Double disappointment in Youth Basketball League Play Off Semi Finals
The Northants “Thunder” Under 13 and 15 Boys teams travelled to Hereford last Sunday for the YBL Play Off semi-finals and both made the long trip home having lost to West Bromwich Basketball and Leicester “Riders” respectively.
“Thunder” went into this game as Southern Conference champions having completed the season unbeaten while West Bromwich had finished runners up in the North Conference but the Northants boys knew they were in for a tough game and so it proved. :: Read More ::
Youth Basketball League Play Offs
With the official and unofficial basketball England Play Offs done and dusted attention turns to the Youth Basketball League’s end of season programme with two teams from the Northants Club involved in the action.
The “Thunder” Under 13’s have enjoyed a perfect season winning all sixteen of their games to claim the South Conference title. In the Play Off semi final “Thunder” will take on West Bromwich Basketball, the second placed from the North Conference. West Bromwich lost just two games over the course of the season and actually beat the champions Tamworth “Tigers” on their own court. :: Read More ::
“Storm” Under 11’s go Two and One
The Northants “Storm” Under 11’s travelled to the Nechells Well Being Centre in Birmingham for their final tournament of the season and returned having won two of their games before going down to Worcester “Wolves”.
On arrival at the newly re-furbished venue, the “Storm” coaching staff were disappointed to discover that this prestigious final tournament was going to be played on a court marked by badminton court and netball line, without a three second keyway and into unstable portable baskets with low rings. :: Read More ::
County pair get Great Britain call ups
Two county ‘ballers will compete in the XIth FIMBA Maxi Basket European Championships to be staged in the Andalusian province of Malaga from 24th June until 3rd July. This event was due to be held last summer but was cancelled because of Covid.
The two are Max Curle who has been selected for the GB Over 35 Men’s team and Anita Curtis who has been chosen as head coach of the Over 50’s Women’s team. :: Read More ::
Under 13 Boys go marching on to the Play Offs
The organisers of the Youth Basketball League had intended to run a Primis (Premier) Division for Under 13 Boys this season but didn’t get enough entries so opted for the conventional mixed league. The need for an elite division was clearly shown when Northants “Thunder” visited mid-table Yardley defenders and won by the preverbal ‘country mile’.
The win confirms “Thunder’s” end of season Play Off spot and guarantees them a seeded place. The Play Offs will be played in June in Hereford. :: Read More ::
Play Off disappointment for below par Cadets
In front of a raucous crowd Merseyside “Mavericks” took this Under 16 Boys Promotion game by 12 points to move on to the semi-finals.
The Merseyside arrived with a bus load of supporters, a mascot in full costume and cheerleaders and this group combined with a hoard of “Thunder” supporters provided an amazing atmosphere at the Basketball Centre last Saturday.
Both teams looked nervous throughout the first quarter and “Thunder” looked like what they were; a team that hadn’t played a competitive game for three weeks. Despite this they edged the first quarter 12-11 but this lead was wiped out early in the second quarter and “Thunder” were left to play ‘catch up’ for the rest of the game. :: Read More ::
Three teams back in action this weekend
After two blank weekends three Northants Basketball Club teams return to action this coming weekend with two of them involved in important Play Off games.
Basketball’s governing body decided not to run play offs for their Under 12 competition so two London clubs offered to run an unofficial competition. The top two teams from all seven Conferences agreed to participate including the Northants “Thunder” Mixed team who finished second to Milton Keynes Basketball in the East 1 Conference. :: Read More ::
Pre-Easter Camps the Presentation Evening and the Play Offs.
Following on from last year’s successful Camps the Northants Basketball Club repeated the exercise over the past to weeks and unlike last year’s Covid affected events this year’s camps were held indoors.
The Camps were supervised by Brad Hughes while Ellie Birch looked after the younger players and Dawn Greenfield carried out the all-important administrative duties. Coaches Birch and Hughes were assisted by Young Leaders, Dani Jokulis, Alannah Major, Benas Maldutis, and Lucie Wilson-Gray, with the camps offering players the opportunity to hone their skills as well as enjoy fun activities and play games :: Read More ::
Under 13 Boys extend their unbeaten run to fourteen
The “Thunder” Under 13 Boys travelled to south-west Birmingham last Saturday to take on Frankley “Falcons” a team that had caused them a great deal of problems when the two teams had met at the Basketball Centre earlier in the season. In the event “Thunder” completed the double with a comfortable victory thanks to a determined defensive display and an offensive performance which saw eight players contributing to the final total.
“Thunder” found scoring difficult in the first quarter with only Elijah Badero and Logan Tanner finding the basket, but an amazing defensive effort restricted “Falcons to a miserly seven points, “Thunder” scoring 10. :: Read More ::
Under 11 Girls create history.
Just a fortnight ago “Thunder” lost to “Riders” by 14 points but there was a positive feeling in the team that they could reverse the result and they did just that last Saturday thanks to some obdurate defence and refusal to give in even when things were going against them.
After a poor start “Thunder” were able to re-group but still trailed 16-15 after the first quarter. They battled their way into a 26-19 lead only to be hit by a 16-zero “Riders” charge which saw them trailing 28-35 at half time:: Read More ::
The Junior Women say goodbye to Dina with a brace of wins.
A total of seventy five points from Dina Kosnikovska, Fernando Loberto, Gerda Vilcinskaite and Lucie Wilson-Gray steered the Northants Junior Women to a comfortable win over City of Leeds last Saturday.
Playing some of their best basketball of the season “Lightning” took the first quarter 27-12 with Loberto scoring 11 of those points. “Lightning” consolidated their advantage in the second quarter with Wilson-Gray and Vilcinskaite draining three-pointers and leading by 44 points to 23 at half time the game looked to be as good as over :: Read More ::
Cadet Boys win the Midlands Conference
Earlier in the season the “Thunder” Under 16 Boys had comfortably beaten the “Riders” second string but with the team needing a win to clinch the Midlands Conference title nerves seem to set in and despite looking the superior team in the first quarter they found scoring difficult and could only establish a narrow 14-7 lead after the first ten minutes of play.
Scoring was no easier for “Thunder” in the second quarter during which time they could add only a further 12 points but a superb defensive effort restricted “Riders” to just six points but there was still a nervous tension in the locker room at half time despite holding a 26-13 lead. :: Read More ::
Junior Women find it tough in Liverpool
The Northants Junior Women were back on the road last Sunday travelling to Liverpool in the expectation of a tough game and so it proved. Just after Christmas “Lightning” won a very physical encounter at the Basketball Centre by just four points and Liverpool were keen for revenge and a vociferous crowd was on hand to help the home team. :: Read More ::
Six games last weekend with four wins and two heavy losses.
Earlier in the season “Thunder” slipped to a disappointing seven points home defeat at the hands of “Dynamite”, so it was a determined group that travelled to Leicester last Saturday in search of revenge and it was achieved after a game which saw numerous lead changes.
“Thunder” made a poor start to the game with “Dynamite” jumping out to a lead but a time out by Coach Darijus Maldutis steadied the “Thunder” ship but they still trailed 12-17 after the first quarter :: Read More ::
Super Karly inspires Junior Women to win against Durham
The Northants Junior Women made the long journey to Durham last Saturday without the services of Covid-struck Dina Kosnikovska and the influential Fiona Arthur. Coach Emma Salisbury asked the rest of the team to make up for the contributions usually made by the missing players. No one responded to this appeal better than Karly Osgood who turned on an inspired performance on both offence and defence and helped “Lightning” to a convincing victory. :: Click for More ::
Junior men complete the double over “Giants”
Earlier in the season “Thunder” had comfortably beaten a short-handed Mansfield team but with “Giants” at full strength and playing into tricky backboards the Northants boys were expecting a much tougher game and so it proved.
The game started in spectacular fashion for “Thunder” with Dylan Dominici slamming home a two-handed dunk to open the scoring. However as the quarter progressed it was the home side that held the ascendancy and as the end of the quarter approached they were holding a 17-13 lead before an Ellis Phillips three-pointer cut the lead to 17-16. :: Read More ::
Dina and Gerda too much for “Titans”
The Northants Junior Women completed the double over local rivals Northamptonshire “Titans” with this comprehensive win at The Basketball Centre last Sunday, Emma Salisbury’s team winning by 23 points thanks to an excellent all-round team performance.
A big crowd saw “Lightning” go off with a bang as Dina Kosnikovska and Lucie Wilson-Gray drained three-pointers and this was followed up with a 12-zero charge which established a 19-9 lead after the first quarter :: Read More ::
Win for the Under 16 Boys over Leicester “Dynamite”
The Northants Under 16 boys took over leadership of the Midlands Conference and are now favourites to become Conference champions after this conclusive win over Leicester “Dynamite”. Earlier in the season “Dynamite” had beaten “Thunder” by ten points so this sixteen point win gives the Northants boys the advantage providing they win their remaining two games. :: Read More ::
Lucie and Dina see Junior Women home
The Northants Junior Women claimed an impressive win over a very tall, athletic and determined Liverpool team that hada large crowd on the edge of their seats to the final hooter as “Lightning” pitted speed and mobility against Height and strength. The final results shows that a good ‘big’ one doesn’t always triumph over a good ‘little’ one. :: Read More ::
Under 15 Girls are Champions!!
The Northants club assembled an under 15 team for this tournament consisting of girls who are playing in either the Under 18 or Under 14 teams. They travelled to Birmingham without ever practicing together and not knowing anything about the opposition they would face :: Read More ::
Junior Men open 2022 with a win over “Riders”
Six teams from the Northants Basketball Club were in action over the weekend with four of those teams picking up wins including the Under 13 Boys who maintained their unbeaten record :: Read More ::
Under 16 Boys fare too strong for “Riders” second string
The Under 16 Boys comfortably defeated a below strength Leicester “Riders” second team last Saturday without even breaking sweat.
“Thunder” not only dominated all four quarters, but they also kept their opponents to single figures in each of the four periods of play. No matter which formation Coach Brad Hughes put on the court “Thunder” totally dominated play although to their credit the Leicester boys kept battling to the end of the game :: Read More ::
Under 15 Boys find it tough in Birmingham
An under-strength Under 15 Boys team slipped to defeat against an athletic Bournville team in their latest YBL fixture.
The game concluded with “Thunder” being outscored by 20 points to eight in the last quarter to give the final score a rather unrealistic look; this after the Northants boys had shown themselves to be competitive in the first and third quarters. Trailing 17-19 after the first ten minutes of play “Thunder” lost the second quarter 10-25 to trail 27-44 at half time. They only lost the third quarter 12-13 before collapsing in the final stanza during which time they only manged to score two field goals. :: Read More ::
Defensive effort earns Under 16 Boys a win over “Hoods”
The Northants Under 16 Boys completed the double over Nottingham “Hoods” thanks to a gutsy defensive display which was needed as their offensive efforts stuttered.
“Thunder” made an impressive start to the game racing into a 13-zero lead before “Hoods” closed the gap to 19-7 by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was a torrid attritional affair which “Hoods” took 8-7 as both teams struggled to score. :: Read More ::
Under 12 Mixed team retain their unbeaten record
After the disappointment of the previous week’s fiasco when Daventry “Swifts” refused to play, the Northants “Thunder” Cadets travelled to Leicester to take on “Warriors” second team in determined mood. Having already beaten “Warriors II”, “Thunder” were in confident mood against enthusiastic but young opposition and the game was over as a contest after the first quarter with “Thunder” establishing a convincing 27-7 lead on the back of 14 points from Jordan Gbanja. :: Read More ::
Junior Men fall just short of beating “Dynamite”
When Ellis Phillips drained his second three-pointer of the quarter and Benas Maldutis converted one free throw to give “Thunder” a 58-56 lead with less than five minutes of the game remaining it looked as if they might complete a tremendous comeback win, but it was not to be. “Dynamite” was able to regroup and an 11-1 run saw them clinch a 67 points to 61 victory. During the last five minutes of the game “Thunder” were guilty of committing all the errors they had displayed earlier in the game rushed shots and appalling boxing out allowing their opponents to score too many points through put backs. :: Read More ::
Junior Women too strong for City of Leeds
The Northants “Lightning” Junior Women made the long trip north to Leeds and picked up an impressive win over a young but enthusiastic City of Leeds side.
After the long journey” Lightning” were a little lethargic at the start of the game but thanks to the efforts of Lucie Wilson-Gray and Dina Kosnikovska and some tough defence they edged the first quarter 15-6. “Lightning” continued to struggle in the second quarter but by half time had extended their lead to 30-21. :: Read More ::
Junior Men hit a ton against short-handed Giants
The Northants “Thunder” Junior men made it back-to-back wins with a comfortable victory over a short-handed Mansfield “Giants”. “Thunder” netted ten three-pointers and topped the ton with no less than six of their players scoring in double figures, but they can’t be very happy to have conceded 70 points to a team with just six players. :: Read More ::
“Lightning” Junior Women let lead slip but hold out to beat rivals “Titans”
Despite a poor third quarter which saw them outscored 25-10 “Lightning” Junior Women held on to win a thrilling battle and earn bragging rights over local rivals NEBC “Titans”. That “Titans” surge saw them battle back from a 27-45 half time deficit and came thanks to some excellent pressure defence and it brought the score back to 55-52 in favour of “Lightning” going into the final ten minutes of play:: Read More ::
Under 15 Boys win first ever YBL Game but Junior Men’s game abandoned
Early in the fourth quarter with “Thunder” leading 61-48 there was an altercation between a number of players which resulted in several technical fouls and disqualifications and finally the match officials decided to abandon the game. The Northants Club will await a decision from Basketball England regarding the result and any punishments for the disqualifications. :: Read More ::
A Quadruple of wins for Northants Boys
The Northants Junior Men will be asking themselves one simple question after this 26 point loss to local rivals “Titans”. That question is how can we possibly expect to win a game if we go scoreless for the first nine minutes of the game, turn the ball over almost 40 times and miss in excess of 20 free throws? Those are the hard facts which the team will need to put right if they are to win games against the better teams in the North Conference. :: Read More ::
A Quadruple of wins for Northants Boys
Northants “Thunder” junior men opened their season with a game against new boys Chesterfield “Flight” and recorded a comfortable 68 points win with no less than six of their players scoring in double figures while defensively they restricted their opponents to single figures in all four quarters. :: Read More ::
Junior Women second best in Bury
The new look “Lightning” junior women travelled to Bury last Sunday for a North Conference game against Lancashire “Spinners” and ended up on the wrong end of a 57-71 score line.
After the long journey north, “Lightning made a good start to the game, but an 11-zero surge towards the end of the quarter by the hosts gave them an 18-12 advantage at the end of the first ten minutes of play. :: Read More ::
Assessment Programme gets underway
Following the successful programme of Summer Camps run by the Northants Basketball Club the club has now started on serious preparation for the forthcoming season. Last week Assessment and Try Out sessions were held so that coaches could have a look at the new players who have joined the Club over the summer.
The turn-out for the sessions was very pleasing and they will continue this week so there is still an opportunity for any boy or girl aspiring to play National League basketball to be seen. These players should contact the Club by email at: [email protected] for further information.:: Read More ::
Girls Rule’ as the Summer Coaching Programme continues to prosper
Four weeks into the Summer Coaching Programme of the Northants Basketball Club, attendance remains high. Last week saw the opening of a new coaching centre for under 14 boys at the sports dome at the University of Northampton with the Wednesday evening session being run by David Young a new coach with the club.
One pleasing aspect of the programme so far, has been the number of girls attending sessions. Last week no less than 80 girls practiced with the five age group squads plus another 10 in the “Ballers” Programme. :: Read More ::
Young players are the stars
As the Northants Basketball Club’s Summer Coaching Programme enters its fourth week attendance has remained high and the players have shown an excellent attitude as they work to get back up to speed after the Covid induced lay off.
The second centre for under 14 boys was launched last week at the sports dome at the University of Northampton with David Young taking charge of the coaching. This in itself was very pleasing but possibly even more pleasing has been the turn-out of younger players on Saturday mornings. Almost 70 boys and girls attend the Budding Ballers, Junior Ballers and Under 11 and Under 12 Girls sessions, many of them the siblings of former players. :: Read More ::
Success of the Club’s Summer Programme sees another centre open
The overwhelming success of the Northants Basketball Club’s Summer Coaching Programme has resulted in the Club opening another coaching centre. The attendance at all the age group sessions has been good but numbers at the under 14 boys session has been so high that another sessions has been organised. David Young a new coach with the club has secured use of the sports dome at the University of Northampton and he will be in charge of the sessions. :: Read More ::
Northants Basketball Club’s Summer Programme a resounding success
Last week the Northants Basketball Club launched its Summer Coaching Programme following the easing of Covid restrictions by Basketball England. The programme will run for twelve weeks, it will involve all sections of the Club and unlike the Easter Camps will be held indoors. The first session was held last Monday and the programme continued each evening last week and all day on Saturday:: Read More ::
Northants Basketball Club launches Summer Coaching Programme
Following the relaxation of Covid regulations, the Northants Basketball Club has announced an extensive Summer Coaching Programme. The programme which started last Monday will run for twelve weeks and will involve all sections of the Club a total of well over 200 boys and girls.
Unlike the Easter Camps, the Summer Programme will be held indoors and will comply with Basketball England screening and sanitising regulations. The coaching groups will be based on school years and in addition there will be sessions for boys and girls under the age of ten.:: Read More ::
Community Basketball Camps
Despite temperatures only just a little above zero the three Community Basketball Camps organised by the Northants Basketball Club in partnership with Basketball Northants went ahead last Tuesday. A total of 80 boys and girls dribbled, passed, and shot through high winds on the three age-based camps on the outdoor courts at Northampton School for Girls.
Twenty-eight boys and girls attended the Primary Schools Camp which was supervised by Karen Goodrich assisted by Tom Greenfield, Benas Maldutis, Athena Thompson and John Collins with several of the young players showing a great deal of talent. :: Read More ::
Northants Basketball Club Press Release - Return to Play
With Covid restrictions lifted on Monday the Northants Basketball Club has celebrated “Return to Play” with a four day camp for their players. The Camp was run in three sections for boys and girls under the age of 10, boys and girls aged 10 to 13 and the third players aged 13 to 16.
In all 145 boys and girls attended the three camps with no less than 25 joining the younger group which was supervised by Emma Hardings supported by Young Leaders Poppy Barnett and Nianh Saysell. :: READ MORE ::