The cup run continues for the Men’s 1st with a well-deserved victory over Huddersfield 1st. The game finished 78-54 in the Munrow Sports Centre.
Wednesday, 23rd November, saw the return of the Basketball Cup. Birmingham and Huddersfield, with a trophy in their sights, were both keen to embark on their cup run. Birmingham, with three consecutive wins under their belt and sitting snug at the top of their league table, were high on confidence. Whilst Huddersfield, arguably the underdogs due to winning only one of their four games in their league, were hoping some cup magic would turn their season around.
The beginning of the first quarter saw Huddersfield make a surprisingly quick start, despite being fashionably late resulting in a short warm up. They were capitalising on nearly every chance, number four standing out as their biggest threat with excellent dribbling. However, once Birmingham settled into the game they were the stronger of the two teams making many interceptions and breaking very quickly. The first quarter ended 20-11 to the Lions.
This match saw the Munrow stand graced by fans dressed up as nuns and vicars, all with tremendous voices which created a hostile atmosphere for the visitors. Yet, in the second quarter, Huddersfield were not phased by this and came out with power and skill. Birmingham were lacklustre as they looked out of attacking ideas. Huddersfield’s aggression, coupled with the skill of their main man, number four, saw them go into half time level on points. Number thirty-two, Csonga Barabasi, was really the only one steadying the ship for Birmingham with accurate shooting. At half time the score stood at 32-32.
The third quarter was arguably the most exciting part of the match as the fans were treated with end-to-end action. Birmingham looked revitalised in attack highlighted by number eight, Kievon Turnbull, who executed a huge slam-dunk and number thirty-two, Csongor Barabasi, who never looked like he was going to be unsuccessful in his three-pointer attempts. Huddersfield looked to be losing patience at times and were struggling in the literal shadows of some of the tall Birmingham players. The third quarter finished 57-44 to the Lions.
In the final quarter we witnessed the professionalism of the Birmingham team. They saw out the game expertly due to composure and better fitness levels. They still looked extremely energetic whilst many of the Huddersfield players were suffering from tired legs.
The game finished 78-54 to the Lions. Birmingham will be extremely pleased knowing they can replicate their league form in the cup. This could be the beginning of a winning cup campaign and I don’t see why they shouldn’t strive to lift that trophy. Players such as Csonga Barabasi and Kievon Turnbull will be vital in later cup matches. In this match, they played a huge part in ensuring all the fans in fancy dress could celebrate well into the night.
