London Westside 67 Ipswich 79 Ipswich 88 Loughborough Riders 76 Ipswich Basketball Club senior men’s side enjoyed a weekend winning double, continuing their hot streak and solidifying fourth place in the league.
They travelled to London Westside on Saturday with an ailing roster – Colin Dockrell fighting a sickness bug that had him bed-ridden for two days, and Leigh Greenan battling with a sore foot.
Despite his sickness, Dockrell managed to start the game, as Drane opted to use star big man Greenan sparingly off the bench.
Although the London team opened up an early lead Ipswich were not fazed and gradually chipped away, with some excellent team basketball.
Tendai Simbai was introduced and rotated with Dockrell, who was having an excellent game, and Ipswich took a three-point lead into the half-time break.
In the third period, Ipswich extended their lead to double figures, as they executed at both ends of the floor.
Captain Tom Sadler, who led the scoring with 24 points, was a constant threat while Simbai, starting the second half in place of Dockrell was dominating the paint.
London made a run in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late as Ipswich cruised to victory.
Josh Johnson added 23 points, with Aaron Moseley dropping 11 and Dockrell contributing 10 points and seven rebounds despite his illness.
Simbai, meanwhile, recorded two points, 19 rebounds and three blocked shots in his 20 minutes of play.
The squad then returned home to Copleston on Sunday to face the team immediately beneath them in the league, Loughborough.
As the game began Ipswich looked tired, and Loughborough raced out of the starting blocks with a 7-0 run.
But Ipswich were unfazed. Known for their incredible team spirit, and steeled by their recent form, they got themselves in gear and raced to a 28-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.
That surge from the home team continued in the second quarter, and Ipswich closed the half up by the score of 54-37.
This was proving to be yet another consummate team performance from Ipswich. Five of their players would finish the game scoring in double figures, and no single player was ever required to carry the team.
One player would step up and deliver crucial baskets, moments later another would step forward and do the same.
Offence was being delivered from all five positions on the court, and Loughborough must have felt like they were being pulled in all directions, not knowing who to focus their very capable defence on.
Loughborough rallied with 3.40 left on the clock, reducing the lead to 12 and threatening to drop it to single figures, but Sadler took his turn to step up and hit two pivotal baskets to re-establish a 16-point Ipswich lead, and effectively crush Loughborough’s slim hopes of a miracle comeback.
Dockrell led the scoring with 16, Sadler poured in 15 and Moseley added 14.
Head coach Nick Drane said: “This was an excellent weekend’s work by the guys, especially given the fact that both Leigh and Colin weren’t healthy.
“We had to lean on Tom to play big minutes and also extend Tendai’s role this weekend and both guys really stepped up.
“However, at this stage of the season I am really delighted with the whole team commitment and performance.”
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