# U14 Premier Boys Ram Door Shut

- Link: https://www.newhamyoungbloods.co.uk/2016/10/u14-premier-boys-ram-door-shut/
- Published: 2016-10-09T21:26:22+01:00
- Author: admin

It is an exciting start for basketball in the borough as the BBL team London Lions
have merged with Newham Youngbloods to form the London Youngbloods Lions. This produces
a pathway for our junior teams for the future as well as giving the young hopeful
Lions fans a junior basketball program to join.

As exciting as that sound business mean business going into the start of the season.
The 2016/17 season sees Youngbloods Lions travel 36 miles to play their first game
against a Rams team coached by a highly talented and passionate coach that has produced
tough teams over the years. Proving to be a close encounter it was the Lions that
go off to flying start with good inter-play from **Joshua Morgan** and **Cameron
Thompson** leading to early baskets. Morgan continued with aggressive drives to 
the basket making easy work of the Rams defense. Early foul trouble from **Christian
Adun** and **Neave Gregoire-Clarke** helped the Rams crawl back to end the quarter
17-19 in favour of Lions.

Early nerves or call it complacency will see the Rams take the lead in the second
quarter forcing an early time out by Coach Stephen. Discipline and intensity was
the shout that lifted the Youngbloods Lions as Adun began his scoring spree, dominating
the boards and defending the paint, assisted by Thompson. Lions ended the half stronger
29-34.

The third period will see a remarkable change in the game play as the Youngbloods
Lions started looking like possible final 4 candidates showing great defensive intensity
and going on a 10-0 run. The pace of the game proved too difficult for the Rams 
as they could not find an answer**. Nathaniel Boatey** was instrumental defensively
diving for every ball making life difficult for the Rams. A game-changing quarter
saw the Youngbloods Lions only concede 6 points and scoring 24 points.

With the game stretching away from the Rams and Lions sitting comfortably in the
lead, Coach Stephen started rotating the bench in the fourth quarter trying to source
out his team’s strengths and weaknesses. Rams took advantage with a full court press
forcing early turnovers. However, Gregoire-Clarke stayed poised as usual controlling
the team and linking up nicely with **Edas Rukas** for easy layups. More fast breaks
followed as **Megane Stanley** started showing hiss dominance scoring towards the
end.

> [U14 Premier Boys win their first game last week against @surrey_rams 71-50. Big performance from Joshua Morgan, Cameron Thompson and Christian Adun. Great Defensive tenacity from Nathaniel Boatey dominating and locking down their best player.](https://www.instagram.com/p/BLWpGsthQuG/)
> A photo posted by London Youngbloods Lions (@youngbloodsbb) on Oct 9, 2016 at 
> 12:24pm PDT

**Final score 50 – 71 **

Coach Stephen_” Great to the get the first win under our belt, we looked nervy at
the start but kept our cool in the second half. There is still a long way to go 
but overall a positive start”_