Tigers proved once again that they can live and compete with the best at this level as they pushed Leopards all the way in their first Division 1 league game of the season. Despite huge successive wins against Cardiff and Cornwall, Taunton knew this would be a very different test.
Whilst having to travel without their captain Richard Anderson — who is awaiting the birth of his first child, it was Taunton who got off to the best start. Ronnie Heath started with his most experienced five players and they quickly demonstrated their maturity with an incredible offensive display in the first quarter.
Kevin Anderson (15 Points), Tigers most consistent performer this season, scored 3 times in the first couple of minutes benefiting from quality player and ball movement. Four different players scored 3-pointers for Taunton as they opened up a 33 – 25 lead. Signs of a momentum shift though were already in place.
Missed lay-ups from the Tigers were frequently shortly followed by slam-dunks by Leopards down the other end. Taunton rely on their fast-break game against bigger opponents, but the Tigers guards defended poorly against the Leopards own break frequently allowing them easy scores with Latham-Henry and Gilchrist the main beneficiaries.
Heath had packed his bench with scoring potential and whilst they did not let him down in this respect there was something of a ‘soft belly’ about the Tigers as they rotated players in. Leopards at full strength started with a front court line-up of 7′, 6′8″ and 6′7″ that would inevitably wear down Taunton, especially in the absence of Rich Anderson and Mike Sebire.
The second quarter effectively decided the game as the home side blew the game open with a 31 – 10 advantage in the period. Taunton had kept the free scoring Gareth Laws relatively quiet but had no answer for Pervan (34 Points). The Leopards' Croatian import is surely the most complete offensive player in the League and he demonstrated his full range of scoring throughout the contest.
The resurgent Tigers never lost hope though and played for the win in the second half rather than damage limitation. Joe Andrews (11 Points) — the stand-in captain epitomised the spirit of the visitors, refusing to accept the game was lost. It was however, Paul Yabsley (23 Points) who lead the fight back.
Easily Taunton's best player on the day Yabsley was a consistent thorn in the side of each and every Leopard and responsible for fouling out the whole of the Leopards front-line as they failed to stop him legally. Mid-way through the third, Tigers were 19 points down but successive 3-pointers by Andrews, Bird and Saunders and a strong drive by Yabsley closed the gap to 8 points and kept the game in the balance right to the end.
The Taunton staff had every right to be satisfied with the team's effort. Long serving Team Manager Paul Carter summarised it all well,
“In previous seasons we would have lost by 30 points or more after that poor 2nd quarter. There is a different and completely justified level of belief and confidence about us now. It will be very interesting when they come to us next week with a Wellsprings crowd behind us.”