British Wheelchair Basketball League – Sports report    11/5/2019

In a weekend of mixed emotions for the Bears team, their Premier league team left their best to last when both Bears and Bears 3 faced Tees Valley Titans Premier team and their 4^th team on Saturday.  With the Bears team facing a season without a win all season for the first time in history, this was their last chance to come away with something from the game.

Premier Division

Bears: 48

Tees Valley Titans: 39

The Bears started their last premier league fixture of the season ii a real determined mood, with the influential Dan Gill finding last season form again and with the help of Jacob Robinson the Bears were able to take a healthy lead in the first quarter with the scores  Bears 14 – 4 Titans.

The Titans came out fighting at the start of the second quarter and trying to press the Bears began to make in roads to the early lead the Bears had built up.  The Bears regrouped and once again found their way to the Titans basket to go into half time with a lead of Bears 27 – 16Titans.

The third quarter was a tense session with the Titans trying to find their way back into the game but the Bears were determined to try and hold the lead they had fought hard to build.  The Bears were hanging on matching the Titans in defence and at the Titans basket, the scores going into the last quarter made for a tense finish with the scores Bears 40 – 31 Titans.

The last quarter was an anxious quarter with the Titans throwing everything at the Bears and forcing them to make silly mistakes and turnovers.  Slowly pulling the scores back to within three points, Coach Masterson re introduced experienced Daz Peasley into the line-up who once again marshalled the team and helped the Bears to go out winners in the last game of the Bears first season in the Premier League Bears 48 – 39 Titans.

After the game coach Masterson said “What a game and Titans pushed us all the way, but I knew we had a win in us.  The past few games we have improved, game by game and left the best till last.  Titans are an awesome team with some really special junior players who are going to be fantastic in years to come.  They are the team we need to base our future on keep looking for the future stars and bring them through our teams!”

Division 3 Central

Bears 3: 50

Tees Valley Titans 4: 34

In the first game of the season, the Bears 3 set the standards early with a comfortable win against Titans 4.  With Harry Draper and Aaron Grant making an impact on the Titans basket, helped by the ever improving Ellan Fraser, the win secured the Bears 3^rd place in the Division 3 Central.

After the game, Bears3 coach Dan Smith said. “Another great win for our developing players.  Titans gave us a run for our money today, but we were just lucky and good enough to see it out for a win.  We have a great bunch of developing players, such as Ellan Fraser and Harry Draper to name just two, but if we can keep hold of them then the future looks good for the Bears