The Tigers U16 Mens 12 game winning streak in all competitions finally came to an end on Sunday when they played Premier League side Reading Rockets in the Sure Shot National Cup Quarter Final at the Richard Huish Dome. Taunton showed why they are a force to reckon with at this age group and a team that everyone will be trying to avoid come the playoffs in March.
Reading Rockets who are doing well in their own league and with England player Adam Thoesby in their ranks it was always going to be tough game. But the Tigers with an excellent level of intensity rose to the challenge.
George Freeman had the best game of his short basketball career, finally living up to his potential talent. Freeman top scored for the Tigers with 23 points but it was his much improved defence that really impressed. George Williams again showed, while he is one of the best players in the Tigers team, his physical presence was enough to rattle Thoseby, who eventually showed why he is one of the best players in the country, he top scored with 36 points.
Tigers offence, led by guards Freeman, Captain Sean Clifford, and George Scarborough, were able to set the tempo for much of the game, and with Joe Randall, Scott Speed and Sam Hardy adding to the mix the Tigers held a lead of 8 points going into the break.
In the last 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter the Rockets scored 13 points in a row with excellent shooting, this continued into the 4th quarter, but they could never break free from the Tigers.
Jack Murphy, Nick Gratton, Pip Anderson, Ricky Richards, and Ed Mortimer, all contributed to the game even though they were restricted to short bursts, their attitude towards the team was of the highest quality.
The Tigers team are maturing well and everything is starting to fall into place, even though the team lost, nothing can be taken away from the team who worked as hard as they could, but when a team shooting as well as the Rockets in the final part of the game, there can be no complaints that's just Basketball.