Luton Fliers are no Jokers

Full-strength Jokers beat underdogs Fliers, who were missing five players, twice last season. Starters Luke Patterson and Rafe Abrook picked up injuries in the first quarter, but soldiered on as the Luton side went 11-4 behind. But Fliers dug in and made some excellent defensive stops as they clawed the deficit back to 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Defensive pressure was to be the key for Luton throughout the game and they suffocated Ware’s usual scorers in a dominant second quarter display with Jokers making just one field goal for the period.

Recent signing Ali Miller stepped up for Luton and hit two big three pointers in the period, with Chris Whybrow scoring inside as Fliers led 26-18 at half-time.

The third quarter saw Ware respond with some sharp outside shooting to pull within three points.

Luton continued to pound the ball inside to Abrook and Whybrow who put points on the board, with Jon Gill crashing the offensive boards when they were unable to finish.

At the other end, all five players dug in defensively and Fliers held a 10-point lead heading into the final minute when Luton’s point guard, Patterson, was called for an offensive foul and had to leave the game as it was his fifth offence.

Jokers proceeded to press Fliers at every opportunity and managed to reduce the deficit by five points before Abrook iced the game with two free throws with 15 seconds to play.

Whybrow had his best game of the season with 16 points and three big blocks, and Gill was also exceptional with some suffocating defence and key rebounding. The win takes G-Casino Luton Fliers to the top of the table with four wins and no defeats this season.