News Update - 2004

SESSA MEN'S BASKETBALL CUP FINAL 17.3.04 AT SPACe SPORTS CENTRE

HACKNEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACADEMY 110-108 MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY  

Hackney Community College Basketball Academy won the SESSA Men's Cup at SPACe Centre for a third successive year following a final quarter comeback against Middlesex University that defied belief. Trailing for the entire match and down by 20 points mid-way through the final period, the Shoreditch based Academy's powers of recovery and self belief helped them draw level with 2 minutes left on the clock, trading points with Middlesex for the next 1 1/2 minutes, before Captain Darius Defoe hit the winning shot with just 3 seconds remaining to win 110-108.

Fireworks were inevitable in this match with two of the best College and University teams in the UK going head-to-head. Both teams had dominated their respective Leagues all season. Something had to give, and with Middlesex University beating HCC Academy B in the semi-final the previous week, Middlesex went into the Final as favourites. This was HCC's only defeat of the season so far and prevented a repeat of the all-Academy Final of the previous year. Coach Tony Garbelotto had worked with the players all week emphasising the need to nullify the twin threats of Middlesex's American imports, the 6'9'' Carlson and player-coach Weakley. However, this didn't stop them hitting 50 points, along with an outstanding contribution of 33 points by Odigan, supplemented by a further 15 from Academy old-boy Michael Baptiste.

The Academy ran into foul trouble early. Defoe picked up two quick fouls and had to be withdrawn from most of the first half, leaving Carlson to dominate the boards. Jean Wakanena, Jeff Danchie and Will Akuffo, kept The Academy in touch to trail Middlesex by just 5 points at the end of the first quarter. However, Middlesex increased their lead to 11 points by half time. The third quarter was more even, but ended with Middlesex leading 82-65 going into the final period with both teams in foul trouble. The Academy was now forced to press full-court, a high-risk strategy that let in Middlesex on the break to lead 92-73 with just 7 minutes to go. The turning point came a minute later when Carlson picked up his 5th personal foul. Carlson and the Middlesex bench went mad at the referees at this call, leading to a double technical foul on the ejected Carlson. The Academy now sensed a chance of dominating the rebounds and continued to press to devastating effect. Danchie, Wakanena and Marsden started to slice through a panicking Middlesex defence thanks to the errors caused by outstanding work from Tolowese, Maker, Anusionwu and Adams. Defoe finally began to dominate under the basket and the Middlesex scoring dried up. The Academy pulled level with two minutes remaining and hit the winning shot right on the buzzer (in true Johnny Wilkinson style) to send the partisan home Hackney crowd wild.

This was an improbable victory brought about by a fantastic fighting performance by a very young Academy side. Jean Wakanena and Jeff Danchie were outstanding with 27 and 26 points respectively, backed up by Will Akuffo with 22. Richard Marsden and Darius Defoe both made double figure contributions, scoring vital points at crucial times in the match.

Having already won the SESSA Premier League and Cup, The Academy continue to head the London Metropolitan Basketball League Premier Division (unbeaten)and meet Wandle Warriors in the Quarter -Final of the London Met. Cup this coming Friday (19.3.04) at SPACe.

Scorers: HCCA Wakanena 27, Danchie 26, Akuffo 22, Defoe 10, Marsden 10, Tolowese 8, Maker 3, Anusionwu 2, Adams 2

Coaches: Tony Garbelotto and Solomon Ayinla

Scorers: Middlesex University Odigan 33, Weakley 26, Carlson 24, Baptiste 15, Murray 5, Botterill 2, Dacosta 2, Bigby 1

Player/Coach: B. Weakley

Referees: Roger Bacchus and Paul Perkins

Table Officials: Ellenor McGhie and Achai Biong

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