WBBL Play-offs, quarter-finals
Caledonia Gladiators 81-53 Cardiff Met Archers (30-8, 40-26, 63-37)
(Gladiators: Thompson, 15; Wolf, 14; Adams, 13 — Archers: Hatch, 21; Saiki, 12; Bunyan, 5)
WBBL Play-Offs, quarter-finals
B.Braun Sheffield Hatters 49-76 Sevenoaks Suns (12-21, 29-42, 42-61)
(Hatters: Fairley, 11; Naylor, 10; Campbell/Murphy, 8 — Suns: Monakana, 23; Bradshaw, 19; Hodges, 14)
Caledonia Gladiators advanced to the WBBL Play-Off semi-finals with an 81-53 win over the Cardiff Met Archers at the Emirates Arena on Saturday lunchtime.
Clinical in all aspects on the court, Caledonia started exceptionally yet needed to respond after a subpar second quarter by their standards.
The response was emphatic as the Gladiators rekindled the form they had in the opening period and stormed into the next round.
Jamila Thompson led six Gladiators players with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds with Abbie Wolf shaking off a slow start to add 14.
The end of the line for the Archers, who competed admirably and more than deserved their place in the post-season, they were led by Shannon Hatch’s 21 points.
The loss was also the final game for Welsh junior Issy Bunyan, as she now heads to the University of Montana, ending it an efficient five points and seven rebounds, off 2/5 shooting.
The Gladiators got off to a fast start as Cardiff were guilty of rushing a few offences and as a result, missing their jumpers and not getting any second chance opportunities.
And with 4:43 left in the first, a three-point play from the evergreen Erin McGarrachan handed the hosts a 12-4 lead.
For the Gladiators, it was a opening quarter to remember as they went a scintillating 10/15 from the field to race out to a 30-8 lead.
Down but refusing to let their heads drop at this early stage, Cardiff began the second on a 6-0 run, capped by a short jumper from Mara Marchizotti as they pressured Caledonia and forced them into tough shots.
That was proven in the field goal count, as the Gladiators went from 10/15 to 13/24 midway through the second, and the Archers took advantage as a three-point play from Bunyan narrowed the gap to 36-22 with 5:12 left.
Caledonia’s free-flowing offence turned scrappy in the second, but it wasn’t a bad thing, as they fought and competed for every loose ball, and they saved their best play for the buzzer as Tea Adams stormed through the Cardiff front line as the hosts took a 40-26 lead at the half.
Both teams were a little more open in the third as Gladiators restored their 20-point cushion (50-30) thanks to a lay-up from Adams only for Laura Shanahan to respond almost immediately with an uncontested score at the other end.
Caledonia were able to recover from their stutter in the second as back-to-back three-pointers from Tamara Jovancevic was the highlight of a quick-fire 8-0 run to put her side in-front 59-34 with 1:47 left in the third.
Down big heading into the fourth, Cardiff continued to fight, testament to how they have played all season long, as they have produced great comebacks, en route to earning their right to the post-season.
But it wasn’t meant to be, as Caledonia maintained their superiority, with the lead peaking at 34 points, and a ticket to the final four.
Sevenoaks Suns used a strong first quarter to secure their spot in the WBBL Play-off semi-finals with a 76-49 win over B. Braun Sheffield Hatters at All Saints Sports Centre.
The Suns shot a brilliant 46% from the field in what turned out to be one of the most complete performances of the season against a really tough Hatters side who bow out in the opening round.
Janice Monakana led the winners with 23 points with Araion Bradshaw adding 19, going 9/15 from the field.
Nicolette Fairley led Sheffield with 11 points and five assists.
A cagey opening was broken open by the Suns who were heavily reliant on their long range threat and it was paying off, a triple from Araion Bradshaw gave her side a 12-7 lead with more than four minutes played.
Veteran Helen Naylor countered almost immediately for the home side but from there, the Hatters struggled from the field allowing the Suns to shine bright and lead 21-12.
A 7-1 start to the second for the visitors two minutes in, extended the lead further as the Suns’ offensive execution was sublime whereas Sheffield were missing shots that they’ve made all season long.
Naomi Campbell provided a spark for the hosts midway through the quarter and as a team, Sheffield had no issues getting to the foul line, but Sevenoaks were playing perhaps their best basketball since the turn of the year, and deservedly led 42-29 at the half.
From there, the lead only grew for the Suns, peaking at 32 points as they advance to the last four.