Raiders edge out Wildcats in lacklustre display
Talk quickly turned to how lethargic the Raiders were on Saturday night, low on energy, and doing just enough to avoid an upset.
Love talked to The Herald about his disappointment over “lacklustre” efforts, and “lack of concentration.” There isn’t a lot wrong with the Head Coach’s assessment; the Raiders were poor, and it nearly cost them big.
However, a poor performance from the home team must not detract away from just how good the visitors played. What Durham lacked in talent, they made up for in execution and effort. Durham ran a slick offense, and often waited until late in the shot clock to get the look they wanted. Scoring 86 points on the host’s floor is credit to the structure and discipline installed by Coach Dave Elderkin into his young and inexperienced team – made up largely of University students.
The game featured an interesting match up between the two opposing towers inside; Raiders Paul Williams, and Durham’s Mario Flaherty. In a generation of post players who seem more content drifting out to the perimeter, it was refreshing to witness both Williams and Flaherty patrol the paint and battle with their backs to the basket. Perhaps even more refreshing, was the officials letting them play, and allowing the physicality that belongs in the game. Williams eventually got the better of his counterpart, shooting a blistering 8/12 from the floor, on route to a game high 22.
The first half played out evenly, the home team taking the slightest of leads into the break at 45-44. Durham was lead by 17 first half points from sharp shooting guard Paul Elderkin, who faced uncharacteristically slack defence from his markers.
At the end of the first half, it was evident that Durham only really possessed two or three players who could handle the ball under pressure at get them into their offence. With Glavan, and Bucci sat down, the Wildcats missed a leader and a calm head on the floor. Yet this was failed to be exploited by the Raiders.
Lessons from the first half were not learned, and the Raiders still let the Wildcats hang around. Four lead changes occurred in the opening phases of the third quarter. Bucci connected on a long range effort to put Durham up 59-57, and a moment of realisation hit the visitors that they could go all the way and upset their sluggish opponents.
The fourth quarter was a dizzying affair of five lead changes, until James Jones finally decided enough was enough. The lefty guard knocked down back to back threes to take the score to 79-74, and the home side never looked back from there, taking the game 96-85.
Just a closing thought to members of the crowd; I have never before witnessed such outrage over something as frivolous as an untucked shirt! Maybe my time as a student has seen me desensitized to poor personal presentation, but I think if a shirt can make you this angry, you should seek some psychological help.
