Raptors vs Stockport
Having won the Northern section of National League 4 Raptors faced a quality Stockport Falcons team in the Quarter final game. Although Raptors had beaten the Stockport team twice in the League, their last meeting back in March had tested Raptors endurance before they ran out winners by twelve points. There was no way that the valley team were going to take their opposition lightly given the excellent players on the Stockport squad and especially as two of the home squad were missing due to injury, and several players were carrying “niggles” from the long season.
The start to the game was tentative but Raptors started to pass the ball around and Estrada began the scoring with a cool three-pointer. Gayle, the play-maker then got into the act with two classic drives to the hoop one of which resulted in a bonus from the free-throw line. Falcons responded through their point guard Cantwell who taunted the Rossendale defence with his penetrations, scoring 14 of his sides 21 points in the first Quarter. Meanwhile Estrada and Gayle were accumulating points for Raptors who led 24 –21.
The second period started poorly for Raptors as the Stockport team, employing a simple “pick and roll” offence, went into a five point lead early on. Again Cantwell was the main protagonist, scoring three times without response from Raptors. However this was the last time that the Rossendale team would trail and they gradually edged back in front of Falcons through good shot selection and consistent play. Gayle was beginning to tease the opposition and sink outside shots and Kornecki with his first shot off the bench sank a quality three-pointer. Half-time came with Raptors leading 48 – 41. Gayle had scored 23 and Cantwell for Falcons 24.
Raptors came out after the half with a new defensive strategy which nullified the threat of Cantwell and strong defence on Falcons’ big man Griffiths kept him to only six points in the whole game. Good interplay between all the Raptors players resulted in some spectacular and easy baskets for the home team. Added to that every time that the Falcons looked to come back, either Gayle or Estrada would sink a three-pointer to extend the lead. Graham, who had spent most of the first half in defensive mode, now started to attack the basket and add to Stockport’s problems and Slabu was using his 6’9” height to good effect at both ends of the court. The third quarter finished with Raptors in control, leading 80 to 58.
The entertainment was not finished yet and with Coach Fry ringing the changes the Raptors team went into overdrive and totalled 35 points in the last quarter with seven different players scoring in the period.
The final score of 115 to 83 showed the valley sides’ dominance and all-round ability. Gayle top scored with 48 points 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Estrada hit 8 three-pointers in his 28 points and had 10 rebounds. Graham and Slabu both contributed 12 points each. Sadly several Raptors players picked up or aggravated injuries and the foresight of the
Raptors’ management in employing a “physio” for the weekend was to play a key role with his services being in use for several hours after the match and for several before the next day’s match.