# U16 Acers battle to defeat Warriors

- Link: https://www.newhamyoungbloods.co.uk/2015/10/u16-acers-battle-to-defeat-warriors/
- Published: 2015-10-18T10:58:27+01:00
- Author: admin

Youngbloods Under 16 Acers Development team were in action for the first time this
season as they hosted London Feltham Warriors in the first round of the Basketball
England National Cup. Youngbloods won the tip and failed to score out of the opening
possession and Feltham duly punished the home side converting their first chance
of the game. This fired up the home side as **Great Igbinomwanhia** scored following
a ferocious drive to the basket to tie the game in the early stages, before defensive
lapses started to cost the home side dearly. **Rajuel Bennett-Harris** kept the 
home side in the game converting both chances from close range as Igbinomwanhia 
continued attacking the basket strong as he drew the foul and converted 1 out of
two from the free throw line. The Warriors then netted the next 7 points forcing
Coach **Aaron Senior** to take time out to speak to his side. Following the timeout**
Emmanuel Onwuka Oleh** split his free throws as he was fouled going to the basket.
As the visiting side finished the better of the two sides with Newham down by 7 
at the end of the first, 10-17.

Newham started the second quarter brighter out of the two sides as Igbinomwanhia
continued to demonstrate his dominance as the home side slowly began to show defensive
prowess as **Oluwademilade Adams **got a steal and attacked the basket, converting
his chances from the charity stripe after getting fouled before a 3 point shot nailed
from deep by **Marcus Gordon** brought the game within 2 points for the home side
midway through the quarter. Feltham came to life to close out the second quarter
as they went on a run of 7 points as Youngbloods struggled to contain them. Feltham
taking the lead in the half time break 24-31 leaving the home side alot to do.

The third quarter began much like the second quarter, with baskets exchanged by 
both sides, before Under 14 **Franklin Agu** was introduced into proceedings taking
over the game for home side after being down by as much as 11 points in the third
quarter. Agu dominated the boards, rebounding strong and showing good patience, 
whilst attacking the basket strong getting many of the visiting side in foul trouble,
Scoring a run of 7 points in the third to give the home side much needed energy 
boost as they closed out the third quarter still within 7 points, however will full
momentum with Youngbloods.

A vital fourth quarter was ahead for Newham as they looked to continue their momentum
gained with high intensity defence and so they did with **Hocine Boudeouaou** sparking
a run of 8 consecutive points for the home side ably assisted by Adams, Gordon and
Onwuka Oleh giving Youngbloods their first lead of the game, up by 1 point midway
through the first quarter. However defensive lapses soon came and failed chances
on the offensive end gave feltham the upper hand again as they hit a three point
shot to lead by 6 points forcing Coach Senior to take a timeout with two minutes
remaining in the fourth emphasizing defensive intensity as the springboard for our
fast breaks, as Agu and Bennett-Altius stepped up to the plate as they went on a
run of 6 points to bring the game to level pegging as a nice pass from Agu to Boudeouou
led to a score from close range as they again took a two point lead, as the visiting
side fail to convert any chances in the remaining two minutes giving Newham Youngbloods
Acers the win by 2 points, Final Score 58-56 to advance to second Round of the National
Cup vs Lewisham Thunder next Sunday, 5pm tip off.

_“We played excellently in the fourth quarter, and if we played the rest of the 
game like this, it would have been much easier, it is early days and there are encouraging
signs for sure”_ said Head Coach Aaron Senior