BBL Game Report: Surrey United 63 Plymouth Raiders 97

Surrey United suffered their fifth straight loss of the 2013/14 BBL Championship campaign after Plymouth Raiders made it two defeats across the weekend for the Guildford-based outfit, taking away a 63-97 victory to the South-West.

Starting fives

Surrey: Kucinskas, Dusha, S. Robinson, Tamayo, Felix

Plymouth: Eaves, Woods, D. Robinson, Pressey, Setty

Plymouth’s opening to the game made it seem as if it would be another wash, but then Surrey kicked into life. United worked off the ring rust but looked as if they hadn’t played the night before and forced their visitors into taking an early time-out. Plymouth pressed United to make mistakes, but the home side remained tight in the contest, with only Plymouth’s Donald Robinson catching fire to keep them ahead 16-15. Kucinskas set to work inside and out to rack up five points and give United their first lead of the contest. A long range effort from downtown saw Elvisi Dusha increase his personal tally and maintain their lead, but Plymouth closed with a 5-0 run to end the period 27-24.

Tough defence meant both teams struggled to get any buckets early in the second quarter, Surrey kept pushing the ball, as did Plymouth, and it wasn’t long before drives from Dusha and Matt Pressey got the scores rolling again. Following this, Pressey got out on the break – thanks to some quick hands from Gabe Haskins – for an easy dunk which ultimately led to a United time-out.

Play resumed, and the teams had gone cold. Without regular uniform play, either side began taking the ball one on one, and adrenaline meant this up tempo low percentage play continued. Kucinskas took the initiative to work the ball down low, using the clock, and pegging Plymouth before the visitors then managed small 6-0 runs either side of a time-out to go 12 points clear, whilst the sole point Surrey could manage was a free throw by Kucinskas. Tathum-Nunn made an instant impact when coming on and Surrey worked themselves out of the wrong end of a long run which spanned the latter part of the half. Teams went into the locker room with Plymouth leading 39-51. Despite the decrease in offensive efficiency, Surrey had been good in taking Plymouth away from their game plan, forcing them into off-the-cuff plays which kept their scoring down.

The second half opened with blocks by Ben Eaves and an offensive rebound of the same player. United found open shots after finding the extra man, but hesitation failed to see them take advantage. Tamayo eventually got the scoring going for United, and soon they managed to work some easy layups through box outs by Kucinskas. Intimidation tactics in the form of a full court press rocked United and Raiders capitalised pushing out to a 23 point lead, however 49-70 was how the game stood heading into the final stanza.

Plymouth took their foot off the pedal in the final ten minutes, mustering only 15 points in six and a half minutes, and holding Surrey to below ten, whilst physical play saw Kucinskas foul out of the game.  Substitutions saw Peard, Walker and Williams earn minutes in a BBL uniform. United did work in a few baskets thanks to Dusha and Felix but ultimately the result was only going one way as Plymouth ran out 97-63 victors.

Trevor Setty had a game-high 22 points for the visitors, Matt Pressey added 21 and nine assists, whilst Donald Robinson chipped in with a further 19 points.

Kucinskas was the top scorer for United with 17 points and six rebounds, Dusha had 13 points, while Jamel Felix added 12.

Next up

Surrey United away against Cheshire Phoenix, Sunday 27th October, 5:30pm tip-off, Northgate Arena.

Plymouth Raiders away against London Lions, Friday 25th October, 7:30pm tip-off, Copper Box Arena.