After a double-header, which saw consecutive victories over Essex Rebels (pictured) and Oaklands Wolves, in the middle of January, at the Wildcats Arena, the Nottingham Hoods would see the following weekends’ game, against the Reading Rockets, postponed, thus stifling the momentum they’d built up.
However, this weekend, Ben Stanley’s Hoods will go again, with another double-header, this a home-away one when they host the Bradford Dragons this Saturday 29, before making the trip to Yorkshire the following day, on Sunday 30.
Those two, previous games, over Essex and Oaklands, the Hoods would be seen to collect back-to-back victories, defeating the former 97-67, before moving into triple figures the following night and defeating the latter, 108-74.
It would be equally successful off-court as well for the Hoods, the wins seeing them move up four places in the league standings, from eighth, to fourth place, behind that of leaders Worthing Thunder, then Team Solent Kestrels and Hemel Storm.
Against the Rebels, it would be Joshua Guddemi who’d be top performer, claiming 19 points and four rebounds, in the thirty-point victory, whilst against the Wolves, it was the turn of Morakinyo Williams, he proving too hot to handle when racking up a game-high of 27 points.
The Wolves game would also be a special outing for Kyle Jimenez, he breaking his own assists record and racking up an impressive thirteen, in one game, taking his average this season to 8.3 assists per game.
Portraying wariness, yet excitement, for the games ahead this weekend, Coach Stanley said of the upcoming clashes with Bradford , his side looking to maintain that afore-mentioned momentum, that: “It’s going to be a great weekend of basketball.
“Coach Mellor (Bradford HC, Chris Mellor) has his guys well prepared for every game and I am sure they will be looking at us and what we do.
“With it being a back-to-back weekend, that means adjustments made in game, coverages and offences being held back for the second game, overnight video reviews, and even more adjustments, so it’s fun for us coaches.
“We know that Bradford have the tools to beat anyone in the league, and we need to come prepared to execute our game-plan, be resilient, and be relentless, for the whole weekend.
“It’s going to take a lot of focus from our guys.”
Although they’ve found a little rhythm in recent weeks, the Yorkshire club, who visit the Wildcats Arena on Saturday, have suffered an injury-ravaged campaign, but are a dangerous side, especially at home, and with wily veterans, and talented players in their ranks, athletes like Ricky Fetske (American power forward), Richards Sulcs (Latvian forward), and Zach Gachette (guard) stand-outs for the Yorkshire club, looking to take advantage of every situation.
The Hoods however, they’ll be looking to continue their winning streak over both games, and know that the play of their own veterans, forward Joshua Guddemi, and centre Morakinyo Williams, could well be pivotal when coming up against the experience in which the Dragons possess.
Other key components for the Hoods continuing their current streak will be the stepping up of their talented guard, Johde Campbell, and the multiple options afforded by co-captain, Luke Mitchell, who celebrated his birthday earlier this week.
The Nottingham Hoods take on the Bradford Dragons in a home-away double-header this weekend, the first, at the Wildcats Arena, on Saturday 29 January at 16:00, and the reverse, twenty-four hours later, on Sunday 30 January, at Calderdale College, tip-off at 16:15 – check with respective clubs for game ticket information.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @EvieC_94 the Hoods talk tactics against Essex Rebels.
