BBL Game Report: Surrey United 79 Durham Wildcats 100
It’s been a week since both teams have played, with success favouring the North East club. The Durham Wildcats made the journey south to the, so far, winless United.
Starting fives
Surrey: Tamayo, Sijanas, Robinson, Dusha, Kucinskas
Durham: Bucci, Allison, Ginty, Huffor, Elderkin
Today’s game saw United go toe-to-toe with the Wildcats during the first quarter, and a large vibrant crowd grace the Surrey Sports Park.
Durham won the tip and opened the scoring and pushed out to an early lead, but United held on and worked the visitors’ defence – resulting in Danny Huffor and Mike Allison sweating it out early on two fouls each. New Surrey signing 6′ 8″ Ceslovas Kucinskas made a strong impact with the boards and efforts from long range; however Surrey were still to trail by six at 21-27.
Surrey were to suffer from Durham’s fast break after a number of turnovers – and soon found themselves on the wrong side of a 46-30 score. It was back and forth throughout the remainder of the quarter, but Devan Ginty and Paul Elderkin found their range outside; and their inside game in the form of Attah and Allison, in parts. On the other end of the court United took advantage with Kucinkas in the post – his team mates repeatedly finding him under the basket which allowed him to notch nine points. Not only was he scoring but he fought for the offensive rebound after the miss, putting them back to keep Surrey in the game. Although United’s Tathum-Nunn managed to sink a triple, Durham had built up a 62-40 lead at the half time break.
The opening minutes of the second half consisted of sloppy play from both sides before they settled back into the contest. Despite their turnovers, Surrey hustled to retain the ball – with an American football style of play, bodies flying to the floor. The experience of Bucci helped the Wildcats – always finding an open man on the perimeter or under the basket for an easy two. A shot from downtown kept Durham in check and Surrey continued to use their new big. However, a few lapses at the end of the quarter allowed Durham to close on a small 6-0 run (79-62), thanks to a last second tip in from Mike Allison. Surrey did outscore their visitors 22-17 to cut the lead down to 17.
It was a slow opening for the fourth quarter, as three minutes passed before any score. Dusha had four fouls early in the fourth quarter, which saw him limited in his defensive pressure, though remained on the court. The deficit for Surrey remained around the 20-point mark but they stepped up their defence and began forcing some turnovers. Ignas Sijanas drove to the basket hard, drawing fouls and coupled with a conventional 3-point play from Kucinskas, it helped Surrey to close to the gap at 13.
Kucinskas was then called for an offensive foul – clearly having been down the gym as he pushed aside his defender with ease. Following which, the Wildcats pushed the ball to get their lead to 18. A three from Ignas Sijanas pegged it back to 15 and, with 2 minutes to play, it looked as if it could be a close ending. However Devin Ginty, doing what he had been all game, hit back to back threes – including one off the back of pick, set by team mate Allison. This took Ginty’s tally to 24 whilst also cut the hopes of a United comeback.
Kucinskas led Surrey in his debut, with 24 points followed by Tamayo on 19 and Dusha with 16.
Durham’s Ginty led the charge from behind the arc (24 points), helped by Mike Allison and RJ Evans, both with 18. Durham again dominated the boards as they have done for their previous two games.
Despite the final scoreline, Surrey United put in very strong quarters in the first and third – which helped reduce the deficit. It is clear to see that they are making strides with their time in top-flight British basketball, managing to reduce the losing margin in each of their games. With 2 chances left to beat the teams they have played so far, I am sure they will far more competitive matches in the future.
