02/05/10
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk— Four County Upper players scored in double digits, but this was not enough as CU lost a hard fought and at times scrappy contest to Burleigh 84 – 66. The loss dropped County Upper to 12 wins and 11 losses for the season and ends their hopes of reaching their first National Tournament Final.
CU opened the game shooting cold from the field, letting Burleigh gain a quick 8 – 1 lead. CU responded with a 5 – 2 run of their own closing the gap to 4 points 10 – 6, but Burleigh finished the quarter going on a 13 – 9 run which increasing their lead to 8 points 23 – 15.
County Upper started the second quarter strong going on an 8 – 2 run, cutting Burleigh’s lead to just 2 points 25 – 23. Just as CU were getting into the game some of the CU players acted with inappropriate behaviour on the court in which coach Johnson responded by sitting these players.
“I do not care how important this game may be, any player who plays for me will realise fast that they better carry themselves professionally on the court because if not they will be sitting next to me. This Academy is not about winning but about teaching players to become better basketball players and teaching these players the right way to act on and off the court” said coach Johnson. Both teams finished the quarter trading baskets and with Burleigh taking a 5 point lead 43 – 38 into halftime.
Burleigh started the third quarter going on a 9 – 5 run breaking open a 9 point lead 52 – 43, but County Upper responded quickly with a 9 – 5 run of their own to cut the gap to just 5 points 57 – 52. However CU hit another cold spell on offence in the final 3 minutes letting Burleigh finish the quarter with a 6 – 0 run opening the biggest lead of the game at 11 points 63 – 52.
Sloppy defence and a cold shooting helped Burleigh start the fourth quarter with a 15 – 2 run to push their lead up to 24 points 78 – 54 with 4 minutes remaining, before County Upper fought their way back into the game. CU went on a 9 – 2 run cutting the lead to 16 points, but it was not enough as both teams finished the quarter trading baskets again giving Burleigh a 84 – 66 win.
The loss closes County Uppers season with 12 wins and 11 losses.
