BASINGSTOKE Blizzards basketball team booked their place in the Karl Taylor Cup semi-finals by beating visiting Windsor Warriors 82-69.

It was a brilliant result for the home side as they were missing six players and gave a debut to Chris Mullan, who has recently been posted to RAF Odiham.

The home side started well. Rob Gerrard, Aaron Taylorson and Tom Fulford all hit three-pointers as they opened up a 9-4 lead on their way to a first-quarter advantage of 24-13.

The Warriors tried to claw their way back into the game, but at half-time the home side led 42-35.

After the break, Windsor closed the gap to four points, before an amazing seven minutes in which the Blizzards produced an avalanche of 22 unanswered points, ending the third quarter leading 67-43.

After the break, the visitors started the better and closed the gap to 69-51, but then baskets from Luke Karmazyn, Fulford and a three-pointer from Taylorson took the score to 76-53 with five minutes left.

Windsor did hit a rapid 10 points without reply, but further scores from Tom Mavronicholas made sure of the 82-69 victory.

Scoring: Gerrard 33, Taylorson 18, Fulford 17, Mavronicholas 8, Mullan 4, Karmazyn 2.

lThe Bobcats finished their league season in style, a 64-84 win away to Lightwater Vipers confirming their promotion to Wessex League Division One.

They now move on to face the Slough Scorpions in the play-offs.