The Nottingham Hoods extended their winning home run to 19 games with a 61-49 victory over Brixton Topcats. The game started at a frenetic pace, with Hoods winning the tip and Lorenzo hitting an uncustomary 3, before catching a pin-point alley-oop pass from Kieran Wright for the two-handed slam, much to the packed crowd’s enjoyment. Hoods were playing sublime basketball, moving it well on offence, but Brixton started with a small line-up and were using it to good effect, hitting 3-pointers to keep the game close. With 3 minutes left in the first quarter it was the turn of Alvarro Urbistondo to serve up a nasty facial dunk on the break, bringing the crowd back to their feet, but Brixton would not go away and Hoods held a slender 19-17 lead. The second quarter was a much different affair with both teams struggling. Hoods were struggling to hold on to the ball or find their man as turnover followed turnover, and Brixton were struggling to make their shots. Midway through the quarter, both teams had only managed to add 2 points to their scores, before Lucasz Siczek got the bit between his teeth and went on a tear, hitting 6 points in a row to give the Hoods a 32-26 lead at half-time. In the third, the Hoods had the measure of their opposition as they continued to work the ball through the hands with all players getting involved. Brixton switched tactics and brought in some of the big players, but as is so often the case, Danny Wong was out-rebounding all of them and proving a nuisance on defence. Solid shooting from Wright and Mitchell kept the scoreboard ticking over. A strange no-call on a push-off on Urbistondo sparked him into life as he came straight down the other end to sink a three, followed by a steal, another two and a block to put the Hoods up 47-34 at the end of three quarters. The two teams exchanged free-throws and baskets in the fourth quarter as Hoods managed the playing time of their starters with a key away game coming up on Sunday, but there was one more highlight to be had from the smallest guy on the court, Luke Mitchell as he blocked the Brixton big man, before leading the break for Krest to finish at the other end. Hoods eventually ran out 61-46 winners and extended this incredible home winning streak to over two years. Scorers: Urbistondo 18; Lorenzo 15 (14 rebounds); Siczek 12; Krest 6; Wong 4; Kelly 2; Wright 2; Mitchell 2 Elsewhere there was heartbreak for the Junior Hoods u14 as they missed out on a major upset going down 61-66 to current league leaders Leicester Warriors. However, with most of this team having another two seasons at this age-group, the future is extremely bright for the Hoods. #letsgohoods
