The Beverley Cougars faced a tough away match when they travelled to Normandy Barracks to face the Army Wild Dogs, another new basketball team hoping to get some pre-season confidence.
Despite the pressure of their first away game, the Cougars started brightly, taking an early lead thanks to a Steven Lindsey three-pointer. However, turnovers and careless mistakes cost the Cougars and they lost the first quarter 20-9. Wild Dogs star player ex England player Jacob Evans constantly destroying the Cougars with monster dunks.
Another Lindsey three-pointer was the only highlight of a low-scoring second quarter, with both defences keeping on top of chances. Rob Brown was playing particularly well, keeping an ex-England international player quiet.
Even Matt Haughan’s valiant attempts to keep the Cougars in the game couldn’t stop the Wild Dogs from stretching their lead out to 19 points by the end of the third quarter. Wild Dogs playing a well organised and structured zone defence.
It went from bad to worse for the Cougars as the Wild Dogs started to score at will. Conceding three baskets in a minute didn’t do them any favours as they slipped further and further behind. Samson Anene scored four points towards the end, but it was a mere consolation as the Wild Dogs ended the game 67-37 winners.
At the end of the game, Coach Lindsey was disappointed but relatively upbeat about the start of the new season, in a few weeks.
He said, “We may have lost today, but it was an experience that our team had to go through. I still believe that we can be competitive in the upcoming league.”
Final Score : Beverley Cougars 37-67 Army Wild Dogs | Reported By Ciaran Mills
