BASINGSTOKE Blizzards basketball team’s play-off hopes were dented as they lost 68-66 to Reading-based Craftman Lithuania United.

The visitors started with just seven players, with a number of their star men missing, so they knew it was going to be tough.

Darius Norvaisa opened the scoring for the home side with a three-pointer, but by the end of the first quarter Craftman led 24-20.

The second quarter was much tighter, but scores from Tom Mavronicholas and Harry Preston kept the Blizzards in range and they only trailed 39-33 at half-time.

After the break, great defensive work by Grabuleda and Adam Paddon limited the home side’s chances, while Jim Darlow, Preston and Aaron Taylorson collected many rebounds as the score was tied 48-48 at the third buzzer.

A minute into the last quarter, Mavronicholas was called for his fifth foul and the game got even more physical.

The lead changed hands many times before Craftman won the game 68-66.

Blizzards coach Marcel Mavronicholas said: “It was very hard to swallow this defeat. Too many fouls and not enough players on the bench probably cost us a deserved win.”

The side’s next game is away to Windsor Warriors on Tuesday, March 10.

l The under-16s, missing four players, were well beaten by a strong Tres Barriles side from Portsmouth, going down, 57-21.

George Woodford-White top scored, while James Veitch, Phill Mavronicholas and two under-14s – Ben Firrell and Jack Bond – all got on the scoresheet.