MATCH REPORT:
Clacton Cannons v's Colchester Leopards

by Daniel Tight
Director & Senior Coach

Date: Friday 27th January 2017
Venue: Tendring District Council's Clacton Leisure Centre, Clacton
Attendance: 35
Score: Cannons win 56 to 55.

DEFENCE KEY IN BACK-TO-BACK WINS

CANNONS are really turning this season into one to remember, they have once again earned back to back victories over the past two weeks (away vs Bulldogs and home vs Leopards).

A combination of teamwork, determined and hustle helped to ensure Cannons' defence was on solid throughout both games. Cannons conceeded just 95 points in both games combined.

Away versus Bulldogs, Cannons played extremely well to snatch a last gasp one-point win (55-56) from under the noses of their hosts. Daniel Tight top scored in this game with 21 points, but it was his brother Rhys that stole the show in the 40 seconds when he came to life and held his nerve to sink three out of his four foul shots that he was rewarded with after determined offence and defensive hustle. These foul shots put Cannons two points up with 8 seconds left yo play, this meant that The Bulldogs had one last chance to win. The Bulldogs in bounded the ball cleverly and managed to break the Cannons press in order to get to the hoop where their ball handler was met with a hard block from Peter Ellis; the officials decided that Ellis had committed a foul and this meant that the Bulldogs player had a chance to force overtime if they scored both of the resulting free throws. However, the player missed the first one and that queued scenes of celebration on the Cannons bench!

Cannons then returned for a home game last Friday where they recorded a much more controlled victory over The Leopards (58-40). Cannons raced into a relatively early 18 point lead, during the first half, and they never looked back. Riley Taylor topped scored in this game with a season-high 24 points. However once again it was the team effort and defensive organisation from all the Cannons players that secured this win. This was Cannons' fifth W of the season so far, and the first time that the club has recorded back-to-back home and away league wins.

These recent results have taken Cannons 2016/17 record to 5W:6L and they are still competing in the Suffolk Plate, in fact Cannons welcome Brightlingsea Nomads to Clacton Leisure on Friday 3rd February, 19.40 tip off. Entry is free so why not come along and support your local basketball club.