MU19 – Pantterit vs Honka – TurnOver game
Hmmm…
First of all – know that often these ‘game recap’ articles, I write them kinda cheeky. So please, don’t get upset or angry .. it’s all just a bit of light hearted commentary 😉
That out of the way, let’s get to it!
Turn Over game!!!
I really doubt that I have NEVER been to a game where there are more turn-overs than successful baskets made in total. That tells you something about the pace the game was played at.
There was a total of 56 (yes FIFTYSIX!!!) turnovers in the game. And there was a total of 55 (FIFTYFIVE!!) successful baskets (counting 2p and 3p shots from both teams).
So basically, as many turnovers than there were successful baskets.. what can I say??
Still, the game was really entertaining and good for content! So who cares about the turnovers.. apart from coaches Justice Graham and Hussain Dassouki
Pre Game
Aah, the joys of basketball in Finland – where there are plenty of free courts and venues (sarcasm!).
Tuesday night I headed to East Helsinki – for the MU19 Finnish League game between Pantterit and Honka – I was lucky enough to park my camper quite close to the venue. So short walk in the -23 celsius to the gym.
Got there about 18.35 – and there was a youth training session going on, so – all of us who were going to the game, waited in the hallway until 19.00.
Huge props to the volunteers/staff for getting the venue ‘game ready’ in like 5 minutes!!
Now – I am old .. and my observation last night from the youth at the game.. DAMN! they like to wear dark clothes, I stood out like a sore thumb at the venue with my white/aurora hoodie and bright red/pink baseball cap.. come on guys, it was a basketball game, not a funeral 😉 Then again, who am I to give fashion advice to the youth of today..
Game
It was more ‘old school’ than I had imagined, neither team really played the ‘three ball’ game. These days one is so used to seeing five guys standing behind the three point line and each taking turns to shoot the ball.
Last night – only a total of 35 three point attempts and 101 two point attempts. Now THIS is the kind of basketball that a content creator LOVES! Good old inside the paint hoops!
Probably caught more blocks and drives to the basket in this single game, than I have in half a season of shooting Korisliiga. Now – if you want my tip, go to a MU19 game if you want to see players attacking the hoop, more than they spray threes.
I definitely enjoyed myself – and so did my cameras!
Stat Pack
Should we start with turnovers 😉
WB-Pantterit : Games only double-double from Joseph Tala : 16 points and 11 rebounds. Nantti Ruuhilahti dropped 20 points for the home team. Aldrian Manalo was dishing out 7 assists, Joseph Tala also claimed 4 blocks in the game.
Tapiolan Honka : Tomas Loponen with the only double digit score for the away team, with a game high 21 points – as well as 7 rebounds. Emil Selkäinaho served 7 assists and 3 steals. Joonatan Uunila grabbed 6 rebounds.
It’s always shame and nice – when you can’t lift too many players in the stats, shame as there is nothing to write, nice as it means all the players have contributed.
What’s next?
WB-Pantterit are sailing in four game winning run – and face bottom of the league TuNMKY next, Pantterit are sitting nicely in third place in the league with 6 rounds to go. Their record is 9 wins – 3 defeats.
Honka, having tough time lately – four defeats from last five games, admittedly these losses have come against the Top 4 of the league. They will play at home vs PuHu I who had a big over-time game and a stinging four point defeat vs Ura Basket last night.
Top Six in the league is : Pyrintö 10-1, HNMKY 9-2, WB-Pantterit 9-3, KTP 7-4, Honka 7-5, Ura Basket 7-5. My guess is that these six teams will battle for the Top 4 spots and playoff basketball this season.
