Comets basketball team enjoys a clean sweep of victories (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Comets basketball team enjoys a clean sweep of victories

THE Comets, the U14s team of the Team Gloster Basketball Club, took five convincing victories home during a single weekend of exciting action.

The Comets' programme, which is now in its third year in the National League, caters for ambitious players aged to 12-14 and bases its weekly sessions at Deer Park School in Cirencester.

Comets' top-eight finish in the National League two seasons ago has given the team a credible reputation.

On Saturday, the Comets faced Solihull Dakotas, one of the biggest clubs in the West Midlands, for two games.

The first was the U13s match-up in which the well practiced Comets seemed to score at will and they ran out 51-14 winners.

Following this first victory of the day, there was much expectation as the older more experienced group took to the floor.

Team captain Sam Ottaway didn't disappoint and his side registered a 62-33 victory.

Sunday saw the first tournament of the new development series housed at the new sports hall at Wycliffe College.

The series looked an ideal location to give the Comets U13s squad some much needed match practice, although following some injuries and unavailability they would be joined by a few of their older team mates.

The first game saw them facing their Wycliffe hosts when, from the outset, it was obvious that the Comets were going to dominate the game.

Matt Jones, who has been with the team for two years, put his experience to use to score 30 points in a game that ended in a 74-42 win for the Comets.

After a quick court change, Comets faced their second challenge of the day, the Chepstow Cougars, when the youngsters set the pace from the outset and clocked up a sizeable lead.

Great work near the basket by Joe Milnthorpe gave him 14 points and the defensive effort of Josh Bennett got him rebound after rebound in a 62-20 victory.

That was four out of four and, following a short lunch break, the plan was to finish the weekend with a fifth victory and an impressive 100 percent record.

Game five was a match up with Gloucester Blazers which had a similar intensity and desire seen in the first two.

Fast breaking moves eventually gave the Comets a 71-16 win and a tournament victory. New players always welcome at practice sessions held at Cirencester Deer Park School every Friday, 6.45-9pm.

For more information on the Comets and Glo'shire's national League club Team Gloster, visit the TG website at www.teamgloster.com

Current players include - U14: Sam Ottaway, Matt Jones, Leigh Ottaway (Devizes), Tomer Shaltiel (Gloucester), Rob Summerfield, Alex Midwinter, Tom Hooper (Cheltenham), Josh Bennett (Fairford), Joe Buckley (Calne), Lee Hobbis (Swindon), Rhys Owen (Cirencester).

U13: Tom Freeman, Joe Sturla, Georges Tertois, Joe Milnthorpe (Fairford), Kyle Lewis (Gloucester), Karl Roberts (Swindon), Ben Woodward (Thornbury).