Harrisons home return helps Rocks clinch victory - Callum Carson
Posted on February 7th, 2012 by
Coach Davis was quick to point out that veteran point guard E.J. Harrison is not yet at 100% following his three month injury lay-off. E.J. on the other hand, was equally quick to point out that if he’s on the court playing, then percentages don’t enter the equation. Few that turned up to the Kelvin Hall on Sunday, however, could deny that the veteran point guard played a crucial role in leading the Rocks to an 86-75 victory over the Guildford Heat in front of the SKY cameras. With Plymouth playing in the BBL Trophy semi-finals that day, the victory moved the Rocks up to 18 points, putting them on equal footing with the Raiders, although the south coast team have a six game advantage.
The Rocks seemed intent to put on a show for the cameras as they took a 4-2 lead early on thanks to a sweet alley oop that was finished by Gareth Murray, who seems to be back to form following a rough patch, although that was very much the highlight of a poor first quarter for the hosts that saw the Heat take a 22-15 lead into the second stanza thanks to some neat play, as ever, from Drew Lasker and Tayo Ogedengbe.
The defensive pressure that the Heat put the Rocks under was leading to turnover after turnover from Glasgow, who at times seemed to be trying to do much with the basketball. There were numerous times in the opening quarter where Green, in particular, tried to force a pass that just wasn’t available. The offensive rebounding at times seemed non-existent too.
A 20-8 run in the first seven minutes of the second quarter, highlighted by back to back three pointers from Harrison and a sweet behind the back pass under the basket from Andrew Wedemire that ultimately led to Green nailing two free throws, gave the Rocks a 35-29 lead before a late burst gave Guildford a deserved two point half-time lead. Despite some neat play from the home side, the Rocks were shooting a measly 39% at the break, while Guildford fared better at 47%. The difference, largely, was the Heat were controlling the points in the paint battle as their defence were constantly forcing Glasgow outside, while at the other end of the court the Guildford big men were getting to the basket with worrying ease.
The last time out at the Kelvin Hall, the Rocks had their worst performance of the season but have stepped it up greatly in the three games since that woeful defeat. ‘Nothing cures a team like watching film,’ said Sterl, before further commenting that he picked the game apart and that ‘once those things were addressed, that in itself improved the intensity level.’ If it was intensity the Coach was looking for at the start of the second half, then he sure got it as his boys went on a 17-2 run to open the third quarter that gave the Rocks the lead for good. Sterl switched his defence to zone and he agreed that was the catalyst for their early third quarter run, saying ‘I’ve always been a fan that if you get defensive stops, then the offensive side will happen and I think that helped us a lot.’
If the Rocks were guilty of playing sloppy basketball in the first quarter, then, so too were the Heat in the third quarter as the hustle and intensity that Coach Davis focussed on in training was there for all to see.
With the Rocks forced to play both Bunyan and Malnieks down the stretch thanks to Wedemire and Cranston being in foul trouble, the Heat were able to take advantage of the smaller and more inexperienced line-up and a 7-0 run helped Creon’s men whittle the Rocks lead down to just one with 4.45 remaining. As if on cue, up stepped E.J. with the poise and calmness that the Rocks desperately needed and his breakaway two pointer was the catalyst for an 8-0 run that proved one comeback too far for Guildford.
One massive benefit of having E.J back playing, if not fully healthy, is that it allows for a much deeper bench and Sterl stated after the game just how influential and important a player Harrison is for his team, describing his return as ‘crucial.’ Harrison, for his part, was quick to heap praise on the youngsters that had the opportunity to get more time on the court during his prolonged absence.
When the Rocks were fully healthy earlier in the season, they were a team that the rest of the league feared before a 3-6 spell in December and January. There’s little doubt in my mind that we can return to that level over the next few games once E.J. gets some games under his belt. In Harrison, Huffor and Green we have some excellent guards that are all capable of grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and pulling us through in tight situations, while Gareth seems to have rediscovered his early season form too. With 13 games left in the season the teams are fighting for the play-off seedings and while the top four seem to have pulled away from the pack, don’t be surprised if the Rocks make a real push for a top four spot.
Next up for the Rocks is another televised game on 19th January at home to lowly Cheshire. The two week lay-off, Sterl commented, will ‘hopefully be an advantage to us instead of a burden.’ The push for the play-offs start here, so make sure you don’t miss out!
Let’s Rock!