It was an in-different couple of days for both our men’s and women’s elite basketball teams this weekend as Nottingham Wildcats and Nottingham Hoods bounced back from defeats on Saturday to win on Sunday with much needed points in the league added.
On Saturday, Nottingham Wildcats were knocked out of the WBBL Trophy at the semi-final stage to London Lions who in fairness, thumped our girls in a one-sided match that ended 82-39.
Shaunay Edmonds netting 19 of the Wildcats points as they exited their knock-out competition on a whimper, London (13 wins from 13 in the league) will play Sevenoaks Suns (14-0) in the final, the Oaks beat Leicester Riders 74-57 to set up an all-southern affair.
Positives however, the Wildcats did bounce back instantaneously with victory a day later as they themselves swept aside Cardiff Met Archers to take the points back from Wales.
Nottingham eventually winning 82-74 thanks to a thrilling fourth quarter which took the game away from Cardiff’s grasp.
The Wildcats were down 65-58 going into the last before scoring a resounding 9-24 period that ensured in the end it was a comfortable eight point victory.
Brooklyn Pannell scoring 22 points with Praise Egharevba netting 18. Kennedy Nicolas again topping the rebounds with 17 as Shaunay Edmonds registered five assists.
That win means Nottingham are sixth in the WBBL table, two points behind Manchester Met Mystics in fifth having played a game more. Next up for the Wildcats a trip to Sheffield Hatters who are third.
Like the Wildcats, Nottingham Hoods were beaten on Saturday by a team in form as table topping Team Solent Kestrels scored a 95-63 win on the south coast.
Certainly not shaming themselves against a team who have won 20 matches and lost 2 in the NBL Division One this season, Morakinyo Williams top scoring for Nottingham with 22 points.
A day later however, against second in the table Thames Valley Cavaliers, the Hoods pulled out a huge away performance to win by 99-84 with Victor Olarerin netting 20 of the visiting teams points to add to the 14 he netted the previous day.
Josh Guddemi and Johde Campbell both doing their bit with 17 each, the Hoods were down at half time but a big Q3 took them away from the Cavaliers reach and that lead was extended in the fourth to what turned out to be a dominant display and one of the best by the Hoods this season.
That win means Nottingham are now fourth in the table on 30 points and the side may have their eye on a silver placed regular season finish heading into the Playoffs.
Next up for the Hoods is the short trip to second bottom Leicester Warriors on Saturday.
*Main image @EvieC_94 Andrew Vickers in action against Thames Valley Cavaliers.
