[visiongallery set=72157632879339831]
Photos: Emilien Tortel
In what became a remarkably close game, York were defeated 56-65 by top-of-the-league Leeds Met 2nds.
Huddled in the freezing cold sports tent on what was one of the warmest days of the term, York and Leeds Met faced off in a match that proved that for all intents and purposes, the most intense sports happen in tents.
Right off the bat, it was clear that the first quarter would serve as a showcase for both teams’ talents. York quickly got into their groove and put up 10 unanswered points. Led by Janne Billiet, they gave Leeds a crash course in recovery, racking up over 20 offensive and defensive rebounds in the first ten minutes alone. It was an impressive display of teamwork, proving the effectiveness of quick passes and full participation from everyone.
But Leeds Met soon proved why they are at the top of the league with their remarkable defense. They set a full court press on York, effectively stopping any ball movement past the half-court line. For the remainder of the quarter, Leeds controlled the game, evening the score at 13-13 at the sound of the whistle. It was now a question of which would come out on top: Leeds’ speed and defense or York’s teamwork?
In the second quarter, Leeds continued their dominance over York. They used every one of York’s turnovers and missed shots in a rapid sprint to a 13-17 lead. Despite their consistent rebounding, York were unable to make their shots and frustratingly could not keep up with Leeds’ impeccable ball handling.
On the bench, Billiet articulated the problem: “We’re trying to get a fast break. Why? Slow down!” York played best when they slowed down the game and passed the ball, but Leeds made that impossible with their much more aggressive style.
Nonetheless, York were able to slow the pace down at the end of the half and outpaced Leeds much like they did in the first quarter. The score was 23-23 when, in the last few seconds, team captain Stefania Hataragta hit a beautiful 3-point shot, putting York ahead 26-23 at the end of the half.
Going into the third and fourth quarter, it seemed like the game could go either way, and indeed, it did for most of the first ten minutes of the second half. York and Leeds both continued to show what they were best at until Leeds turned the tables with their own last minute 3-pointer, pulling ahead 37-40 at the end of the third quarter.
For the remainder of the game, Leeds’ momentum was unstoppable. Although York had a number of impressive plays centred on passing and shooting, their frustration got the better of them. They started attempting long passes and fast breaks in effort to score a few points. But they weren’t playing to their strengths.
Meanwhile, Leeds started practicing their 3-point shooting, sinking three in a row and leaving York behind. It was a brutal display of power, ending with a 56-65 defeat for York.
Despite the loss, York played very impressively against a team that is at the top of the league. After the game, Hataragta reiterated this, stating, “We kind of lost it at the end, but I’m proud we played like this. It was a team effort.”
When they played with a focus on teamwork rather than speed, they kept up with — and even outplayed — Leeds Met. It really was, pardon the cliché, a valiant effort.