Huish Tigers


The Huish Tigers are a semi–professional basketball team based in Taunton, Somerset competing in the Somerset Basketball League. The team plays all their home games at the Sycamore Sports Hall at Richard Huish College.
Until the end of 2012, the team was known as the Taunton Tigers and competed in the National Basketball League Division Three South. Formerly a Division One side, the Tigers were forced to drop down the divisions after going into debt. In 2013, they became the Huish Tigers and are now coached by Gary Carter.

History

Taunton Tigers

The origins of a basketball team in Taunton stem back to the late 1980s. In 1990, the team were called Taunton Community Basketball Club competing in South West Division Two. Ronnie Heath joined as a player and coach and by 1992 the team had rebranded as Taunton Tigers.
During the 1990s, the team progressed up through the local leagues coached by Ian Hunt before competing in the National Basketball League. Taunton Tigers were founder-members of the new NBL Division Three in 1997. Finishing in a respectable fifth place they were promoted to Division Two, as the higher divisions were expanding. The move proved fully justified, as they finished runners-up in 1999 and won the playoffs moving the team straight into Division One.
Regrettably, the conclusion of the 2000-01 season saw a league reorganisation, and despite finishing eighth, they were relegated to NBL Division Two. With Division One now divided into the Conference and NBL 1, this effectively became the fourth tier.
Although they finished third in NBL 2 South in 2002, the constant changes in division had stretched their resources, and they chose to withdraw from the league to guarantee their survival for another opportunity to play in the national league.
Rejoining the national league Division Three West in 2004-05 saw the team perform well, earning them third place overall. Under coach Ronnie Heath, they won back to back promotions in 2005–06 and 2006–07 to propel them from NBL Division Three, to NBL Division One. The club finished eighth in the league in their maiden season, avoiding relegation.
The following 2008-09 season brought disappointment, just two wins were recorded in the league, and they finished bottom, missing out on the post-season. Despite this, they remained in the top division for the following 2009-10 season which was expanded to twelve teams. The team won twelve league matches and seventeen overall, and enjoyed their greatest success in Division One.
At the club's annual general meeting in 2010, it was revealed that the club was heavily in debt. The club's committee resigned, and combined with a number of key players announcing their retirement, the club were forced to withdraw from Division One. England Basketball would not let the club drop to Division Two, and instead the club had to move to Division Four.
In 2010-11, the team won their first season in Division Four South West, recording seven wins in the league and thirteen overall, and competed in Division Three South in the 2011–12 season, but came seventh.
From 2010-17, the Taunton Tigers Basketball Charity helped fund team activities and associated community projects. When this was disbanded, all funds were transferred to the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership.

Huish Tigers

In 2013, the Taunton Tigers became the Huish Tigers being based at the Richard Huish College following a long partnership together.
In 2017-18 and 2018-19, the team were runners up in the National Basketball League Division Four South West. In 2019-20 the team played in the NBL Division Three South West coming fourth overall. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic the remaining 2020-21 season was cancelled.
Since 2021, the team has competed in the Somerset Basketball League. In 2021-22 and 2024-25 Huish Tigers were the SBL league and playoff champions, runners up in the 2022-23 playoffs and third place in the 2023-24 league.

Season-by-season records

Notes:
  • From 2000-2003 the NBL Conference operated as the second tier league, ahead of Division One.
  • In 2003 the NBL was replaced by the EBL, which reinstated Division One as the second tier.

    Home venues

Taunton Tigers played at multiple venues across Taunton mostly due to having multiple teams and not owning their own venue:
Taunton Tigers moved into the newly opened Wellsprings Leisure Centre in 2004 and made it their home venue until 2012.
  • Richard Huish College
Taunton Tigers utilised Richard Huish College for some matches moving into the college's inflatable sports dome in August 2006. In 2013, they were succeeded by Huish Tigers, who now play in the Sycamore sports hall which opened in January 2017 replacing the sports dome.

Honours

League

  • WEBBA Division One Winners: 1994/95 & 1995/96
  • NBL Division Two Runners Up: 1998/99
  • EBL Division Three South West Runners Up: 2005/06
  • EBL Division Four South West Winners: 2010/11
  • EBL Division Four South West Runners Up: 2017/18 & 2019/20
  • SBL Champions: 2021/22 & 2024/25

    Playoffs

  • NBL Division Two Playoff Winners: 1998/99
  • EBL Division Two Playoff Finalists: 2006/07
  • SBL Playoff Champions: 2021/22 & 2024/25
  • SBL Playoff Finalists: 2022/23

    Cups

  • West of England Men's Cup: 1995/96, 1996/97, 1999/2000 & 2000/01
  • Patrons Cup 2nd Place: 2005/06 & 2006/07