Heat Too Hot for Luke Warm Lions…
Prestige Homes MK Lions 90 (23,40,64) (Gill 19, Dobbins 16, Bolds/Northern 15)
Guildford Heat 95 (23,54,72) (Lasker 22, McLemore 21, Ogedengbe 15)
It was a tough game of two halves at the MK Basketball Arena on Friday night. Yet it was the visiting Guildford Heat that came out on top with a 95-90 win over the Lions.
The result meant that they now go above the Lions into seventh position in the BBL table, with only a few more games left of the season.
MK were the first to find the basket through Daniel Northern, however it wasn’t long before a lively Drew Lasker took the Heat into the lead early on in the first quarter. Both sides traded baskets throughout a heated opening period, much of the action from Guildford’s Lasker and Tayo Ogedengbe and for the Lions Stefan Gill and new addition Justin Dobbins. The game was locked at 23-23 at the end of the quarter, it was a close one to call.
The Heat struggled to keep up with the lightening speed of Stefan Gill at the start of the second quarter and also found themselves in foul trouble, as the host’s took a lead of 29-26. Lions managed to hold on through great link play between Northern and Dobbins to reach 31-30. The athleticism of the Heat however, then broke through to open up the game with a huge 16-0 burst to take the score out to 31-46 midway through the second quarter. Lasker and Ogedegebe both impressive and repeatedly finding net time.
MK looked to their usually influential guard and talisman Demarius Bolds to help them pull back the deficit, however uncharacteristically quiet Bolds seemed frustrated and with two early fouls, he and the Lions watched the Heat pull away with a 40-54 lead going into the locker rooms at half time.
Andrew Lasker lead Guildford with 16 personal points, and Justin Dobbins with 12 for the Lions going in the second half.
Mike New’s Lions were again the first to get on the score board as the 3rd quarter began. A basket from Dobbins followed by one from Bolds took the score to 44-54. After a frustrated first half for Bolds, he began to come alive with strong link play alongside Gill and Dobbins, which in turn gave fellow Lions the boost they needed to cut the scoreline to 64-72.
The 3rd quarter was physical, high-tempo and exciting – the MK Basketball Arena was ready for the final stanza. The Lions looked hungry, whilst the Heat looked red hot – this was a 4th quarter not to be missed.
The Lions came out for the final period roaring, and it wasn’t long before Stefan Gill hit a field goal for 3 and tied the score at 77-77! Fantastic play from Gill, Northern and Adrien Sturt racked up back to back baskets, resulting in a 20-2 run for a lead change over the Heat to 86-79. The crowd were on their feet, and chants of ‘Lions Lions’ filled the arena. Justin Dobbins did his best to relay that enthusiasm onto the court and into the basket.. yet the Heat’s Martelle McLemore and Tayo Ogedegebe had other plans.
The visitors then took control. A basket from Lasker, followed by another from captain Mike Martin put them back in the drivers seat, 88-91 with 1 minute of game time remaining.
A firey time out from Mike New inspired Bolds, as a quick ‘shake and bake’ from him for 2 pulled the score back to 90-91. Martelle McLemore then found the net for the three-pointer that gave Guildford a 4 point lead. With less than 20 seconds left, McLemore added insult to injury with a single from the free throw line.
Final score at the Lions Den – MK Lions 90-95 Guildford Heat.
