Young Mariners Come Out On Top!

12:51pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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Redcar was the venue for a friendly fixture between the two development sides of Redcar Mariners & TU lions. There was a great display of talented youngsters on show during this friendly fixture, which provided some much need experience for all involved.

Redcar enjoyed by far the better start as Steve Jones opened up the scoring with a powerful lay up and then combined well with Jack Sanders to hit the following 8 points to take a 10-2 lead, Alan Slasor in reply for the Lions with a fast break lay up. Craig Hill piled on the agony for Lions as he caught the ball inside the key and performed a lovely fake before rising to shoot a nice jump shot. Redcar were playing the much better basketball and while Lions were not doing anything wrong, they were in the shadows of Mariners good play.

In the fifth minute Brittany Krimsky entered the game which had an immediate impact as she produced some lovely low post moves and some good defence. Lizzy Walsh connected with the hoop in the eighth minute to take Lions to 5 but their opponents were sitting comfortably 16 which was increased shortly after by Ramsey and Morrison. Krimsky hit the final two shots of the game to bring the end of the first quarter to 21-9 in favour of the home team.

Mariners again started strongly in the second quarter as Ramsey continued his good run and in the fourth minute Morrison was fouled and went to the line to convert 1 of 2 free throws to take the score line to 26-11. Slasor struck for Lions after a great pass from Walsh followed by a superb jump shot from Walsh herself, but still the margin was 11 points. For the remainder of the half both teams traded baskets with Dan Brown completing the second quarter Lions scoring with a jumper from just outside the key. The score board read 40-23, the Mariners maintaining a commanding lead.

At the start of the third quarter, Lions' Marshall Patterson committed a foul on Blundell, which sent the young Mariner to the line and although he missed both attempts he made amends in the next play with an athletic jumper inside the paint.

Lions were struggling to find their offensive rhythm but the hard working Walsh kept ploughing away and in the fifth minute began to connect well with Krimsky who made three successive baskets to restore some confidence into the Lions. Lama, Blundell and Sanders finished strong Mariners to maintain a 17 point lead at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter was a torrid one for Lions as only Alan Slasor managed to find the net, the only other positive being a collective, hard working effort on defence, especially from the ever improving Stephanie Palmer, who pounced onto every loose ball. David Budd made his 6th point of the game mid way through the quarter and the unselfish play of the Mariners was pleasing to the eye with all players contributing.

With time remaining after regulation it was agreed to play a fifth quarter to provide some more experience for the budding superstars on both teams. Jason Loveridge played at his best in the final quarter with good passing and defence.

The fifth quarter was actually Lions best display and even though the scores were opened by Lions Steve Lynas, to a rapturous applause for the fondly thought off veteran, Mariners would only hit one more shot via Ramsey, whose shot earned him the award of joint top scorer with Jack Sanders on 12 points. Walsh went to the line twice to convert 2 of 4 free throws and Philip Findlay fired in a shot but it was the last play involving Dan Brown stealing the ball and making the buzzer beating basket that brought a smile to the visitors faces and although they were beaten, everyone enjoyed a good run, providing much needed court time.

Mariners Craig Ramsey earned the MVP award for his valuable contribution at both ends of the court, while Steve Jones and Lions' Brittany Krimsky were also in contention.

Game MVP: Craig Ramsey, Redcar Mariners

Scorers
Mariners: Ramsey 12, Sanders 12, Jones 11, Budd 8, Hill 6, Blundell 6, Morrison 3, Hodgson 2, Lynas 2
Lions: Krimsky 11, Walsh 8, Slasor 6, Brown 4, Findlay 4, Patterson 2

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