Kendal Warriors 76

Sefton Stars 68

AFTER a humbling result the previous weekend the Warriors were back in action on Saturday evening as they hosted the Sefton Stars in their final home game of the season.

Nursing a fragile confidence, Kendal were again without Kevin Mason but had the backing of a full and boisterous home crowd.

The Warriors started well with both Keith McInnes and Nathan Williams scoring readily around the basket and they lead 18-16 at the end of the quarter.

Sefton took the lead early in the second quarter as Etherington and Lavery combined for a flurry of points for the visitors.

But Williams and McInnes continued to carry the threat for the Warriors in the second quarter as Kendal's post players continued to cause problems for the Sefton defence.

In what was proving to be a see-saw battle, successful three point shots from Gareth France and Marc Crockford saw Kendal regain the lead - and it was a lead they were not to lose again.

When McInnes converted his own three point play and Mason finished from a rebound, the Warriors seemed to have control of the game as they led 41-33 at the half.

A three point shot from Mathias Basedow at the start of the third stretched the lead to 11 points but sharp shooting from Walsh and Etherington helped Sefton get back to within three points mid way through the quarter.

Good play from Williams and more points from Phil Mason saw the Warriors lead 61-50 going in to the final quarter.

Sensing the game was getting away from them Sefton changed their defence to try and put further pressure on the Warriors guards and while it initially flustered the Kendal offence, the hosts soon learnt to adapt as France hit eight consecutive points for the Warriors. Defensively the hosts were demonstrating their own pressure and aggression with Basedow and Crockford working hard to close the Sefton shooters down and Withnell putting his body on the line as he threw himself on numerous loose balls.

And this commitment to the cause paid dividends as it allowed Kendal to control the closing moments of the game and as Mason converted a free throw with three seconds to seal a 76- 68 victory.

Scorers

G France 26 K McInnes 18 P Mason 11 N Williams 10 M Basedow 5 T Withnell 3 M Crockford 3