Under 18s Premier Squad 2011-2012 Season

Head Coach: Paul Douglas
Contact via email on: airdougie@hotmail.com
Assistant Coach: Robin Watson
Contact via email on: coachwatson@hotmail.co.uk
Player and coach mentor: Kirk Dawes
Contact via email on: kirk.dawes@btopenworld.com
Team Manager: Joanne Malcolm
Contact via email on: jomalcolm@virginmedia.com

Training sessions:

Mondays: 7pm until 9pm
Venue: Nechells Community Sports Centre, Rupert Street, Nechells, Birmingham, B7 5DT.

Thursdays: 7.30pm until 9pm
Venue: Nechells Community Sports Centre, Rupert Street, Nechells, Birmingham, B7 5DT.

U18s Premier Fixtures and Results 2011/2012

Date & Time	Home Team	Result			Away Team	Venue	Match Report
Oct 1 2011 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	57	v	72	Tees Valley Mohawks	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Oct 8 2011 12.20pm	Cheshire Juniors	74	v	63	City of Birmingham	Stanney Oaks Leisure Centre
Oct 15 2011 2.30pm	Newcastle Eagles	90	v	71	City of Birmingham	Westgate Centre for Sport
Oct 23 2011 11.20am	City of Birmingham	67	v	69	Birmingham Mets	Dame Elizabeth Cadbury TC	SURESHOT CUP
Oct 30 2011 2.30pm	Stockport Spartans	94	v	57	City of Birmingham	Marple 6th Form College
Nov 5 2011 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	61	v	108	Sheffield Saints	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Nov 12 2011 3pm	Leicester Warriors	61	v	51	City of Birmingham	Gateway College
Nov 19 2011 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	59	v	61	Northants Thunder	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Dec 4 2011 1.20pm	City of Birmingham	100	v	56	Sefton Stars	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Dec 10 2011 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	60	v	89	Manchester Magic	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Dec 17 2011 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	71	v	62	Trafford	Dame Elizabeth Cadbury TC
Jan 7 2012 1.00pm	Tees Valley Mohawks	69	v	55	City of Birmingham	University of Teesside - Olympia Building
Jan 14 2012 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	59	v	76	Cheshire Juniors	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Jan 21 2012 2.20pm	City of Birmingham	104	v	74	Newcastle Eagles	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Jan 29 2012 4.00pm	Sefton Stars	55	v	67	City of Birmingham	Fernhill Sports Centre
Feb 4 2012 2.20pm	City of Birmingham		v		Stockport Spartans	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Feb 11 2012 4pm	Sheffield Saints		v		City of Birmingham	All Saints RC High School
Feb 18 2012 2.20pm	City of Birmingham		v		Leicester Warriors	Nechells Community Sports Centre
Feb 25 2012 12.00pm	Northants Thunder		v		City of Birmingham	Northants Basketball Centre
Mar 10 2012 3.00pm	Manchester Magic		v		City of Birmingham	Amaechi Basketball Centre
Mar 17 2012 3.00pm	Trafford		v		City of Birmingham	Amaechi Basketball Centre
Play off games	Possible dates
Mar 31 2012			v
Apr 14/15 2012			v
Quarter final April 21/22 2012			v
Final 4 May 5/6 2012			v

Coach Douglas Reports:

Mid-season report:

It has ben a tough first part of the season with the players adjusting to a new coach and points of emphasis and with this seasons squad only returning with one player from last season with Premier League experience.

Early on we showed some great signs of improvement and although losing i was happy with the progress of the team. The consistency was lacking for major parts of some of the games and teams in this division do not take pity on you. With a 37 point loss to Stockport followed by a 47 point loss to Sheffield i was extremely worried that the players were in trouble of losing confidence, even though at times the basketball being played was excellent.

The turning point for us came against Leicester Warriors. We started in the same way we had done in the previous two games, then, with 3 minuets to go in the 2nd quarter, Luke Johnson turned his ankle and had to be taken to hospital. Some harsh and choice words were spoken about desire and commitment to putting on a City Of Birmingham shirt and that no matter what we always battle on because, that is the style that this club plays. The next 23 minutes i saw some of the best basketball of the season. Although 21 down at half time the team fought back and out played them for 2 quarters but we still lost by 10. The manner in how we competed showed a never say die attitude that was lacking over the past 3 games.

Since that game the boys stated to play some great basketball and at the Christmas break we won 2 and lost 2. This does not sound like a big deal with starting the season on 0 & 8 but since the Leicester game the true COB team came out to play with a 44 point win against Sefton and a 9 point win against Trafford. In between those games we had a heart breaking 2 point loss to Northampton and a 29 point loss to Manchester. And i must say, the way we played against Manchester was the best basketball we played all season. If we play like that for the remainder of the games we would be a very hard team to beat....period!

So, reflecting at the half way stage, i would say that the one thing we have proved to ourselves is that we have character for a young team and great potential. If we can be more consistent over 4 quarters we are going to be a very hard team to beat. We can play some great basketball and pose some serious problems to the opposition.

We are not a team that has a star player who can get me 20+ a game but I most definitely do have a great group of players who are starting to believe in themselves and the opposition knows that when they play us it will not be an easy game.

Standout players so far:

Best defensive players: Tyrrell Kelly and John Duru

Most Improved players Tyrrell Kelly, Matt Dunwell and Ash Dunwell

Most Outstanding player is the City of Birmingham squad - noone stands out but we have great team effort.

Match Review 19th November 2011
A) COB V B) Northants
This is a brief overview of the game v Northants at the weekend.
This weekend the U18 premier team were at home to Northants who are a team that over the years have proven to be well drilled and disciplined.
The boys came into the game on the back of a gutsy performance against Leicester the previous week. Although we lost that game it was a turning point as they played the way we knew they could.
Q1 A9 - B9
In the 1st qtr they came out with a playing with a steely determination and stingy defence limiting Northants to 9 points. They played some great defence also limiting us to 9 pts. The league table may have suggested this would have been a walk over for Northants, however after the 1st quarter they knew it was going to be anything but. Q1 was tied.
Q2 A21 – B18
The 2nd qtr the boys kept up the defence but weren't always making their hard work pay off at the other end. Northants battled away but were clearly frustrated by the defence. They had to work for everything. Whilst there were a couple of times when our defence lapsed and Northants were happy to score, overall nothing came easy for them. The boys started to click in this quarter. Importantly they ran the plays we’ve worked on in training and stuck with their defensive assignments.
Q3 A14 – B23
As expected, after the break Northants came out with a sense of urgency and purpose. They showed good ball movement and found a way to make some tough shots from the outside, as our big men had made it extremely difficult in and around the basket. Credit to them for making the shots. There was a brief period where we dipped and moved away from what was successful in the 1st half. A change in our defence was required and the adjustment was made. We finished the Qtr well and were ready for what was no doubt going to be a tough 4th Qtr.
Q4 A15 – B11
The 1st minute was a little touch and go but then both teams got down business. It was end to end with some great defensive plays by both teams and some great conversions at both ends. We attacked their basket and did our best to make sure every play counted. We slowly but surely chipped into their lead. Northants fought all the way and the lead changed hands a couple of times. It was frantic, but composed. Every loose ball was contested, every error and turnover punished. Every possession was truly precious. The lads came up with some great stops and big shots to pull us back within 2pts. With just over 2 seconds on the clock, one of our players drives and scores what we believe is a basket to tie the game. The whistle blows and the refs go centre court to discuss a decision. The gym is silent and after what seemed like an eternity they call basket interference. Needless to say we were gutted and Northants were relieved as they didn’t seem as though they wanted to go into overtime. Northants inbound and pass the ball well and avoid being fouled. Game Over.
Without question this is our best team performance this season and whilst it’s difficult to accept a defeat on what feels like a questionable call, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that if the lads continue to play at this level the remainder of the season will be totally different story.
Coach Watson

12/11/11: Leicester Warriors v CoB

The under 18 premier squad have been having a tough time of late trying to transform the great work they are doing during training into results on game days.

The recent scores against Stockport and Sheffield have been quite demoralising for the players and staff alike, therefore Saturdays game against Leicester Warriors, who were also winless, was a big big one for both ball clubs.

The game did not start the way we wanted and we could not put the ball in the basket and Leicester came out of the first quarter with a 25 - 9 advantage. The second quarter was going the same way when point guard, Luke Johnson, severely rolled his ankle, with 3 minutes to go and the game had to be stopped while an ambulance came to take him to hospital.

We took this opportunity to go into the changing room and talk things through. With some home truths being told to the players and what is expected from a player who represents the City of Birmingham BC, the players came out with renewed energy and we went into half time 37 - 17 down.

The second half was a revelation for the players. Finally we started to do the things we do on a constant basis in training in a game and started to chip into the lead. David Malcolm finally started to show his shooting touch, as well as Tommy Macdonald and Adam Bigford (captain)showing their maturity and leadership in steering a second half revival.

Tyrrell Kelly was relentless in defending Leicester's excellent point guard, limiting his penetration and shooting.

Unfortunately we had 3 injuries to players on the day and along with Luke, John Duru ( who much be the best shot blocker in the country right now with 5 + blocks a game) and our best 3 point shooter, Dan Young picking up knocks to their thumb and knee respectively. This meant that we could not rely on our best performing players so far this season, but with David, Adam, Ash, Matt, Simone and Tyrrell all playing out of their skin, we managed to go into the last minute of the game only 10 points down.

The players fought hard to get the game into a free throw contest but time unfortunately ran out on us.

Although it was another loss for the club, the manner in which they fought back showing pride, passion and determination; something I am very happy with. Hopefully we have turned a corner now and the guys now believe in what they are capable of.

Top three scorers:
Adam Bigford 14
David Malcolm 10
Dan Young 8

Players of the game - Tyrrell Kelly and David Malcolm

Both players stepped up and showed what they are capable of when doing what they are good at.

Honourable mention goes out to the whole squad on the day for taking what was said to them and coming out and proving that they can achieve!