06/01/08; 16/12/07; 09/12/07; 18/11/07; 11/11/07; 04/11/07; 14/10/07; 07/10/07

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH DIVISION
IPSWICH TOMCATS 70  SOUTHEND SWIFTS 64 (AFTER EXTRA TIME)

Southend Swifts under 15 boys team played their final league fixture of the season when the travelled out to Suffolk to take on Ipswich Tomcats.  Swifts had recorded a 71-64 win when the teams met earlier in the season.

Southend started well, taking a 10-5 lead as Oliver Crussell and Thulani Sibanda found space close to the basket.  Tomcats hit back with the next four but good work from Joe Hart helped his team to a 15-10 first quarter lead.

An Alex Smith three-pointer took Swifts 20-10 ahead but a 14-6 run for Ipswich made it a 2 point game midway through the second period.  Hart, in particular, was struggling to produce his normal fluency and at half time the game was tied up at 30 apiece.

The home side moved out to 34-32 before Southend put together one of their best spells of the season with a 19-2 run over 4 minutes that took them 51-36 ahead and should have set up a victory, although Bobcats reduced the deficit to 53-42 with the final 10 minutes to play.

But the momentum was now in favour of the hosts.  They kept Swifts scoreless for three minutes, whilst scoring eight points themselves, Hart replied with a three-pointer, but Ipswich had the next five to trail by just one.  Hart scored a pair of foul shots but was forced to leave the action with a knee injury.  Alex Gilbert made a three-point shot to take Southend 61-57 ahead with two minutes remaining but
Ipswich scored the final four points to tie the game up at 61 and send the match into overtime.

Without their inspirational captain Southend were always going to struggle and they managed just three points in the five minute period to lose disappointingly by 70 points to 64; a result symptomatic of their season as a whole where they have failed on a number of occasions to hold onto winning positions. 

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH DIVISION

WORTHING THUNDER 96  SOUTHEND SWIFTS 77 

Southend Swifts under 15 boys team made the journey to the South Coast to take on top of the table Worthing Thunder.  Southend have suffered a series of close defeats recently including a 9 point loss on their own court against Worthing. 

Swifts started well, taking a 9-4 lead with Martin Fry and Oliver Crussell sharing the points and extended this to 13-6 with Crussell and Alex Gilbert scoring.  Good shooting from Thunder tied the game up as the hosts tactics of closely marking Swifts captain Joe Hart was paying dividends.  The hosts moved out to 19-14 but an excellent two minute spell allowed Southend to score seven unanswered to lead 21-19 at the end of the first quarter. 

Worthing recovered well to move one ahead at 26-25 but a three-pointer from Crussell triggered an 11-0 run that saw Hart make his customary mark on the game as his team led 36-26.  The home side again replied well to edge ahead but two late scores from Hart kept his team in front at 40-39 at the half way mark. 

The third quarter saw some outstanding offensive skills by both teams as neither side could make the decisive move.  Crussell and Hart were combining well and a 6-0 run took Swifts 55-52 ahead; Hart's scoring especially impressive as he was constantly subjected to barely legal attention.  The last four minutes of the period saw Worthing exert their authority as they made a 17-6 run that saw them lead 73-65 going into the final 10 minutes. 

A second three-pointer of the day from Alex Smith kept his team in contention and with three minutes to play the margin was still just 10.  But over that time Worthing closed out the game with a 10-1 stretch that gave them a deserved victory if by the slightly flattering margin of 96-77.  Hart had probably his toughest 27 points of the season with Crussell getting a career high 26 points.

After completing a routine win over the hosts Ilkeston “Outlaws” the Northants “Thunder” under 15 boys went into their crucial game against Leicester “Warriors” in confident mood. Their disappointment at the three points defeat soon turned to anger after examination of the score sheet revealed an important error.

At the start of the third period Merson Paul was fouled while taking a three-point shot. He converted the resulting three free throws but the score keeper had mistakenly recorded the score to Leicester. Correction of this error would in fact have given “Thunder” the win they need for a high finish in the highly competitive Midland Conference. 

The Northants club will make a formal protest to basketball’s governing body although historically protests of this kind are rarely upheld.

w/e 13/01/08

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH DIVISION

SOUTHEND SWIFTS 71  IPSWICH TOMCATS 64

The final match of a busy club weekend saw Southend Swifts under 15 boys team in action against Ipswich Tomcats at Fitzwimarc School.  Southend have had a tough baptism at this level, with a number of narrow defeats, but were looking to regain their confidence against Ipswich Bobcats, who have also only recorded two wins in this campaign.

Both sides made a poor start, with just one point in the first two minutes, before they settled into some sort of rhythm.  From 4-1 down, Swifts made a 10-2 run with Oliver Crussell making some excellent moves to the basket.  Tomcats replied with the next six but Southend's Joe Hart connected with the final 11 points of the quarter as his team led 22-12 at the first interval.

Ipswich came back well, scoring eight of the first 10 points to reduce the deficit to just four, and got back to 26-24 before a Hart basket and Charlie Manthorp three-pointer took the lead out to seven.  Hart, whilst not at his best on the day, continued to find his way through the visitors defence and he scored the final eight points of the period, to give his team a 43-32 half time lead.

Swifts came out strongly in the third period and a 9-2 stretch took the lead to 52-34; Alex Gilbert with five straight.  Bobcats made a 6-2 run but scores from Alistair Smith and a Hart three-pointer took the lead to 20 at 60-40.  The Suffolk side made a strong reply, going on an 8-4 spell over the final four minutes, to trail 64-50 going into the final 10 minutes.

After a run of defeats, Southend almost refused to believe that they were in control of proceedings.  They found their lead reduced to 66-58 but scores from Hart and Crussell kept them in front.  Despite understandable nerves, controlled play from Alex Smith ran the clock down and despite Ipswich scoring the final two baskets, Swifts recorded a narrow victory by 71 points to 64.  Hart 47, Crussell 11 and Gilbert 8 leading the scorers.

Next weekend sees further important matches for the club.  On Saturday the under 14 girls visit Chiltern Pumas, the senior women are at West Herts Warriors and the under 14 and under 16 boys play in an Essex event in Chelmsford.  On Sunday the under 15 boys visit Brentwood, whilst there are two huge games for the girls teams in the North West.  In the morning the under 18 girls play Manchester Mystics in the semi final of the National Cup.  In the afternoon the under 16 girls have a game at the same stage of their own age group against Ellesmere Port.

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH DIVISION

The opening club game in the second half of the season, saw Southend Swifts under 15 boys team visit East London Royals.  The Londoners are currently at the top of the table, with an unbeaten record in their eight games, although Southend put up a battling performance when the teams met earlier in the season before suffering a 13 point defeat. 

The home side opened well, taking a 10-5 lead after four minutes, and a 7-2 run gave them a 10 point lead that could well have led to a convincing victory.  Swifts were struggling as England international Joe Hart found himself very closely marked but good scoring from Martin Fry gave his team some much needed points and at the end of the first quarter the lead was 24-13. 

Royals continued their domination, going on an 8-3 stretch that took them 16 ahead, but Southend showed excellent resolve.  Hart and Oliver Crussell began to find some space to score and with the team registering the final six points of the second period, the deficit was just 39-33 at the half time interval. 

Further Hart and Crussell baskets reduced the margin down to four but East London regained the initiative to move out to 51-43.  Again Swifts bounced back and with Hart making two three-pointers in an 11-4 run, the home side held the narrowest of leads at 55-54 going into the final 10 minutes. 

Incredibly Swifts scored four of the first six points to take their first lead of the contest but Royals change of defensive formation would change the complexion of the game.  A 16-4 stretch over a 5 minute period gave them a dominant advantage and despite a late flourish from Hart, his team could get no closer as they fell to an 85-72 defeat in a very high quality match.  Hart with 32 points and Crussell and Fry with 16 each led the scorers in a good team performance.

w/e16/12/07

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH DIVISION

SOLENT KESTRELS 79 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 60 

Southend Swifts under 15 boys team made the trip South to take on Solent Kestrels at Eastleigh.  This was the second meeting of the season, with Swifts having won their home fixture by seven points. 

The start of the match was even with three-point shots from Alex Smith and Joe Hart helping Southend to a 10-8 lead before came the most crucial passage of play of the game.  Solent kept the visitors scoreless for five minutes whilst scoring 16 points themselves to break the game open at 24-10; both teams scoring a further two baskets each to make it 28-14 at the end of the first quarter. 

Quick scores from Martin Fry and Hart looked to have given Swifts some cause for hope but a 13-2 stretch for the home side soon put pay to the notion.  Hart was the only player looking capable of scoring with any regularity and his successive three-pointers kept the margin below 20 as Kestrels led 49-30 at half time. 

Five straight for Hart again gave his team some hope but they were unable to maintain the momentum and despite a further Smith three-pointer, Solent increased the margin to 65-43 with the final 10 minute period to come. 

Two further Fry baskets and Smith's third three-point score helped their team reduce the deficit and although Hart continued his personal crusade there was no way back as Solent ended deserved winners by 79 points to 60.  Hart's 38 point haul the only Swift in double figures.

w/e09/12/07

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH 1 CONFERENCE

SOUTHEND SWIFTS 45  EAST LONDON ROYALS 58 

The final match of the weekend saw Southend Swifts under 15 boys team meet perennial champions East London Royals.  The Londoners have been league and play-off winners on numerous occasions and are unbeaten this season. 

The visitors started with their usual confidence, scoring the first three points, but Southend showed great determination stopping their opponents running game to lead 12-11 at the end of the first quarter. Royals were targeting Swifts' England international Joe Hart, but the other players showed their major improvement by keeping their team in contention.  Successive three-point shots from Alex Smith took his team 20-15 ahead and excellent defence from Robert Armstrong and Martin Fry continued to deny East London.  With Hart finally shaking off the shackles and Charlie Manthorp getting through to score under huge pressure, at the half time interval, Swifts lead was 27-23. 

As to be expected the visitors looked to come back strongly and after five minutes they led 31-29.  Scores from Fry and Hart got their team back in front but Royals made the next three before a superb driving lay-up from Alex Gilbert got the hosts back in front at 35-34 with one stanza remaining.   

Baskets from Oliver Crussell and Hart kept Swifts ahead at 40-38 before East London made the decisive break that would turn the game.  They scored 15 straight points that took them 53-40 ahead with two minutes to play and despite a huge effort from Southend, they were unable to make up the leeway despite one of the best performances this group have put together.  Hart had one of his hardest earned 17 points to lead his team on the toughest of days. 

w/e18/11/07

UNDER 15 BOYS SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT

The Northants under 15 boy’s team slipped to their first defeat of the season when they went down by 19 points to a City of Birmingham team boasting four England internationals. The game had opened well for the Northants boys as they eased out to a 15-4 lead on the back of some aggressive defensive play. Birmingham responded and by the end of the quarter had pulled ahead by 16 points to 15 at the end of the period. This lead was extended to 35-24 as “thunder” struggled to penetrate some hard-nosed Birmingham defence.

With a massive effort required to win the game only a few of the county players were able to step up their game in the final two periods of play and Birmingham ran out comfortable winners. For “Thunder”, James Rutter had an outstanding game scoring 8 points while Ashley Harcort-Billingham top scored with 14.

Early in day “Thunder” had recorded a routine win over Mansfield “Giants” on the back of 24 points from Merson Paul and 19 from Ravi Parmar        

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH DIVISION

SOUTHEND SWIFTS 77  WORTHING THUNDER 86 

This match had the makings of an excellent encounter as both teams had each suffered just one defeat this season; Worthing with four wins and Southend with two. 

The visitors made an excellent start as their pressing defence brought early rewards as they moved out to a 10-2 lead.  The Southend players seemed overawed and it was only captain Joe Hart who could make any headway.  The 14 year old, recently picked for the England squad a year above his age group, managed his teams first nine points as they fought back to trail just 14-9.  Thunder managed to maintain the margin but an Alex Smith three-point shot helped his team to get back into the match and at the end of the first quarter the score was just 25-22 in favour of Worthing. 

Swifts managed to keep in contention but some outstanding shooting from the Sussex team enabled them to take a double digit lead at 42-30.  Hart and Smith scored again, but six points in the final minute gave Worthing a 50-36 half time advantage. 

The hosts could get no closer despite some outstanding defensive work from 13 year old Charlie Manthorp and at 62-48 going into the final two minutes the deficit seemed too huge.  But suddenly Hart and Oliver Crussell began to find gaps in the Worthing defence and a 7-2 run left the score at 64-55 going into the final period. 

Worthing continued to show excellent composure and managed to regain their ten point advantage. Another three-pointer from Gibbs, his sixth of the afternoon, made it 80-68 with three minutes remaining and should have ended proceedings.  But Martin Fry and the inevitable Hart combined for 9 of the next 11 points to make it 82-77 and the crowd noise in a crescendo.  But Southend could get no nearer and excellent work from Worthing gave them the final two baskets to end up 86-77 winners at the end of an outstanding game.  Fry 10 and Crussell 8 had been stalwarts for Swifts but once again Hart with 51 had led the way.

Northants “Thunder”                       74 – 18                  Mansfield “Giants” 

The Northants “Thunder” under 15 boys maintained their unbeaten record with two comfortable wins over Derbyshire “Arrows” and Mansfield “Giants”. Coach, Barry Powell’s team dominated all eight quarters played and conceded only single figures in each of those periods. The win against Mansfield was particularly pleasing because the “Giants” spent a lot of time sitting in a constricting zone defence for most of the game. 

Merson Paul led his team’s scoring in both games while their valuable contributions from Callum Woodhouse against “Arrows” and Ashley Harcourt-Billingham and Jess Kelly against “Giants”

w/e 04/11/07

HARD EARNED DOUBLE FOR UNDER 15 BOYS

Under 15 Boys Midland Conference

Leicester “Warriors”     42 - 50     Northants “Thunder”

Notts Nova     45 - 56     Northants “Thunder”

The Northants “Thunder” under 15 boys travelled to Leicester for this Midland Conference Tournament and returned with two wins but only after two hard fought and physical games. Against the home side “Thunder” held the advantage throughout but it wasn’t until they went on an 8-zero run late in the game that the win was finally assured.

Against Notts Nova, the “Thunder” was able to establish early superiority and by half time had built up a 30-16 lead. In the next two periods they were guilty of ‘taking their foot off the gas’ and this allowed Nova to get back into contention. Nova edged the second half but the result was never in doubt.

Over the two games Merson Paul was a consistent scorer, while Dan Obasa did well against “Warriors” and Ashley Harcourt-Billingham top scored against Nova.

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH CONFERENCE

SOUTHEND SWIFTS 62 BRENTWOOD FIRE 66 

Southend Swifts under 15 boys team looked to maintain their unbeaten record when they welcomed Brentwood Fire for their latest league fixture. 

Southend started excellently, opening up a 14-2 lead, as the speed of movement gave them easy scoring opportunities.  Brentwood replied with six of the next eight points but Swifts recovered to lead 20-10 at the end of the first quarter.  The home side re-took the initiative as they moved out to 25-12 but Fire began to reduce the margin, scoring eight of the final 10 points, to trail just 35-29 at the half time interval. 

After three minutes of the second period it was 37-34 but Swifts made eight unanswered to lead by 12.  Brentwood replied with the next nine and suddenly it was a two point game.  With nerves on edge, the teams traded baskets with Swifts holding a slender 51-49 lead going into the final stanza. 

There were just seven points in the first five minutes as the excitement took over both teams.  Southend made 5 straight to lead by 6 with four minutes to play but Brentwood scored the next seven to lead by 1 themselves.  Southend recovered to lead 62-60 inside the final minute but some poor decision making allowed Fire to score the final six points to win 66-62 in a pulsating contest. 

Joe Hart led his team with 32 points but this was a disappointing performance after leading for 38 of the 40 minutes.

The Northants under 15 boys travelled to Sheffield for their first triangular tournament of the season and picked up two wins. After a sloppy start against Ilkeston the county boys got down to play some solid basketball and eventually ran out winners by 20 points. 

Against an inexperienced “Arrows” team “Thunder cruised to the expected win. Merson Paul was the team’s leading scorer while Daniel Obasa turned in a good all-round performance.

BOYS UNDER 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH CONFERENCE

SOUTHEND SWIFTS 77  SOLENT KESTRELS 70 

After their excellent win in their first game of the season, Southend Swifts looked for another victory when they welcomed Solent Kestrels to Fitzwimarc School.  The South Coast side had defeated Swifts in both games last season as well as reaching the end-of-season play-offs so the home side would have to be at their best to secure a win. 

Both teams started well, with the scores tied at 9.  Oliver Crussell’s four points edged Swifts ahead but excellent foul shooting from Solent took them to a narrow 20-19 lead at the end of the first period. 

A 9-4 run extended the lead to 6 before a Joe Hart three-pointer started a recovery.  This was one of four three-point scores in the quarter that enabled Swifts to draw level at half time, with both sides on 39. 

Southend’s third quarter Achilles heel re-appeared as they completely lost their discipline, conceding four fouls for dissent that allowed Kestrels to lead 48-43.  But the adversity seemed to spur on the young men and they scored a superlative 22 points in six minutes of play to take control of proceedings.  Hart was producing a shooting clinic and with Alex Smith marshalling his team superbly as well as making a huge three-pointer, the home side led 65-55 with one period remaining. 

It remained to be seen whether nerves would take hold but a 6-2 run, Martin Fry with four, calmed both the team and the watching spectators.  Excellent control from all of the players took them 11 ahead and although Solent scored the last four points, an excellent victory was earned. 

Joe Hart with 42 points, including five three-pointers from seven attempts, and Alex Smith with a career best of 16 led the scoring, but this was an outstanding team effort.