Huish Taunton Tigers finished the 2017/18 season with a total record of 19 wins and 5 losses. In league competition they finished runners up, with the same win/loss record (17/3) as winners, Bristol Flyers II, losing out by just 2 points in the head-to-head tiebreaker. The rivalry between Flyers and Tigers was the story of NBL D4 SW as the two teams battled all season for top spot.

Taunton played host to Bristol on Sunday 17th September, in the first game of the season, in the National Cup competition, narrowly losing 58 – 61 in a highly competitive and exciting debut match. A few weeks later after advancing in the National Shield competition’s, Tigers avenged the National Cup loss to Bristol by knocking them out of the National Shield in the second round. As in the first fixture, it was a highly competitive game with Tigers claiming a narrow victory 60 ­– 57.

Tigers went out of the National Shield in the next round, losing to Division 3 side, Solent Kestrels II at home, 71 – 78. Despite the loss, the team was pleased with their progress and showed they were capable of competing against higher division teams.

In league competition Tigers won their first 7 fixtures before losing to London United at home on December 9th. They bounced back immediately, winning the next 4, including a nail biter at home against Bristol Academy Flyers II, which finished Tigers 74 – 73 Flyers.

The following Saturday was the away fixture and it was Bristol who dealt Taunton their second loss of the season 54 – 57. All 4 matches between Tigers and Flyers finished with 3 points or less separating them.

Tigers won 6 of their remaining 7 games to close out the season. A key factor in them finishing second and not first, was the result of an away fixture against Southampton University Sharks where Taunton were handed a 1-point loss.

By finishing runners up Tigers successfully made the Play-off competition where they were drawn against Team Derby. On Saturday 7th April the away play-off fixture took place but they were unable to play their best basketball against a strong Derby side that went on to take the title.

The team, coached by Richard Anderson, was a mix of youthful talent and veteran experience. Guard Joe Andrews and forwards Kevin Anderson, Paul Yabsley, Mark Schroeder and Paul Glaeser were all returning players to the NBL. Power forward Robin Boult and Latvian guard Igors Kuznecov brought their years of experience to National League for the first time. Guards Tim Gumbs and Alex Jenkins, and forwards Jack Roberts and Joel Harrison also got their first taste of Senior National League, and in November the team was joined by power forward Christian Alexander.

One of the goals for the team was to provide a transition for junior players into senior competition and they were able to achieve that with 3 under 18 players receiving call ups to the men’s team over the course of the season. Harry Stacpoole made his debut on 04/11/18 against Gloucester Saxons and went on to play in 6 games. Casey Williams played his first game a week later in the National Shield Round 3 cup-tie against Team Solent Kestrels II. Williams played 8 games for the Men’s team including the Play-off match against Team Derby. Mikolaj Makowski was the other junior to be called up for the men’s team, playing at home against Reading Rockets on 17/02/18.

The 2017/18 season was a successful first year back in National League Basketball for the Taunton Tigers. They will look to further improve this year when they re-enter NBL D4 SW for 2018/19.

National Basketball League Division 4 South West 2017/2018 Standings

	Team	Wins	Losses	Void	%	For	Against	Difference	Points
1	Bristol Academy Flyers IIFlyers II	17	3	0	85	1519	1194	325	34
2	Huish Taunton TigersTigers	17	3	0	85	1535	1290	245	34
3	RCT GladiatorsGladiators	13	6	1	68	1477	1205	272	26
4	Reading Rockets IIRockets II	11	9	0	55	1339	1315	24	22
5	Southampton University SharksSharks	11	9	0	55	1361	1377	-16	22
6	London United	11	9	0	55	1441	1485	-44	22
7	Oxford City HoopsCity Hoops	10	10	0	50	1570	1582	-12	20
8	Thames Valley Cavaliers IICavaliers II	9	11	0	45	1673	1575	98	18
9	Surrey RamsRams	4	15	1	21	1181	1408	-227	8
10	Oxford StealersStealers	3	16	1	16	1151	1448	-297	6
11	Gloucester SaxonsSaxons	2	17	1	11	1121	1489	-368	4

Huish Taunton Tigers 2017/2018 Fixtures/Results

Date	Competition	Home Team	Score	Away Team
17/09/17	National Cup	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers	58 – 61	Bristol Academy Flyers II Flyers (w)
24/09/17	National Shield	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	81 – 51	Gloucester Saxons Saxons
30/09/17	NBL D4 SW	Oxford Stealers Stealers	67 – 81	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
07/10/17	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	91 – 80	Oxford City Hoops City Hoops
15/10/17	NBL D4 SW	RCT Gladiators Gladiators	85 – 91	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
22/10/17	National Shield	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	60 – 57	Bristol Academy Flyers II Flyers
04/11/17	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	74 – 63	Gloucester Saxons Saxons
12/11/17	National Shield	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers	71 – 78	Team Solent Kestrels II Kestrels (w)
18/11/17	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	72 – 64	Southampton University Sharks Sharks
25/11/17	NBL D4 SW	Surrey Rams Rams	55 – 71	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
02/12/17	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	83 – 67	Thames Valley Cavaliers II Cavaliers
09/12/17	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers	74 – 83	London United London United (w)
16/12/18	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	82 – 49	Oxford Stealers Stealers
07/01/18	NBL D4 SW	Oxford City Hoops City Hoops	57 – 73	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
13/01/18	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	85 – 66	RCT Gladiators Gladiators
20/01/18	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	74 – 73	Bristol Academy Flyers II Flyers
27/01/18	NBL D4 SW	Bristol Academy Flyers II Flyers (w)	57 – 54	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers
10/02/18	NBL D4 SW	Gloucester Saxons Saxons	74 – 87	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
17/02/18	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	80 – 64	Reading Rockets II Rockets
24/02/18	NBL D4 SW	Reading Rockets II Rockets	46 – 56	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
10/03/18	NBL D4 SW	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)	77 – 43	Surrey Rams Rams
17/03/18	NBL D4 SW	Southampton University Sharks Sharks (w)	75 – 74	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers
25/03/18	NBL D4 SW	London United London United	62 – 95	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
31/03/18	NBL D4 SW	Thames Valley Cavaliers II Cavaliers	62 – 67	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers (w)
31/03/18	NBL D4 Playoffs	Team Derby Team Derby (w)	89 – 54	Huish Taunton Tigers Tigers