BASKETBALL: Matt's the man as Thunder stay top of the pile

Thunder edged out Nottinghan Trent Hoods 59-54 to retain top spot in the division.

Matt Yates top scored with 22 points and he was well supported by Richard Higgins and Jacob Holt with 16 and 15 points respectively.

Jake Barr, James Barden and Tom Higgins also managed to score in double figures.

Wallhead stars in a key overtime success

Ed Wallhead led Northants Thunder to an 80-78 overtime win against Birmingham Elite in the Junior Men’s National League (Midlands West Conference).

The Northants junior men stay top of the Midlands West Conference after the nail-biting success.

The win was particularly impressive because Team Birmingham had been awarded 35 free throws to Thunder’s 20.

Wallhead scored 34 points and he was well supported by Cameron Samuels and Zac Kitchen with 22 and 18 points respectively.

Coach Dariaus Maldutis made special mention of the efforts of Tom Myers.

Cadet boys are well beaten by Knights

THE Northants Thunder cadet boys made the long trip to Stoke-on-Trent Knights and ended up on the wrong end of a 74-39 scoreline in the Under 16 Boys National League (Midlands West Conference).

Thunder had been warned to expect a zone defence, something they hadn’t encountered very much in previous games, and they were also confronted by two Knights players much taller than anyone in their team.

No Thunder player was able to get into double figures and lessons will have to be learned ahead of this weekend’s tough test against table-topping Worcester Bears.

Sade top scores but Lightning lose out

Two poor quarters cost Northants Lightning as they lost 76-46 to Derby Trailblazers in the Under 16 Girls National League (North Conference).

There were times in the game when the Northants girls managed to put together some effective basketball against the table-topping Trailblazers.

But they weren’t able do this over all four periods of play, which resulted in them slipping to a heavy defeat.

Sade Chambers top scored for Lightning with 15 points.

Lucy Needham and Dina Kosnikovska supported with 10 and nine points respectively.

Dina and Ashia shine but Northants beaten

NORTHANTS LIGHTNING found Derby Trailblazers to be too strong in the Under 14 Girls National League (Midlands Conference).

Lightning were beaten 82-48 by the high-flying opposition at the Basketball Centre.

Lightning coach Karen Goodrich could at least be pleased that nine of her players scored, led by Dina Kosnikovska and Ashia King with 
10 and nine points respectively.

Goodrich was also pleased with the defensive efforts of Keris Ndubisi, but less pleased that her team missed no fewer than 23 free throws.

Fixtures

Saturday, January 27: 9.30am to 11am: Junior Ballers; 11.30am: Under 14 Girls versus N.E.B.C. Titans, Under 14 Boys versus Worcester Bears; 2pm: Under 16 Boys versus Worcester Bears; 4pm: Senior Men versus Nottingham 
Hoods II(these games will be played at the Basketball Centre, which is situated at Northampton School for Girls in Spinney Hill Road, Northampton - spectators are welcome and admission is free); Under 18 Boys travel to Coventry Tornadoes, Under 11 and Under 15 Boys C.V.L. at Northampton School for Boys

Sunday: Under 14 and Under 16 Girls travel to Leicester Warriors

Northamptonshire Titans

Lorenzo leads the way as Titans beat Wolves

It was business as usual for Northamptonshire Titans in the U14 Boys Midlands West Conference as they recorded a fine 76-19 win on the road at Worcester Wolves.

The hosts found it difficult to find gaps in Titans’ defence and were limited to 12 points in the first half, while the visitors amassed 41.

In the second half, Lorenzo Williams came alive and powered his way to the basket on numerous occasions, finishing the game with a season-high 12 points.

Alex Robinson also had his best game of the season, displaying high-energy defence and contributing 
10 points to the total while Harry Mitchell and Sean Rawlins also achieved double figures, scoring 11 and 15 respectively.

Titans travelled to take on table-topping Worcester Bears in the U16 Boys Midlands West Conference and it was the hosts who claimed a 127-74 victory.

Bears won all four quarters but it was a massive improvement from their previous meeting at the beginning of the season as Titans continue their development.

Ben Hooper top scored with 25 points, Dinari Williams-Brown got 19 and Isaac Round 17.

Titans claimed a fine 61-55 win at Huntingdon Hawks in the U18 Peterborough League.

Titans’ top scorers were Josh Wright with 21 and Josh Taylor with 17.

Titans made no mistake as they returned from the long trip to take on bottom side Lancashire Spinners with an 81-43 win in the U16 Girls North Conference.

Titans’ form was evident from the tip as Lauren Dabbs got the scoring going, joined by Kenny Hamilton.

The top scorers were Dabbs with 29 and Tegan Millar, Kenny Hamilton and India Evans, who all scored 11.

In the U14 Girls Midlands Conference, Titans slipped to a 75-46 defeat at Luton.

Ella McCahil-Brown was their impressive top scorer with 28 points.