Thunder win thriller over Mohawks but suffer at Reading

Five points in the final minute from Bud Johnston was the highlight as the hosts secured a vital 87-85 win over the team in second place in the EBL Division 1 table. The Mohawks had two chances to win it, but squandered both opportunities.

It was the first league victory for Thunder at home this season and for the first 15 minutes of the game, Worthing played some of their best and most attractive basketball of the season and, despite dropping their heads in the second half, showed terrific character to pull out the victory over the EBL Division 1 championship contenders.

Thunder coach Daniel Hildreth said: “I’m delighted with the win. We had a great start in the first 15 minutes and were up by 21, but then we gradually let it slide.

“I was disappointed with our third and most of our fourth quarter performance but we showed tremendous character towards the end and it’s a great boost knowing that we have beaten a top-two team.”

Thunder followed this up with a 81-61 defeat at EBL Division 1 leaders Reading Rockets on Sunday afternoon.

Thunder shot just 10 of 20 free throws and nailed only three of 20 three-point attempts, which left coach Daniel Hildreth to say: “We didn’t execute well and certainly we didn’t execute how we have so far this season.

“We were not cutting to the right spots and we were not making the right decisions at both ends of the floor.

Full reports in this week’s paper.