Warwickshire Bears 63

Swindon Shock 46

Bears, began their season with a win against Swindon Shock, the team that beat them in the final of the National 2nd division title at the end of last season. The game was always going to be a tight affair with both teams beating each other in last season’s games, and gaining promotion into the 1st division south division.

The Bears started the game in slow and disjointed fashion, seeming to play hesitantly with each other and trying to fit the new signings, Siobham Fitzpatrick and Jacob Robinson into the new Bears starting lineup. Swindon took full advantage of the Bears confusion and with their power forward Macauley Tomlinson have a fantastic shooting game, went into the lead at the end of the first quarter Bears 14 – 15 Shock.

With the short break the Bears came back out more organized and with new purpose but could still not get any advantage, with Shock playing a determined defense and matching Bears basket for basket, to go into the half time break with Shock still having a slight lead with the scores Bears 27 – 28 Shock.

The half time break gave the Bears the opportunity to re organize and focus and the third quarter was the turning point of the game. Bears’ defense took hold and the Bears began limiting Tomlinson’s opportunities whilst adding to the score at the Shocks basket. The third quarter ending with the score Bears 50 – 37 Shock.

The last quarter saw the Bears starting to play like the team that won the 2nd South title, and the Bears pulled further away to end the game Bears 63 – 46 Shock.

After the game coach Masterson said “ I always knew today would be a hard game, especially with three new signings starting their Bears debut. We looked disjointed in first half and the players took time to click but eventually we got there. Special mention must go to Adrian Taber and Jacob Robinson for getting on the scoresheet but the performance of the day goes to Siobham Fitzpatrick who was named MVP scoring 18 points on her debut.”

Third Division South & West

Warwickshire Bears 2 45

Thames Valley Kings 29

The Bears 2 also started their new season with a win to make it a double delight for the first home fixture of the new season.

The Bears started the game slowly but again after shaking of the cobwebs began to build a lead against a plucky Thames Valley Kings team. With their veteran player Paul Jackson coming back from a long absence due to injury and going on to gain the MVP, scoring 8 points in the game, the Bears ran out with a comfortable win at the last buzzer.

Coach Masterson said after the game “ It was good to get the season started and let the players play a full game whilst shaking of any cobwebs. It was great to see Paul Jackson back and showing that no matter your age you can still play and enjoy our sport.”