Weekend Recap: Bliss at home but challenges on the road Wolverhampton SLAM!
This past weekend was intense and competitive full of matchups for Team Wolverhampton SLAM!, highlighting the skill and heart of our players. With three home wins and two losses on the road, each game presented unique challenges and opportunities for growth. The effort across all levels was outstanding, reflecting our commitment to teamwork and sportsmanship. Here’s a look at how the action unfolded:
Home Wins: Our teams secured three impressive victories at home, showcasing strong offensive and defensive plays. The support from our fans was incredible and truly made a difference.
Road Challenges: Despite facing tough opponents on the road and experiencing two losses, our players demonstrated resilience and determination. These games provided valuable lessons that we are eager to build on.
Overall, the weekend’s performances were a testament to our players’ dedication and hard work. We are excited to carry this momentum forward and look forward to seeing everyone again this coming weekend for more thrilling basketball action!
Saturday 2nd November
SLAM! Women's team took on Shrewsbury Warriors at home, it was a tough-fought match.
Result: Slam wins 63 - 45
Player of the Game: Denaya-Jade Anderson
Team Wolverhampton SLAM! Women faced Shropshire in an intense Beth Matthews Cup Round 2 match yesterday. Both teams managed significant challenges; Shropshire, fielding only six players, exhibited incredible determination, while we dealt with the absence of several senior women. Despite Shropshire’s resilience, we ultimately emerged victorious with a final score of 63-45, pulling ahead in a powerful fourth-quarter push.
Shropshire’s performance was commendable, with standout contributions from Austeja B and Sophia R. These two players, who also compete for SLAM's National League U18 Girls team, scored 21 and 13 points respectively, demonstrating their scoring capabilities, which we found challenging to contain.
Our women showcased the strength of our young talents, led by Aspire and England Talent Programme selectees. Denaya-Jade Anderson commanded attention on both ends of the court, scoring an impressive 18 points and orchestrating defensive plays that held Shropshire's best player. Ella O provided steady support, adding 10 points and energising our defence. These contributions from the young players were crucial in the eventual win.
The end-of-quarter scores capture the shifts in momentum throughout the game:
SLAM 17 - 11 Shropshire, where we established an early lead.
SLAM 29 - 19 Shropshire, extending the gap as they adapted to Shropshire's defence.
SLAM 39 - 38 Shropshire, as Shropshire mounted a comeback, outscoring us 19-10 in the third.
SLAM 63 - 45 Shropshire, with us finishing strongly with a dominant 24-7 run.
Head Coach Douaine Anderson had this to say:
While we secured the victory, the game highlighted areas for growth, particularly in adapting to new strategies under pressure. The team will undoubtedly take these lessons forward in preparation for the 3rd Round of the Beth Matthews Cup competition. Player of the Game honours go to Denaya-Jade Anderson, whose comprehensive performance in both scoring, defence and rebounding was key to our success. Her leadership set a high standard for the team’s emerging talents. Congratulations to both teams for a hard-fought match, demonstrating resilience and skill. We will continue to build on this experience as they advance in the competition.
U14 Boys travelled to Worcester and took on Worcester Wolves, however, Wolves managed to edge away and secure a win against our boys.
Result: Wolves win 73 - 68
Player of the match: Ethan Letman
Despite a strong start and glimpses of impressive teamwork, Wolverhampton Slam’s U14 boys suffered a narrow 5-point loss to the Worcester Wolves (currently second in the Midlands conference) this weekend. The quarter breakdown tells the story of a closely contested game with points scored each quarter as follows:
Wolves 20 - SLAM 24, we established an early lead.
Wolves 23 - SLAM 18, we started the quarter slow, leaving us 1 point behind at the half
Wolves 16 - SLAM 14, we exchanged baskets without either team pulling away
Wolves 14 - SLAM 12, similar to the previous quarter though this quarter was plagued with turnovers, so despite tying up the scores earlier in this quarter Wolves managed to pull away again
Each quarter was tightly contested, but areas for improvement became evident, particularly as the game progressed. Worcester's 29 fouls offered numerous opportunities to punish them from the line, but we struggled to capitalise, finishing with a free-throw percentage of 40%. The missed chances at the line, combined with 36 turnovers, were crucial factors in the final outcome. Our unforced turnovers gave the Wolves additional chances, which they converted efficiently.
Offensively, Jamaar Chirara and Tobi Akinlade led with double-digit scores, combining for 31 points. Jamaar was highly efficient, shooting 58% from the field, achieving 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Tobi contributed across the board with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. Their effort helped us gain an early edge. Also of note, Rocco Jordan and Ethan Letman had 9 points each, with each shooting 38% from the field, the latter player had a fantastic showing this game, really stepping up to the mark, especially on defence in a career-high game, earning him player of the game
Defensively, we saw strong efforts in the second and third quarters but lapses in the fourth quarter allowed Worcester to gain confidence. Straying from our offensive and defensive game plan created open shots for Worcester and failing to secure position on the basket side led to high-percentage shots for the Wolves. They had a decisive three-pointer in the last 35 seconds of the game which gave Worcester a 5-point cushion.
Looking ahead, it’s clear that maintaining composure, sticking to the game plan, and taking advantage of opportunities, especially at the free-throw line will be key as we face the teams in the league.
Head Coach Watson Chirara had this to say:
An impressive start and some standout individual efforts showed our potential, but maintaining focus on our fundamentals and following the game plan is essential if we’re to convert close games into victories. Every missed opportunity, whether at the free-throw line or due to unforced turnovers, added up in the end. Commitment to both training and game feedback is crucial, as our growth depends on it. We need to stay disciplined and learn from this, taking these lessons forward to strengthen our game.
U18 Boys travelled to take on Hereford Elite and secured a hard-fought win.
Result: Slam win 71 - 63 Player of the Game: Kurmani Patel-Blake
Team Wolverhampton SLAM! U18 team celebrated a brilliant home victory, showcasing an impressive effort against Hereford Elite.
From the start, SLAM! exhibited exceptional offensive prowess, skilfully manoeuvring the ball and making strategic decisions that kept them ahead. Their offensive movement was fluid and well-coordinated, allowing them to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities.
Despite their offensive success, there is still room for improvement in their defensive strategy. The team occasionally struggled to maintain a solid defensive line, which could have been exploited by a more aggressive opponent. However, they managed to compensate for this by consistently disrupting Hereford’s passing game, effectively neutralising their attacks and maintaining control of the match.
Overall, this performance marked a significant improvement for the team. The players’ hard work and dedication were evident on the field, and their ability to execute their game plan was commendable. With this victory, the team is filled with confidence and eagerly looks forward to their next challenge, ready to build on their success and continue their winning streak.
Sunday, 3rd November:
SLAM Under 18 Girls Played a match against Liverpool.
Result: Slam Win 70-46
Player of the game: Denaya-Jade Anderson
The U18 girls overcame a slow start to pull away from a strong Liverpool team. With the first quarter going back and forth and trailing by 2 the Slam girls
applied better defensive pressure in the 2nd quarter to take a comfortable lead into the second half. This defensive pressure continued into the second half, and we managed to pull away and secure the win. There are plenty of positives to take away from this game in that all players contributed to this victory. Coaches will be pushing the girls in training to continue this unbeaten start to the club's first ever U18 Girls National League campaign.
Head Coach Marc Evans stated:
With plenty of tough challenges to come the girls should be pleased with their efforts so far but look to improve as individuals and as a team over the course of the season. Well done girls!
SLAM Men Travelled for a match-up against West Bromwich basketball.
Result: West Brom Win 64-58
Team Wolverhampton SLAM! men’s team faced a tough road game against West Bromwich Basketball in the West Midland Basketball League Premier Division, resulting in a loss.
Throughout the game, SLAM! showed glimpses of their offensive potential, moving the ball well at times. However, they struggled to break through West Bromwich’s zone defence and create more scoring opportunities for each other. This highlighted areas for improvement in both their offensive cohesion and defensive strategy.
Despite these challenges, SLAM! managed to prevent West Bromwich from running away with the game, showing resilience and determination. West Bromwich played well, but SLAM! kept the scoreline respectable and fought hard until the end.
Overall, this marks the team’s second consecutive loss, but they remain optimistic and are eagerly looking forward to their next game. The team is determined to learn from these experiences and secure a victory in their upcoming encounter.
Thank You to Our SLAM! Supporters
The SLAM family was out in full force this past weekend, creating an atmosphere that was both electric and inspiring. From the opening tip-off to the final buzzer, your cheers and encouragement lifted our players through every hard-fought minute. Your presence made a difference, and we can’t wait to see you again this coming weekend!
This week’s performances reflected our commitment to growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship across all levels. With three home wins and two losses on the road, the weekend brought its share of both triumphs and challenges. Each game offered valuable lessons, and our players are ready to carry this momentum forward. We eagerly look forward to this weekend’s games and hope to see you there, cheering us on!
Stay tuned for our next set of fixtures. Go, Team SLAM! 🏀🙌
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