Worthing Thunder vs. Tees Valley Mohawks preview

by UK American Sports Fans

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Tomorrow night is the first meeting between to former EBL titans as they both make their return to the league this season. Former champions Worthing Thunder who have played the last three seasons in Britain’s top league, the BBL, are at home to the Tees Valley Mohawks, another old powerhouse whose recent history has been rather less glamorous.

While the Thunder were testing their mettle against the big-boys, the Mohawks (once known as Teesside Mohawks) have floundered, and last season found themselves down at the level of EBL2. Some of the long-term fans in the audience might be able to recall the Mohawks travelling down for intense games, fielding players such as Ralph Bucci and EJ Harrison who are both now star guards in the BBL. It has been quite a while, but now the teams are back in the same division, and the rivalry can begin again.

The truth of the matter is that it is unlikely to be a close and hard-fought match that days of old might have witnessed. The Mohawks team is not what it used to be, and while they will put out a competent side, Thunder are likely out-match them at every position on the court. The Mohawks were having a rather forgettable season in EBL2 last year, until former EBL MVP Ralph Bucci returned to the team mid-way through the year and virtually willed them to victory on his own. Bucci’s move to BBL new-boys Durham Wildcats has once again left the Mohawks as a team without a star, and they will struggle because of it.

But it’s not a team without ability. Talented young British point guard Will Spragg was a bench-warmer for perennial BBL championship contender Newcastle Eagles, and strong Scottish international big-man Ike Attah gives them an inside presence. The relatively youthful coach, Steve Butler was a very fine player for the Mohawks only a few years back so he knows the team very well.

It will the Thunder’s first real home game with a full line-up so they will be hoping to impress. Worthing are likely to have too many offensive threats for the Mohawks to deal with, so a professional performance by the Thunder should see them through comfortably.