Play-off hopes fade as Thunder are sunk
Trafford 60 - Northants Thunder 53: THUNDER’S post-Christmas slump continued at the John Amaechi Centre last Saturday when they slipped to their third Junior Men’s Premier Division North defeat since the festive season.
The loss means Thunder slip down to fifth place and the end of season play-off place, which had seemed secure, is now very much in jeopardy.
Just before this game, Trafford, who were playing as the Manchester Cadets, comfortably beat Northampton Nets Phoenix, so they were very much on a high. But there had to be thoughts that fatigue might well become a factor.
Earlier in the season, Thunder had blown away Trafford by a 40 -plus margin but the Northants players were well aware that this game would be a much closer encounter.
So it proved but what the Northants players weren’t expecting was some bizarre refereeing.
Amongst the more confusing ‘calls’ was a disallowed basket for Thunder followed by two free throws to Trafford, an allowed basket which passed through a hole in the net, and a brace of technical fouls to each coach, one for turning to the table the other for encouraging his team.
Trailing 41-53 after the award of the technical foul, the previously lack-lustre Thunder came to life and went on a 12-3 charge to get them to within three points of their opponents.
When Trafford missed with a perimeter shot and Thunder were able to launch a three on one fast break a close finish looked to be on the cards.
In the event they contrived to miss the lay-up and were then forced to gamble on fouling in the hope that Trafford would miss the ensuing free throws.
This didn’t happen and Trafford held on for a well deserved win.
Thunder coach John Collins was pleased that all 10 of his players scored, led by 12 points from Garnet Walters but he and assistant coach Grahame Yates were left wondering why their team had played with so little passion, intensity and commitment for 34 minutes of the game.
Northants Lightning 91
Brixton Topcats 25
LIGHTNING recorded a confidence boosting 66-point Junior Women’s South Conference win over a game but very limited Brixton Topcats.
Coach Stacey Shakespeare will be hoping that her charges will be able to take this kind of form into next Sunday’s game against second-placed Southend Swifts.
Against Brixton, Lightning dominated all four periods of play with guard Izzie Johns top scoring with 30 points.
Good support came from Chelsea Hallam and Rovinj Allen who scored 18 and 16 points respectively while Faye Clarke chipped in with 10 points.
Northants Lightning 48
Bucks Hornets 44
Not for the first time this season, Lightning’ won ugly’ with a four points Cadette Women’s Midland Conference victory over a determined Bucks Hornets.
The win keeps them in contention for and end-of-season play-off place but the team faces some tough games over the next few weeks.
Eight Lightning players scored, and they were led by Lois Bain with 18 points.
She also pulled down 12 rebounds while Steph Ogden supported well with 8 points despite getting into early foul trouble.
Northants Lightning 20
Brentwood Fire 0
The Under 14 girls were able to keep their play-off hopes alive when Brentwood were unable to raise a team.
The bad weather meant that access to the Northants Basketball Centre on Sunday morning was impossible, so the scheduled games were postponed.
The Cadet Men’s Midland Conference game at Reading Rockets was also called off.
n Last week Jess Sazant the England under 15 boys Development coach cut his training squad to 17 players.
Surviving the ‘cut’ was Northants Thunder player Josh Round, who joins his brother Sam and sister Sarah in England training squads.
Commenting on Round’s inclusion Sazant commented: “Josh is just the sort of multi-purpose player we are looking for but he still needs to work on his perimeter shooting and on ball defence.”
Round will have an opportunity to work on these skills during the next training camp to be held in Paignton over the half term break.
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