BASKETBALL: Defence is now key for Thunder

"DE-FENCE! DE-fence!! DE-fence!!!" If the word has been ringing in their ears at time-outs on the road over the weekend, Worthing Thunder players now face a verbal assault from their home fans. Scoring lots of points alone will not keep them in the play-offs run-in, now.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2010, 16:34 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:30 BST

Three of their last four games are at home, the first against Plymouth Raiders this Saturday, and only winning will help stave off Worcester Wolves' mounting challenge for the eighth and last play-offs spot.

Thunder lost 81-75 at Everton on Friday, Worcester Wolves went down at Leicester on Saturday, then Wolves beat travelling Thunder 90-85 on Sunday. A weighty result.

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After this Saturday, Thunder will have three games left '“ at home to Milton Keynes Lions and Sheffield Sharks, then away to Plymouth.

This Saturday, Worcester are at home to Essex and will then have five games left but only one at home, against Plymouth. They are away to Essex, London Capital and twice to Guildford Heat.

On the loss to Wolves, Thunder head coach Dave Titmuss remarked: "We should be winning with 85 points. But we're giving up more points than anyone else. We're not getting it done at the defensive end.

"Although this time, you have to credit the Wolves offence. They shot 70 per cent in two-pointers and 50 in threes. Ville Makalainen (having not quite shed a knee injury] and Sherrad Prezzie-Blue did most to make a lot of Worcester's shots difficult ones, but we needed to get out shots, down the floor.

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"It's hard to win when you're not controlling teams defensively but we have to contain Plymouth and not let their street style get to us.

They're scrappy and savvy in defence. Worcester are now in the driving seat so we have to win both Plymouth games '“ and they're tougher at their place."

Worcester on Sunday virtually silenced all but two Thunder players, American guards Reggie Bratton and Prezzie-Blue, in another tense match between the teams.

Both previous times, Bratton top-scored (30 and 27pts) with Prezzie-Blue next-highest (16 and 21). This time, it was Bratton 20, Prezzie-Blue 18. In these three clashes, Kadiri Richard (twice) and Makaleinen (once) have been the only other Thunder players in double figures.

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Everton swept Thunder 3-0 in their BBL series to stay in contention for play-offs home advantage on Friday. Thunder trailed 34-32 at half-time but two 10-0 runs put Tigers on top. A 20-6 run took Thunder to 72-66 down but they then managed just four points in the last three minutes.

WOLVES 90: Gilbert 22pts, Disy 21pts 12rb, Middleton 13, Normantas 13, Knysas 12. THUNDER 85: Bratton 20pts 11rb, Prezzie-Blue 18pts, Makaleinen 14, Richard 12, 9rb.

TIGERS 81: Babalola 18pts, Moore 15, Jones 13. THUNDER 75: Bratton 26pts, Cricelli 15pts 16rb, Prezzie-Blue 12, Richard 12pts 14rb.

BBL (P W-L Pts): Newcastle 31 26-5 52; Sheffield 30 25-5 50; Glasgow Rocks 31 20-11 40; Leicester Riders 32 20-12 40; Cheshire Jets 30 18-12 36; Everton Tigers 30 17-13 34; MK Lions 30 15-15 30; Worthing Thunder 32 14-18 28; Worcester Wolves 30 12-18 24; Guildford Heat 31 11-20 22; Plymouth Raiders 29 9-20 18; Essex Pirates 31 7-24 14; London Capital 27 3-24 6.

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