Nottingham Wildcats return to the basketball court this weekend after a three week lay off which was probably much needed following the sides recent form in which they won only one of their last four WBBL Championship games.
The girls go to Sheffield as they face the Hatters at All Saints High School with a 4pm tip off on Saturday and a return to winning ways after back to back defeats is certainly number one priority for Kenrick Liburd’s team.
Last time out the Wildcats were beaten in Manchester by the Mystics 76-64 after losing at Newcastle Eagles the week before by four points.
Nottingham who flirted with top spot as recently as December are currently sixth in the table having fallen of late and face a Sheffield side in fifth level on points with the Wildcats but having played a game less.
In the Mens second tier of basketball Nottingham Hoods also return to action after a three week layoff in the NBL as they make the short trip to Derby Trailblazers for a 7:15pm tip off on Saturday.
Like the Wildcats the Hoods have struggled in recent weeks and are without a win in 2020 having lost all their four league games since last beating bottom of the table Liverpool before Christmas.
Last time out Nottingham were beaten 81-94 by Leicester Warriors having been trounced the week before 125-87 at home to Hemel Storm.
With 5 wins and 12 losses so far this season the Hoods in 10th hope that a win over their local rivals will improve fortunes as they look to climb up the table and away from danger.
In other basketball news the sad death of icon and legend Kobe Bryant was touched upon by Nottingham Wildcat’s Siobhan Prior last week when she stated “He championed women’s basketball more than any other former NBA player I can think of. Mainly because he had four daughters. He wanted to show his daughter Gianna that she could be as good as she wanted to be.”
“His respect for women as basketball players was really important. He didn’t compare men and women – he just talked about them all as athletes.”
Kenrick Liburd the Wildcats Head Coach who had huge admiration for Bryant stated “Not everybody loved Kobe but you have to respect him as a player and his impact on the game of basketball. He personifies toughness.”
“I think when situations like this happen, it shows people that maybe their problems aren’t as big as they seem. The NBA is no different. I think they will do something fitting to try and honour Kobe and what he has done for the sport.”
*Main image @hoodsbasketball the team are back in action this weekend looking for a first win in five.
