Outlaws struggled in the first period against a strong Sporting Club Albion side; Albion gave Outlaws a beating in West Bromwich, losing by more than sixty points, so Outlaws were up for the rematch.
James Wood got the show off to a good start with a three point shot, but it was three minutes before James Gothridge put more points on the score sheet. By the time Domanic Holmes scored both his freethrows, Outlaws were down by 16 making the first quarter 10 to 26.
Slow off the mark again for Outlaws at the start of the second period, we then began to gel going on a five point run, keeping Albion to single points with pressure man to man . Half time score 25 to 50.
Assistant Coach John Joyce gave Outlaws players targets to hit, but it took a time out in the sixth minute of the third quarter to get them back on track. Woods hit a three pointer to start them off followed by Jordon Briggs and Sam Turner hitting all their free throws and Briggs nailing a three point shot. Outlaws kept the pressure on defence and turned steals into fast brake baskets. Outlaws only lost the third by one point 17 to 18.
End of the third 42 – 68.
Outlaws had to wait till the second minute for a basket in the fourth quarter, but due to their aggresive game plan, Albion had three players in foul trouble, so had to play their bench. Outlaws took advantage of this and James Gothridge ran amock scoring nine points of Outlaws seventeen. By the time one of Albions’ main players was fouled out, Outlaws were in control with Woods finishing the period woth a three point shot. Outlaws won the period 17 to 15. A great second half performance from all team members.
Final score, 59 – 83.
OUTLAWS FIGHT HARD IN LOCAL DERBY
Outlaws scoring got under way with two, three point shots from James Wood and a freethrow from Sam Turner, with Outlaws playing man to man managing to keep Derby from running away with the game – first period score 23 to 13.
Outlaws struggled in the second quarter and couldn’t score with Derby playing a tougher defensive game which Outlaws struggled to breakdown. Will Parkin scored his four points in this period and played some good defence.
Half time score 49 to 21.
Outlaws needed a period to lift the team; Turner to the rescue! Followed by fast brake baskets from Woods and Chip Humphreys. Domanic Holmes took four defensive rebounds and Jordon Briggs knocked down two three point shots. Outlaws on a roll with their best period 27 to 22. Third period score 76 to 43.
Fourth period underway and Outlaws kept Derby at bay with some strong defence with Turner and Briggs doing most of the damage.
Outlaws were behind but managed to keep the pressure on – unfortunately the game had to be stopped for 20 minutes due to an injury to a Derby player. When play resumed Derby had no heart to make a game of it allowing the Outlaws to win the period 12 to 15 but not the game.
Final score Derby Trailblazers 88 v 58 Ilkeston Outlaws.
Ilkeston Outlaws started the top of the league fixture against Birmingham Mets with one of their best starts in four games.
A steal from James Wood got the ball rolling in the first minute and by the end of the of the third minute, Outlaws were 10 – 4 up mean the Birmingham coach was forced to call a time out.
Mets then took over but Outlaws kept pressing on, ending the first period 31 – 19. More points in this period than a whole half of basketball from the previous week.
Jordon Briggs hit a big three point shot at the begining of the second period with Outlaws playing better man to man defence in this period and also scoring double figures.
Half time score 56 to 36.
After the half-time break, Mets came out flying in the third quarter causing Outlaws to struggle with their power and strength, but they found holes in Birminghams defence and managed to keep scoring in double figures.
Assistant coach John Joyce gave the team a target of scoring 50 points by the end of the game, something to aim for.
Outlaws ploughed on in the fourth quarter, still holding good form with man to man pressure and still taking the game to Birmingham.
The last basket Outlaws scored in the fourth was by new boy Sam Walters who has only been playing with the team for eight weeks. A good team performance all round and also enjoyed by the travelling support from the parents.
Final score Birmingham Mets 113 v 57 Ilkeston Outlaws
OUTLAWS LOSE ON THE ROAD
Poor start but Outlaws finish strong in Telford.
Ilkeston Outlaws U18 basketball team traveled to Telford for their latest fixture against Shropshire Warriors. Outlaws started poorly in the first period; Chip Humphrys first on the score sheet for Outlaws in the fourth minute, Shropshire just blowing holes in the Outlaws defence first period score 26-9.
Outlaws stepped up their defence in the second, forcing Warriors to shoot over them, this kept Warriors score down. With the missed shots, Sam Turner and Domanic Holmes picked up the rebounds. Outlaws still struggled on the offensive end with Jordon Briggs being the only scorer for Outlaws.
Half time score 44-16.
Fortunes had strangly turned and Outlaws came out fighting in the third; Will Parkin was the first to score to set the standard for the next two periods. Outlaws got their fast brake going and scored almost as many points in this period as in the first two. Third period score 62-30.
The start of the fourth and Outlaws went on a 6-0 run, applying good pressure with their man to man and still getting out on the floor running to finish a fine fourth period with Chip Humphrys nailing a three point shot from the corner in the last seconds of the game.
A good second half performance from all the team.
Final score, Shropshire Warriors 75 v 48 Ilkeston Outlaws
OUTLAWS HAVE CLOSE GAME IN BIRMINGHAM
Outlaws beat Birmingham in three periods of basketball but lose out for the win.
Outlaws started the first period with a great show from James Wood, Sam Turner and Jordon Briggs piling on the perssure. Turner was taking all the defensive rebounds from Birmingham shots, as Outlaws played man to man defence forcing Birmingham to shoot over the defence.
Outlaws were in command at the end of the first quarter: 9 to 21.
Woods and Parkin open the scoring in the second period; Outlaws went on three runs of six points keeping the pressure on Birmingham. Outlaws ball pressure forced Birmingham into passing errors.
Half time 23 to 36 to the Outlaws.
After the half time team talk, Outlaws came out and lost their focus (as often happens in the third); it wasn’t the same team. Four missed lay-ups and an easy offensive put back, put Outlaws on the back foot. Birmingham slowly plugged away, always scoring, while Outlaws kept missing. Outlaws down by five points but still in the game. Third period score 45 – 40.
A great start to the fourth with Wood’s three point shot, and Turner and Gothridge with two points each before Birmingham scored. The points now 47 to each team – Game On! Outlaws traded basket for basket for the next five minutes resulting in Ilkeston Outlaws one point in front with two minutes to play. Unfortunately, by this time in the game Outlaws’ man to man had gone to pieces. Birmingham hit a three pointer and a lay-up in the last minute to win the game.
Final score City of Birmingham 61 v 57 Ilkeston Outlaws
Players and coaches named Joe Cross as man of the match
MISSED CHANCE FOR OUTLAWS AGAINST LEICESTER
The meeting of these two teams on the same points in the league for a chance to jump above one another.
Outlaws were off to a good start in the first quarter, playing man to man defence helped them into a 8-2 lead by the fourth minute. Leicester offering little resistance in the first period Outlaws stayed in control – 17 to 13.
The small defecit sprang Leicester into action in the second period and Outlaws struggled to stop their fast-brake but maintained pressure by moving the ball in transition.
The lack of defensive pressure on the ball had Leicester driving to basket causing the team to foul unnecessarily.
Leicester had a timeout in the last two minutes of the second quarter then went on an 11-0 run, which Outlaws failed to stop and at half time were down by four 32 to 36.
Outlaws tried to put second period problems behind them, but didn’t start well; Leicester went on a 10-0 run before any reply in the third minute from Turner. Outlaws, down by 10, had an up hill climb but fought back going on their own 9-0 run to close the points gap. End of thrid quarter: Outlaws down 45 to 55.
Outlaws have closed a gap like this before and stated strong in the fourth. Baskets from Jordon Briggs and James Wood made the difference only six points and throughout the final quarter, Outlaws traded basket for basket, although missed free throws in the last two minutes of the game could have helped the cause.
Over all a better performance but a tough away game.
Players and coaches chose James Wood as man of the match.
LOCAL RIVALS COME OUT ON TOP
Ilkeston Outlaws U18 basketball team travelled to Nottingham for the reverse fixture against local rivals.
Outlaws looked like a one man tean in the first four minutes with only Jordon Briggs on the score sheet. The team played tough man to man defence and caused Nova all sorts of problems leaving Outlaws up four points at the end of the first quarter; 18 to 22.
Outlaws came out in the same mood for the second period with Chip Humphreys starting the procedings with a three point shot. Nova knowing they were in a scrap came back with a 7-0 run against the Outlaws, but after a time out in the last two minutes Outlaws went on their own 7-0 run to finish the first half up by two 39 to 41.
Outlaws third period issues raised its head again with the team only scoring five points in the period courtesy of Briggs and Woods; it was a poor show from all the team players. End of the third period, 56 to 45.
The fourth period to play for and Outlaws started well although missed freethrows were a problem, but man to man defence and fast-brake basketball caused most of the damage for Nova with the team never giving up.
Final score Nottingham Nova 94 v 61 Ilkeston Outlaws.
Players and coaches chose James Wood, Sam Turner, Matt Watts for man of the match.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTLAWS
Christmas break over, Outlaws were back into their first game against Worcester Wolves.
Outlaws started well playing man to man defence; Outlaws upsetting Worcester by not allowing them a chance to get settled.
End of the first peroid Outlaws up 22 to 20.
Second period underway and Turner hits a nice shot from 15 feet followed by James Gothridge. With Outlaws’ fast break causing real problems for Worcester followed by a three point shot from Jordan Briggs, Outlaws are up by seven points.
Worcester came back with their own seven point run and in the last seconds of the first half Outlaws went to sleep and let Worcesters’ Richardson score a three pointer from beyond the arc.
Half time 38 to 40 to Worcester.
The third period is cirtical in any game and Outlaws started well with a two pointer from big man Turner.
Outlaws now in their 2v3 zone did not cause the problems Head Coach Roger Chester thought they would, so back into man to man at the sixth minute point; Outlaws went on a six point run, but Worcester piled on the points.
Outlaws down by 15 at the end of the third 49 to 64.
Worcester could not put a foot wrong and went on 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter. Outlaws showed great courage and fought back with their own 8-0 run winning the period 16 to 14, but not enough to win the game.
Final score Ilkeston Outlaws 63 v 80 Worcester Wolves
Players and coaches named Jordon Briggs man of the match.
LOCAL RIVALS MEET AT KIRK HALLAM
Ilkeston Outlaws U18 basketball team started their season with a local derby against Nottingham Nova.
The game was a brisk afair with both teams using their fast break; Nottm took a five point lead before James Gothridge scored one of his two freethrows. Jordon Briggs scored eight unanswered points, followed by James Woods three point shot which finished the 1st period, Outlaws down by three points (Outlaws 15 v Nova 18).
Outlaws opened the second period with baskets from Briggs and Laim Tansley new boy Jack Harchuk scored both of his free throws. Woods and Tansley followed with a three pointer, taking Outlaws into the break up 35 to 32.
Outlaws didn’t get of to a good start in the third, but kept in touch with nine points from Briggs.Outlaws Sam Turner had to cope with Nottm Sam Whittington; causing all the problems in the post. Other scorers in the third Gothridge, Wood, Turner,Holmes all chipped in with two points each . End of the third period 52 each.
Everything to play for and Nova started the better team Outlaws now playing catch up. Woods shot a three pointer and Outlaws were still in touch, Nottm scored eight points, Outlaws went on their own eleven point run with baskets from Briggs, Tansley,Wood ,Turner. Outlaws up by one, with two minutes to go. Ilkeston players attacked the basket which made Nottm foul, sending Outlaws players to the free throw line, only scoring four points but enough for Outlaws to record their first win.
Players not mentioned were Danny Walters and Will Parkin who didn’t get on the score sheet but added to the team effort with great defence.
Final score Ilkeston Outaws 73 v 68 Nottm Nova.
Man of the match was James Gothridge.
