It was not the best weekend for our women and men’s elite basketball sides as Nottingham Wildcats went down to championship chasing Leicester Riders in the WBBL whilst Nottingham Hoods lost both their games on Saturday and Sunday to stay rooted to the bottom of the table in the NBL First Division.
The Wildcats were beaten soundly by the Riders who are currently second to Sevenoaks Suns (14/0) with a record of 14 wins and a single defeat from their fifteen games. Wildcats now sixth are 7/7 for the season.
A tight first period went the way of Riders 17-13 but a dominant second put the hosts well in charge at half time. Leicester leading 43-19 at the interval and although the third Q was almost score for score, by the last Nottingham were well down and chasing, eventually losing out 88-50.
Simone Costa top scored for Wildcats with 13 points as Praise Egharevba boasted a match high nine rebounds whilst Chelsey Shumpert collected 4 assists, star of the show was Holly Winterburn of the Riders who scored 21 with 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
Nottingham Hoods miserable season continues but they weren’t far off the mark on Saturday against Bradford Dragons losing by just six points.
The Dragons eventually won 80-74 with a match-impressive performance from Victor Olarerin at least something to cheer about, the Hoods star netting 21 points with 13 rebounds.
On Sunday things weren’t so impressive, this time the Hoods fell short by 11 against Worthing Thunder, losing 86-75 with Matthew Ward-Hibbert impressing for Nottingham, he scored 23 points with 18 for Olarerin who also claimed 14 rebounds.
Hoods next face BA London Lions on Saturday whilst the Wildcats are in action tomorrow night against Oaklands Wolves in a 4pm tip off in Nottingham.
*Main image @EvieC_94 Victor Olarerin shooting hoops against Worthing Thunder.
