The Season Begins

The Lions Basketball Club tipped off the season with a series of friendlies and competitive fixtures that set the tone for an exciting campaign ahead.

Lions 1: Strong Start in Friendlies

Lions 1 opened their pre-season with a win against King’s Lynn Kings, in a hard-fought game against tough opposition. They followed this up with another impressive performance, beating King’s Lynn Baltics to secure back-to-back victories, showcasing the team’s form and unity.

Lions 3: A Decent Display

Lions 3 took on Lions 2 in an all-club friendly. Despite ending up on the losing side, the third team put in a commendable performance. Their resilience and effort throughout the game give hope for a promising season as they continue to develop

Lions 2: Battling Hard Across Friendlies and League

Lions 2 played a friendly against Dereham Bucks, a Division 2 side, and narrowly edged out a win in a tightly contested match. Their performance set the stage for their first competitive fixture of the season.

In their league opener, Lions 2 faced off against the City Silverbacks, but were dealt an early blow when starter Stanley Ho injured his back during the warm-up and had to miss the game. His absence was felt immediately, as the team was left without one of their key players. However, the game also marked a first start for Nikita and a return to the club for Dimitar, who contributed significantly throughout the match.

A slow start saw the Lions trailing early, but they quickly found their rhythm, closing the gap to just 2 points by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter proved tougher as the size advantage of the Silverbacks stretched their lead to 11 points.

However, after a strong regroup at halftime, the Lions clawed their way back into the game, using their speed to cut the deficit to just 1 point. Despite a late surge of opportunities, the Lions couldn’t quite get the shots to fall in the final quarter. The City Silverbacks held on to secure a hard-fought 69-57 victory.

Top scorers for the Lions were:

• Sam Getley – 12 points

• Andy Lao – 12 points

• Andrew Allen – 10 points

• Dimitar Damyanov – 10 points

  
  

After the game, stand-in coach Deividas praised the team's resilience:"I'm proud of the team and the way they performed, how they stuck together, and how they fought back all the way to the final whistle. I'm hugely optimistic about the season with these players; we can only improve."

Despite the opening loss and the unfortunate injury setback, the Lions showed plenty of heart and potential, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting season.

Next up for Lions 2, they travel to Lynnsport on Thursday to take on King’s Lynn, looking to build on their strong performance from the Silverbacks game.

For Lions 1, their season opener is at Sewell Park this Sunday, with an 11:20 AM tip-off against the Norwich Eagles, a team known for providing tough opposition. This promises to be an exciting and competitive start to the season for Lions 1.

Pictures by @compactCaptures