West Brom Basketball Club secured their first victory of the premier division season, just days after overtime heartbreak against 2016/17 League winners Balts.
The George Salters Academy based side travelled to last season’s champions knowing that they faced a tough proposition – made even worse without two key players in Ezran Little and Adam Dawson.
However, in spite of their absence the visitors showed plenty of quality against the Worcestershire side.
A quick opening half showed real promise for West Brom, with a mixture of defence and long-range shooting giving Balts plenty to think about.
The hosts, who held their trophy presentation during the half-time interval, came back with renewed spirit in the second half – using their sizeable height advantage to hang close with Liam Sheridan’s side.
With the scores level at the end of regulation, overtime was required to choose a winner – and despite a resolute performance, West Brom couldn’t secure the win, eventually losing out 101-96.
The Black Country outfit were back in action just five days later in their opening home game of the season, desperate to secure their first win of the campaign.
They duly delivered too in front of a raucous supporting contingent, dismantling the visiting Trojans side with a dominant fourth quarter showing.
In a physical encounter, West Brom were trading baskets throughout the first three stanzas – with neither side able to pull away.
Tempers flared throughout the game, with technical fouls issued to both sets of players as the referees struggled to keep a hold of the contest.
The fourth quarter showed just what West Brom are capable of however – with a strangling defense mixing with transition scoring and long range shooting helping lift the hosts to the 74-57 win.
Sheridan was delighted to finally celebrate a victory, continuing his side’s unbeaten home record – which now runs over a calendar year.
“It was fantastic to get our first win. It was a real nip and tuck game in the first half, the third and fourth quarter we really kept our composure.” he said.
“There was one or two heated moments and I feel like we were the team that kept our composure in those times and then we went on a run to finish the game out really strong.
“Hopefully we can take the momentum from the end of this one into the beginning of the next game.
“I think every game we step on court we’ve taken big strides forward with our chemistry, our execution and our understanding of each other and today that translated into a win for us.”
West Brom’s next league fixture is Friday 3rd November, when they host Stoke Shooters. Click here to download our calendar to stay up to date with all our fixtures.
Luke Hatfield
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