Taunton Tigers Women travelled to play Guernsey for the third time this season. Each of the earlier games had been tight games which had eased in Tigers favour, but illness forced Tigers to travel somewhat under-strength for there penultimate league game this season. Tigers have already fulfilled many of their expectations with a runners-up spot in the league already secured, but another win was key to secure an all-important home tie in the forthcoming play-off competition. For their part, the ever improving Guernsey representative side, have had a great first season at national league level and have shown tremendous commitment to enter into the English Basketball League and take on the major logistic exercise and expense (all on the players!) for flying in every other weekend to play one away game and one home game, before jetting back to the Channel Islands.
Tigers got off to an absolute flyer and played some of their most productive basketball of the season in the first 5 minutes and, although baskets were missed the style and pace of their play was staggering as they eased into a nine point lead. Hanna Byrne was doing an excellent job on keeping Kerr, the free-scoring Guernsey star restricted to 2 points in the quarter, but also picked up 2 early fouls, which led to early re-arrangement of defensive duties in the Tigers ranks. Guernsey eased back into the game as Kerr found more space, but not before Emily Farthing and Abby Pow had secured a brace of lay-ups to finish the quarter with Tigers leading 16 – 10.
Guernsey made early inroads into Tigers lead with 7 unanswered points, before Hanna Byrne hit 9 unanswered points for Tigers to open up a nine point lead. Not to be outdone, the ever-dangerous Kerr hit a brace of three's from way down town, plus a pair of put-backs to ease Guernsey into the lead for the first time as Tigers trailed into the break 36 – 35.
Tigers started the 2nd half with renewed commitment. Guards Nicky Hartston and Hannah Maddocks worked hard to keep the Guernsey perimeter players quiet and ran the lanes well as Tigers deservedly regained the lead through strong drives to the basket by Jenny Ridgway. But the lead was short lived as Guernsey hit another pair of long range shots to pull clear again, before strong boards by Laura Dyke and Hannah Watkins restored parity as the quarter finished tied at 51 points apiece.
A devastating spell of scoring in the opening minutes of the final quarter by Guernsey took the game right away from Tigers as a trey of threes and a pair of lay-ups gave them a 13 point lead with time running out. Tigers stuck gamely to their task and reduced the lead to 4 points with 2 minutes remaining and although Tigers hit 4 foul shots these were again cancelled out as Guernsey ran out winners 75 – 70.
Tigers coach, Steve Green commented,
“The result is obviously a big disappointment for the girls play-off aspirations, but full credit to Guernsey on todays performance. We played some stunning basketball at the start of the game, but illness and injuries restricted bench rotation. Guernsey nailed a lot of outside shots today, which perhaps on another day may not have dropped. We will be more wary of their outside shooting threat next season!”