With Melbourne just two weeks away for us and a big country championship at the same time for Gosford, we both needed a tune up against some tough defence, so they came down for a game against us on Thursday.
We were down one player, Thomas, but despite some injuries Luke (knee) and Brane (fractured toe) came back into the squad.
It was a great match-up and it was the first time the boys had to really work to penetrate a team's defence. It was also a very cagey game, with both coaches seeming to keep their offensive and defensive plays close to their chest.
We won the match-up 37-24 but it gave us some food for thought.
The Rebels have fantastic transition defence. We were often a bit slow in releasing the ball after defensive rebounds. It meant we had to go up the court under pressure and move to the half court offense a lot more and work it right through.
With Gosford pressing us really tightly and filling he lanes this was quite an ask. Early in the game we over ran the 24 second clock twice and also turned over on deep passes.
In addition, our cutters were not getting as open as usual partly because of Gosford's tight and quick defence but also because we left space on our screens and forgot to brush shoulders to break to open space.
Defensively we were very tight and the help-defence down low was particularly good, making Gosford change shots when they did get close to the basket.
On offence, Gosford made us hurry. At times we got ourselves into awkward positions mid court because we were pushing the ball unnecessarily fast even though the Rebels defence was set.
We were caught out a few times on a half court trap but the great majority of our turnovers came from careless passes under pressure or through rushing up the court.
It is important for our boys to understand that it is more important to get the ball up the court safely rather than quickly and be aware of the halfway line. We have a good half court set and if the fast break is open to us, we just need to set up at the top of the key and work it through.
Afterwards, the boys and parents got together for pizza and some fantastic cupcakes brought by one of the Gosford mums to celebrate the birthday of a Rebels player.
Hopefully sometime this season, we can get up to Gosford for a return game. It is just going to be difficult to find the time as the second half of the season closes in.
Meanwhile, we wish Gosford good luck at the country competition. I'm sure we will be meeting again before the season is out.
It was a great match-up and it was the first time the boys had to really work to penetrate a team's defence. It was also a very cagey game, with both coaches seeming to keep their offensive and defensive plays close to their chest.
We won the match-up 37-24 but it gave us some food for thought.
The Rebels have fantastic transition defence. We were often a bit slow in releasing the ball after defensive rebounds. It meant we had to go up the court under pressure and move to the half court offense a lot more and work it right through.
With Gosford pressing us really tightly and filling he lanes this was quite an ask. Early in the game we over ran the 24 second clock twice and also turned over on deep passes.
In addition, our cutters were not getting as open as usual partly because of Gosford's tight and quick defence but also because we left space on our screens and forgot to brush shoulders to break to open space.
Defensively we were very tight and the help-defence down low was particularly good, making Gosford change shots when they did get close to the basket.
On offence, Gosford made us hurry. At times we got ourselves into awkward positions mid court because we were pushing the ball unnecessarily fast even though the Rebels defence was set.
We were caught out a few times on a half court trap but the great majority of our turnovers came from careless passes under pressure or through rushing up the court.
It is important for our boys to understand that it is more important to get the ball up the court safely rather than quickly and be aware of the halfway line. We have a good half court set and if the fast break is open to us, we just need to set up at the top of the key and work it through.
Afterwards, the boys and parents got together for pizza and some fantastic cupcakes brought by one of the Gosford mums to celebrate the birthday of a Rebels player.
Hopefully sometime this season, we can get up to Gosford for a return game. It is just going to be difficult to find the time as the second half of the season closes in.
Meanwhile, we wish Gosford good luck at the country competition. I'm sure we will be meeting again before the season is out.
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