So near and yet so far for City of Sheffield Saints in their Men's Division 3 semi-final v Eastside Eagles - Saints started slowly, conceding 8 points in three minutes before hitting two 3s, one each from Kingsley and Chris Hackett, and they kept the game close ending the first period 4 behind, 21 - 25. The second quarter belonged to young John Stewart who scored all but two of Saints points, netting 14, and getting several rebounds despite close attention from the home players, with the visitors only down by 1 at half time.

Saints stormed out of the locker room in the third period, coach Garnet Gayle leading the way with 12 points, including two 3s and good support from Ellmer and Hackett, leaving the visitors in the driving seat 58 - 52 ahead going into the final quarter. Eastside had the better of some strange refereeing decisions, including one where a Saints player came out with a bruise under his eye, from an opposition elbow, only to be called for a defensive foul!, and this together with shots not dropping, good free throwing from the home side, a loud and very noisy home crowd, made the last few minutes very tight and tense - unfortunately for Saints they could not quite match the Division 3 South league winners, and came away very
disappointed, loosing 76 - 71.

Chris Hackett 17, Kingsley Ellmer 15, John Stewart & Garnet Gayle 14, John Imison 6, Pete Olusoga 3, Javan Hayles 2, Luke Parker, Rich Fooks, Jim Rose, Chris Law, Ash Chandley.

Posted on: Sunday 28th March

Back To Previous Page