Giants lose derby game in overtime

Giants’ women were also beaten, losing 55-36 to Sefton.

The men’s score was tied at 69-69 at the end of regular playing time, as Giants had come back into the game, chipping away at the deficit of being 12 points down. Great team work at both ends of the court and leadership from Dan Richards, Charles Gamble and Mark Woodhouse, finally saw the game go into overtime.

Giants youngsters Parish Xavier, Lance Cresswell and Lewis Tucker all contributed defensively throughout the game and in the overtime period, Richards and Woodhouse chipped in to the points scored in the overtime period, with the score still being tied up until the last 30 seconds of the game.

Arrows’ Lisk-Carew nailed a long three point shot, to take the lead to one, with Giants forced to foul in the remaining seconds to get the ball back.

Best and Rankine then scored important free throws for Arrows, with a Giants forced shot missing, ending with a four point win for Derbyshire Arrows.

Giants’ top scorers: M. Woodhouse 24, C. Gamble 19, D. Richards 18.

A severely depleted women’s team took on visiting Sefton Starlights, bidding to keep a spot in the top half of the table.

The team were without the formidable inside duo of Charlie Levitt and Krista Van Alten, as well as coach Andrea Congreaves.

This, on top of the bad luck with injuries suffered to Jo Richards and Becky Temple earlier in the season, led the Giants to call on retired player/coach Gail Richards to suit up.

Giants started off strongly, with junior Heather Clarke dominating inside to score an ‘and one’ to kick off the trading of baskets for the majority of the first quarter.

However, Giants’ small bench soon began to play a part with the team tiring and struggling to keep up as Sefton stepped up a gear.

Mansfield trailed from that point on but played some excellent defence, keeping Sefton to a fairly low score.

Fifteen year old Giants junior Chloe Gaynor also showed promise, playing her first big minutes at senior National League, adding four points to the team’s total.

Jo Richards said: “We knew we’d struggle today with our small bench, but there were some great positives to take out of the game.

“Holding Sefton to less than 15 points per quarter with some really solid zone defence without our big players is a great achievement.

“The juniors also played out of their skin today, showing they can compete at this level which should be a real confidence boost for them.”

Giants men’s and women’s players will be at McArthur Glenn Designer Outlet, outside the Nike store running a basketball event alongside new partners both Nike and McArthur Glenn, with prizes to be won on Saturday between 10-4pm.

Full details on the new working partnership can be found on the Giants’ website and facebook.

The men will then play Derby Trailblazers away at 7.15pm in Derby at Noel Baker School.

Giants’ U13 team play Northampton Thunder at Oak Tree Leisure Centre (12.30pm), on Saturday, with Giants’ U12 playing Hoods and U14s’ playing Notts Nova.

Giants’ women take on Nottingham Wildcats and Giants Men’s seconds team playing Eastwood Antz in the Founders Cup, both away on Sunday.