Tigers run of close defeats continued with a six point loss away to Coventry Crusaders despite leading by 8 points going into the 4th. Taunton travelled without the dynamic Joe Andrews who had injured his ankle in training leaving the Tigers short of experience with Captain Richard Anderson out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Taunton failed to come out of the blocks and relied on some good outside shooting from Kevin Anderson and Jordan Seeley just to stay close at the first break. Graham Jones was keeping American Oatman quiet but 7 footer Rob Clarke was already causing problems for the visitors as Coventry closed out the quarter 23 – 18.
Taunton raise the intensity in the second period with coach Ronnie Heath working hard from the touchline, and Tigers captain Graham Jones pulling the strings on court they out-scored Crusaders 22 – 14 to lead 42 – 37 at half-time.
That lead was doubled at the start of the second half, with Jordan Seeley finding the hoop from deep for a couple of threes, and Tigers went into the final break 64 – 56 ahead. Seeley the young talent back front the States and returning from injury has been the silver cloud for Taunton over the last two games. He top scored for Taunton with 18 points with a performance of maturity the coaching staff could hardly have wished for.
Eight unanswered points from Crusaders saw them level the game at the start of the final stanza, and scores from Tigers' Mike Sebire and Kevin Anderson were cancelled out by Siman Stewart and a big three from Sam Oatman. With 5 minutes remaining on the clock the scores were tied once again at 69 – 69.
Big final period performances by Ben Potts and Marcin Twierdzinski helped Crusaders turn the screw as they overhauled an eight point third quarter deficit to win by 6. Potts found his range from deep and drained a pair of threes to help Coventry into an 86 – 75 lead. A late flurry by the Tigers closed the gap to five but Wes Hall wrepped up the win from the line. Taunton travel to Sheffield and Cardiff this weekend knowing that a huge defensive effort is required to turn their fortunes around.