# U16 Boys win Battle of Newham to Advance

- Link: https://www.newhamyoungbloods.co.uk/2015/11/u16-boys-win-battle-of-newham-to-advance/
- Published: 2015-11-09T00:10:24+00:00
- Author: admin

Newham Youngbloods Under 16 Boys faced their second game of the weekend as they 
took on local rivals Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) in the 3rd Round of 
the U16 Boys Basketball England National Cup in a highly anticipated match up between
both sides. Youngbloods won the tip off as they got off to a fast start with Termon
Serrant scoring the first points of the game quickly followed by strong play inside
by **Devante Abana-Odita** as he converted the basket and was fouled, knocking down
the free throw from the line to take an early 5-0 lead for the visiting side. NASSA
launched an instant comeback as they went on a 7-0 of their own to take the lead
for the first time in the game as Youngbloods tired legs following the trip to Southampton
the day before began to show. Youngbloods **Laja Ogidan **and **Gabriel Sanni** 
brought the game level again as they both split a pair of free throws. However poor
defence early on from Youngbloods put them in foul trouble early on enabling NASSA
to get to the free throw line on multiple occasions and thus giving the home side
NASSA early advantage in the first quarter leading the game 18-12 at the end of 
the first stanza.

Youngbloods inflicted first damage at the beginning of the second quarter to bring
the game within 4 points before NASSA hit back three points of their own, with both
sides trading baskets with Youngbloods briefly able to gain the lead through a **
Termon Serrant** three-ball from beyond the arc, as the two sides continued to trade
baskets and lead as a **Menelik Stanley** drive to basket and finish with an **Alex
Distras**’ made free throws giving the visiting side the edge late on in the second
quarter. **Laja Ogidan** dominated the last two minutes of play in the second quarter
with solid defence and production on the offensive end showing his versatility on
the floor. A tied game with a minute left to play before the halftime break as Good
ball movement on the offensive end for Youngbloods, set up a comfortable 3 point
shot for **David Olupitan** who coolly knocked down the shot to give Youngbloods
a 3 point lead heading into the halftime break.

Just as the ended the first half, Distras stepped up and nailed the shot from the
deep beyond the arc to extend Youngbloods lead to 6 early on. Shortly after **Richmond
Ariyo** converted the strong drive to the basket to provide an 8 point cushion however
as the previous two quarters foul trouble was to haunt the visiting team as Youngbloods
were soon in foul trouble which lead to a spat of 10 free throw attempts for NASSA
as they converted 5 out of the 10 whilst also going on a 10-0 unanswered run as 
they took the lead, up by 5 points with 2 minutes to play in the third. Olupitan,
Distras and Serrant had plans of their own as they combined well for a run of 8 
points as the introduction of **Titas Zydelis** in to play led to instant success
as he scored in transition on a fast break with the score tied 53-53. Youngbloods
had waited until the last minute of the game to finally be awarded with a free throw
as a result of NASSA being in the team penalty, with Olupitan stepping up to the
free throw line and calmly knocking down both from the charity stripe to give Youngbloods
a 55-53 lead ahead of the final quarter.

NASSA closed the gap straight away following a score inside, before Olupitan ands
Distras both knocked down shot from deep to give Youngbloods the lead by 4. A foul
called on Youngbloods gifted a free shots to the home side and coverted one of two
before another score by Ogidan despite heavy contact saw no foul called. Olupitan
was full in confidence and this was clear as he again knocked down the three ball,
banking the shot off the backboard to give Youngbloods a 6 point lead, and his confidence
brought his team mates the same token with momentum clearly with the Youngbloods
team heading into the final 5 minutes of play. The intensity of defence for the 
visitors would increase yet again as they restricted NASSA to only 4 points in the
last five minutes as Ogidan again showed his wonderful display in the final quarter
as he continued to cause problems and converted his chances given whilst securing
rebounds on both ends of the floor. With 30 seconds remaining Abana-Odita was fouled
and headed to the line knowing his side were already up by 9 points and slotted 
home both free throws to give the Newham Youngbloods the local bragging rights in
this National Cup tie with a 75-64 final score as they restricted NASSA to only 
11 fourth quarter points.

_“The team fought through a long weekend full of adversity and when things didn’t
go our way we kept battling, never giving up, keeping their composure along the 
stretch and a positive end result.”_ said Head Coach **Aaron Senior**