Worthing Thunder 103 (30,58,81)
Essex & Herts Leopards 83 (15,33,62)

A poor display saw the Big Cats crash to a heavy defeat in the EBL Trophy on the South Coast, on Saturday.

A lacklustre defensive performance saw Leopards unable to prevent American import Alfredo Ott launching a barrage of threes as the home side effectively wrapped up the victory by half-time. Jon Burnell’s team were not helped by some inconsistent refereeing, that saw the visiting coach pick up one of the three technical fouls Leopards collected on the evening, and the early barrage of T’s helped Worthing open a 30 point lead late in the second period. Errol Seaman (pictured) led the Leopards’ scoring with 20 points, while Steve Ogunjimi added 18 and six assists.

After Laurent Irish had missed two free-throws in the opening minute, and Big Cats were on level terms for only two minutes, with Ott answering Skye Buck’s game-tying score with a three to give Worthing a fourth minute lead they were to never relinquish. Ott drained four treys in the first quarter alone, and although Sam Salter got in on the act with a three, Thunder reached the first break with a 15 point lead.

Ogunjimi opened the second period with a score off Salter’s assist, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly ended as Worthing added 10 unanswered points in two minutes. From then on there was little doubt that big-spending Worthing would be picking up the victory. Technical fouls on Irish and Burnell saw Thunder go 55-25 up with 2:33 on the clock, and despite eight points for Ogunjimi in the period, Leopards trailed by 25 at half-time.

To their credit, Leopards did not fold during the second half, and with Buck scoring a pair of threes in a ten-point third period, and Seaman adding eight they cut the lead to 19 with three minutes of the quarter remaining, and kept that margin at the final break.

The final period was of little consequence, though new signing Dave Jones looked useful with a nine point haul, but Burnell will know that his side has to improve considerably if they are to challenge for honours this season.

Leopards: E Seaman 20, S Ogunjimi 18, S Buck 14, T Selvey 11, D Jones 9, S Salter 5, L Irish 4, M Eames 2, R Lloyd, E Gregory (DNP)