It was tense down the stretch, but Lancashire got the performance it needed to secure a first National League victory on the season at Worthing Thunder on Saturday.
“It’s been a process to get us to this point,” said Spinners head coach Neal Hopkins. “We look back at our two losses as opportunities missed, but tonight we led for a majority of the game and we’ve done it together.”
Jack Hudson led a cast of four Spinners (2-5, 1-2 NBL1) to finish in double-figures with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting in a 78-74 win. He also had seven assists and six rebounds.
“It’s nothing less than I expect from myself,” said Spinners guard Hudson. “I know it’s needed for us to be in a position to win.”
Forwards David Ulph added a double-double (19 points and 12 rebounds) and Connor Murtagh had 18 points. Guard Mark Rangeley scored all 11 of his points after halftime.
The Spinners, who were 3-of-4 from the free throw line with under a minute remaining, overcame three players fouling out in the fourth quarter, including Ulph. But Spas Nikolov came off the bench and converted a layup from in close to help seal the game.
“He was on the floor when we needed him to control the game,” Hopkins said of Nikolov, who played more than half of his five minutes late in the fourth quarter.
Lyonell Gaines Jr. carried Worthing (4-2, 1-2) for a sixth-straight contest, scoring 30 points on 13-of-29 shooting. He also grabbed 12 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Lancashire trailed 9-6 early, but Murtagh knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to open up a three-point advantage midway through the first quarter.
The hosts pegged back the deficit and tied the game at 18, as B. Okoronkwo completed a 3-point play, though the Spinners scored four-straight points to close the quarter leading 22-18.
The Spinners then built a 33-23 lead over a five and a half minute stretch only for Worthing to outscore them 8-2 before halftime.
J. Sutherland, who had 11 points, hit a jump shot that brought the Thunder within a point with 1:34 left in the third quarter. But that would be the closest they’d get, as Lancashire had a response for every punch.
NOTES: The Spinners shot 42 percent (30-of-70) … and 50 percent after halftime (4-28) … Lancashire out rebounded Worthing 50-47.
Allen Gunn
Latest posts by Allen Gunn (see all)
The post Lancashires holds on against Worthing appeared first on Lancashire Spinners.