Match Report: Nottingham Hoods 65 – 81 Leicester Warriors (U14 Boys)

After last week’s dramatic comeback victory, the Nottingham Hoods U14 Boys returned home full of confidence and chasing their first home win of the season. Illness meant only ten players were available, but spirits were high as they faced a strong Leicester Warriors side.

Q1 – Slow Start, Strong Recovery

The Warriors opened sharply, capitalising on early Hoods turnovers to take a quick lead. The Hoods’ first points came from the free-throw line as they slowly settled. Despite Leicester’s clear height advantage, the Hoods worked hard on the boards, limiting second-chance opportunities. Intercepted passes made scoring difficult, but a determined drive finally produced the first basket from open play.

After a brief stoppage for an injury following a collision at the rim, the Hoods trailed 6–10 at the midway point. Fresh legs helped shift momentum, with improved passing slicing through the Warriors’ defence ended with a close-range finish  A buzzer-beating three-pointer completed an impressive turnaround, ending the quarter 18–18.

Q2 – Warriors Pull Ahead

The Warriors struck first again, but the Hoods responded from the line to stay close. A strong layup punished Leicester’s slow transition defence, and excellent ball movement saw the Hoods create several good chances that just wouldn’t fall. Their defensive work remained strong, forcing travels and drawing fouls from the Warriors’ big front line.

However, a loose pass gifted Leicester an easy basket, and despite an immediate reply, the Hoods began to struggle with finishing around the rim. As Warriors’ fouls increased, so did their defensive pressure and interceptions, which stretched the gap. At halftime, the Hoods were behind 27–41.

Q3 – The Fightback Begins

Leicester opened the scoring after the break, but the Hoods tightened their defence to limit the damage. A pair of well-taken three-pointers reignited belief and reduced the deficit. With confidence growing, the Hoods reduced the deficit to 40–53 before a Warriors player fouled out — a moment that shifted momentum.

Rebounding, free throws, and determined drives saw the Hoods chip away at the lead while Leicester found just six more points. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors’ advantage had shrunk to only seven: 52–59. The comeback was alive.

Q4 – Effort Without Reward

The Hoods began the final quarter with an interception but couldn’t convert, and the Warriors responded with a banked three-pointer. A few cheap baskets slipped through as Leicester pushed the pace, but another Warriors player fouled out to keep hope alive.

An unfortunate travelling call cancelled out a Hoods score, yet the team continued fighting, producing some excellent individual finishes. Despite strong effort and superior free-throw accuracy, open-play consistency proved elusive. As fatigue set in, the Warriors’ physicality and speed helped them regain control in the closing minutes.

The Hoods battled to the end, but the final score read 65–81 in favour of the Warriors — a result that didn’t fully reflect the heart, resilience, and progress shown throughout the game.