Season 2001/2002

An end of season exhibition event funded by the Urban Partnership group and attended by Councilor Williams of the Education department saw the level of basketball development accelerate considerably and by the time the new season came round the mens team had grown into two teams who would compete in the Middlesex and Metropolitan Leagues. In addition, the club also ran two junior teams in the London Junior League in the under 18's boys and under 16's girls.

In the mens competition, Westside 1 would compete in the Middlesex Premier Division whilst Westside 2, would compete in the Middlesex First Division. The best of both teams would combine to play in the London Metropolitan First Division.

Both teams started well in the Middlesex League with Westside 1 winning two of three games and Westside 2 winning all four of their games. However, Westside 1 began to struggle as they lost four consecutive games in what Coach Lamptey called the teams "darkest moments". He added "the team was playing without a great deal of confidence and this translated into poor decisions with the ball, particularly in the fourth quarter and we were losing close games because of it. It was rough but looking back it was just what we needed - to deal with a little adversity because tough times don't last but tough teams do so I guess we had to prove that we were a tough team". With their record at 2 -6, Westside 1 entertained Brunel Beaconsfield in the Middlesex Cup and with new found confidence and understanding came out on top by 10. Meanwhile Westside 2 were dominating in the First Division winning games by 40 points whilst averaging over 100 points per game and maintaining their unbeaten record. This continued in their meeting with the Premier Division leaders, Kingston Wildcats, with the prize for the winner being a showdown with Westside 1 in the quartersfinals. Westside 2, motivated by that prospect, played a controlled game throughout and prevailed in overtime upsetting Kingston 83- 79. The Febuary matchup proved to be a anticlimax as a record attendance at the Janet Adegoke Leisure Centre saw Westside 1 outplay Westside 2 in every department and dominate the game 97- 66.

Meanwhile, in the London Metropolitan First Division, the team were cruising along with a 5 -1 record after the Christmas break but the biggest test would come in the second round of the London Metropolitan Cup against Barking and Dagenham Erkenwald in Dagenham. A team mixup meant that only four regular players (guards Damion Tennyson and Matt Maguire, and forwards Anthony Lazare and John Glasgow) plus injured forward Huggy Rhoden were available. This meant Coach Lamptey, who had been in semi retirement, had to suit up and play. Against National League opposition and with no player taller than 6'2 against a frontline of 6'8, 6'6 and 6'4, Westside put together a clinical display of team basketball with oustanding defence in the first three quarters (limited Erkenwald to 30 points) and ball movement and good decision making on offence. Despite a rally in the fourrh, Westsides victory was never in doubt and a very tired Coach Lamptey (after playing 40 minutes) commented" This game was as good as we've played because everybody played their role for the team to perfection. It was all about turning adversity into triumph today and we managed to do that". This result was the foundation for the rest of the season and despite setbacks in the Premier Division for Westside 1, they cruised to the Middlesex Cup with big victories over Brunel University and Slough Raiders to take the trophy. Westside 2 were still proving that they were the dominant team in the First Division and wrapped up the title in April. The form of both teams continued into the end of season playoffs as both teams won their respective divisions to finish with two trophies apiece.

In the Met League First Division, both teams, still hungry for success, combined to face the Graeme Park Guns, who had the same record of 15 - 2, as once again the title would come down to the lasy game of the season. Despite a nervy start, Westside raced into a lead in the third quarter which they would never relinquish and the team claimed their fifth trophy of the season. Coach Lamptey commented "Once again, we have proved to be the best team at the end of the season when the stakes are high and despite some sticky patches early in the season, our mental toughness is unmistakable".

Westside 1 2001/2002 Team 1. Antnony Rose 2. Anthony Lazare 3. Damion Tennyson 4. Roland Morris 5. Jeff Bridle 6. Matt Maguire 7. Darren Dick 8. Beres Peters 9. Wesley Francis 10. Andrew Mayers 11. Illija Skrnjevic 12. Ronnie Ochero 13. Ralston Cameron

Westside 2 2001/2002 team 1. Marcel Henri Fontaine 2. Nathan Brewer 3. Huggy Rhoden 4. John Glasgow 5. Patrick Omigie 6. Frank Lamptey 7. Barry Lamptey 8. Phillip McDonald 9. Sam Omar 10. Jeremy Gregory 11. Tony Donegal 12. Jo Ruhuman 13. Emir Kamber 14. George Pineda 15. Lee Parker

Westside Honours Middlesex Cup Winner 2002 Middlesex Premier Division Playoff Winners 2002 Middlesex First Division Champions 2002 Middlesex First Division Playoff Winners 2002 London Metropolitan League First Division Champions 2002

Team Honours Westside 1 MVP - Damion Tennyson Westside 2 MVP - Patrick Omigie Defensive Player of the Year - Frank Lamptey Most improved Player of the Year - Patrick Omigie

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