Panthers run raiders close

Feb 25 2008

BIRMINGHAM Panthers ran Plymouth Raiders close but succumbed to an 83-92 defeat in Telford.

Without the injured Rob Pater-nostro and Williamz Omope for personal reasons, they also lost Cameron Wright during the match to an ankle problem.

But Panthers put up a spirited show against the Raiders, who ended the match with the luxury of getting all their 11 players on the scoresheet, six of them in double figures.

LaTaryl Williams top-scored with 23 points and 13 rebounds, Lekan Popoola registered 21 points, while Daniel Sandell scored 19 points.

Panthers trailed 41-50 at the interval before Raiders built their largest lead, of 43-59, in the third period.

Panthers kept chipping away and with 1:30 left, six consecutive points made it 83-88.

But Raiders closed the game out from the free-throw line.

Raiders got twice as many foul-shot attempts than Panthers, scoring 17-of-28.

Adam Williams contributed 12 points and nine rebounds for Panthers.