Thunder beaten, but hopeful

Score by interval (Thunder-Breakers): 28-25, 44-56, 60-86, 87-103.

Worthing Thunder head coach Brian Deacon said his side’s fourth quarter comeback would soon present “rewards” despite losing 87-103 to Milton Keynes Breakers.

Elijah Maynard led Thunder with 27-points. Nino Hernandez added 20 and Zaire Taylor scored 19 on his return. The game slipped from Thunder’s grasp after leading the first quarter.

Taylor, who shot five of eight from the perimeter, said his return was due to “the position we’re in as a team”, adding: “I like the players we have. I feel like there is a veteran presence missing. A lot of games have been close this season, so that could be what gets us over the hump”.

Brian Deacon, back helming Thunder once more, said Taylor’s return “changed the dynamic”, before adding: “we were trying to implement something from the start which didn’t click. It came together in the fourth quarter, but it was a bit too late”.

Thunder arrived in need of victory. The battle at the bottom of the table livened up considerably after Bradford won their first match of the season last weekend, putting them within one victory of Thunder and Nottingham Hoods.

The opening exchanges suggested Thunder could challenge Breakers. Both sides battled at the basket with Thunder on top. Adrian Scarborough’s efforts couldn’t prevent Thunder walking back to their bench three-points ahead. Taylor dazzled by scoring three for five from range.

Then, inexplicably, Thunder’s chances fell apart. Milton Keynes pressed, harried and hunted to devastating effect. Blayne Freckleton, whose excellent shot knocked Thunder out the National Cup last season, unleashed yet another laser guided effort. Now his side were 15-points ahead.

There was no turning back. Billy Beddow’s men put the boot in, pushing ahead by 30-points at one stage of the third. K.J. Johnson cracked the code of Thunder’s defence, seemingly always finding Breakers’ menacing centre Chris Tawiah or carving out his own score. The 24-year-old achieved a double-double in points and assists.

Hernandez once more drove to the basket, capping off three successive baskets, which forced Beddow into a timeout. Maynard dived to the floor pursuing a loose ball. For a Thunder crowd given very little to cheer throughout the second and third quarters, it delivered some optimism.

Johnathan Lashley, who scored 9-points with 11 rebounds, said of the last quarter: “The guys were motivated.” Lashley rued his side’s inability to translate the form which typified the two quarters they won. Attempting to diagnose their issue, Ishmael Fontaine said: “We have problems being cohesive in a game plan. I don’t think we dislike each other, but we all have problems being on the same page. It’s blatant to see, especially on offence. The only thing that covers it is that we’re so talented. Luckily, when you finish a game like we did today, there’s loads of things you can take away”.

Those lessons must be learnt quickly. Thunder visits undefeated league leaders Hemel Storm next. Thunder’s next home game is against Loughborough Riders on February 1, tip off 19:30.