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CLUBS' MATCH REPORTS |
For previous Clubs' match reports go to the various competitions via
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NBL CONFERENCE, SEMI-FINAL, Second leg 13/04/03 Magic Just Miss Out. Teesside Mohawks: 105 Manchester Magic: 88(Mohawks Win Over 2 Legs: 199-175) The young Magic team came within a few seconds of reaching the Conference play-off Final on Sunday, when they took the Mohawks to overtime, in front of a crowd which included about 60 of their most fervent fans. The Magic travelled north to Teesside to defend a three point advantage in the Conference semi-final play offs against the Mohawks. The Mohawks started strongly as a nervous Magic team made nervous mistakes with too many misplaced passes and a lack of concentration. This allowed the Mohawks to control the quarter, which ended 25-16 in their favour. It was an even second quarter and the Magic only managed to reduce the deficit by one as they trailed 42-34 at the interval. The third quarter saw the Mohawks extend their lead to 15 with two minutes remaining, but a determined fight back from the Magic saw them go on an 11-0 run to end the quarter trailing by only four, 65-61. It was now time for the final push for both teams as they fought for a place in the Final. Mohawks again opened up the gap to eight points but another determined effort from this young Magic team saw them start to reduce the gap as they were cheered on by their noisy travelling support. With eighteen seconds remaining and trailing by two, 83-81, the Magic stole the ball and as they did, there was a foul on the play which sent Sergio Lara-Bercial to the line. He scored the first and closed the gap to one.. There was then a series of officials’ decisions which made it impossible for the Magic to prevent the game going to overtime Having played so well up to this point, the Magic lost heavily in overtime, with six players fouled out and ending with only four players on the floor. This unfortunate end to the game should not detract from the excellent way in which this team has played in the last half of the season, nor from the Mohawks persistence in keeping their game going to the end. The Magic have shown they can compete strongly at the highest level in the Conference and Jeff Jones can be proud of the way his team have responded to the many challenges of late. He, the coaching staff and all the players would also like to say a big thank you to all the people who have supported them this season and especially those that made the trip to Teesside on Sunday. If there could be regular travelling support like this next season it would make a tremendous difference to the morale of the team. The Magic also wish the best of luck to the Mohawks when they contest the Final against the Reading Rockets, who had a phenomenal win against the Plymouth Raiders on Saturday. Magic top-scorers: Sergio Lara-Bercial: 34 Callum Jones: 15 Andrew Lovedale: 11 Samit Nuriyev: 10 |
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NBL CONFERENCE, SEMI-FINAL, Second leg 12/04/03 [2nd] Plymouth Raiders (68) 87 (16, 40, 67) Cue 23; Beasley / Wellington 16 [3rd] Reading Rockets (63) 95 (18, 41, 61) Williams 34; Cooper 23; Gardner 13 Reading Rockets deservedly won their way through to the Play off Championship game with a stirring performance at the Pavilions on Saturday before a 1200 crowd. The visitors were not fazed by the strong Raiders’ support and shaded the first quarter thanks largely to 9 points from Jermaine Williams. The second period was little different with Raiders keeping their noses in front on aggregate although the Rockets held a slender 41-40 half time lead. It looked as though the third period would be decisive as Raiders pulled out a 9 point lead (14 on aggregate) by the fifth minute but a 7-0 run by Rockets pegged them back but still gave Raiders a clear chance at the trip to Birmingham with a 67-61 advantage with the final 10 remaining. Jermaine Williams had kept Reading in the hunt virtually single handed to the start of the 4th and he helped pull back the deficit until the defining moment when Raiders’ DeAntoine Beasley was fouled out with 6 minutes remaining. The score was then at 74-69 and was followed by a pair of Damon Cooper treys and with Lloyd Gardner and Williams joining in the scoring gave the visitors the lead at 79-78. Cooper sparked the final push for Reading with some determined drives and Gardner finished things off with a series of free throws to edge ahead on aggregate. A Myron Riley three with seconds remaining renewed hope for the Raiders’ fans but desperate fouls put Gardner on the line with accuracy and Riley’s final buzzer beater attempt for another trey bounced around the ring and out. Raiders have only themselves to blame for not making the Championship game with some uncharacteristic poor passing, a poor return from the charity stripe and a seemingly lack of passion when it really mattered in the closing moments. Raiders’ use of just 7 players contrasted with Reading Coach Dave Titmuss’s rotation of all 10 and could have been an important factor as with players out of sorts it would have been useful to rest some had there been the experience available for Raiders. Lessons will surely have been learned but Reading fully deserved their win and the way they overcame the 5 point deficit and their determined and controlled team performance made this a game to be savoured. |