TAUNTON REVOLUTION 62 MASSAGE WEYMOUTH RAIDERS 41

A NEW-LOOK Massage Weymouth Raiders team came up short in their first game of the season away to an experienced Taunton Revolution side.

Raiders started the game with energy and tenacity, getting after every offensive rebound and pushing an older Revolution outfit to their limits.

However, they were unable to get the defensive stops to match at the opposite end and Revol-ution were on target with their opening efforts.

But the Raiders stuck to their task and Simon Dean, pictured, continually found ways of getting to the basket, taking contact and finishing well.

Positive play from point guard Max Gilmartin and Scott White helped the Raiders keep the scores close at the end of the first quarter.

After the game’s first break they could not regain their touch around the basket and Taunton capitalised to build a 39-25 advantage by the halfway stage.

A revitalised Raiders’ line-up began the second half with the same tempo and confid- ence as they had the first, moving the ball well and attacking Taunton quickly on the break.

Fantastic defence from guards Dan Park and Tom Storey saw the Raiders force the Revolution into multiple time-outs, and the visitors’ Jeff Robertshaw made points count at the line.

Raiders headed into the fourth quarter with promise after winning the third, but their positive play would be short-lived as Taunton regrouped and took the score to 62-41 at the close.

“We started well and attempted to carry that momentum throughout the game,” said Raiders’ coach Craig Sorrell.

“We were unlucky that a lot of our shots didn’t fall, as our ball movement and energy was fantastic.

“We simply went down to a more experienced and assertive Taunton side.”

Raiders: Simon Dean 12, Max Gilmartin 8, Jeff Robertshaw 7, Dan Park 4, Alex Legg 4, Tom Storey 2, Scott White 2, Connor Doherty Massage Weymouth Raiders MVP: Simon Dean