National Cup reports

In this National Cup game, there were so many changes of the lead that the result could have gone either way.

Early on, the Magic were well behind, but they dug deep and pulled back more than once. In the third quarter, the scores were level at 59-59, but United pulled away again and looked like certain winners.

Half-way through the last quarter, the Magic were only 4 points adrift and the final score did not reflect the closeness of the game.

London United progress to National Cup semi finals

London United progressed to the semi finals of the National Cup joining Plymouth, Teesside and Solent in the hat. London beat Manchester Magic in the quarter final round on Saturday afternoon at Brunel University.

London still without injured big men N’Doye and Jacobs started the brighter of the two teams taking a 26-16 lead in the first quarter mainly thanks to Deppisch and Vear’s 3 point shooting. The game continued in London’s favor although Magic made a come back at the end of the 2^nd quarter to get within 4 points at the half at 47-43.

By the end of the 3^rd London were again able to retain a 10-point lead through some good team play and Donal Hockey’s intensity at both ends of the floor.

The 4^th quarter saw London maintain the lead up until an exciting last minute rush by Magic as they went on an 1-9 run and close the gap to 4 points, however London managed to make 4 free throws in a row in the stretch to secure a win as Vear made a 3 with the last shot of the game to win 93-83. Deppisch had 29, Vear 21 and Hockey 13.

London are happy to progress on to the Semi Finals and face a tough draw no matter who they face and are obviously hoping for a home fixture.

London lined up: Seaman, Vear, Mumuni, Hockey, Atakus, Ogunjimi, Smith and Deppisch.

READING ROCKETS 95 (27, 53, 78)

Solent Stars caused a form upset in this highly charged National Cup Quarter Final when they came from behind in the last quarter to secure what, on paper, seemed a convincing win. It was not until the very final stages of the game - with Reading unable to add any points to their total for the last three minutes - that Solent, still trailing at that stage, surged through for the victory.

At the start of the game it was Reading Rockets who took the early initiative after Matt Crawford had raised Solent's hopes with a couple of early baskets. The visitors found plenty of holes in the home defence as they forged ahead to establish a 6 - 19 lead by the end of the sixth minute. Solent seemingly had no answer to the mix of penetration of their defence for close shots mixed with a series of accurate outside successes. A first three pointer for Matt Story helped Solent to keep in touch with Reading, who looked to be well in control of the game.

The face of the game changed at the start of the second period. Jermaine Williams, one of Reading's American players, twisted his ankle as he fell after being fouled on a drive to the basket. Williams, who had scored 12 points in the first quarter, took no further part in the game.

With Ted Smith in inspirational form for the Reading team, they seemed to weather the loss of one of their top scorers. Smith kept a tight rein on Matt Story (who was only able to land three three point scoring shots in the half) whilst giving his teammates plenty of assists as well as occasionally stealing the ball from the careless home squad. Reading increased their lead in the period to fifteen points (27 - 42) by the sixth minute, but scoring from Matt Crawford and Matt Story allowed Solent to pull back the difference to thirteen points at the half time interval.

With the game being played at a fast pace, mistakes began to creep in. Solent rallied and came back to just a three point gap (62 - 65) but missed hurried shots by Paul Mundy-Castle and Mark Jackson let Reading off the hook as they increased their lead to twelve points (62 - 74) in the next two minutes. Solent could only make a small inroad into this lead as they ended the third quarter.

In a remarkable start to the final period, Solent scored twelve unanswered points to take the lead for the first time in the game. In this three minutes, Story (8) Jackson (2) and Mundy-Castle (2) tore the heart out of the Reading defence that had been so impregnable. Reading rallied to snatch a four point lead (88 - 92) with just three minutes remaining.

As tension mounted Reading were charged with a technical foul against the bench players which allowed Matt Story extra free throws. His seven successes in a run of eight consecutive visits to the free throw line took Solent to a 96 - 92 lead. The influential Ted Smith then fouled out to the annoyance of the visiting coach and player himself, who maintained that he had four not five fouls.

Remarkably Solent had played their best defence when three of the on-court players, NIck OHarabe, Jackson and Story were on four fouls. Inevitably. one had to foul out and with one and a half minutes remaining and Solent leading 98 - 92, Story, having scored 39 points, left the game, to a standing ovation from the home crowd, who had maintained full vocal support for Solent throughout. Without their captain, Ted Smith, Reading looked a beaten side and had no answer to Solent's late surge.

Assistant coach, Steve Fitzsimons, was full of praise for the squad, "We emphasise to the players the necessity of keeping up their intensity to wear down the opponents, and tonight was a perfect example of that as Reading eventually were not able to hold us."

The Manchester Magic progressed to the next round of the National Cup with a hard-earned win over a very spirited Worcester side on Saturday.

The game was close throughout and Worcester were leading 39-33 at half-time, but hard work and good shooting were rewarded by a clear victory 85-76.

Top scorers and best players for the Magic were Callum Jones (26), Jeff Bevington (23), Samit Nuriyev (18) and George Parissos (17).

London United started the weekend with a fairly comfortable win in the 2nd round of the National Cup at home to Colchester United on Saturday afternoon.

After a fairly slow start London managed to take a half time lead of 43-37 against the 2nd division Club.

London then stepped up a gear in the 3rd quarter to lead by 20 and the game was effectively over for Colchester, who battled hard throughout.

London finished victors by 22 points 89-67 with Donal Hockey and Pete Deppisch top scoring with 14 each and Steve Ogunjimi chipping in with 13 as the rest of the scoring was evenly spread.

A devastating personal performance by MIKE WILLIAMSON, Ware Rebels' new All-American point guard, was the talking point of the basketball fraternity, last weekend, as WARE stormed into the second round !

After only TEN SECONDS, the man from Oklahoma had broken the hearts of the visitors with two three-pointers, and he then proceeded to dish off to REBELS' Captain, ALLAN PRESCOTT, who also nailed two threes in quick succession ! Such was the home side's domination of the first quarter, that they led 37-19 after the first period, with 27 points coming from behind the arc, including a perfect five from five from WILLIAMSON !! Indeed, it wasn't until the 7th minute of the second quarter that a spellbound crowd saw Williamson miss ANY shot !

But perhaps the most impressive element of Williamson's game is his dedication to the team effort, and he displayed his eagerness to involve fellow players by initiating a wave of Ware fast breaks. REBELS' BEN WALLIS and MATT EAMES benefited from some wonderful passes, and, despite grim determination on behalf of the visiting Neptunes, WARE enjoyed a comfortable 62-50 lead at the half.

Acting Head Coach JON BURNELL was keen to get everyone involved, and the third period was one of relative sluggishness from the home side with, amazingly, only one three-pointer raining down on Northampton ! The second division visitors were certainly in no mood to lie down, and narrowed the gap to 66-71, before EAMES, PRESCOTT, and 6-6 centre DANNY SCOTT regained control, and Williamson found his range once again !

The fourth quarter began with Williamson having notched a mere EIGHT threes, but, just as he did in the opening salvo, Ware's favourite son of Oklahoma notched a further FIVE from way beyond the arc, as it began to dawn upon all present that the record book could be re-written ! In fact, the club (and All-Time National League) record of thirteen threes is currently held by ALAN HOPPER, from way-back in the 94-95 season, so MIKE WILLIAMSON's tally of THIRTEEN threes is a CUP record, and the team's total of TWENTY three's is also a best-ever in the National Cup !

Ware Scorers: Williamson 52, Wallis 17, Eames 17, Prescott 15, Scott 8, Clarkson 5, Oakley 3.

There was an audible BUZZ around Wodson Park ........... few had ever witnessed such an incredible individual performance ! And soon afterwards, the word went around that Liverpool had beaten South Nottingham and, therefore, the Scousers will be the next team to attempt to stop the points scoring machine that is ......... MIKE WILLIAMSON !

The second round clash, WARE REBELS v LIVERPOOL takes place on Saturday, October 25th, 7.30pm tip, at Wodson Park. Tickets are priced £4 and £2.50, and fans are advised to take to their seats EARLY !

LONDON UNITED WIN IN 1ST ROUND OF CUP.
London United basketball club played Division 3 opposition Brighton Cougars on Saturday in Brighton. The game was a potential banana skin for United as they were without 6ft 10" centre N'Doye and without scoring guard Ryan Cadogan.

However Steve Ogunjimi joined the United ranks for his full debut being his first competitive match in over 3 months.

United started slowly and were down in the first few minutes due to some high percentage shots from the Division 3 side. However with patients and high pressure defence the game turned into a rout for the London side. By the half London were 15 points up and in the 3rd quarter they applied good defensive pressure, not allowing Brighton to create.

United played hard up until the end of the game winning by 52 points 108-56. Brighton battled hard throughout and were a credit to the league.

United now face Division 2 opposition Colchester at Brunel University, Uxbridge on the Saturday 25th October, tip off at 3pm in the next round. It is the next home game for the London side not scheduled in the fixture programme so United fans should be sure to put a note in their diaries.

London United encounter VCU NCAA Division One team on Friday night at 8pm at Brunel University Uxbridge and then two away games over the weekend to Worthing Thunder and Solent Stars in the National Trophy.

London United: 93 Manchester Magic: 83

London United progress to National Cup semi finals