Bad weekend for Mansfield Giants

Mansfield Giants’ men struggled over the weekend as they lost both games that would have seen then move up the table dramatically.
Mansfield Giants Ladies v Sefton.Mansfield Giants Ladies v Sefton.
Mansfield Giants Ladies v Sefton.

In a close encounter on Saturday, they travelled away to play City of Sheffield Saints and lost a high scoring game 103-100.

Giants struggled at the start of the game, going down in the first quarter 27-22.

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Saints gained momentum in the second quarter and ran away with the scoreline for Giants to chase back , both Mile Buffalo were influential for Giants scoring big baskets, as Lance Cresswell played great defence to pull back the scoreline as 53-50.

In the second half Giants found momentum and Saints struggled to guard Buffalo as he kept scoring quick baskets inside as the game was tied 68-68.

In a drastic last quarter, Giants pulled away to take an nine-point lead, with just two minutes renaming Giants players including Morant-Hudson and Buffalo were all fouled out due to technicals for touching the ball after a basket was scored, with Barry Plummer following suit, picking up his fifth foul as Saints made a comeback to take the lead and win the game.

Giants’ top scorers: Buffalo 35, Morant-Hudson 31, Plummer 11.

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On Sunday Giants went down 90-81 to local rivals Nottingham Hoods in a close and tense match-up.

Hoods started the game off well and took an early lead as they led 43-42 at the end of the first half. A poor third quarter saw Giants not shooting well from the three point arc or scoring important free throws, so Hoods extended their lead further to 66-60.

The game became heated in the final quarter with a bench technical and various technicals issued to Hoods for their conducts, but the experience from their guards at the end, so them wrap up the game.

Giants scorers; Buffalo 36, Plumber 15, Xavier 15.

Giants’ men play Leeds Allerton High Force on Saturday at Oak Tree Leisure Centre at 3pm, admission just £3 adults and £1.50 children.

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Giants’ women suffered their first defeat of the season, 63-47 at the hands of Sefton Starlights last weekend.

Sefton came out of the tip strong, breaking down the Giants’ defence to pile some early points on. The home side found it difficult to get into their stride all the way through the first half, trying to use their height against an equally tall side.

Giants went into the half nearly 20 points down, before a team talk rallied the team together.

The side came out of the half fighting, pulling back the points to show the team’s original form throughout the early part of the season.

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However, it was too much a deficit to pull back as Sefton continued to knock down outside shots and see the game out.

Giants’ coach Jo Richards said: “We had a slow start to the game today and found it difficult to get into a rhythm.

“Sefton played very well today and we cannot take that away from them, but we know what we need to do to beat them and will be going back to the drawing board in practice to make sure we are better prepared going into the next game.”

Giants’ U13 team were the only junior team in action as they beat Leicester Riders 110-44 to see them top of the league and play Derby Trailblazers this coming Sunday away.

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Giants’ trio of Ashante Richards, Harry Brewin and Chloe Gaynor experienced their first England camps for their various age group teams at the weekend, with all three avoiding being cut from the first session and attending camps again over the Christmas period.