Essex Rebels D1 Men Split The Weekend
Essex Rebels Division 1 Men had a double header weekend taking on London Elite on Saturday and Hemel Storm on Sunday.
Saturday showcased an intense battle on the court that ultimately ended in a decisive victory for the Rebels with a final score of 87-70.
From the opening tip-off, it was clear that the Essex Rebels came prepared to dominate the game. Displaying a dazzling array of offensive manoeuvres and defensive prowess, the Rebels quickly established their dominance on the court. Their precise passing, sharp shooting, and tenacious defence left the London Elite struggling to keep pace.
The first quarter set the tone for the game, with Essex Rebels storming to an early lead. The London Elite fought valiantly, attempting to close the gap, but the Rebels’ relentless pressure and scoring ability kept them at bay. Led by their star point guard, who orchestrated the offense with precision, the Rebels maintained their offensive rhythm throughout the first half.
Heading into the second half, the London Elite knew they had an uphill battle ahead of them. They came out with renewed energy and determination, mounting a spirited comeback attempt.
However, the Rebels remained composed and focused, weathering the Elite’s surge with poise. They continued to rely on their teamwork and depth, rotating players seamlessly to maintain their intensity. With each passing minute, the Rebels inched closer to securing their victory.
The game finished with the Rebels players sharing solid minutes and contributing across the board.
A quick turnaround on Sunday saw Essex take on Hemel in a highly anticipated match up.
The opening quarter saw Hemel Storm coming out with guns blazing, as they capitalized on the rebels slow start to build a formidable 28-17 lead. Their offensive efficiency and defensive pressure put us on the back foot, forcing us to dig deep and regroup heading into the second quarter.
Rebels found ourselves facing a daunting 16-point deficit. However, the team rallied and responded with immediate impact, chipping away at the lead with a renewed focus on both ends of the court.
By late in the third quarter, Essex efforts began to pay off as they clawed their way back into the game. The momentum swung in the Rebels favour, and found ourselves in the lead in a game that ebbed and flowed with every possession.
Credit to Hemel , who finished the game with a strong surge. Their 14-0 run that straddled the third and fourth quarters proved to be the turning point, propelling them into a lead that they would fiercely defend until the final buzzer.
Rebels were led by Trey Chapman who had 19 points and 9 rebounds whilst Kyron Martin contributed with 16 points from the bench.
Head Coach Ross Norfolk was pleased with the teams performance over the weekend, “It’s always tough to have back to back games. We delivered a professional team performance on Saturday and with the quick turn around on Sunday we came in to compete. We played some amazing offence at times getting the looks we wanted but just needed to convert.”
The Rebels will take on Hemel again this Saturday, 30 March at 6.30pm, in a highly anticipated match up. Both teams need to secure wins to keep their championship hopes alive. Tickets are still available on Eventbrite.
