Bravehearts not brave enough for Pirates

In a case of getting a little too familiar, the Bravehearts lulled themselves into a false sense of superiority when they came-up against the Pirates on Monday night.

The Bravehearts did get off to a good start establishing a comfortable 8-point lead in the first few minutes of the match. But, if the Pirates looked worried though, they didn’t show it, closing the quarter 9 points to 14.

Lighting it up from the outside, Jordan Nothard (25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) put on a show by nailing 6 from 9 three-pointers that drove the Bravehearts to change their defensive strategy.

Briefly switching it up to a man-on-man defence the Bravehearts were hoping to catch the Pirates off guard and get themselves back into the game but solid drives by Brett Butler (15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist) and Ben Roberts (12 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal) caused them to revert back to their original zone formation.

The Pirates shooting percentage was far superior to the Bravehearts who were 0 from 6 outside the paint and 19 from 45 inside while the Pirates managed 6 from 9 outside and 18 from 36 inside.

It was this shooting percentage that ultimately saved the Pirates and gave them a much needed victory, even as their 15 point lead was being evaporated by some wayward passing and poor rebounding. Still they kept it together and by the sound of the full-time buzzer, the Pirates were comfortable winners 58 points to 45.