Feb 05: Westside defeat Loughborough

Westside got back into action this week after a two week break from EBL fixtures with a resounding 24 point victory over Loughborough Cardinals. With the league title still up for grabs, the team from Shepherds Bush started brightly and raced into a 9 - 2 lead after the first three minutes of the game. The visitors gradually came back into the game with their three point shooting but Westside still held the lead 19 - 15. In the second, Westside continued to pile on the pressure as the lead grew to 17 points before Loughborough rallied in the final two minutes of the first half to reduce the deficit to 12 points.

In the second half, there was no letdown on the defensive intensity from the home team as they continued to interrupt the Loughborough offense with their pressure and create transition opportunities as the lead grew to 25 points by the end of the third, 80 - 55. In the fourth quarter, the lead grew to 32 points before Coach Lamptey withdrew his starting lineup and the final score was 99 - 75.

Coach Frank Lamptey commented: This was a reasonable performance and we managed to show a great deal of contol and poise on offense whilst playing effective defense in parts throughout the match. Our defensive objective every game is to hold teams under 60 points every game so that was one goal not accomplished so we are going to have to improve our consistency in that area if we want to be successful at this stage of the season. On offence I was particularly pleased that we had 4 guys in double figures and 2 others almost in double figures.

This win takes the team back to the top of the division, still tied with Solent Stars, and next week the team travels to South London for a crosstown showdown with their rivals, Brixton Topcats.

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