After a shaky start to their season the Lions faced their toughest test of the season so far as their cross-town rivals the London City Royals came to the Copper box.
With the Royals coming into the game with a perfect record this season, Lion’s Head Coach, Vince Macaulay made a point of protecting his own squads unbeaten run:
“It’s important for us to stay undefeated at home but we know the Royals who are coming in undefeated are a very, very good team.”
A Fast Start
The home side came out hot, taking an early lead through the first quarter. The Lions new small ball line-up allowed forwards, Brandon Peel and Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan to exploit mismatches against bigger defenders.
The duo took advantage of their speed and repeatedly took their defenders off the dribble, getting the Royals defenders in foul trouble.
With several big-name departures over the summer Head Coach, Vince has been left without a starting man this season.
A lack of size and interior scoring has killed the Lions early in the season. However, through the first half Coach Macaulay changed his offensive game plan to include more pick & roll action which allowed his scorers to get to the rim at will and ultimately take a 53-46 lead into the break.
Royals Mount A Comeback
Unfortunately for the Lions their offensive fortune didn’t last, with the Royals staging a comeback in the third quarter – going on a 10-0 scoring run.
As it has all season, a lack of height began to take its toll on the Lions, and their opponents began to dominate the rebound battle in the second half.
The Royals took over the second half, quieting the crowd, as they punished the Lions in the paint to take a 99-90 lead with two minutes to play. The Lions needed a miracle…
Coach Macaulay then inserted veteran guard Andre Lockhart to help turn up the pressure as the Lions searched for a way back.
The move paid dividends instantly with the Lions defense holding the Royals scoreless until the final buzzer.
Huge shots from Peel and Robinson brought the home side all the way back to take a miraculous 100-99 lead.
Coming Through In Clutch Time
With just seconds left and a chance to retake the league, the Royals had their last opportunity snatched as Andre Lockhart knocked the ball out of play with a second to go, leaving the south London side to throw up a one last shot which came up short.
Coach Macaulay credited Lockhart and his team’s defensive effort for the win:
“What about that defensive effort, everybody did their bit and you saw Andre Lockhart at the end chasing that ball down…our defense held out and were very happy with the win.”
New Faces
Macaulay is no stranger to dramatic comebacks, with his squad producing countless late game heroics on their way to winning the BBL.
In addition to the late drama, one of the newest Lions, UEL’s own Jordan Whelan got his first experience of a London Derby and gave his thoughts after the game:
“We struggled in the 3rd but to lead for most of the game and then have to come back in the 4th and just to stick together, especially with only one minute to go, (for the team) to stay locked in and get the win in that fashion. It was a great performance from the guys.”
With form starting to return and a squad full of young talent like Whelan, there’s definitely reason for optimism over at the Copper box.
