West Yorkshire Hawks Men suffered their first defeat of the season in dramatic fashion, going down by a single point 87-88 to the Tameside Vikings in a thriller at the Hawks Nest at the University of Huddersfield.

Tameside came out firing from the tip, hitting five three-pointers in the opening minutes to take a 17-point lead just three minutes in. The Hawks, stunned but not out, regrouped and began the long road back.

By the end of the first quarter, the Hawks trailed by 17, but tightened their defence in the second period and narrowed the gap to 42-54 at the half.

The momentum continued in the third, and by the start of the final quarter, the deficit was down to just seven.

A frantic final period saw the Hawks battle back within a point, with chances at the free throw line in the closing seconds. But the basketball gods weren’t smiling this time.

Dan Pilkington led the way with 23 points, supported by Joe Heyes (19), Chris Sibbett (15), Charles Olusunmade (11) and Jacques Misambu (10).

Head coach Danny Byne said: “Vikings’ start was something I have never seen before. They hit everything they shot.

“We just didn’t enter the game locked in and they made us pay. I am proud of how the guys fought back and we will certainly take this as what it is, a wake-up call.”

The Hawks Men now look ahead to closing out 2025 on the road against the Derby Trailblazers on Sunday December 14.

Meanwhile, the Hawks Women faced one of their toughest tests of the season, going up against title-chasing Milton Keynes Breakers on the road.

The Breakers came out strong, taking a 21-6 lead after the first quarter. The Hawks regrouped and showed offensive improvements in the second, scoring 21 points, but still trailed 48-27 at the half.

A dominant third quarter (23-6) and another strong final period (30-15) saw the hosts pull away, but the Hawks never stopped fighting.

Player-coach Millie Oates remained positive despite the result and said: “Today was another tough day.

“Breakers are a very good team who are understandably fighting it out for the title in this division.

“We will take another lesson today but I am proud of how the team stuck together and battled to the end.”

The Hawks Women will wrap up their 2025 fixtures at home this Saturday (December 13) against the Oaklands Wolves at the Hawks Nest.