Tigers’ torment continues with historic Trophy loss to Thunder

For Worthing Thunder, it is a place in the history books with their 84-64 victory to become the first ever EBL side to progress into the quarter-finals of the BBL Trophy, but for Mersey Tigers, they have the unenviable pleasure of being the BBL side named as the beaten.

From beginning to end, Worthing were in the lead, coming out strong despite the trip back from their long overdue first league victory last night against Bristol. A victory is something the entire Tigers organisation would almost kill for right now, as this now takes them 0-18 for the season in all competitions.

Turnovers seemingly were the key to the visitors being on the back foot as Worthing raced out to a 24-16 lead after the end of the first ten minutes, with eight of those points coming from Hank Rivers.

Tigers made an improved effort in the second quarter, and tightened up the scores to just a four point gap thanks to scores from Gael Hulsen and Josh McGinn, but as both sides began to trade off each other, it was again to be the home side taking control through Rhys Francis and Noel Pollock, but Phil Wait, top scorer for Mersey on the night, hit a bucket to close the half-time gap to seven points, 43-36; still a possible deficit to overcome.

Into the third, and two three-pointers from Dominic Baker and one inside from Rivers pushed Thunder through double digits to 48-36. The problem for Mersey, despite their considerable height advantage, and has been the case for most of this season, was the ability to drive in towards the basket, relying heavily on their outside shots. Doing so kept Worthing’s lead intact and healthy, albeit without Bud Johnston late on in the period with a problem to his eye, and went into the final stanza at 62-48.

Phil Wait seemed to be the main source of a points tally for Tigers, but it was clear as the minutes ticked by that this would be, yet again, another condemning defeat; one which will raise eyebrows over whether the Merseysiders should really have been allowed to start this season in the first place.

The technical for Tony Walsh on the Tigers’ bench compounded their woes further still, and as EBL Division One’s bottom side rounded off their historic win by a clear margin of 20 points, 84-64, it left Mersey to travel home with their proverbial tails between their legs.

Post game, Thunder’s head coach Daniel Hildreth was oblivious to the knowledge that no EBL side had overcome the first hurdle of the BBL Trophy: “I had no idea about the stats of EBL clubs not progressing further than the first round but that doesn’t matter to me, the important thing is we won the game.

“I am thrilled that these young group of lads have beaten BBL opposition when at the end of the year we were bottom of the EBL without a win. It proves that we have never given up hope and good things come to those who wait. My goal as coach was for us to be a better side at Christmas from September and we were.”

He also praised the effect of a certain individual for helping change approach of others in his team:“We have KD [Kadiri Richard] in the team and he has helped us greatly and I can’t thank him enough for what he has done to this organisation, and it’s rebounded on the others. Hank’s playing better, Rhys [Francis] has more confidence; Max [Richardson] and Josh [Brown] are learning lots. It’s really fantastic to see.”

Worthing Thunder will now host another North West side, Cheshire Phoenix, in the quarter finals of the BBL Trophy, however the bigger question remains; just where do Mersey Tigers go from here…?