NBL Report: Huish Taunton Tigers 2017/18 Season Review
71In 2017/18 Taunton fielded a Senior Men’s National League team for the first time since 2011/12. This is a recap of their season in NBL Division 4 South West.
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |