Time the enemy for Lapwings and Falcons

GAME time, and the final whistle were against both Stockport senior teams on Saturday, as for one it came too late, and the other too soon.

The Lapwings, playing first, led the whole game only to o caught as the game entered the last minute. One Minute too many. The Falcons, after a poor start recovered, but were always playing catch up, and scoring last they were still one point short, when the whistle went. With another minute they might have won.

Unphased by Derby

Diamonds early start to the season, the Lapwings started strongly. Eleven points ahead by the start of the second period at 23-12 due as much as anything to five three pointers, and two out of two off the line. Two more ‘threes’ from Silikas opened the difference to 31-17.

With a considerable height advantage Derby had control of under the boards at both ends of the court, and by pressing up more on Stockport’s long shooters the slowed down the scoring rate.

Helped by a run of free throws and bringing their height advantage more in to their game, Derby levelled the scores at 40 all, in to the third period. Stockport seized the opportunity to push ahead again when Derby rested their height, and they moved back into a 57-48 point lead. Two free throws at the start of the final period were to be the last for Stockport for nearly six minutes, as the Derby defence pressed out on Stockport’s long shooters.

Poor shot selection and careless turnovers, plus a lack of cohesion from the Lapwings, who were still trying to play at breakneck pace, kept handing back the ball to their opponents, and Derby kept coming back.

Two free shots missed with the scores level at 59 all, and Silkas brought the scores level again with Stockport’s only field goal of the period, as the game entered the last 60 seconds play. It was to be one minute too many and saw Derby rub salt into the wound adding six more against only one, to take the final score to 62-67 in Derby’ favour.

With one more minutes play, the Falcons might have beaten Teeside Lions in the next game. Starting in the worst possible way they trailed 4-22 after eight minutes in the game. A change of tactics at the start of the second quarter, and the Falcons got back their rhythm, and some strong post play from Plummer and quick transition from Howard left the Falcons just seven behind at the break.

In the third period the teams traded baskets leaving Stockport still seven behind moving into the final period. Strong drives from Grant and aggressive hustling from Curley helped the Falcons pull level with three minutes still to play. Grant hit a three pointer to close the difference to only one on the buzzer, but in the final reckoning, missing five out of six free throws, as the end drew near cost them dearly, perhaps in another minute they might have made it.

The Falcons U18 game against Cheshire Wire turned out to be a pretty one sided game.

Starting confidently Stockport quickly opened a good lead which they stretched further and further as the game progressed making them comfortable winners by 88-58.

Sunday afternoon saw the Falcons U18 trip over to play Tameside in their Derby game. The Falcons carried on from where they left off on Saturday. By the time they reached half time, Stockport had raced into a 62-18 lead.

Easing back a little through the second half they finished on 104-40 to complete a satisfying weekend for the players and Coaching Staff.