Dave Ryan reports…
Despite his team failing to collect a win as they hosted the Essex Classic tournament over the weekend, Leopards coach Thomas Baker believed there was plenty to be encouraged about as his new-look side took to the floor.
“Overall we learnt a lot about ourselves this weekend” he said. “Naïvity is a word that I would use to describe how we were early on in the tournament. However, as the games went on, we started to show the potential this team has and we competed hard throughout day two and showed real improvement.
“The players responded well to being challenged, self-awareness and self-reflection are going to be essential in our development and there were some really insightful reflections from the guys and this is something I am consciously trying to encourage in how we approach each and every moment.
“The season is going to be a journey and it is important the players remain committed to the process and come together in holding each other accountable to the standards we set.
“I am optimistic about the season ahead but we have long way to go in order to get to where we want to be. I enjoyed getting on the floor with the guys and it was great to coach this new look Leopards team. It’s going to be an exciting season.”
Baker enjoyed the Classic, which saw London Lions lift the trophy with a 101-50 victory against Team USA Select: “The tournament itself was a success. Really well ran, strong teams competing it out and a great event altogether. From the national anthem singer to the sponsors in Herbalife and Hardwood ventures to the two touring American teams and the London Lions it was a fantastic event to be part of and a big shout out to Tony Shaw and the rest of the Leopards staff who made the event what it was.”
Leopards started the four-team, two-day tournament with a 69-39 loss against Libertyville Vipers. The Big Cats started well against the American side before fading down the stretch.
Lee Hodges (formerly Leigh Greenhan) led the Big Cats with 13 points with Dion Easton adding six on his Leopards debut.
Eventual winners Lions proved unstoppable throughout the weekend, backing up their claim to be one of the favourites to win the British League this season, and they ran out 72-39 winners.
Peel was in imperious form with 18 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes of action as Lions again started well with a 27-6 first period lead.
Chuck Duru hit half of the Big Cats points in the first quarter with a triple, but Sam Newman and Tom Child also scored from the Land of Plenty as Leopards opened the second period with an 11-6 run.
A four-point play from Wes Moore – Leopards’ only returning player from last season – helped the hosts keep the scoreboard ticking over, but a pair of Jordan Spencer free-throws sent Lions into the half-time break with a 39-21 lead.
The third period proved to be evenly matched, with Hodges hitting six straight points for Leopards before Andre Lavinier cut the deficit to 52-33 at the final break.
That proved to be only a brief respite for the Big Cats as Lions stepped up a gear in the fourth period, scoring 20 straight points in the first five and a half minutes before scores from Dion Easton, Duru and Newman sparked a 6-0 run to wrap up the scoring for the day.
Hodges finished with 11 points for Leopards with Newman adding seven and Rory Winter six.
Sunday saw Leopards face Team USA Select in their final group game, and a poor final period cost them as they lost 68-59.
It was a strong finish from the visiting side that sealed a place in the championship game as they held Leopards to just six points in the final four minutes of the game.
Twenty-one points from Flowers and 15 from Corey Hicks proved key for Select, while Hodges led Leopards with 17 points and five boards, with Newman adding nine points and five assists.
The third place play-off saw Vipers hold off a late run from Leopards to take bronze with a 75-67 victory.
The Big Cats had trailed 62-46 at the final break, but outscored the Americans 21-12 before running out of time.
Thomas Baker’s Leopards had led 19-17 at the first break, thanks partly to a pair of treys by Andre Lavinier, but Vipers took a 34-33 into the interval before a 28-13 third period put the visitors in charge.
A Lavinier and-one saw Leopards start the fourth period well, but although they chipped away at Viper’s lead, their late run wasn’t quite enough.
Captain Sam Newman, along with debutant Luke Mascall-Wright led the hosts with 11 points apiece.
