Brixton Topcats v Leeds Met Carnegie: 66-60
Saturday night saw LSBU Brixton Topcats achieve an important 66-60 win against Leeds Met Carnegie. In a rearranged fixture, played at London South Bank University. Topcats were sluggish out of the blocks with just a solitary Arturo Noha basket to show for their efforts after 5 minutes.
Ex-topcat Armand Anebo led the early scoring for Leeds against his old club. Brixton, however, did regroup and began to play some better basketball to lead 15-11 at the end of the first period.
The second quarter saw some of the best basketball of the contest with both teams starting to find their offensive rhythm.
Karolis Petkus showed his long range shooting touch, and Papa Demba Kasse powered his way to the basket on several occasions as the Topcats moved out to a 10pt lead. A late fight back from Leeds, culminating in a Henry Wilkins 3 pointer at the buzzer pulled Leeds back within 6 at the half. With the Topcats in the driving seat, coach Powlesland would have expected his team to assert their dominance in the 3rd quarter and stretch their lead, but Leeds had other ideas. David Ajumobi – also returning to face his former club – knocked down a couple of important shots on his way to a team high 16pts to help haul his new club right back into the game, and a 2pt lead heading into the 4th quarter.
Not for the first time this season, Brixton saved their best defensive basketball for the 4th quarter, holding their visitors to just 10pts in the final period.
Forward Uche Umekwe grabbed several rebounds, and contested shots around the basket to shut down the Leeds forward line almost completely. Arturo Noha stepped up for Brixton with a big 3 pointer, a couple of strong drives, and some clutch free throws on his way to a game high 19pts. Leeds stayed close until the final 2 minutes due to some poor foul shooting from Topcats who missed 7 from the line in the last quarter. But Leeds were unable to capitalise and come up with baskets of their own down the stretch.
Powlesland said: “we had a really good last quarter and good defence won us the game despite struggling from the line. Our former players Armand (Anebo) and David (Ajumobi) both had big games for Leeds but we dominated the boards and shut them down when it counted. Kasse had another double double and both Petkus and Noha showed their scoring touch from outside.”
Top scorers for the Topcats were Noha with 19pts, Petkus 18pts and Kasse 11 (+11 Rebounds), Leeds were led by Ajumobi 16 pts, Anebo 15pts (+11
Rebounds) and Wilkins 11pts.
Thanks to Brixton Topcats for this match report
