In an end-to-end battle REDA Red was able to run away from Metro Prep for the impressive 68-57 victory at Cawthra Park.

Coming into the game Metro was renowned for its pressure D but it was REDA who put on the clamps, jumping out to an early 9-0 lead. Behind the active hands that got into passing lanes and wreaked havoc on the ball handler, REDA was able to convert turnovers into baskets with eight points coming off of transition in the first quarter.

The neck break pace of REDA would lead to 24 fast break points in the game.

“This team is fast but they refuse to pass to each other in the quarter court offence, it’s the biggest challenge of my coaching career,” said Tarry Upshaw REDA Red head coach.

Coming out for the fourth quarter with a new found intensity Metro looked like the team everyone expected to see at the start of the game. Unfortunately its poor start would hold back any chance of walking out of the gym with a W.

Looking like a deer caught in the headlights for the first few minutes of the game Metro struggled to get going offensively. Though some lacklustre defence from REDA allowed the Predators to get back within striking distance, trailing 18-10 after the first quarter, there never seemed to be any comfort for the scrappy squad.

A physical game from the onset, Metro was able to win the rebounding battle in the first half but couldn’t capitalize on the second chance opportunities missing a number of easy looks in the paint. The missed opportunities made the 10 point halftime deficit, down 32-22, seem even larger.

If there was any doubt about the effort from the athletic REDA squad after the lackadaisical first half defensive effort the third quarter saw players diving for loose balls, crashing the boards and simply out working Metro on both ends of the floor.

“I just said ‘it comes down to playing hard, you keep the ball in front of you, why are you guys scrambling and doubling when you don’t need to just play people honest. If you play people honest good things happen,’” said Upshaw. “With this team there’s a lot of work we have to get done because we have a lot of individuals, we’re not really a group yet.

“Coming into this we’re ranked No.1 but [REDA] Black’s really better, because Black plays better as a team this team has a lot of challenges ahead of them if they want to play as a team.”

 Leading the way for REDA was the dynamic duo of Martin Dixon-Green and Shaquille Keith who finished with 18 and 17 points respectively leading all scorers.