Ipswich Basketball Club finally got their competitive season underway as they won 87-70 at newly-promoted and highly-rated Nottingham Hoods in the Patrons Cup.
Ipswich came flying out of the blocks, quickly opening up a 12-4 lead, with Sam Newman and new signing Taner Adu getting going early.
As ever the Blues held a distinct size advantage, most notably because of the presence of seven-foot Leigh Greenan, who dominated the game and finished with 14 points.
However, Nottingham are a talented and well coached team, and they rallied back to get within two mid-way through the quarter, before Ipswich closed things out, winning the period 26-15.
The second period saw the Suffolk side struggle at both ends of the floor as the Hoods went on a tear, scoring 18 points in the first five minutes of the period to tie things up.
Ipswich tightened things up in the second half of the period and, behind a buzzer-beating Newman jump shot, they took a slender 42-40 lead into the break.
The third quarter started at pace, with the two teams trading baskets, before a change in tactics from the visitors sparked a run that saw them hold their opponents to just four points in seven minutes.
All of the Ipswich players contributed during this run, with vice-captain Colin Dockrell catching fire, as they took a commanding 19-point lead into the final period behind another buzzer beater – this time from Dockrell.
Ipswich led 70-51 going into the final stanza, and extended their advantage further before inevitably taking their foot off the gas and allowing Nottingham some cheap scores in the closing minutes.
However, the team’s work was done and they took home a well-deserved 17-point win on the road.
Newman led the way for Ipswich with 25 points on 10-17 shooting.
Greenan added a very solid double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Josh Johnson was getting everyone involved with 11 assists.
Elsewhere, new boys Tyme Regent Bascombe and Adu both made solid starts, helping the team in several areas.
Head coach Nick Drane said: “This was a solid start for us.
“For periods of play we stuck to our task, played good defence and moved the ball well on offence.
“Of course, I’m not going to be satisfied at this stage of the season – the first five minutes of the second quarter were very poor defensively and the final five minutes of the game we switched off and didn’t do the things that put us in the position to win the game.
“I think we should have gone on to win by 30 rather than allow Nottingham back into the teens.”
Ipswich play their first home game of the season this Sunday when they host Division Four King’s Lynn Fury in the National Cup at 4.45pm at Copleston.
With no Ipswich Town game, and it being the first game of the season a huge crowd is expected. Tickets are £5 for adults, £3 for u18’s and £2 for children.
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