Recap
The Under 16 Boys were looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against East London rivals Barking and Dagenham Thunder at Barking Abbey. The game got off to a slow start by both sides with the thunder first off the mark, with Youngbloods down 5-1 midway through the first. Following a time out by Coach Aaron Senior, the Youngbloods sprung into life going on a 13-2 run with Jelani Watson-Gayle in lethal form, closing the quarter with a shot from downtown giving Youngbloods a 14-9 first quarter lead which they will never relinquished.
The second quarter started with all momentum with Youngbloods with a strong drive to the basket and both free throws made by Rayon Brown helped Youngbloods to maintain there lead with Mark Sottomoments later coming into play a providing a straight 6 points of the bench hitting a shot from beyond the arc and then an and-1 play. Youngbloods closed out the quarter, courtesy to another and-1 play this time by Japhet Mukuna, to win 23-13 heading into the break with a 15 point lead, 22-37.
The Thunder started off the better off the two sides in the second quarter hitting two big three point shots to close the gap to 10 points midway through the third until a Jelani Lewis score sparked a 12-0 run in the last three minutes of the quarter with Youngbloods going into the final quarter with a 20 point lead. Youngbloods built on this lead in the fourth quarter with Alfie Murray and Ify Chuks deputising in the middle ensured Youngbloods maintained their lead with a 16-23 final quarter. Closing out the game with a 27 point win, 54-81 Final Score.
“We didn’t play as well as we know we can play but we had 4 players in double digits again, however its another step in a long season, and another away victory ahead of two tough weekends of play” said U16 Boys Head Coach Aaron Senior