Sefton Shooting Stars Champions!
Sefton Stars @ Preston Pride U14 Festival 17th May 2009
Sefton Stars U14s were excited to receive an invite into the Preston Pride U14s festival this weekend, which witnessed six teams from around the Northwest coming together to play some post season basketball.
The teams were Preston Pride (hosts), Sefton Stars, Stockport, Bradford, Leeds Carnegie and Blackpool Lights.
The tournament had two groups, an A & B pool. Sefton in the A pool with Preston and Bradford.
Preston 27 46 Sefton
In our first game of the tournament Sefton played a very tall, but inexperienced Host team Preston Pride. The game witnessed the debut of Seftons Jake
and was the second time both Josh Tester and James
kitted up with the core of the U14s who finished in the top 16 this season.
The game format was two ten minute halves (effectively half a national league game) and at the end of the first half Sefton led 24-8. With an opportunity to rotate and see some of the newer players Sefton closed out the game winners by a 46 27 margin.
Top scorers Archie Mullin 13 James .. 10 (10 rebounds, 4 blocks)
Sefton Stars 74 25 Bradford
Hitting 74 points in effectively a half of basketball showed Seftons dominance in this game. Sefton took an early half time lead of 43 15 and again came an opportunity to rotate early. Sefton showcased its run and gun style of basketball seemingly scoring at will with all players on the score sheet. With the group stage won Sefton now looked to the semi-final.
Top scorers Harry Barton 21, Josh Tester 18, Dan (the man) Walsh 10, James 10
Semi-final
Sefton 58 17 Leeds
Against a team in which we knew we were stronger than Sefton started with a different look 5, having rotated heavily in all games so far, we pounced on the opportunity to do so again from the start as Stockport who had made the final would be easily our toughest opposition of the day.
Sefton shot out to an early lead going on a 10-2 run in the first two minutes, Josh Tester proving unstoppable with lay up after lay up, he had 8 points in the first seven minutes with Sefton going on a 26 4 run amd finishing the half 30 12 with the majority of our starting five on the bench.
The second period was no different with Sefton outscoring Leeds 28 5 to take the game 58 17
Top scorers Josh Tester 17, Archie (Mayhem) Mullin 14, Harry Barton 10
Final
Sefton 43 37 Stockport
Having beaten them twice during the regular season, Sefton matched up against Stockport who had also easily dominated their side of the tournament.
Stockport came out strong, however Sefton were not going to give in easily and opened the game on a 8 -3 run with Harry Barton, tournament MVP, playing in a new role, proving why he is winning admirers from all over the country scoring six straight points, Stockport then went on a 6-0 run which also saw Barton pick up two fouls (three personal maximium in the tournament). After a time out, Sefton settled back down with Awesome Archie scoring 10 points to finish the half 26 17 up and in command, but the dark cloud of foul trouble loomed on the horizon with Barton and Tester (who fouled out early in the second, and I will let him explain that one!!!) both on two fouls (only one remaining each).
Stockport opened the half with grit and determination, however they also suffered from foul trouble and also had to leave key players on the bench, maybe for a little too long as point guard Danny Walsh was able to command the game and the last 10 points coming from Harry and James (who showed real composure in the clutch) Sefton frustrated Stockport and snubbed the game out to become worthy champions with a show of maturity beyond their years.
Top scorers Harry Barton 17, Archie Mullin 14