Dynamik National Schools Finals 2019 - Day 1 Recap

DYNAMIK NATIONAL SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS 

U16 CO-ED Semi Finals

Lampton 33 V 80 Bristol Metropolitan Academy

The first of the Semi Finals saw Lampton School take on Bristol Metropolitan Academy. Lampton struck first with a quick 3-pointer but then BMA started to take charge as they went on a commanding 18-0 run. Tom Hooper’s side stayed dominate and finished the quarter with a solid 26-7 lead. Coming into the second saw BMA extend the lead on the back of a dunk by Louie Tucker. Bristol then then continued to play a great press and due to some missed opportunities by the London side, the lead grew to 51-17 as the teams went into half time.

BMA started the second half strong as they played shut down defence and scored effectively in transition to win the quarter 21-5, meaning the teams went into the final 10 minutes with the score 72-22. Lampton took advantage of Bristol relaxing as they picked off sloppy passes and successfully narrowed their deficit slightly, winning the quarter 11-8. With the score at 80-33 as the final buzzer sounded, Bristol Metropolitan Academy advance to the afternoon’s final.

Northampton School for Boys 95 v 92 Priestnall School

The second semi final saw a tightly contested spectacle between Northampton and Priestnall. The side from Northampton push out to a quick 7-4 lead but after a time out from Head Coach Adam Morrison, Priestnall got into the game to leave the score was tied 10 a piece with 5 minutes left in the first. Priestnall stayed on top as they found their offensive flow taking a 27-17 lead as the quarter ended. As the second quarter started, Coach Burton’s side then took the opportunity to narrowed the deficit to just one with a 13-4 run, lead by great defence. Priestnall then stopped the tide and managed to slowly build a lead again so that the score stood at 50-42 as they went into the half.

The 3rd starts with both teams trading baskets and Preistnall slightly extending their lead to 9. As the 3rd quarter continued Northampton slowly cut the gap down going into the final 10 minutes with a 5-point deficit at 76-71. As the game went into the final quarter Coach Burton’s side went on a run and narrowed the score to 88-86 with 3 minutes remaining, setting up a grand stand finish. Both teams traded scores with Northampton taking their first lead since the 1st quarter with 1 minute to go and the score at 93-92. Priestnall then came up empty at the worst possible time, failing to score again as they lost 95-92.

Under 16 CO-ED 3rd/4th playoff

Lampton School 66 v 78 Priestnall School

The third fourth playoff game saw Lampton take on Priestnall. Priestnall set the tempo early building a 18-9 lead but, Lampton kept threatening to make a run of their own with the quarter ending 22-15. Lampton came out in the second and continued the comeback, funding success as they tied the score with 5 minutes to goin the half. The game continued to stay close until Coach Morrison’s Priestnall side took control once again to finish the quarter and go into the break up 42-32.

The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets keeping the gap at 10. As the period came to a close, Lampton made a small run closing the gap to as little as 5 points before the 3rd ended 57-49. Priestnall started the final quarter with authority though, showing their ability and taking control of the game. They grow their lead and finishing the game with a solid victory at 78-66.

Under 16 CO-ED Final

Bristol Metropolitan Academy 122 v 34 Northampton School for Boys

The final saw Bristol Academy, who cruised through their semi final, take on Northampton School, who ground out a narrow win in their tough semi-final. Coach Hooper sent his team out in the first quarter playing great press defence and they quickly got out to 12-2 lead which forced Coach Burton to call an early time out. BMA continued to play great defence for the whole quarter and led by Louie Tucker with 12 points, they built a commanding lead at 33-14 after 1. The second quarter followed the same pattern with Bristol capitalising on their great defence through well executed transition which continued to grow their advantage. The teams went into the break with the score at 60-22 and the result was almost a foregone conclusion.

The second half was started with a great play from Bristol getting them a quick score. BMA started to crash the offensive boards and used second chance points to extend their already commanding lead. The intensity of the game dropped in the second half as the score became more and more lopsided, though Louie Tucker's 42 points led to an MVP award as he was a major factor in the 122-34 victory.

Under 16 Girls

Uffculme School 45 v 71 Aylesbury

The semi-finals saw Uffculme School travel all the way to Manchester from Devon pas they took on Aylesbury High School. The first quarter started with a strong 5-0 run from Aylesbury that forced the Devonshire team into a quick timeout. Jenner’s team didn’t let up though, pulling ahead 10-2 after a great pin screen for an open 3. Uffculme then picked up their defence and ended the quarter with the score at 13-10 in favour of Aylesbury. The second quarter started with a strong and-one by Millie Lowrie giving the team from Buckinghamshire the momentum to force back to back turnovers and extend their lead with the teams going into half time at 28-19.

As the second half saw Aylesbury pushing the pace and growing their lead to 37-19 after just a single minute of play. Coach Jenner’s team continued to push as the difference passed 20, though Uffculme mounted a small comeback as the teams headed into the final quarter with the score at 52-33 and momentum was with the side from Devon. It wouldn't be enough though as despite all their efforts to find a way back, the all round team performance from Aylesbury saw five of their players score in double figures for a  71-51 final score.

Chadwell Heath Academy 60 v 75 Reddish Vale High School

The other semi final saw Chadwell Heath Academy take on Reddish Vale High School to try and book a place in the final. The game saw a tight start to the 1st quarter with Reddish edging ahead 9-6 with 5 minutes gone. The game stayed close from there and the second quarter started with both teams continued to trade baskets with the gap staying at 2 points. RVHS then moved through the gears and begin to grow their lead on the back of an amazing scoring run which saw the teams head into half time with the score at 37-22.

The second half began slowly with each team only scoring one basket between them with 3 minutes gone. That pace continued but it was the local side from the North West who then began to add to their lead. As the quarter came to a close, a quick scoring flurry saw the Reddish bloom to 54-39. The final quarter started with Chadwell pushing for come back as they narrowed their deficit to just 9 but some quick adjustments from Coach Riley saw Reddish take control of the game and never look back, securing a 75-60 win.

Under 16 Girls 3rd/4th Playoff

Chadwell Heath Academy 52 v 54 Uffculme School

A very close game saw Chadwell battle Uffculme until the last seconds. The first quarter stayed closely contested, a sign of things to come, as both teams played tough which caused for a scrappy quarter that ended 15-14. The second period saw Chadwell start to move ahead through great defence as they got the score to 25-18. Uffculme never gave up the fight though as they kept it close throughout and finally took the lead with 2 minutes left in the quarter. The half finished with a late bucket by Chadwell which took them into the half with a slender 31-29 lead.

As the second half began the Devonshire side kept up the pressure and through some good 3 point shooting went into the last quarter with a 44-38 advantage. The final quarter continued to go back and forth, with both teams trading the lead for the duration before Uffculme scored the vital basket to win and finish third overall.

Under 16 Girls Final

Aylesbury High School 99 v 98 Reddish Vale High School

The most dramatic game of the day saw Aylesbury take on Reddish Vale in a nail biting fight to win the title. In the first quarter Reddish very quickly asserted their dominance through great guard play from Charlie Wroe as she took her team into the first change with a 30-13 lead. Aylesbury then started the second quarter with a small run narrowing the deficit to just 15 points but Wroe was able to score once again right on the buzzer to leave Reddish ahead 49-31 by the half.

After the break Aylesbury knew they had work to do and managed to reduce their arrears to just 10 as the teams went into the last. The final quarter had plenty of drama with Aylesbury playing hard, eventually taking an unlikely lead through amazing play in the post from Grace Ashton. Up by 3  as the clock went into the final few seconds Charlie Wroe then stepped up and hit a very deep 3 to tie the game as the buzzer sent the game into overtime.

Grace Ashton took It upon herself to pound the ball down low and put the finishing touches on an MVP performance during the extra period. Her timely baskets gave Aylesbury a lead they wouldn't relinquish as the game finished 99-98 despite another buzzer beating three from Wroe. The talented Manchester product finished with 45 points.