Special Afternoon in the WBBL Trophy

A special afternoon in the WBBL Trophy on Saturday leaves the North Group settled, while it’s still all to play for in the South Group.

Nottingham Wildcats took the final berth in the north as they won the winner-takes-all clash on the road at Manchester Mystics, 71-59 behind a huge double-double of 25 points and 17 rebounds for Ashley Harris.

Meanwhile, there were two incredible games in Scotland and Wales, both going to overtime.

Also in the North Group, Team Northumbria prevailed, 77-71, at the Oriam Arena against Caledonia Pride as Alison Gorrell and Kara Bonenberger combined for two thirds of their points and half of their rebounds.

Pride had led for much of the game, but were forced to tie it on the buzzer before Bonenberger scored six crucial points in the extra period.

And they were trumped by Cardiff Met Archers and Barking Abbey Crusaders in the South Group, as Crusaders needed double-overtime to edge out their hosts by 101-95, Savannah Wilkinson and Christina Gaskin with the crucial late scores.

Crusaders are 3-0 in the group, but still vying for qualification with Leicester Riders and Sevenoaks Suns – Barking meet Leicester on Sunday, and Suns also play.

There were some amazing individual performances: as well as Harris’ double-double, Judit Fritz, for Cardiff, hit 40 points which is the highest of any player in the WBBL this season; while Gorrell (28 and 14), Bonenberger (25 and 10), Wilkinson (27 and 12), and Sarah Thomson (Pride, 23 and 15) all went through twenty points and had double-doubles.