Despite a 5 hour road trip to Kings Lynn, Taunton Tigers maintained their continued improvement and adjustment to playing at the higher level by another a solid performance against West Anglia Fury to come away with their first win in their fourth game in National Division 1 of the EBL.
With both sides having key players side-lined through injury — Fury's captain James Bamfield having sustained knee ligament damage in their away game at Worthing the previous week and Tigers' Rich Anderson and Matt Nolan also out with leg injuries, the game was always likely to be dependant on how each team could adapt. Despite Fury's two American imports, it was Tigers' Coach Rich Anderson's ability to constantly rotate his deeper Somerset bench to maintain their intensity throughout the game that gave them the edge.
Another determined start enabled Taunton to get away to a 10 – 2 lead after 4 minutes, but a subsequent 10 point unanswered run by the home team saw both sides level with just over a minute to go in the quarter but the Tigers' sneaking back to a 3 points lead by the first break.
The second quarter started with a very positive response from the young Somerset squad and with Joe Andrews (17 points) form of previous seasons starting to return, an 11 – 0 run enabled them to stretch their lead to 14 points. The pressure on the home side was maintained and with Paul Yabsley (20 points) later adding 6 points within a minute together with steadying the Ship for the rest of the period, the teams went to the locker room with Tigers ahead 45 – 31.
A poor opening 4 minutes by the Tigers in the third quarter, enabled the Fury to reduce the deficit by half and some needless turn-overs saw them claw their way back even further into the game by closing the gap to 2 points with only 2 minutess remaining. However, back-to-back threes by Bird and a basket on the buzzer by Andrews restored a 7 point lead at the final break.
Despite some determined play and an 8 point contribution in the final quarter by Fury's American Point-guard Lamar Hull (26 points) and 6 from his 6′8″ compatriot Charlie Whitfield (20 points), Tigers maintained their composure to control the game. All attempts by the home side to gain any advantage by fouling to stop the clock in the last quarter were punished by Taunton through maintaining their improved free-throw shooting, by netting 10 of their 12 foul shots. Even though ex Bath Romans Richard Milbourne (21 points) added two last minute threes for West Anglia to reduce their deficit to an 78 – 87 loss, Taunton secured that elusive first win at this higher level.
After the game, Tigers' Coach Rich Anderson said,
“This was a must win game for us and we got the result we deserved. We were able to maintain our intensity in all areas for most of the game — although there were a few minor hiccups, so we need to work on these. Player confidence is growing and at over 80%, our shooting from the line continues to improve. Everyone in the squad contributed and got onto the score-sheet. Overall, a great team effort — I'm very pleased. All the squad will be traveling back tonight in jubilant mood.”
“Despite what the sceptics say, this and recent week's performances demonstrate that we can compete at this level — the Tigers have arrived!”
Tigers senior men have no game next week due to the late withdrawal of West Herts Warriors from the League and are away to Bristol Academy Flyers on Saturday 9th December. Next home game Sunday 16 Dec. vs Reading Rockets, 3:30pm tip-off at Wellsprings LC when a big crowd is expected.