The Black Country Bears visit to Taunton for our last home game, presented the girls with the opportunity to get their season back onto the rails, but a lack luster performance hindered their return to winning ways. Once again a massive turn-over count cost Tigers dear as the Bears punished every mistake with an excellent shooting performance, nailing nearly 65 percent from the floor. Tigers had prepared well for this game and targeted the ever-dangerous Hall, who had been averaging 24 points a game as the opposition's danger man. Nicky Hartston was given the unenviable task of subduing the scoring threat and did a great job in restricting Hall to only 10 points in the game.
As sometimes happens when targeting one player another steps up — this time in the shape of the diminutive Salmon who hit 27 game high points and had a tremendous influence on the outcome of the game scoring, rebounding and making steals all around the court. Tigers had no answer in the early exchanges as the Bears opened up a game winning 25 – 42 half time score.
A galvanizing half-time team talk by coach Steve Green led to better things in the 2nd half as Tigers reduced the turn-overs, got their heads back into the game, and started to match the Bears intensity. The introduction of the returning Abby Pow from her injury, had a great effect on the team as she introduced a hunger for the ball, which had been lacking, and fired 8 quick points. All credit to the Tigers as they battled hard throughout both second half periods to tie the second half 25 points apiece but lost the game 67 – 50. Hannah Watkins and Emily Farthing top scored for Tigers with 12 and 11 points respectively. Although a massively disappointing game for the Girls, this was another game for the taking and they should learn much, particularly about individual and collective game preparation and maintaining wider awareness on court.