Bridgwater & Taunton College Basketball programme shines after numerous positive results in the first half of the college season. The programme which includes five days of bespoke training and fixtures is the only one of its kind within Somerset. The players have access to train every day of the week whilst studying any course of their choice at Bridgwater & Taunton College.
The programme is run in partnership with local basketball club, Bridgwater Bucs. Bridgwater Bucs Men’s are current Somerset Basketball league and play off winners claiming the last seven league wins and last five playoff winners. The students have access to training and playing opportunities with the club which enables them to develop their skills not only at age related competitions, but also in the Somerset Men’s Basketball league with BTC Bucs.
BTC Bucs is formed from the current cohort of college players within the Team BTC Basketball programme, former players of the college and Men’s players from the local club. The team currently sit in third place in this year’s SBL, enjoying their best season to date with some excellent performances which could see them clinch a playoff spot.
Within the college season Team BTC Basketball are approaching the half way point of the season and are also on track for a record year of success on court.
The season started slowly with fixtures few and far between for the college team however they started the season where they left off last year, continuing in great form after their terrific victory over Richard Huish in last season’s Luke Buckingham Varsity cup.
The season began with a comfortable away victory over St Brendan’s Sixth From. BTC came up against a strong physical test but BTC’s tenacity saw them through and they emerged on top. The game required the group to contribute throughout which was captured by their intense hussle and togetherness. The game was won late with some outstanding defensive performances which were converted in to some smart finishing on the offensive end. The game saw BTC claim the day with a 61 – 50 victory.
In the second game of season with Team BTC were back on the road this time away to Yeovil College in the Association of Colleges (AoC) Cup. BTC started the game where they left off against St Brendan’s and raced into a 10 point lead which sparked a dormant Yeovil side into life putting BTC under lots of pressure and defensive errors. After some reflection at the break BTC came back out with composure and smart play found themselves once again in the lead through outstanding offensive prowess form Tim Gumbs and Matt Beardshaw. Yeovil were not going to go down easily and turned on the pressure but Team BTC stuck to the game plan to close out the game with a convincing 66 – 52.
With the third game of the season Team BTC Basketball made the journey once again to Bristol but this time to face their toughest test in SGS. The game started even with both teams going on the offensive early but with home court advantage SGS scored a high percentage of 3 point shots to catapult themselves into a big lead. Going into the 4th quarter BTC found themselves with a lot of work to do but sparked into life to win the quarter but it wasn’t quite enough to fend over the efficient SGS side.
In the next game of the season BTC were back in cup action and this time found themselves playing their first home game of the season. The opponents for the cup were SGS, Team BTC knew they were in for a tough game but were spurred on by their efforts from the last meeting between the two sides. The game started evenly with BTC using their physical advantage to hold a first quarter lead, this sparked SGS into life with their signature firepower from behind the three point line. BTC then once again stepped on the ‘gas’ and applied pressure to the SGS defence with outstanding offensive efforts from Domas Varza who scored 33 points and Matt Beardshaw who scored 22 points. Special mention goes out to Tim Gumbs who controlled the game under extreme and racked up 30 assists 57 – 83.
The fifth game of the season saw BTC make the trip back to Yeovil this time for league action. From the start BTC showed how much they have developed this year with the whole team contributing to the scoring whilst limiting Yeovil to only 10 points in the paint the entire first half but Yeovil did manage 10 3’s in the first two quarters to keep the game close. The second half saw BTC push once again to show a clear divide in class and quality between the two sides, BTC playing a fast high tempo offence backed up by physical and imposing defence saw them win the last quarter 25 – 2 leading to a full time result of 87 – 62.
With the last game before the seasonal break BTC welcomed St Brendan’s to Bridgwater & Taunton College for the teams second home game. Both teams started the game very nervously with lots of turnovers and mistakes happening form both sides. However it was BTC who punished there opponents with some efficient inside work from Centre Domas Varza and guard Tim Gumbs. Once again BTC struggled to stop the outside shooting of the opposition in the first half but managed to take a 15 point lead into half time with some great team play and fast break offences to lead the charge. In the second half BTC once again stepped up on the offensive end to score a season high 90 points the most scored by any BTC basketball in the team’s history.
At the mid-way point of the season Team BTC Basketball are in a very strong position sitting joint top of the AoC Southwest Basketball league.
Head Coach Joe Mills said,
“The team have committed themselves to the programme with outstanding attitude which has resulted in rapid progression this season. We have seen a leap in the players’ physicality, technical and tactical skills which will hopefully stand us in good stead for the remainder of the season.”
Any Year 11 students at school wishing to play Basketball at Bridgwater & Taunton College next year please register your interest or ask for more details by contacting Mason Galloway on 01278 441322 or email sport@bridgwater.ac.uk.
