EBL Division Two Ipswich 104 London United 66 Ipswich started 2015 with a bang at Copleston, crushing London United in their biggest win for more than a year and setting a team record with 37 assists.
Head coach Nick Drane lauded it as “our best offensive performance in a very long time” as Leigh Greenan was again the game’s dominant force, recording a game high 23 points while Josh Johnson collected his second triple double of the season with 11 points, 10 assists and a phenomenal 18 rebounds.
However, it was the teams all round performance, with six players in double figures, that helped them to a 38-point victory.
Ipswich started the game with an obvious game plan. Greenan was six inches taller and probably 80 pounds heavier than London’s biggest player - so Ipswich pounded the ball inside to their big man, who would score the game’s first six points.
That would be the pattern for much of the first period. When it wasn’t Greenan (23 points) it was captain Tom Sadler or Colin Dockrell scoring points in the paint. Ipswich would finish the period holding a 20-15 lead.
The second quarter saw much of the same action. Greenan made a ferocious dunk, and Aaron Moseley (17 points) was able to make a number of fast break lay ups as well as a big three pointer.
However, despite not ever threatening the Ipswich lead, United scored 21 points of their own in the period and were close enough to keep the game entertaining for the big home crowd. Ipswich took a 45-36 lead into the interval.
The third quarter started with Ipswich clearly upping the tempo. Sam Newman, Luke Mascall-Wright and Johnson put pressure on the London guards and were able to extend the Ipswich lead with their speed and athletic play.
Sadler then got in on the act and another Greenan dunk, a Mascall-Wright lay up and a Newman three-pointer extended the lead to over 20.
At this point Coach Drane opted to rest veteran leader Sadler, allowing extended minutes for Billy Smith as Ipswich took a 75-52 lead into the final period.
The fourth period saw Ipswich put 31 more points on the board, holding their opponents to just 14 in the process.
Johnson and Greenan again entertained the crowd while Nick Sims, Codrin Crangasu and Laurence Watsham got themselves into the game as Ipswich completed the rout.
Drane said: “That probably wasn’t the most entertaining game for the crowd, but my priority has to be getting the team in the best position to be successful as the season wears on.
“Today the guys did a great job of sticking to the things we have been working on. We executed things I feel we need to get better at and so I’m delighted with that.
“37 assists as a team means we scored a heck of a lot of points by moving the ball well – something I don’t think we have done well enough this season.”
Drane added: “Aaron was excellent today, coming off the bench. He gave us a huge spark and played really smart – that’s his best game of the season, he really did what I asked of him.
“Josh is five foot ten inches tall, to get 18 rebounds is just ridiculous. He’s a phenomenal player for us!!”
Mascall-Wright added 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Newman picked up a steady 11 points and five assists.
Ipswich are at home again this weekend as they host London Westside.
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