WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL: WARWICKSHIRE Bears boss Tom Masterson could not hide his delight after watching his side return to winning ways with a convincing 84-35 victory over Coyotes in the First Division South.
After losing theirs last two matches, the Bears got their season back on track with an impressive performance against a Coyotes side made up of a host of Great Britain women players and coached by GB women’s coach Miles Thompson.
Sunday’ fixture could have been a potential challenge for the Bears but they were determined to put their recent poor run of form behind them and get a promotion charge back on track.
From tip off they were on top and with a relentless defence, giving the Coyotes limited chances at the basket as well as taking advantage with some free flowing offence, racking up a 21-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as they Bears defence was on top and they used this as a springboard to launch attacks and kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Their opponents kept changing their line-up and with little joy at the basket they were 43-22 down at the half-way point.
After the break the Bears defence once again took charge limiting the Coyotes to only one basket throughout the third quarter but still keeping the scores ticking over to go further in front.
In the final period boss Masterson gave valuable bench time to his fringe players with the result all but wrapped up and the hosts saw out the game to win convincingly 84-35.
“I was so pleased with the display,” said Masterson. “These girls are the next wave of GB players and the future looks really bright for our women’s international team.”
“Don’t be misled with the score today as the Coyotes are a good team with so much talent and potential, and being coached by one of the best coaches, it only goes to show how well we played.”
*It proved to be a double success for the Bears after the club’s second team beat Worcester Wolves 47-40 in the Third Division South & West in what proved to be an entertaining meeting involving two strong sides.
The Bears were missing several players due to illness and Worcester took full advantage by holding the lead right up until the final quarter.
But Jagdeep Tiwana hit a long range three pointer to put the Bears five points in front and after shoring up their defence they were able to win the match by seven matches.
“What a game,” said Masterson. With a new line-up they took their time to get use to it and they kept plugging away to get back in front just before the end and kept up their winning start to the season.”
The Bears are next in action when the club’s women’s team are back in action in the National women’s league in Nottingham.
