20/12/09
After having had a successful pilot year (finishing with 14 wins and 7 losses) the County Upper Basketball Academy scheduled tougher opposition for their 2009 – 2010 season. County Upper’s first four games of the 2009 – 2010 season were against Manchester Magic U18 team; Leeds Carnegie Men’s 1st Team; Leeds Carnegie Men’s 2nd Team and the Southend Scorpions Men’s team. In all four games CU struggled at the offensive end, but played very well at the defensive end.
After suffering a heavy 81 – 42 defeat to the Southend Scorpions Men’s team on the 24th of September, County Upper hit the road on the 26th of September for the Leeds Carnegie University Invitational Tournament. CU’s first game in the tournament was against a Manchester Magic U18 team who had 7 England International basketball players. During the game County Upper competed with Manchester , but were let down by too many cold periods on offence, which resulted in a tough 78 – 42 loss. As soon as this game was finished CU were thrown into their second game of the day against Leeds Carnegie Men’s 2nd team. An exhausted County Upper team fought hard on the defensive end, but while keeping Leeds to a respectful 55 points, CU suffered cold spells of shooting which resulted in a 55 – 22 loss. In County Upper’s last game of the day a now depleted (due to injury) and exhausted CU Team faced a strong Leeds Carnegie 1st team. During this final game CU stepped up on defensive and held Leeds to just 47 points, but cold spells which had plagued CU all day gave County Upper a 47 – 24 loss and gave CU a 0 – 4 start to the season.
On October the 1st County Upper headed south to play Essex University ’s first team. County Upper started the game strongly going up by as many as 6 points, but a frosty second quarter gave Essex Uni the opportunity to put together a 13 point lead. In the third quarter both teams had cold spells, but still traded baskets finishing with Essex leading by 11. County Upper waited until midway through the last quarter to begin putting together their comback. With some great defensive stops and offensive possessions CU slowly climbed their way back and took a 4 point lead (46 – 42) with 1 minute left, and although Essex University chipped off 3 points from the lead CU were able to hold on for a 46 – 45 win, improving their record to 1 win and 4 losses.
CU’s next game saw them travel west on the 5th of October to Cambridge , where they played the Long Road Basketball Academy . The first half saw CU struggling on the offensive end by failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities created from the offence. However, defensively County Upper did a great job. The first half ended with CU taking a small 1 point lead 19 – 18 into the locker room. In the second half Coach Johnson played the bench more which saw CU respond with numerous runs and overwhelmed Long road with a 50 – 13 second half performance. The game finished with County Upper winning by 38 points 69 – 31 and improving their season record to 2 wins and 4 losses.
With County Upper now on a winning streak, they headed up to Leicester on the 14th of October to play Beauchamp Basketball Academy . Both teams started cold with missed shots and turnovers. County Upper built a 5 point lead with a three pointer midway through the first quarter, before Beauchamp responded cutting CU’s lead down to just one point. In the second quarter County Upper put together a better performance both offensively and defensivel, finishing the half with a 12 point lead. Both teams started the second half much better offensively with Beauchamp taking the advantage and cutting CU’s lead to just 7 points. During the fourth quarter County Upper increased the intensity and stretched their lead to 19 points. Beauchamp rallied with a 5 – 0 run, but County Upper finished the game winning by 67 points to 51, improving their record to 3 wins and 4 losses.
In their last game before leaving on their American trip CU travelled south to London and played Barking Abbey Basketball Academy on the 10th of November. Playing against a well coached and talented team such as Barking was never going to be easy, especially on their home court. County Upper started the game exchanging blows, but cold shooting and missed layups hindered CU’s ability to breakaway. In the second half Barking Abbey turned up the intensity and opened up a 12 point lead to which County Upper could not respond. The game finished with Barking Abbey taking a 9 point victory 57 – 46, and dropping CU to 3 wins and 5 losses for the season.
County Upper leave for the USA on the 25th of November.
