Bears hold the Aces as they continue winning start

WARWICKSHIRE Bears’ second team continued their winning start to the season with a 33-28 victory over Aces in BWB League Third Division Central.

It was always going to be a tough game for the Bears, who travelled to Aylesbury with a weakened team due to injury and unavailability.

Aces started strongly and the Bears played a tough defence in the first quarter, which restricted the Aces to just four points, while the visitors racked up a healthy lead of 16 points.

The second quarter saw the Aces come out and play a full-court press to take advantage of the superior numbers and squad they had to tire the Bears out and their lack of bench players.

With the Aces pressing, this took effect and limited the Bears to any chances at the Aces’ basket, and gave them the opportunity to chip away at the Bears’ early lead. Warwickshire led 22-14 at half-time.

The third quarter again was a case of Aces playing a pressing game and the Bears trying to break it down, but this only led to a stalemate with none of the teams taking control and the Bears holding on to their earlier lead, going into the last quarter with a slight 29-20 lead.

The last quarter saw Aces come out and give one last push to get back into the game, but the Bears held on for victory.

“I’d like to congratulate the Aces who pushed us all the way,” said Bears’ coach, Tom Masterson.

“Whilst it was a scrappy win, I’m happy with the effort the Bears put in and how they battled to the last buzzer."