the Sheffield lads could do been there, the turnovers, missed lay-ups and not staying close to shooters would not have been evident.

Without sufficient time to provide a full ‘alterative’, the second quarter saw some advance by the Sharks but not enough to make a startling difference. Westminster immediately dug-in with a three-pointer and then a two. Mykel Moodie was fouled and took one from the line. Joseph soon took four more points. John faked and scored returning the deficit to the ten that had been present at the start of the quarter. Behre Tesfayohannes showed good tenacity for the Sharks. With Westminster’s Bennett-Harris being more in evidence, John tried a long shot and took three points, but failed to capitalise on points from the stripe soon after. Joseph and Mykel added five more points before the half closed, but a believing Westminster took their score to forty six points and a sixteen point lead: Sheffield Junior Sharks 30, Westminster warriors 46.

Having lost the first two quarters the third and fourth were won by the Sharks. A short distance into the quarter it was as if the players asked themselves the same question, “What are we doing? We are better than this”. Sadly, the sixteen point deficit from the first half and an additional four points ladled in by Ryan Martin was a substantial lead to attack, and this could not be wholly turned around. Ben Cepulis led Mykel, John and Joseph in an eight point tear. Mykel’s was from a superb cut to receive the pass from John. John garbage collected for his, and a silken Mykel to John to Joseph threaded the ball through the Warriors and into the net. Martin disrupted the spectacle and posted another three-pointer, and after being fouled Warriors’ Inacio took a point. John in assist mode still fed Jim, and the Warriors’ lead was at fourteen. Martin and Inacio took it back to eighteen for Warriors. The ‘to and fro’ play continued apace and with a successful And-1, Ben closed the quarter at fifty points, twelve behind the Warriors.

With the bit between their teeth, the Sharks made a straight run of ten points with John, Ben, Joseph, and Mykel (an And-1 assisted by Jim) narrowing the gap to just two points. Inevitably the tension rose substantially and the Warriors’ bench and coaches looked genuinely troubled. Warriors’ captain, Martin, added a point after a foul. Ben returned the gesture. Two points between the teams and five minutes left to play. Martin and Inacio added six more, and John bit two back. A foul on Westminster gifted them two. Joseph lamped a three-pointer in return with five points in the game and with two minutes left to play. Martin made it seven points for Mykel to pot two from the charity stripe and Ben a further basket and it three point’s difference with just a minute to go. A Sheffield time-out was called on the assumption of a possession only later to discover that it was judged a shot-clock violation instead and the advantage of possession was Westminster’s. A possession foul gave Warriors two more points and the Sharks were out of time, just when they could still keep going. Sheffield Junior Sharks 70, Westminster warriors 75.

It was such a pity that self questioning and resolve had not come earlier for the Sharks. What might have been is something of an academic question now, but Warriors were certainly beatable.

Personal Statistics, limited to score as there were no official stats and no club stats taken: Joseph Baugh (Capt): 26 points, John Stewart 17 points, Mykel Moodie 11 points, Ben Cepulis 10 points, Jim Rose 6 points, Behre Tesfayohannes, Conor Faulkner, Louis Francis-Edge, Vonn Tapiz, George Brownell, Oliver Bourne, David Price.

Third and Fourth Place Play-off

Sheffield Junior Sharks V Manchester Magic

1 2 3 4 Final
Sharks: 12 18 17 13 60
Magic: 17 20 14 14 65

Again a lot has been set down elsewhere about the value of this playoff game within the context of a one day Final Fours arrangement. There is a view that it would have more importance if the playoffs were spread over two days. As it was on this day when so many of the U18s team would be taking to the competition court for Sheffield Junior Sharks for the very last time, this was seen as the priority for the game, together with the needs of the team members that had not had an opportunity to play against Westminster. Coaches Ransom and Nagle took the decision before the game that the entire team would play as much as could be achieved and communicated this to the Manchester coach.

So the game played itself out. Ben Cepulis made much of the opportunity finish his time with Sheffield Sharks with a telling haul. Equally it was good to see were the younger team members in Conor Faulkner and George Brownell scoring. Both Joseph Baugh and Louis Francis-Edge went onto a Sharks’ score sheet for the last time. Joseph took something else away in that his dunking skills were seen and soon to be reported widely nationally on Hoopsfix. Also good to see was David Price and Oliver Bourne in action, Vonn Tapiz, Jim Rose, and John Stewart too, who was able to enjoy the greater freedom the game afforded and the on-court banter with the old foe Manchester.

There are those that would have wanted the Sharks to go out and out for a win in this game. Their position is quite understandable. Now, some time after the event, it is better to have seen all the team playing rather than some members sitting through a second game of the day. That the game seemed slightly odd was, perhaps, as it should have been given the moving on of older players, the further year of competition in prospect for others and the younger players soon to become fully fledged U18s. There was a feel of the season turning, rather than ending.

Personal Statistics limited to scores as there were no official stats and no club stats taken: Ben Cepulis 23 points; John Stewart 9 points; Louis Francis-Edge 6 points; Joseph Baugh 6 points, Jim Rose 5 points; Mykel Moodie 5 points; Conor Faulkner 3 points; George Brownell 2 points; Behre Tesfayohannes 1 point; David Price, Oliver Bourne.

As winners of the Sureshot Cup the U18s have ensured that Sheffield Junior Sharks have silverware to display this year. The team has proved itself to be more than just competitive. The team was helped along the way by many in support, not simply Coaches ransom and Nagle. Our pristine kit (the best in the country) was looked after so well by Nikki and Henry Cepulis. You get the sense that for the players it isn’t simply about putting on any old kit. Good thanks to both. Our Stats taking were the envy of many and allowed a fuller understanding of what went on the court. Joe and Alexis Moodie can show everyone how it is done. Thanks go to them. Café Brownell gave a warm welcome to everyone rather than being the defeateds’ retreat as on The Apprentice. Thanks to them. Trevor Fernley and others responsible for fixtures, venues and finance deserve credit too. The parents who steadfastly shuttled players here, there and every where (but most especially to practices and to games) must be thanked. There’s a special thought for them for every time they stood at the side of their cars feeding them fuel come rain, come shine, come a month of snow and ice and bitter cold. Thanks go to the supporters to who turned up because they wanted to. This is such a positive thing to see with not a selfish-gene in evidence. In terms of others at the club, our web-master, must have particular and special mention. He runs what must be the country’s most responsive and best club website that is regularly refreshed and always looking to include new items. The face of the club that he presents to the world is tremendous. Thanks and well done. For our players there has to be the recognition of the roller-coaster season they provided along with the emotional fatigue, where predictability was low on their priorities. Many of the players now move on and all must wish them well and good fortune in whatever they are planning to do. Some players remain for their second season as U18s and they wait with a welcome prepared for the graduating U16s. The U18s will be re-created, refreshed and revving to go