After defeat at the weekend against the unbeaten table toppers Sevenoaks Suns (who have a whopping league record of 18-0), Nottingham Wildcats bounced back yesterday to go 9&8 for the championship season and move fourth in the table as ‘best of the rest’ behind the runaway top three whilst securing a worthy spot in the eight team end of season playoffs too.

The Wildcats did themselves proud against Sevenoaks on Saturday, beaten 76-62 against an impressive team just one victory from the title and two from a wipeout 100% record of twenty wins, whilst Chelsey Shumpert in the match shone with 25 points as Simone Costa grabbed 19 in defeat.

Coach Kendrick Liburd’s side yesterday faced a different test in Wales, against a Cardiff Met Archers team struggling third from bottom in the table with a record of 5&13 but with slim hopes of reaching the playoffs themselves, and it was the visitors who took a four point lead going into the second quarter of the match after a competitive first.

The Wildcats in fact extended their lead by half time to ten with the scores at 30-40 but a brilliant third from Cardiff had the game to back within three, and a nervy last quarter was edged by Nottingham 10-8 who were eventually pleased to hear the buzzer for full time with a 67-62 win and vital points secured.

Simone Costa again proved consistent as the Portuguese star scored 20 points with 5 assists whilst Praise Egharevba netted 16 with 12 rebounds, Moa Lundqvist taking 12 points and 4 steels amongst her stats.

Next up for Nottingham is Newcastle Eagles on Saturday with a place in the Playoffs for both, already gladly confirmed. Nottingham’s status done so with three games of the championship remaining.

*Main image @NottmWildcats Simone Costa was again in fabulous form.