Wildcats 38 v 145 Derby

It was going to be interesting to see how Wildcats would cope with having had only one decent training session in two weeks against last years national champions and a side who are hopefully looking to become the first team since London Towers to win back to back cadet championships.

This lack of ideal preparation was immediately shown as Wildcats failed to cope with Derby's press and after six minutes found themselves 31-2 behind. It also didn't help that members of the under 18 squad refuse to help by keeping score which meant that coach Parkes not only had to coach but also keep the official scorebook, something which is illegal and against the rules of the game.

A Ben Head 3-pointer and a brace from Craig Hopkins and Head again saw Wildcats reach the end of the first quarter 29 adrift 10-39.

Unforced errors, and poor basics contributed to Wildcats poor showing in the second quarter through too many one handed passes and lob passes being intercepted. Two scores from Hopkins and one from Chris Woodman was a poor effort and meant that Wildcats were down at the half time break 75-16.

The third quarter with Derby embarrassingly having to take off their press saw Wildcats share the spoils 22-22 as Head with 2 3-pointers led the way and backed by Hopkins and Chris Steven's who started scoring. But the lasting memory of the 3rd and 4th quarters is of the Derby Coach ordering his players who kept forgetting not to press.

If the first three quarters was an embarrassment then what happened in the fourth takes some explaining as Wildcats for the first time ever failed to score a single point in a quarter as Derby rattled up 46 to run out winners 38-145.

The only player to come out with any credit was John Brackett who was the coach Parkes choice as MVP

Although this game was always going to represent a struggle for Wildcats, Wildcats should have performed better and with more method and purpose, It just goes to show what happens when a group of players do not train, i.e. every player turns up to training so we can implement 5v5. Those who don't turn up for whatever reason harm the effect of those players who do turn up

For every training session missed, it means working hard for a week to regain that lost night so over the last two weeks those who have missed training will take to the end of the season to regain what they have lost.

It will not help either the fact that Wildcats have lost a night of training due to the parents club committee deciding that training shall be cut to two nights instead of one.
Chris Stevens becomes first player this season to play 300+ minutes.
Ben Head becomes first Wildcat to hit 10 3-pointers this season.
Chris Stevens becomes first player to hit 40 field goals
P
W
L
F
A
Pts
Northampton
11
10
1
958
567
21
Stoke
10
8
2
866
726
18
Nottingham
10
5
5
666
597
15
Derby
9
8
1
819
507
17
B,ham
9
6
3
565
486
15
Shropshire
9
3
6
414
518
11
Wildcats
10
1
9
485
862
11
XL B,ham
9
2
7
455
965
10
Avon Valley
9
2
7
512
668
10
Leicester
6
1
5
313
457
6
Results w/e 3/4th Feb 2001
Bullets
71-85
 Northants
Stoke
98-81
 Nottingham
Shropshire
48-49
 Bullets
FT 38-145 1st qtr 10-39 2nd qtr 6-36 3rd qtr 22-22 4th qtr 0-46
Min
2GA
2GM
3GA
3GM
TGA
TGM
FTA
FTM
Def
Off
Tot
T/o
St
As
Ch
B
F
Pts
Chris
Stevens
30
8
4
50
1
0
9
4
37
2
2
100
5
1
6
8
0
0
0
0
0
10
John Brackett
30
5
1
20
0
0
5
1
20
0
0
0
1
0
1
3
0
1
0
1
1
2
Phil
Chamberlain
27
12
2
17
0
0
12
2
17
2
0
0
4
6
10
5
0
0
0
3
0
4
Ben Head
26
1
1
100
10
3
30
11
4
33
3
1
33
2
3
5
5
2
0
0
1
1
12
Craig
Hopkins
26
14
3
21
1
0
15
3
20
0
0
0
10
4
14
6
0
1
0
0
2
6
Chas Frost
23
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
Chris
Woodman
17
3
1
33
0
0
3
1
33
0
0
0
1
0
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
2
Narren
Litchmore
17
10
1
10
1
0
11
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
Jason Litchmore
4
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
200
55
13
24
13
3
23
68
16
24
7
3
41
24
18
42
35
12
2
0
5
5
38
Total possessions 100 - lost possession 35% - lost the ball every 2.85 possessions - points per possession .38