NBL1 Round 4 vs Sturt Sabres
Men
The first quarter was opened with a tough finish from Trey McBride, but Sturt answered with a 13-point run before Tim O’Dell had to call an early timeout. The Sabres were being much more disciplined on the defensive end, and it was leading to transition opportunities where they could find mismatches and open looks. The Flames eventually found their way to line, trimming the lead slowly but surely. Darcy McNamara hit a big three to bring the game back into single digits, firing up the Flames. The energy was really brought on the defensive end as the Flames started to string together stops. The Sabres were a composed team and didn’t let the small runs get to them, they were able to execute and kept their lead safe despite Norwood’s improved play. The Flames were able to trim the lead down to 6, 27 – 21.
Trey McBride had to sit down early in the second as he was in foul trouble. This didn’t slow down the Flames as Riley Harrap drained a triple and his team around him kept up their defensive energy. The Flames were able to keep up with the Sabres, inching their way through the deficit, a massive slam from Anthony Green from the dish by Cooper Osborne bringing the game to 2. Norwood tied up the game with a perfect trip from the line. And Riley Harrap drawing a foul and giving the Flames the lead for the first time since the opening score. The Flames had great energy rolling in this quarter, finding seams to the basket and open shooters with ease, leading to a 6-point lead. The Sabres weren’t going down quietly as they quickly brought the game back to within 2. The offence of both teams now rolling they started trading baskets. This continued into halftime, Norwood leading 43 – 47.
The second half saw both teams bring up their defensive intensity, this didn’t phase Cooper Osborne, slashing to the rim and making amazing dump off passes to trailing cutters. Riley Harrap was the beneficiary of many of these passes, scoring efficiently off cuts or spotting up. The Flames consistent offence on top of improved defence extended their lead to 10. The Sabres took this as a wake-up call, but it was too late as the Norwood Flames offence had rally started rolling, especially Riley Harrap who was taking guys off the dribble and getting whatever looks he wanted. The Sabres were rattled by the Flames energy as they started turning the ball over a lot which only added fuel to the Flames fire. The Flames in control, 58 – 74 going into the final quarter.
The momentum of the Flames didn’t quite carry into the final quarter, at least not early. Sturt altered their defensive rotations, and the different reads threw off the Flames. However, the Sabres weren’t able to score as their offence was very stagnant, allowing the good isolation defenders of Norwood to play to their strengths. The consistent stops fuelled the Flames offence and Norwood’s lead ballooned out to 20. The rest of the game played out very similarly, Norwood had the edge in energy, especially on the defensive end, leading to the lead slowly extending. The final, 76 – 99.
