Match Report
Heat Men vs Norton Knights
69-60
Competition:
HEAT Slay Knights In Tough Battle
HEAT welcomed Norton in a re-scheduled fixture which seen the Visitors turn up with a strong team.
Turner won the tip for HEAT and Robinson collected it making a pass to Errington who converted a tough basket. HEAT then force a turnover and Mckenzie was fouled on a move to the basket. He misses both free throws allowing Finmore to punish HEAT on the break. Errington gets another look inside and goes strong, converting again but a 2-minute charge from Knights sees them take the lead with a drive from Jackson and an And1 from Winter. Norton force HEAT in to turnovers and 5-points from Finmore and a 3 from Wassell has the Knights in command.
Both teams make personal change and Jenkins for Norton has an immediate effect with a basket. Tuner makes a long 3 to bring HEAT within 3-points. Ord then twists and turns his way to the basket drawing the foul. Ord fails to convert both free throws but makes up for it on his next move with an And1 which fires the HEAT team up as the game is tied at 19-19. Excellent shooting from Jenkins gives Norton a 2-point lead before Donnison ties the game with his first under the Knights basket. Ivey then gets an open lay-up giving Norton the edge again but Robinson with an And1 himself ties the game again. Robinson misses his free throw but Ord in an MVP performance stole the ball for a lay-up giving HEAT the lead they had been looking for. Jenkins is fouled by Robinson but misses his free throws, which would have tied the game. The HEAT then start to take the game to Norton with strong inside plays from Turner and Ord and superb team defence allowing fast breaks from Robinson Turner and Ord giving The HEAT a Half time lead 35-27.
Ord continues his fine form with an early basket in the 3rd opening up a 10-point lead for The HEAT. Norton hit back with Jenkins who is fouled while shooting but can only convert one free throw. Both teams had good spells throughout the 3rd with Jenkins continuing to shoot well for Knights and The HEAT working the ball to beat the Knights double team giving Ray and Donnison easy baskets.
Trailing by 13 going in to the 4th Knights had to attack and with their double team on defence they went on a 9-4 run but Ord who was unstoppable all game was fouled on his way to the basket again, this time Ivey fouled out and was closely followed by Wassell. Ord converted both free throws and started a 10-0 HEAT run. The last minute was all Norton and they managed to win the quarter by four but HEAT had won a hard fought game that could have gone either way. A Superb team performance and Graham Ord was Outstanding for MVP.
Special Thanks to Steve for refereeing and for Darren who stepped in at the last minute.