A win against Worthing Thunder at the weekend assured Nottingham Hoods joined NBL Division One regular season winners Team Solent Kestrels, second placed Thames Valley Cavaliers and sixth spot Hemel Storm (who beat third placed Derby Trailblazers) in this season’s Playoff semi-finals.
The quarter final tie against Worthing who finished fifth, a place behind Nottingham in the table, was won by nine points but the Hoods had to dig in against a Thunder side who were competitive right through the end.
The scores tied at twenty in the first quarter it was Worthing with the edge at half time as the away side took a six point lead going into the midway interval.
A nine point swing however in Q3 had Nottingham leading by three, 64-61 going into the last before the home team pulled away to set up a tie in the last four. Nottingham eventually winning 88-79.
Twenty points from Luke Mitchell and 17 from Andrew Vickers helping the Hoods to victory, Logan Bailey topping the rebounds with seven whilst Kyle Jimenez produced an incredible 13 assists.
The Hoods will now take on Team Solent Kestrels who lost just twice in the league this season, the regular season winners beat Reading Rockets in their quarter finals whilst the other tie will be between Thames Valley and Hemel, the Storm beating Derby by one whilst Thames Valley had it slightly easier in seeing off Newcastle University by twelve.
Ties to be played on Saturday 9th April.
In the WBBL it was smiles also for Nottingham Wildcats over the weekend as the girls saw off Oaklands Wolves in St Albans.
Like the Hoods, Nottingham Wildcats had to come from behind at the break, up by two in the first Q they were down by nine at half time, losing 46-37 at the switch but a strong second half saw them reduce the deficit to just three in the third quarter, before a stomping last went the way of a ten point deficit in the Wildcats favour, eventually Kenrick Liburd’s side crossing the line with a 77-84 road win.
21 points and 20 rebounds from Peggy Egharevba the pick of the stats. 16 points for Jahnae Gyles and 14 for Brooklyn Pannell also notable contributions.
The Wildcats next face Leicester Riders at home on Saturday before hosting Cardiff Met Archers a day later.
*Main image @hoodsbasketball the Hoods will next face a tough test at Team Solent Kestrels.
