Nottingham McDonald’s Hoods are back on court this weekend as they take on Bradford Dragons at the Wildcats Arena with the team looking to bounce back.
The team have a 1-6 record in the NBL Division One this season and face a Bradford team just a position above them in 11th in the table.
The Dragons have less points scored and conceded than the Hoods having won one more game from their seven played the Merry Men coming off a 37 point beating against Worthing Thunder last weekend are at least in good spirits ahead of Saturday’s tie.
The huge positive to take was the reaction in the locker room immediately after the game and throughout the early training week, the group collectively vowed to never allow such a performance again. The Hoods home court is usually a fortress, as the Merry Men spur the Hoods on, going 13months unbeaten at home just a couple of seasons ago. This season’s home performances have been tough on the whole club, but individually none more so than Australian Tom Atkinson. On the road he averages an impressive 17.25 points, 8.25 rebounds and 2.25 assists while shooting 59%. In contrast he averages a measly 3 points, 2 rebounds and 0.33 assists on 30% at home.
Atkinson stated “Obviously basketball, like any other sport, is just as mentally demanding as it is physically. We are all doing everything we can off the court to become a more cohesive unit and we are all rediscovering our confidence levels one way or another at practice, the way we go at each other during the week is immensely different to what we produced last Sunday. We are going into our clash with Bradford this weekend full well knowing we will be turning things around for our fans regardless of whether we win or lose.”
The Hoods have been hindered with injuries to Malachi Nelson and more recently Matt Ward-Hibbert and Delaney Powell but emerging star Victor Olererin has been something to shout about having scored 24 points against the Thunder last week, he’ll be looking to continue his good form against the Dragons in what is a must win game for the home side.
Tip off is 6:30pm Saturday night (16th November) and tickets are still available from the Hoods game day website here.
*Main image @ncaa official basketball of the national collegiate athletic association.
