Giants pipped as Eagles edge home

Bottom-placed Mansfield Giants travelled down to the capital to take on the Eastside Eagles in a close encounter, which saw Giants narrowly lose the game by three points 65-62.
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With limited players available due to injuries and other commitments, Giants knew this game was going to be tough.

Eastside took the lead early on in the game, outscoring Giants in both first and second quarters as the visitors failed to stop Eastside’s outside shooters.

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Giants’ RB Clyburn was too hard to handle as he dominated the game, but it was Eastside who led 39-26 at the halfway mark.

A dominating second half saw Giants chip away at the deficit throughout the remaining two quarters, with Clyburn continuing where he left off and Lewis Tucker stepping up, gaining important rebounds and put backs, as Parish Xavier led at the point for Giants.

The game became tied with 40 seconds remaining at 62-62, and a time-out was called as both teams prepared for the remaining seconds of the game. Eastsidethen came out on top as they scored a basket, to win the game 65-62.

Giants’ top scorers were Clyburn (35), Tucker (14), and Xavier (10). Giants’ final game of the season is this Saturday against Worcester Wolves at Oak Tree Leisure Centre (6pm).

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With Giants’ men losing, it was a chance for Giants II to shine, as the team competed in the National Founders Cup men’s competition.

Second place in their pool saw them take a quarter-final place, which meant an away game against University Of Sunderland.

Sunderland led from the start, taking a 36-23 lead at the half, with Giants again chipping away at the deficit in the final two quarters and outscoring their opponents in the final quarter.

But the deficit was too much as Sunderland booked their semi-final place with a 72-64 win against Giants II.

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Giants’ top scorers were Boot (21), Dilkes (18), and Simpson (14).

Mansfield Giants’ final junior games of the basketball season also took place at the weekend.

A depleted Giants’ U14 team, due to illness, played against City Of Sheffield Saints and still gave it their all as they dominated the first three quarters of the game.

But tiredness kicked in in the final quarter as Giants struggled to score with Saints slowly clawing back at the deficit.

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With minutes remaining Saints took the lead and Giants struggled to pull it back as Saints edged the game 72-65.

However, Giants’ U12 team finished their season in style as they beat top of the table Notts Mini-Ballers 71-27.

A win for either team would see them take the Mini League title, with the losers taking runners-up spot, with just one point separating the two teams in the table.

Giants dominated from start to finish and played great team basketball, with all the hard work paying off in style.

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