Ipswich Tomcats u18s hosted Hertfordshire Warriors on Saturday in their first home game of 2010 against a Hertfordshire side that are currently 3^rd in the league and looking to make a strong playoff push. Ipswich was missing a couple of players in Jack Daley and Joe Shaju who were unavailable but had 8 players with Tyme Regent-Bascombe making his season debut.

With concerns about Tomcats’ recent inactivity having only played the Belgium tournament during the Christmas break as their only competitive games in 6 weeks, there was some concerns about how the game will be played. The boys quickly allayed those fears and started strongly with a 14-0 run by playing outstanding defence with the tempo set by Liam Eley. By the 6 minute mark the lead was 17-3 after Warriors hit a hailmary 3 point shot off a broken play. Captain Ethan Dixon picked up 2 quick fouls and with Warriors now finding a way to rotate the ball on offensive to limit the Tomcat’s defensive intensity, they found some success and the 1st quarter ended 25-10.

The 2nd quarter started with both teams not particularly controlling the game. Tomcats switched to playing man to man on defence and both teams trading baskets. This was followed by a 3minute spell where both teams had a scoring drought mid way through the 2nd quarter. During this period, Ethan Dixon and Jack Collett had picked up their 3^rd personal fouls. The quarter ended 46-27 with Warriors scoring a little more regularly by spreading the floor and scoring off ball rotation to the weak side with Layne and Stein the main beneficiaries. Tomcat’s still won the quarter 21-17 with solid contribution defensively from Tom Hunt (3 blocks) and Nathan McGeachie (3 steals) while Liam Eley led all scorers at the half with 15.

The 3rd quarter started off with Tomcats going on a 20-6 run with Ethan Dixon leading the break and Jack Spiller finishing off plays at will. Jack Collett also contributed with some solid post moves sandwiched by a couple of long jumpers. The 3rd quarter finished 74-43 with Layne carrying the bulk of the offensive load for Warriors.

With foul trouble much manageable, Tomcats started the 4th quarter playing freely and by this time returned to the more familiar 2-3 zone, controlling the paint defensively. With David Lockwood and Ethan Dixon controlling the pace of the game and Tyme Regent-Bascombe dominating on the boards with his rebounding at both ends of the floor. A 15-4 run by Tomcats after the 2 minute mark blew the game wide open and Tomcats came away victorious with a 99-60 win. A brilliant display capped by a defensive lockdown over the final 2 minutes of the game.

Scorers

5. Tyme Regent-Bascombe           4

6. Ethan Dixon                            14

8. Jack Spiller                             17

9. Nathan McGeachie                   4

12. Tom Hunt                              19

13. Liam Eley                              21

14. Jack Collett                           12

15. David Lockwood                      8