Hawks Soar Past Bulldogs in Cambs League Opener

The Bulldogs travelled to Huntingdon to face the Hawks in their first Cambridge League game in over a year, falling to a tough 83-67 defeat.

Hawks inflicted the first loss for the Bulldogs Seniors in the 2018/19 campaign.

In a nip-and-tuck first half, Lewis Tebbit kept the scoreboard ticking over for Bulldogs, scoring 11 of the team's 14 first quarter points, as the game was tied after the first period. The Bulldogs eked-out a 33-34 lead with just over a minute to play in the half, before a pair of scores from the Hawks gave the hosts a three-point lead at the half.

The third quarter followed a similar pattern, when Wise notched a pair of free-throws to tie the game at 50-50 in the closing moments of the period, before a pair of threes and another score from the Hawks within the final moments gave the hosts an eight-point lead heading into the final quarter, Hawks extended their lead to 14 points in the opening minute of the fourth, and the Suffolk side could not close the gap down the stretch.

Lewis Tebbit led the Bulldogs in scoring with 26 points, supported by Wise (17) and Matt Spurling (9).

David Wise, stepping-in for Glenn Collins as a player-coach for the evening, had this to say about the result:

"It was a good first game back in the Cambs league, but we didn't quite have the intensity to keep going til the end, and unfortunately they hit some big shots at key times to extend their lead very quickly." - David Wise

Jess Scott earned the nod for Bulldogs' Player of the Game

"Lewis and Matt both ran the floor and attacked the basket well, but my player of the game was Jess Scott. He also attacked the basket well, played with great energy and was superb on the glass for us."

Huntingdon Hawks Head Coach Ryan Mills added "It was a great game which could've gone either way at halftime. You have some great younger players in the team and you have a bright future at your club. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner - but it was also great to see both teams compete without any attitudes, ego or trash being talked."

Congratulations to the Hawks on their win, we wish them all the best for the season ahead, and look forward to welcoming them to Skyliner for the return fixture.

Up next for the Cambs team is a trip to Cambridge Cats on Thursday 25th October, where the Suffolk side will look to bounce back from this result.