IPSWICH's Under-15s have made a winning start to the season thanks to a great defensive performance against a well-drilled Baddow Eagles side.

Stuart Watson

National Under-15 League

South Division Two

Baddow Eagles 66 Ipswich Tomcats 73

IPSWICH's Under-15s have made a winning start to the season thanks to a great defensive performance against a well-drilled Baddow Eagles side.

After four months of pre-season training, Nick Newman's went with the starting five of Regent-Bascombe, Keeble, Eyon, Goddard and Dylan Johns.

The start was a close affair, with Coach Newman calling the first time-out after three minutes after his side quickly fell 6-2 behind.

Team captain and East of England player Keeble then came alive and scored twice in quick succession to bring the game level, before 6ft 10in Johns was benched after two early fouls.

The Tomcats switched to a full court press in the second period and, with Mead and Metcalf coming off the bench and both getting two quick buckets, the change in game plan worked.

Ball handler Eyon was having a great game and scored his first three-pointer of the season and, with Johns still on the bench, it was up to Regent-Bascombe and Keeble to keep the pressure up on Eagles defence.

The Tomcats stretched their lead to 12 after half-time, but the hosts quickly pulled back to within three.

With the tide starting to turn, the towering Johns stepped off the bench to produce a great defensive performance, blocking nine shots in the third, while Regent-Bascombe continued to score at ease.

John returned to the bench after his third and fourth fouls and Eagles came back to within four by the end of the period.

The final period began well, with Eyon, Keeble and Regent-Bascombe, Goddard and Mead all playing great defence.

And with Regent-Bascombe scoring two baskets in traffic and Mead getting four more points, the Eagles were kept at bay.

Johns fouled out with the game coming to a close, however, he had already made his contribution with 17 blocks and four points.

Keeble also picked up his fifth foul in the fourth, but by then the captain had scored 14 points.

Coach Newman said: “After a long pre-season it was great to get the first win under our belts. The boys played great defence and managed to hold off a good team in Baddow. All in all it was a good day's work and the boys dealt with it well.”

National Under-14 League

South Division Two

Ipswich Tomcats 55 Reading Rockets 45

IPSWICH's Under-14s treated their home fans to two good wins in this opening day double header.

Playing at their new home of Holywells High School, Ipswich took a little time to settle into their rhythm but, having fallen behind early on, baskets from Ben Mead and Jacob Tinker saw them take a lead they would never lose throughout.

The Tomcats went into the second quarter 20-12 in front and that lead was duly extended when Luke Mascall-Wright fought his way through the crowd under the basket to score.

The hosts then managed to maintain a ten point advantage for the first part of the quarter, with Reading just pulling the gap back to seven by the end of the first half.

Two quick baskets from Reading at the start of the third quarter rattled the Tomcats and, despite their efforts, they couldn't hold back a tide of successful baskets by the team from Berkshire.

At roughly the half way point Reading had made it a one point game, but at this point the Tomcat's captain Elliot Chapman was playing magnificently.

Mascall-Wright and Jacob Tinker were exhibiting some excellent team play and between them they got the home side motivated to retaliate and end the quarter five points in front.

Both sides gave their all in the final quarter but both had difficulty getting the ball into the net.

Ben Moore actually managing to get the ball stuck between the backboard and the hoop, while Chapman's acrobatics in keeping the ball in play were wonderful to watch.

When the final buzzer sounded, Ipswich were ahead by ten and very relieved to have that first win under their belt.

Ipswich Tomcats 114 Hertfordshire Warriors 22

IPSWICH turned on the style in their second game of the day to thrash Hertfordshire Warriors.

Having lost to Reading following Ipswich's win over the Rockets, Hertfordshire were left a well-beaten side against Coach Pavel Kricka and his assistant Sam Saggers' team.

Throughout the game the Tomcats dominated the court with the score at the end of the first quarter 28-2.

Halfway through the second period the home side had added another ten points for just two in reply and by half-time the Tomcats held a commanding 52-9 lead.

A relaxed Ipswich side were relentless after the break and went on to run away with the game.

If you want to see Ipswich Basketball Club in action again, the weekend of November 1 sees no fewer than five home league and cup games taking place at Holywells High School. Entry is free.