Play-off hopes suffer a blow with defeat to Mohawks

A 16-0 run by the Mohawks that bridged the third and fourth quarters gave them the advantage that they would ultimately not surrender despite Worthing’s best efforts. Thunder fell to their 11th league defeat of the season and handed Tees Valley just their second league victory of the campaign.

James Cambronne led Thunder with 29 points and 17 rebounds, while Tom Ward added 14 points, Tomas Seduikis had 13 and Brendan Okoronkwo had 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Thunder coach Daniel Hildreth was left annoyed with the loss and said: “We knew that Tees Valley would play with nothing to lose and with only seven players, have a certain reckless abandon to their game.

“They played a lot of one-on-one basketball and we simply were not up to the task. I wasn’t happy that we conceded 46 points at half-time and we just didn’t show enough passion in the final ten minutes. We have given Tees Valley their second win of the campaign and if we want to reach the play-offs, we just can not lose games like this.”

Thunder began with a 9-0 run but Mohawks fought back to 19-19, before Thunder moved 22-19 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

For the majority of the second stanza, Worthing were able to keep the Mohawks at bay as the visitors had reduced Thunder’s lead to a single point at various stages of the quarter. Buckets from Ward and Cambronne, the former being a three-pointer, gave the hosts a 34-26 cushion.

Mohawks though were not to be outdone and a three from Scotty Hendricks gave Tees Valley their first lead of the game at 37-36. The visitors had enjoyed a 46-42 cushion as the half wound down but the scores were tied 46-46 at half-time.

Thunder began the third quarter strongly as five quick points from Okoronkwo, as well as scores from Seduikis and Ward, handed the hosts a 55-48 advantage.

A three later in the period by Seduikis extended Worthing’s lead to 62-52 as Mohawks began to tire. However, the visitors threatened once more as a three and an easy lay-up by Ramonn Nelson forced coach Hildreth to call a timeout, although the hosts led 67-63 heading into the final ten minutes.

Mohawks’ patience was quickly rewarded in the early stages of the final quarter as a three from Hendricks gave the visitors a 70-67 cushion, as shots were simply not dropping for Thunder. A 16-0 run by Tees Valley was finally snapped with a lay-up from Cambronne, which forced the Mohawks to call a timeout.

The timeout seemed to kick Thunder back into life, as they reduced a 77-67 deficit to 77-73 as the crowd began to get into it. But unfortunately for the hosts, Mohawks were able to finish the game strongly and claim the win.

Worthing entertain London Lituanica on Saturday (7.30pm).

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