PRESTON, Lancs. — Lancashire begins a crucial three-game home stand on Saturday as the Spinners continue to bid for National League 1 survival. Game time against Solent is slated for 5:45 p.m. and will be steamed on Facebook. Alternatively, LiveStats will be available from tipoff.
The Spinners (7-20) have dropped their last three games, including most recently by an 81-75 score at Manchester, and sit in a tie for 12th place with Worthing (6-18) in the NBL1 standings with a 6-16 record. Lancashire has four games remaining, which is the most of any of their closest rivals.
Worthing has two games left coming against Westminster and Essex. The Leopards (5-18), who visit the Spinners on Sunday at 3 p.m., also have to play London on Saturday.
The Spinners are averaging 76.3 points per game whilst allowing 82.8 points per game. Lancashire is shooting 40.3 percent from the field and just 31.8 percent from 3-point range. The opposition has shot 44.9 percent and 32.8 from distance.
Mark Rangeley’s 17.3 points per game on just over 40 percent shooting leads four Spinners in double figures scoring. He ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.3) and assists (2.1). Jack Hudson is second at 14.8 points per game whilst he’s first in assists (4.9). The two have combined to lead the team in scoring in 17 out of 25 games in all competitions this season.
Connor Murtagh is adding 12.3 points as well as 4.4 rebounds per game off the bench. David Ulph rounds out the Spinners averaging in double figures at 11.4 per game on over 50 percent shooting.
The Kestrels (18-12) enter Saturday with a 14-9 league record and are currently fifth behind Derby (14-8), but know a top four finish is obtainable in their maiden NBL1 season. Solent has won two straight by 22-point and 30-point margins over London and Worthing. Solent, which averages 83 points per game and allows 79.8 per game, is led by American duo Marquis Mathis (23.3 PPG) and Jalen Watson (14.6 PPG).
Mathis is the league’s third leading scorer and he’s had 14 20-point and two 30-point games, and 13 double doubles this season, including highs of 35 points at Bradford on Nov. 19 and 18 rebounds against Manchester on Oct. 15. Watson has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games since joining the Kestrels in late January.
Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between Lancashire and Solent. The Spinners are 35-18 overall against first time opponents dating back to the 2011-12 season. Lancashire faced nine new teams last year, but this will be the first in 2016-17, as it already played promoted Loughborough in NBL2.
NOTES: Lancashire has a 16-4 record over the final four games of the season dating back to 2011 … The Spinners are just 4-9 at home this season with three wins coming in league play.
Allen Gunn
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