By Sean Lawrenson, Co-Deputy Sport Editor
Bristol gave the utmost heart in their semi-final bout against Loughborough University, but a place in the finals wasn’t to be. The opposition simply proved too good for Bristol, causing problems with their half court pressing.
The first quarter of the match signalled the extent of Loughborough’s intensity, quickly racing out into an early lead. Bristol kept answering back in the first, with several visits to the free throw line, but were unable to sustain the pressure on their opposition for a sustained period of time. Every occasion when it seemed Bristol would finally get going, which it was clear they are capable of doing, Loughborough would hit back instantly, often outscoring Bristol in these back and forth possessions.
However, it wasn’t always easy goings, with Bristol showing plenty of fight despite the final scoreline. There were several moments when the match felt like it could be turned on its head. A shift in momentum came briefly in the third quarter, when Bristol was able to get a string of stops along with consecutive scores to start chipping away at the Loughborough lead (by half time the score was eighteen points in the favour of the opposition), but these moments were just that. From intense fighting for the ball to wonderful sequences of play in the oppositions half. Opportunities came and went, not for lack of trying, but in the end could not become something more substantial.
The difference in intensity and intention was clear in the free-throw stats. Across the game, Bristol managed to get to the line on eleven occasions, converting with a respectable 73 percent. By way of contrast, Loughborough managed to get nine free throws in the first quarter alone, eventually ending the match with twenty-one and a similar percentage (71). Loughborough’s ability to draw fouls contributed massively to their team’s success. This physical style of play meant that Loughborough were getting easier buckets throughout the managed, as seen when one of their players double dribbled instead of taking a wide-open shot in the corner for three. They were doing everything they could to get bodies in the paint and force Bristol into making errors on the other end.
Defensively, Loughborough utilised a pressing system that forced several errors from Bristol, from shot-clock to inbound violations. The ball rarely felt safe in the backcourt, but this did provide Bristol with numerous opportunities to hit Loughborough on the fastbreak, using their pressure against them. Bristol had some success with this, but sadly the errors came in greater number. The opposition’s ability to grab offensive rebounds led to fewer possessions without a score, bridging the gap between Bristol further and further.
By the time the fourth quarter had rolled around, everyone in the Sports Complex was fairly certain of the outcome, but this did not stop the players or supporters from giving any less fight. What really impressed me was the players ability to keep their heads up despite the incoming defeat, still fighting for rebounds and loose balls with the intensity they had shown in the first quarter. Whilst the game wasn’t close by this point, it felt close because of how the passionately the players were acting. They didn’t want to go down without a fight, and the fourth quarter showed a lot of resilience from those players. In the end, it simply wasn't to be.
Final Score: Bristol 57-108 Loughborough
Featured image: Cherrie Lee
