Bulldogs go winless in tough November games
Record: 0-4
Results:
- 2/11: Bulldogs 72-98 NASSA
- 10/11: London Stars 86-82 Bulldogs
- 16/11: Bulldogs 71-84 London Elite
- 23/11: Barking Abbey 82-65 Bulldogs
November proved to be a challenging month for the Bulldogs, as they suffered four consecutive defeats to drop to a 1-6 record in the league. The team now sits second from bottom in the standings. A combination of injuries and player unavailability has undoubtedly affected performances, with key contributors such as Brandynn (shoulder), Nick (calf), Kelvin (shoulder), Josh (ankle), and Drey (hamstring) all missing games at various points.
The narrow loss to the London Stars will sting the most, as the Bulldogs let a 23-point lead slip through their fingers. Despite showing flashes of their potential, consistency and execution have been issues for much of the campaign.
December is shaping up to be a crucial month for the team, with fixtures against similarly placed opponents Westminster Warriors and winless Ipswich, who the Bulldogs managed to beat during pre-season. These games are followed by a stern test away at Solent Kestrels and a return fixture against Richmond Knights to round off the year.
Captain Chuck Duru reflected on the difficult run of form: “It’s been a disappointing month to go winless. The London Stars game was particularly hard to take because we played some of our best basketball for three quarters but couldn’t close it out. As a team, we’ve had some honest discussions and feel we’re making progress, but we need to be more focused and committed to turning things around. Having more players back from injury will definitely help, and we’re looking forward to having a fuller squad for the last few games of the year.”
With most of the squad expected to be available for the upcoming double-header and the benefit of a recent weekend break, there’s a sense of optimism within the camp. Roster changes, set to be announced, may give Coach Gazetes some fresh options as the team looks to halt their losing streak and head into 2024 on a high.
December Fixtures
- 7/12 – @ Ipswich
- 8/12 – vs Westminster Warriors
- 14/12 – @ Solent Kestrels
- 21/12 – vs Richmond Knights