The Nottingham Hoods caught a break this weekend as Birmingham A’s had to forfeit their game because they were unable to field a team.
The 20-0 default win moves the Hoods off the bottom of the table with just two games to play. They are tied on points with Tees Valley, but they edge the head-to-head so if they mirror each others’ results over the enxt two games, the Hoods should survive.
It was a strange weekend of results, with fellow strugglers Derby Trailblazers snatching a come from behind victory on the buzzer against top team Birmingham Mets, effectively securing their safety and ending the Mets title contention and Hoods next opponents Leeds easilly beating another title contender Northants Thunder.
It will be a nail-biting finish to a season with the Hoods facing play-off hopefuls Leeds Carnegie in their final home game next Saturday before what promises to be a titanic battle in Derby, against the Trailblazers for both teams’ final game of the season. Tees Valley Mohawks have a slighly easier task, facing mid-table opposition in both of their remaining fixtures – Birmingham A’s and Sheffield Saints. GM Lee English commented, “I don’t like to be awarded games by default, it certainly isn’t the way we want to survive, but the basketball Gods have handed us a lifeline and we have to take it. It is a shame, because the boys were ready for this game and I am confident we would have won it anyway. We need to keep that focus for the final two games. If we win them both, we will finish mid-table which would be an incredible finish to the season. The boys know what they need to do and we will be working harder than any other team this week to snatch those results and ensure we are playing division 3 basketball next season.”
The Hoods final home game of the season is this Saturday at the Nottingham Wildcats Arena, Greenwood Road, Bakersfield. NG3 7EB. Tip-off is 6.30, bring everyone you know to support Nottingham’s finest and their bid for survival.
