Wildcats Lose Lead Again

Having given up the lead to lose a game once, the Wildcats were determined that it couldn’t, and wouldn’t happen again – but it did, in an even more incredible finish, as Brixton posted a 39-19 final quarter to snatch the game by five.
Brixton Topcats        (19, 49, 73) 112
Durham Wildcats       (24, 47, 88) 107
This was a game that could clearly be divided into three distinct sequences. Twenty-five minutes in which neither side could firmly establish a significant lead was followed by a purple patch in which the visitors appeared to put the game out of reach, and finally an incredible fightback by the hosts.
The first quarter saw several lead changes, and then a 2-9 spurt by the visitors (with all nine of the Wildcats’ points coming from the impressive Scott Morton) put them ahead 9-13, which extended to 13-24, on a huge “3” pointer from Paul Elderkin followed by an allez-oop dunk from the same player, off a Scott Morton assist.
The expected breakaway, though, never happened, as, with Wildcats in the four-foul penalty, Karolis Petkus and Paul Mundy-Castle were able to convert six of six from the line as they narrowed the gap to just five at the break.
Rafa Vilar-Franca opened the second period with a “3”, and when Notis Chalkidis, Paul Elderkin (another “trey”) and Mike Davies put together an 0-7 run the lead was up to 13, at 21-34. Still Durham could pull no further away, and as foul trouble again reared its head, Brixton took full advantage to sink 11 of 13 from the line, as well as hitting 13 points from the field, as they pulled level again on 45.
Davies restored a slender advantage for the Wildcats, but Tom Adorian, with a put-back and a basket, had the final scores of the half, and it was the Topcats who took a 2-point cushion into the locker room.
This pattern continued into the third period, with the visitors posting an eight point spurt, to lead 51-57. This began with a “3” from Mark Elderkin; Steve Jones added a basket and then, when Petkus picked up a technical Foul, Scott Morton missed the ensuing free-throws, but Davies hit another “trey” from the “after-T” possession.
Six unanswered by Brixton, however, restored parity, and there was still little to choose between them at the mid-point of the quarter, at 60-64.
Despite captain Mark Elderkin already being “rested” on four fouls, this was the point at which the Wildcats hit the accelerator.
Three-pointers from Paul Elderkin and Morton (on the fast break) and a basket by Jones restored a double-digit advantage, and another eight-point surge followed soon afterwards, while Brixton’s Petkus fouled out with two Technical Fouls – one for being the wrong player to take a free throw, and one for arguing with the officials.
With Durham playing excellent ‘ball, especially on the offensive end, the lead peaked at 21 points, with a huge “allez-oop” dunk by Elderkin, again off a Scott Morton pass on the fast break. At 86-65 it seemed that the visitors were home and dry.
Even an 8-0 recovery by the hosts in the closing two minutes of the quarter did not seem too significant at the time, as Morton closed the period with a basket and the Wildcats still led by fifteen.
When Brixton edged back to within 12 early in the final stanza it raised some concerns, but Durham continued to keep their score ticking over, until consecutive “3”s by the impressive Mundy-Castle changed the complexion of the game at the mid-point of the quarter. At 88-94 the Topcats were suddenly right back in contention.
A controlled drive to the basket, for a score “and-1” by Paul Elderkin, gave some breathing space, but then came the first of a series of errors in the closing five minutes that cost the Wildcats dearly.
Brixton missed their shot on the next offence, and Jones rebounded, only to overhit the fast-break pass to turn the possession over again, and then, probably in frustration, committed his fifth foul, to join Anthony Trigg, already fouled out, on the bench.
Brixton scored from the line, and then stole the ball on a mid-court inbounds play to close the gap further, and as their confidence grew, so the Wildcats’ errors multiplied, with fouls and travelling violations, and with 2:45 to play the game was right back in the balance, at 100-101.
Davies kept cool, however, to drain a “3”, with 2:10 on the clock, and it looked as though the Wildcats could still hold on. James Miller pulled one back from the stripe, and when Durham were hustled into a back-court violation, the same played pulled back one more from the line, but more importantly Mark Elderkin joined the growing band on five fouls on the Wildcats’ bench.
Another Wildcats turnover followed, and Mumdy-Castle took full advantage as he scored, drew a foul, and sank the “and-1” to complete a remarkable 22-point turnaround … and to take his personal tally for the quarter to 17 points.
This time the Wildcats did continue to fight back. One of two from the line by Paul Elderkin levelled the scores again, and with 46 seconds remaining a Morton drive to the basket for a score, and though he missed the foul bonus, the Wildcats led by two.
Desperate defence kept Brixton at briefly at bay, but when Morton became the fourth Durham player to foul out, and Adorian levelled the scores from the line, there were still thirty seconds to play. That was time enough for Wildcats to turn the ball over twice, and commit an “unsportsmanlike” foul, in their desperation, and for the home side to rattle off five more points to take a victory that put them clear at the top of the table.
Brixton deserved enormous credit for the way they held their game together and recovered for the victory, but there was no doubt that the Wildcats contributed considerably to their own downfall.
Wildcats’ scorers: Scott Morton 37; Paul Elderkin 25; Steve Jones 16; Michael Davies 15; Notis Chalkidis 7; Mark Elderkin 5; Rafa Vilar-Franca 3; Tolis Apostolidis 1; Anthony Trigg.
Brixton top scorers: Paul Mundy-Castle 28; Tom Adorian 18.