University of Sheffield Men’s 1s basketball team claimed their first ever Varsity victory over Sheffield Hallam to confirm Uni of as winners of this year’s Varsity trophy. The 81-48 victory capped off an impressive day of basketball for the University of Sheffield, with the Men’s second team victorious earlier that afternoon.
Captained by Jack Loizel, Uni of Sheffield hit the ground running, racing into a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter which made the rest of the game an uphill climb for Hallam. This emphatic start put Uni of in control, however the first quarter would be by far the most one-sided quarter of the game, with the rest of the game far more evenly matched.
By the end of the half, the lead had grown to 23, with Zak Moore scoring 12 points in the second quarter, the highest total in any quarter by a single player.
Both crowds remained vocal throughout the game, which undoubtedly spurred the players on, with the tempo of the game seemingly never dropping.
The third quarter was the lowest scoring of the game, and despite it being the least damaging in terms of the score line margin, Hallam’s failure to reduce the deficit confirmed that it was only a matter of time before Uni of’s victory was sealed.
Hallam captain Courtney Alexander provided the crowd entertainment with two impressive dunks towards the end of the game which was greeted with roars of approval from the Hallam supporters. The score line at the end of the fourth quarter was 81-48, which most definitely didn’t reflect the quality that Hallam brought to the court but did reflect Uni of’s explosive start and constant control throughout.
University of Sheffield’s Zak Moore finished the game with the highest points, an impressive 24, and looked a constant threat with his aggressive dribbling and close control, which saw him score impressive layups on multiple occasions. Sheffield Hallam’s Titus Berzinis was a close second, also dropping 20+ points, and was ever dangerous for his side with his seemingly effortless ability to score 3-pointers.
The Varsity victory caps off an outstanding first season in charge for Uni of’s coach Mike Tuck, ex-Sheffield Shark player himself, with his side having already claimed the league and cup in recent weeks. The Uni of Sheffield’s deserving victory confirms their success in defending their Varsity trophy, and they will now look to further extend their lead over the remaining Varsity period.
Hallam showed periods of dominance throughout the game but were unable to overturn the large deficit caused by a lacklustre first quarter. Nevertheless, spells of quality and glimmers of individual brilliance mean that they can leave with their heads held high.