After a successful BCB Trophy Group Stage, the Nottingham Hoods unfortunately came up agonisingly short in the quarter-final clash with Falkirk Flyers.

However, they immediately brushed that loss aside to start the Championship season with another win over rivals, Loughborough Riders.

Opposing the Flyers, in the Trophy, the visitors would edge a 79-66 win that saw the Scottish side progress to the semi-finals, this despite four Hoods players making double figures in the points bracket.

Donell Nixon II posted 14pts, 8rebs, 7ast, captain Elliot Bailey added 13pts, 9rebs, 3ast, whilst there were 11pts apiece for both Tyrone Williams 11pts, 4rebs, 4ast, and Micah Savery-Richards 11pts, 5rebs.

Replying though, two of the visiting Fury side posted 20+ points, Alasdair Fraser the games’ top scorer with 23pts, 6rebs, 4ast, and Murray Henry added 20pts, 5rebs, 2ast, to see them into a semi-final clash with Yorkshire Dragons.

The semi-finals draw is City of Birmingham Rockets vs. Milton Keynes Breakers, and Falkirk Fury vs. Yorkshire Dragons.

Meanwhile, this past Sunday night, Loughborough Riders welcomed Vladan Dragosavac’s Nottingham Hoods for the opening game of the BCB league season, the Hoods registering a second win already this campaign, winning 69-58.

After a back-and-forth first period, one which finished with the Hoods leading by two, the visitors easing ahead from the second period onwards, not looking back from a twelve-point advantage at the half, to maintain that double-figure lead throughout the second.

The Riders did close within seven points at one stage in the second half, whilst the Hoods stretched their advantage by as much as fourteen points, eventually winning the contest by eleven, three from each side making double figures.

Johde Campbell top-scored for the hosting Riders, he posting 13pts, 5rebs, 8ast, alongside teammates Jalen Cook with 12pts, 3rebs, 3ast, and Tomide Akinsiku with 11pts, 10rebs, 4ast.

Replying for the Hoods however was Tyrone Williams with 19pts, 7rebs, 9ast, alongside Mergin Sokoli’s 13pts, 6rebs, and Simeon Perry coming off the bench with 10pts, 2rebs, 1ast.

Hoods Head Coach, Vladan Dragosavac said post-Riders that; “It was a good start to the season, obviously.

“Playing the Loughborough Riders is always exciting; good team, good coach, and I think we started the way we wanted to start the season.

“We played as a team, but I feel that we can have another level to offer our audience….

“The support is good, so next game is the next challenge, and we will be ready.”

The Hoods’ next (league) game sees them make the trip cross-country, to the City of Birmingham Rockets, who narrowly lost their opener, 90-85 to Derby Trailblazers, on Saturday 18 October.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @hoodsbasketball action during Hoods win over Loughborough.