Bracknell Cobras 64-65 BLIZZARDS

Having beaten the Cobras at home after a hard fought game, this was going to be a lot harder with the team lacking height in a big way. Oliver Tate, Harry Preston and Adam Lack were all unavailable. The boys were looking for speed to make the difference.
The BLIZZARDS were in their stride quickly, moving the ball smoothly and hitting open shot, 4-8, with two from Max Bartholomew.
Then Nathan Rutherford and Tom Mavronicholas like wise 12-18 and with a 16-21 lead after ten minutes even after having given away a buzzer beater it was a good start.
The Cobras quickly closed the gap to one 20-21, but the BLIZZARDS reacted with a three from Nathan Rutherford followed by Dawson and Karmazyn finding the hoop for an 8point lead 20-28, then 24-32 with just two minutes to half time but yet again the Cobras fought back and this time their buzzer beater was worth three and it was game on with the lead down to the bare minimum 32-33 at HT.
Three minutes into the second half with a 9-0 run the Cobras took command as the BLIZZARDS struggled and kept forcing bad shots and stopped moving the ball 41-33.
A quick time out had them back working as a team with Taylor Dawson finding the hoop and giving two great assists 41all two minutes later, followed by a slender 48-51 lead to take into the last quarter.
The BLIZZARDS asserted and went 7points up 53-60 with five to play. A technical foul on the Cobras No41 should have secured a win with a free throw and the possession back, but they missed the free throw and quickly lost the ball.
The Cobras called a time out and the Blizzards back on court lost the plot, not using the clock and forcing shots way to soon 57-60, with this time, a Blizzards time out to calm the troops.
Stuart Elliott with four more points, now having scored his teams last eight making the difference 57-64 with three minutes to play.
A 7-0 for the home side made it all square, after Jack Fettes had scored one of his two free throws, 64-64.
Now with 26.4 seconds on the clock, Basingstoke ball, this was GAME ON.
A perfect offence with the lads moving the ball and using up the clock, the shot goes up from Luke Karmazynand ……. FOUL, two free throws to come and only 4.4 seconds left on the clock. Luke misses the first, but SWISHHH 64-65 and advantage BLIZZARDS, a solid defence forces Jack Fettes to pass the ball late as he is unable to drive to the basket and the buzzer sounds.
All over BIG WIN.
Blizzards hopefully now heading for the play offs.
Team:
Max Bartholomew 15pts, Stuart Elliott 13pts, Ben Firrell 10pts, Nathan Rutherford 10pts, Taylor Dawson 8pts, Tom Mavronicholas 4pts, Luke Karmazyn 3pts, Stephen Murtagh 2pts, David Blackburn.

Location

Brakenhale School RG12 7AB