New signing Steve Gayle stole the show in Rossendale Raptors 95-52 victory over Liverpool.
The former Manchester Giants and Magic point guard scored 40 points at Walton Sports Centre in only the Raptor’s third National League game.
The Rossendale team was depleted due to injury and unavailability and only fielded a squad of eight – instead of the possible 12.
However this was not to prove a problem and all players stepped up to the mark and produced an impressive performance.
Gayle quickly picked up the pace from the off and led from the front scoring freely in the first quarter as the Raptors led by 21-11.
Matt Ngara started the scoring in the second quarter with a poised three-pointer and Raptors put on a high pressure defence that started to give Liverpool problems.
Liverpool in return played some tough defence, stopping Gayle from going to the hoop by whatever means possible, and holding onto Ion Slabu to stop his height advantage.
They both responded to the challenge, Slabu with a huge dunk and Gayle with some superb assists that put other players in for easy scores.
By half-time, everyone on the Raptors side was on the scoresheet as the Rossendale outfit led 42-27.
Raptors continued to press in the third quarter and Gayle helped himself to a succession of three-point scores to stretch the lead even further.
Strong Raptors defence also restricted the Liverpool side to only 10 points in this quarter and it meant Rossendale went into the final quarter with a 26-point lead which meant it was effectively game over.
Not content to sit back, however, the Raptors dominated the last quarter, running Liverpool ragged and enabling seven different players to get on the scoresheet.
Kornecki and Slabu dropped in a couple of three-pointers to add to Liverpool’s misery and Raptors totalled an amazing 32 points for the quarter.
Coach Jim Fry was pleased with the result and the fact that the team are beginning to play together but noted that there is still progress to be made in some key areas.
Gayle stole the show with his 40-point haul and Slabu (12), Ngara (11), and Graham (10) led the scoring. M Allerston, T Platt, J Lindsay, and A Kornecki had good all round games.
The team’s next game is tomorrow against Middles-brough Lions at Haslingden Sports Centre (5.15pm).
Elsewhere, the Raptors’ ladies team put in a terrific performance in their first competitive game in the Manchester Area Basketball League against the Slam Dunkin Divas.
The ladies led for a big portion of the game but a final quarter surge from the opposition led to a one point loss for the Raptors, 36-37.
The team were led by captain Lisa Dickinson who put in a solid performance.
Michelle McManus led the scoring with 15 points, and young starlet Saphia Vanroose-Peer impressed with some excellent shooting in the second half.
Diane Tibbs, Emma Widdosdon, Sarah Dormer, Bethany Cattle and Vivienne Calderbank also contributed.
Overall it was a great first performance for the team who will continue to get better and better as the season progresses.
http://menmedia.co.uk/rossendalefreepress/sport/s/1464035_gayle-is-a-big-hit-for-raptors