Wolves roll on, Nottingham grab win and Caledonia dominate in jam-packed week of Championship action

London, Leicester and Durham suffered tough defeats, whilst Oaklands separated themselves from Sheffield in the title race.

Manchester Basketball 74 – 57 Leicester Riders

Manchester welcomed Leicester to the National Basketball Performance Centre on Saturday afternoon. With teams having experienced similar seasons thus far, fans anticipated a competitive affair.

Leicester got off to an exciting start, when Katie Januszewska hit a triple to open scoring and create a three point advantage. However, that would be as good as it got for Leicester, as Manchester hit back almost immediately. Lauren Thomas Johnson and Hannah Shaw combined for a run of lay-ups, going on an 8-0 run to move the hosts ahead by five.

Leicester hit back with a three from Jessica Eadsforth-Yates and lay-up from Kaia Harrison, but they couldn’t quite cancel the deficit. Thomas-Johnson combined with Danni Williams for the remainder of the opening quarter, extending the Manchester advantage. When Maura Fitzpatrick hit from mid-range, the home team finished the period ahead by six.

As the second quarter began, Shahd Abboud came off the bench to hit a jumper and tighten the gap. However, Fitzpatrick came back swinging with a pair of lay-ups to make it a nine-point contest, midway through the quarter.

A frustrating spell then unfolded for a while, with an array of missed shots creating something of a cagey affair. Near the end of the half, Williams scored a tough lay-up and Elise Tweedie hit back with a jump-shot, meaning Leicester went into half-time down by six.

Williams opened up second-half scoring with a three, then Anastasia Warren followed up with two of her own, creating a double-digit advantage. The Riders went scoreless for a while, until Abboud hit a lay-up to offer distant hope.

Fitzpatrick and Warren then combined for another strong scoring run, hitting from the elbow and free-throw line, moving ahead by 18 points. Leicester enjoyed a scoring flurry, with Eadsforth-Yates and Januszewska scoring in multiple ways to chip away at the deficit. When the third quarter came to an end, Manchester led by 13.

The home team piled in the points as the final period began, Williams led the charge with a couple of mid-rangers, opening up a 19-point chasm. Fitzpatrick then made it 20 a minute later, as Manchester ran away with the contest.

Manchester remained in control throughout the remainder of the game, commanding the boards and managing the stretch tremendously. When Hannah Shaw made a lay-up in the closing seconds, the hosts had secured a 17-point win.

Most Valuable Player: Danni Williams was magnificent, leading the way with 24 points, 12 boards and six dimes.

Cardiff Met Archers 73 – 81 Oaklands Wolves

League-leading Oaklands arrived at the Archers Arena on Saturday, hoping to widen the gap at the top of the table. Cardiff were on the hunt for their sixth win of the season, but knew they had a tough contest ahead of them.

Lavinia Da Silva scored the first points for Oaklands , making a lay-up to get the game going. Cardiff hit back swiftly, with Connie Clark scoring a pair from close range, to push the Archers ahead. Clark and Sam Ashby then traded threes, as the hosts stayed on top by a thin margin.

Clark scored another couple of lay-ups, then Jenna Hoschouer and Sara Jorgensen joined the party, creating easy looks to move Cardiff ahead by double digits. When the first quarter ended, the home team were on top by 10.

Kiara Stewart scored early in the second quarter, edging the Archers further ahead. With the game falling away, Oaklands soon found a response however. The Wolves launched into a 19-0 unanswered scoring run, getting a number of stops and punishing Cardiff on the other end of the floor. Danielle McCray led the way, scoring multiple lay-ups to ignite an excellent individual performance.

Despite resistance from Clark, when the teams split for half-time, the Wolves had come back to open up a seven-point lead.

Stewart and Clark remained buoyant, scoring lay-ups to start the second half and move closer to their opponents. Scoring by committee, Oaklands protected their lead for a few minutes, keeping Cardiff at bay with a run of confident lay-ups.

McCray then drained a triple, before following up with a successful trip at the charity stripe and moving ahead by double figures. Abigail Yunker responded at the line at the end of the penultimate instalment, reducing the deficit to nine heading into the last quarter.

Stewart opened quarter scoring again in the fourth, scoring early to shrink the gap to seven. Two possessions later, Hoschouer hit from mid-range bringing it to six and Yunker followed it up with a make beyond the arc, pulling to within three.

Oaklands fought back, Terri Battle and Beckford-Norton laid the ball in for six unanswered points, to move ahead by nine. Stewart came back swinging with an ‘and-1’ play, but the Wolves quickly moved back ahead by double digits, through a Da Silva lay-up.

The teams went back and forth, with Cardiff edging closer consistently, before the Wolves responded to every bucket with one of their own. Despite their best efforts, the Archers couldn’t quite get over the hump and when the buzzer sounded, the Wolves had earned an eight-point W to boost their title expectations.

Most Valuable Player: Danielle McCray impressed throughout, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Essex Rebels 67 – 72 Newcastle Eagles

The Essex Sports Arena was the backdrop on Saturday, when Newcastle arrived in Essex to face the Rebels.

Jada Guinn got Newcastle going, christening the scoring column and following up with two more lay-ups in the first couple of minutes. However, when the Eagles took a lead, Essex hit back with game-tying makes from Maria Blazejewski, Taylor O’Brien and Brooke Flowers.

Tierra Hodges then put Newcastle back ahead, before Abby Lowe scored a lay-up to make it a four-point game. Blazejewski soon tied the game just seconds later, then Lauren Park-Lane cut through the lane to move Essex back in front.

Claire Paxton added to the hosts’ lead with a pair of threes in under 10 seconds, moving the Rebels ahead by 13. Jada Guinn pushed back, hitting three lay-ups in the final two minutes of the opening period, but when the quarter ended, the Eagles trailed by five.

As the second quarter began, Park-Lane and Flowers combined to grow the lead back to nine. However, Hodges soon provided a response, finishing an ‘and-1’ play to keep Newcastle in the contest.

Essex soon made it a double-digit game yet again, but they then went scoreless for four minutes, offering the Eagles a route back into the clash. Newcastle capitalised by going on a 7-0 run, led by Guinn and Shannon Hatch. Just like that, they were within four points.

Bringing a halt to the visitors’ momentum, Flowers enjoyed a 5-0 run in the final minute of the half. When the teams split for the locker rooms, Essex led by nine.

Chloe Gaynor’s half-time team talk was success. Guinn made multiple lay-ups and Lowe earned a trip to the line, pulling Newcastle back into the game. Park-Lane and Paxton found their way to the hole again, but Guinn and Hatch scored again, slimming the margin further.

A minute later, Guinn made two more tough lay-ups, pulling the Eagles to within a single point. Kendall Currence then tied the game, before following up with a turn-around jumper to edge the road team ahead. They weren’t done; Guinn and Hatch found their way to the line, both splitting and ensuring that heading into the final quarter, the resurgent Eagles led by four.

Lauren Saiki made consecutive mid-rangers, extending the Newcastle lead to eight. Despite the efforts of Park-Lane and O’Brien, Newcastle held onto the advantage, scoring as a unit down the stretch.

Blazejewski scored twice in the final minute, but it was too late; Hodges converted twice at the line and when the buzzer sounded, the visitors had won by five.

Most Valuable Player: Jada Guinn dominated with 25 points, 15 rebounds and six dishes.

Caledonia Gladiators 92 – 36 London Lions

London arrived at the Playsport Arena on the hunt for their first victory of the year. To earn it, they’d have to overcome a tough Caledonia side.

London came into the game as clear underdogs and that was apparent in the opening moments, when Kirsty Brown and Mathilde Domenger hit jumpers from inside and out to move the Gladiators ahead. A three-point party then took place, as Delaynie Bryne and Emma Kerr hit from downtown, moving the hosts ahead by nine.

Chinwe Iwunze scored a couple of lay-ups, but early turnovers hurt them and the Glad’s took advantage in transition. Midway through the quarter, Aerianna Harris and Erin McGarrachan worked together to create a double digit advantage.

Macy Spinks pulled up for London, offering a consolation bucket, but another pair of close makes from McGarrachan, widening the margin. Bryne and Kerr then made lay-ups, finishing the opening period with Caledonia up by 18.

The second quarter began with London finally offering some pushback, in the form of a Spinks three and Esan ‘and-1’ play, reducing the deficit slightly. However, the resistance didn’t last long, Brown and Bryne made lay-ups and hook shots, before Tea Adams let it fly from downtown, pushing the hosts ahead by 21.

Both teams went scoreless for a few minutes, with turnovers becoming a serious problem for London. The game then got a little out of hand, with Harris scoring three unanswered buckets to make it a 27-point game. Esan made a lay-up seconds before the buzzer and the Lions went into half-time down by 25.

The offensive onslaught continued for Caledonia, when the teams returned to the floor. Browne and Domenger widened the gap with scores under the basket, then Adams and Bryne splashed from beyond the arc, moving the Glad’s ahead by 35.

Iwunze remained buoyant, but the home team only doubled-down. Bryne hit at the line, before making jumpers from inside and out, finishing the third period with an enormous 43-point advantage.

Things only got harder for a tired London team. The visitors went scoreless for the first four minutes of the final quarter, while McGarrachan scored in a plethora of ways. Adams and McIntosh added to the Lions’ pain, breaking the 50-point barrier.

Harris and Adams scored to take this one over the line and when London were put out of their misery, the Gladiators had cruised their way to a massive 58-point victory.

Most Valuable Player: Delaynie Bryne capped off an excellent team victory, logging 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Oaklands Wolves 75 – 72 B. Braun Sheffield Hatters

A day after a win in Cardiff, Oaklands welcomed Sheffield to the Oaklands College Sportszone on Sunday. The Hatters sit a place behind the Wolves in the table in second, so title hopes were at stake.

Nina Krisper opened scoring for Sheffield, laying it in before Tyia Singleton made one of her own, opening up a lead for the visitors. Lavinia Da Silva and Danielle McCray then scored from close range to tie the game for Oaklands.  

Sheffield then enjoyed a strong offensive run, with Gayle draining two triples and Krisper scoring a jumper, as the Hatters opened up an eight-point differential. Oaklands pushed back with six unanswered points, making it a one-possession game.

The Wolves then received a scoring punch from the second unit, as Bo Guttormsdottir-Frost splashed it home twice from beyond the arc, snatching the lead back for the hosts. Sarson and McCray then combined to stretch the advantage out to five as the first period ended.

Harrison and Gandini hit from downtown, drawing Sheffield one point behind. Shauna Harrison took the lead for Hatters, then Nija Collier scored six consecutive points to catapult them seven points ahead.

Minutes later, Georgia Gayle earned a trip to the line to climb on top by nine. Sam Ashby scored from deep and Beckford-Norton hit a jumper of her own, reducing the Oaklands deficit to just four as the teams split for half-time.

As the second half began, Sheffield came out flying. Krisper and Tyia Singleton scored in the paint to move ahead by nine in the first couple of minutes of the third. Beckford-Norton came back swinging however, scored three times near the basket, reducing the difference to just four yet again.

Gandini continued to fire on offence, but Oaklands just wouldn’t go away. McGhee-Pleasant plugged away with trips to the line and Beckford-Norton eventually tied the gap with a contested lay-up, at the midpoint of the quarter.

The Wolves then went on a game-changing run. The hosts scored 17 unanswered points to totally turn the tables, going deep in their bag for Beckford-Norton pull-up jumpers, difficult Ashby lay-ups and McCray mid-range makes, moving ahead by double figures.

Despite fightback from Sheffield, Oaklands finished the third quarter ahead by nine, due to a Sarson lay-up at the end of the period.

Sheffield made the brighter start for the final quarter, as Oaklands began to look nervy when protecting their lead. Harrison and Gandini combined to move back to within two points. Krisper then fought her way to the line, taking care of business and tying the game with five minutes remaining.

Beckford-Norton edged Oaklands ahead for the next few minutes, taking advantage of multiple trips to the free-throw line and cooly converting. However, Sheffield wouldn’t give up; Walker scored twice at the stripe, before Harrison drove through the lane, slicing through the offence to grab a one-point advantage with just over a minute on the clock.

When needed most, Beckford-Norton stepped up again, forcing her way back to the line and making clutch free-throws to regain the lead. After a missed shot from both teams, Sam Ashby was fouled and when given the chance, she secured the three-point W with two more free-throws. The win secured Oaklands poll-position in the title race.

Most Valuable Player: Shanice Beckford-Norton put in a heroic display, making timely shots on her way to 28 points, four boards and three assists.

Nottingham Wildcats 89 – 64 Durham Palatinates

Nottingham welcomed Durham to the Nottingham Wildcats Arena on Sunday, with both teams in desperate need of a win.

Durham opened scoring, but Nottingham fought back quickly Erin Antosh and Claire Jacobs scored from inside and out, taking a lead of their own. However, Sarah Wells then hit shots from mid-range and downtown, tying the game for the visitors.

The Wildcats then upped the intensity, hitting Durham with baskets from Ashlee Lewis and Erin Antosh, before Alice Fallon completed an ‘and-1’ play to move ahead by double-digits. Nottingham enjoyed a 13-0  run, building up a 15-point advantage through buckets from Antosh and Fallon.

Eliza Brualt pushed back with a trio of shots to pull the Palatinates closer, but when the first period ended, they trailed by six.

Sevval Istanbulluoglu stepped up from the bench as the second period began, scoring a lay-up to add to the Nottingham lead. Antosh then combined with Jiselle Havas, hitting elbow jumpers and running floaters, widening the margin. Durham went scoreless for the first six minutes of the quarter, while the hosts raced ahead to a 26-point lead, through more buckets from Jacobs and Antosh.

Things only got worse for the visitors, as Nottingham scored freely near the end of the half, even carving out a 33-point chasm. As the teams split for half-time, Durham had scored six points in 10 minutes and trailed by 31. Time to regroup.

In need of a significant reaction, Durham found one as the second half began. After conceding twice, the Palatinates scored on three consecutive offences, chipping away at the daunting deficit. Antosh and Jacobs hit back though, consistently scoring from close range to return to cruise control.

Havas splashed from downtown, making it a 34-point game at the midway point of the third. Refusing to give up however, Durham found a glimmer of hope in Brault and Lucas, who made a pair of lay-ups each, heading into the fourth quarter behind by 25.

The teams went blow-for-blow as the final period began, Antosh and Jacobs hit shots to keep Nottingham ticking, while Brault and Lucas made shots to shrink the gap slightly. Durham did not lack in effort, but just couldn’t change the flow of the game. Turnovers hurt them down the stretch and when the buzzer sounded, Nottingham had won by 25, picking up their third win of the season.

Most Valuable Player: Erin Antosh made a huge difference for Nottingham, recording 26 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.

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