2013/14 Game Report
Game:
Competition:
Date:
Newcastle Eagles Under 18 Women vs. Trafford Under 18 Women
EBL Under 18 Women North Premier
30th November 2013
Score:
Newcastle Eagles Under 18 Women - 47, Trafford Under 18 Women - 71
This was a hard game for the Eagles. Trafford were impressive: they play with a strong, assertive style, they pass
well, they make good use of screens, and they have a number of players who can put the ball on the floor and use
even small gaps and weaknesses in a defence. For much of the game, the Eagles did not play at their best: we didn’t
move the ball around quickly, made too many unforced errors — late and telegraphed passes being a particular
problem — and too often a low-percentage outside shot went up when an extra pass or two would have brought a
better chance. But, though the final scoreline might suggest that the Eagles were just straightforwardly outclassed,
this really wasn’t the case: a closer look at the flow of play and the pattern of scoring reveals a more complex picture
— a picture which offers a more optimistic outlook for the Eagles, though it also shows where work is needed.
The best part of the game for the Eagles was the later part of the first quarter. Six minutes in, the Eagles were down
by nine points and it looked like a straightforward whitewash was on the cards. But then, as so often happens, the
Eagles pulled their game together. The defence tightened, the Eagles started to chase the ball and pull down
rebounds on both ends of the court, and the ball was moved around briskly on the offensive end — opening up
space for penetration, better-chance shots, and drawing fouls from Trafford’s physical playing-style. Levi Williams
made a long deuce when neat passes left her wide open with plenty of time to set up her shot. Bethany Rumble
showed what she can do when she drives — drawing fouls once to sink a pair from the line, then going in strong
again to get the basket and one from a freethrow. Sophie Heslop made one of her characteristic strong and agile
moves to the hoop for another two, levelling the game. This was great ’ball — entertaining and inspiring — and
while it lasted the Mystics found it difficult to answer the Eagles’ speed, confidence and strength — indeed, they
started fumbling plays and turning the ball over. Sadly, this burst of superior play wasn’t maintained. The Eagles’
passing stiffened and slowed, leading to more low-chance outside shots, and letting Manchester back into the game
— which they dominated apart from one brief period at the opening of the third, when again it looked like we might
pull it back.
It was as if the Eagles were two different teams on Saturday. The Eagles that hit the court in the second half of the
first on Saturday could, I think, give any team in the league a run for their money. They just need to make sure it’s
that team that hits the floor every time they come on court.
Top scorers were Kendal Barclay (10), Bethany Rumble (9), and Sophie Heslop (7).