Ellas Titans continue to excel in the early stages of the 2021 Darwin Basketball League

ELLAS Titans have shot to the top of the 2021 Darwin Basketball League table following a 93-74 win over a young but talented Ansett side in Round 3

Ellas Titans’ Raymond Jarrett has been in great form for his new club. Picture: Glenn Campbell

ELLAS Titans have shot to the top of the 2021 Darwin Basketball League table following a 93-74 win over a young but talented Ansett side in Round 3.

Titans came out with plenty of intensity, eager to get on top early.

But a disruptive Ansett unit made sure the league’s powerhouse form side didn’t have it all its way.

The link-up of key recruit Raymond Jarrett (35 points) and rebound specialist Deola D’Brown (24 points) has already proved to be a deadly combination in the early stages of the competition.

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And it was the same against Ansett, with both big men imposing themselves early against the shorter side.

Ben Streeter and Jake Eyles (both 11 points) backed up their big two.

David Reid also imposed himself defensively, coming up with several crucial steals and turnovers.

Despite lacking some personnel in Lachlan Shipway and Matty Hunt, Ansett gave a solid account of themselves, hanging in the contest and at times getting the better of their bigger-bodied opposition.

Missed baskets in the early stages were the bane of the team in blue.

But Joshua Turner (24 points) and Kane Toohey (14 points) still both made their presences known on the scoreboard.

“It was a really good game mainly because there was a bit of back and forth which made us work in defence and offence,” Jarrett told the NT News.

“They like to go fast.

“So for us the main thing was just about staying composed, and it was a good practise of what we need to do for the rest of the season.

“It was about sticking together. There are always ups and downs in a game. But the team that keeps their head for the longest duration normally gets on top.”

In his first season for the star-studded side, Jarrett is enjoying life at the Titans in 2021 and his performances on the court are reflecting that.

“It’s been really good being in this group with a lot of these guys being around the same age and experience,” Jarrett said.

“The young guys that we have are all hungry to learn from us as they are listening and paying attention to what we do.”

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Tracy Village broke clear to win 92-56 over Uni Rebels, following a 35-point final quarter with Clayton Jewell contributing 20 points.

Eagles v Palmerston and Essington v Lightning were last night’s other Round 3 games.