Thrilling finale marks Varsity Basketball clash

The Copper Box Arena at London's Olympic Park played host to a nail-biting Imperial College Varsity Basketball match on Thursday 12 March.

The Imperial College team ultimately snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, having trailed Imperial Medicals for the majority of an incredibly tense game, the final score reading 62 versus 60.

It was the second time the Varsity match was hosted at the Copper Box Arena – made possible thanks to a partnership between the London Lions professional team and Imperial. A small but extremely vocal crew of supporters made their way across London to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford for a courtside view.

With the College team a BUCS division above the Medics and riding high at the top of league you might have been forgiven for predicting a rather one-sided affair. In the end it was anything but.

Medicals (in red) take the lead

The Medicals took the early initiative leading the College at the first quarter 18 versus 12. Perhaps caught off guard by the Medicals fierce intent, the College team brought it back to level the score by half time at 34 versus 34. Some light entertainment with members of the crowd taking on Imperial’s mascot allowed both teams to regroup. But it was clear that neither side was going to blink.

At the third quarter the Medicals were again ahead 48 to 45 and they remained in front until the very closing stages, when the College (who had been rather error prone by their own high standards), siezed and converted the key opportunities when it mattered the most.

Winner takes all

For College team captain Thomas Defferriere (left), it was clearly an emotional rollercoaster, as he could be seen throughout the match desperately pleading with his team to tighten up in defence and remain focused.

“For the first half we thought we had some degree of control in the game. However, as time went by and the silly mistakes on our behalf were piling up I think we quickly came to realize we did not have control. I think the end result was thanks to us realizing that in time and acting upon it by making a decision that would lead to a win ... and at the same time having some luck!”

It was a truly crushing result for the Medicals, but a small kernel of consolation came in the form of a much-deserved most valuable player (MVP) award for guard position Javi Monroig Vives (left) who was a constant thorn in IC’s side.

All in all, it’s been a great year for Imperial Basketball. The men’s first team finished well clear of their nearest rivals at the top of South Eastern 3B division and the women’s first team finished second in the very highest regional league South Eastern 1A. Meanwhile, Imperial Second Team and Imperial Medicals finished second and third respectively in South Eastern 4A Division.

Men’s first team Captain Defferriere said: “In the end our strength has been to stick together on the same train of thought. As a captain, I would not have been able to guide the team if it had not been for Filippo Baldini (my assistant captain) and for several players in the team that ensured that my voice echoed among our teammates. As I told my team all throughout the year, the biggest opponent we faced was not the different teams we would go up against week after week but ourselves. Learning how to play with each other and sticking to the plan that has been agreed upon for the success of the team has been key to our success this year.”

The College team held their nerve to the end