London Lions played their first home game of the season at the Copper Box on the Friday 3rd October. Lions were without Zaire Taylor who was still in the USA due to visa problems. Lovell Cook was also out due to visa problems.
There were 3,000 fans inside the Copper Box and you could sense the excitement in the crowd. Drew Sullivan's first appearance was much anticipated and he was key for the Lions in this clash. Sullivan ended the game with a team high 19 points with 3 being 3 pointers. Rod Brown who re-signed with the Lions this Summer and showed how important he is with a great performance. He put up 18 points with some key points being in the first quarter when Lions started the game.
Bristol Flyers are new to the top tier of the British basketball league. They have had a storming start to the season winning both games so far, one being away at Glasgow Rocks.
The flyers rushed into the lead with a 10 - 2 lead much to the surprise of the Lions crowd. Lions were struggling to get into their groove with a few nice moves just not dropping.
Rod Brown and Sullivan got the Lions fans off their feet with some great drives to the hoop going into the 1st break down by 2 points.
The 2nd quarter was by far the strongest for the Lions scoring 30 points in total. Sullivan hit 2 back to back 3 pointers. Adrien Strut showed his strength going to hoop as well as his shooting from downtown. Half time saw Lions up by 8 points which could have been more had Bristol not gone on a 5 point run.
Bristol looked inspired going into the 3rd quarter but the Lions showed some invaluable experience and Lions extending their lead to 13. Both teams exchanged 2 straight 3 pointers which the crowd appreciated. The Flyers looked good on the night but the new look Lions were too strong.
I spoke to coach Vince Macualley after the game:
" I think the game was won by our competitive nature, this was a team that was very well drilled and organised and we had to be patient"
"Eventually I think our size and numbers wore them out. Sullivan’s size and Ian Salter’s size as well as Rod (Brown) orchestrating everything was enough to see us home.”
Sullivan is one of a number of new faces at London Lions this season, and Macaulay is pleased with how his new-look side is gelling together.
“I think it is going very well in the right direction,” he said. “There is so much I want to do and so much I want to teach them but we can only go a day at a time.
“We are practising every day now so we will get better very quick. Once we have a full side I will be very comfortable with what we can do.”
Drew Sullivan got the fans off their feet a number of times throughout the game, leading the scoring for the home side with 19 points.
“When he played here for Great Britain at the Olympic Games he really took to it,” Macaulay said.
“Today he showed it was made for him. He is a player for the big occasion and that is exactly why we got him here.”
No comments:
Post a Comment