Sat 18th Nov: London United crash vs Guildford Heat..

Saturday 18th November, 2006

BBL CHAMPIONSHIP

Guildford Heat 106-93 London United   

QUARTERSCORES:

29-14, 50-36, 78-55, 106-93

GAME TOP SCORERS:

Guildford Heat (Brian Dux 23, Mike Martin 16, Daniel Gilbert 16)

London United (Phil Perre 24, Marcus Knight 19, Tarick Johnson 15)

London United suffered their heaviest defeat of the season so far with a 13pt loss to high-flying Guildford Heat in the BBL Championship at the Spectrum Centre last Saturday.

The tone for a foul-ridden and bad-tempered encounter was set before the tip when the Guildford mascot decided to pick a fight with one of his own supporters. On court, Perry Lawson got United off to a great start with a triple from the first play of the match. However, from here it was all Guildford as United failed to execute the press with their usual intensity, much to the obvious frustration of Coach Tony Garbelotto. With Bryant Feggins ineffective due to the recurrance of a knee injury, Dan Gilbert dominated for Guildford supported by Chad McKnight and Brian Dux. The quarter finished with Heat leading 29-14. Five missed free-throw also cost United dear as the foul count began to rise on both sides.

The second period proved a much closer affair as Marcus Knight, Phil Perre and Tarick Johnson began to find their range, supported by Chris Haslam. But Heat hung in mainly thanks to Brian Dux, with Guildford going into the break 50-36 ahead.

 With key man Dux on 3 fouls, United knew that pressure on the play-maker should bring rewards going into the second half. However, London couldn't have made a worse start as Dean Williams hit an unopposed trey from the corner from the first play of the third period, swiftly followed by another from Gilbert. Once again Perre, Knight and Johnson hit back with back-up from Steve Ogunjimi, but Heat continued to outscore United with alarming ease. To add insult to injury, the introduction of the lumbering Chris Brown by Coach Paul James saw the rotund big man dominate inside in the final minute of the period, picking up 6pts and stretching the margin to 22pts going into the final stanza. Even worse, playmaker Dux managed to get through the entire session without adding to his foul count.

With nothing left to lose, United finally began to show the defencive intensity so sadly lacking in the first period. At last the full-court press began to work, forcing Guildford turn-overs and fouls. Marlin Capers and Ogunjimi capitalised on great defencive work from Knight, Lawson and Junior Williams. Guildford were soon in foul trouble. Perre and Knight hit a whole succession of free-throws. This resulted in United closing the gap to just 9pts (99-90) going into the final minute of the match. Dux (now on 4 fouls and under extreme pressure) became so frustrated that he swung an elbow when in possession. Having called close to 60 real and imagined fouls throughout the first 79mins of the match, all three referees missed what would have been Dux's disquailfying foul. This would have lead to more United free throws and possession and a potential reduction of the gap to just 4pts going into the final play of the game. As it was, United were forced to foul to regain possession sending Dux, McKnight and Williams to the line. They kept their cool to keep Guildford at arms length, despite Lawson ending where he started with a triple.

In reality, Guildford were deserved winners. Gilbert and McKnight dominated under the boards at both ends with Heat taking over 60% of the rebounds on offer as United never recovered from their poor defencive opening to the match. On the positive side, 5 United players hit double figures, along with 54pts from the bench. Marcus Knight put in another great performance with 19pts, whilst Phil Perre looked back to his early season for in the 2nd half. Steve Ogunjimi also showed progress in just his 2nd match of the season with 10pts. On the downside, United's lack of height was exposed yet again with the break-down of Bryant Feggins. Likewise, a lack of offencive cohesion was born out by just 2 assists recorded.

All-in-all much to ponder on for Tony Garbelotto as he faces his old side Newcastle Eagles at SPACe next Saturday 25/11, 7.45pm tip. The links between United and Eagles are very strong and throw up some intriguing battles. Hackney College Academy graduate Darius Defoe returns to SPACe for the first time in the BBL and Perry Lawson faces his old side for the first time having spent 2 highly successful seasons with the Tynesiders before joining United. Chris Haslam will also be keen to put one over on Newcastle having spent much of the summer working out with Eagles before being released following disagreements with Eagles head Coach Fab Flournoy. Meanwhile, there is still great affection for Tony Garbelotto on Tyneside as he is widely credited with laying the foundations for Newcastle's dominance of British Basketball in the last 3 seasons.

Chris Morris

21/11/06

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