The SLB Championship got underway for many of the teams this weekend, with the start of the season dominated mainly by the Betty Codona Trophy.
Among the results from this weekend, one team suffered its first loss in all competitions, while another team maintained its perfect start.
B. Braun Sheffield Hatters 79-61 Oaklands Wolves
B.Braun Sheffield Hatters remain unbeaten in all competitions with a 79-61 victory over reigning champions Oaklands Wolves at the Canon Medical Arena.
But even though the Hatters claimed the victory, they were not able to shake off the Wolves despite going to the foul line nearly more than they put up a field goal attempt.
And heading into the final quarter, both teams were knotted at 48-48. But as the fourth progressed, Sheffield showed their class, outscoring the champions 31-13 to secure the win.
Georgia Gayle, Shauna Harrison, and Nina Krisper all had 14 points to lead the winners. Teresa Da Silva had a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds for the Wolves.
Newcastle Eagles 92-73 Essex Rebels
One undefeated start did come to a screeching halt on Tyneside, as the Newcastle Eagles handed a first loss of the season to the Essex Rebels.
Maria Mongomo led the Eagles with 30 points, and Andrea Daley enjoyed a monster double-double of 22 points and 18 rebounds as they beat Essex 92-73.
From the opening quarter, Newcastle were the hungrier team; they put the Rebels under pressure whenever they had the ball, and the hosts executed their offence well, racing out to a 29-12 lead.
Essex had life, but they couldn’t match Newcastle’s intensity, trailing by as many as 24 points and never leading. Nat Chou had 25 points and 11 boards for the visitors.
London Lions 68-63 Nottingham Wildcats
A fourth quarter surge handed the London Lions a hard-fought 68-63 success over the Nottingham Wildcats at New City College in Hackney.
Until the final ten minutes, it was a back-and-forth slugfest between two teams desperate to find some rhythm at the start of the season after lacklustre starts.
With Nottingham holding a 52-48 lead heading into the final period, they had the advantage, but you sensed that the Lions had a run in them. And with under three minutes left, back-to-back threes from Annika Shah gave London a 62-60 lead.
It was part of a 10-0 run that clinched the win for the hosts as Shah led the Lions with 24 points, helped by 15 from Jada Lewis. Kalaya Buggs paced the Wildcats with 24.
Cardiff Met Archers 72-95 Leicester Riders
Leicester Riders didn’t make the best of starts but got going in the second quarter to eventually dismiss the stubborn Cardiff Met Archers in the Welsh capital.
A 24-8 blitz from the Riders led to a professional showing, as they didn’t let the Archers get a look in, resulting in a 95-72 victory. Jada Holland and Katie Januszewska led Leicester with 19 points between them.
Sheridan Flauger led the Archers with 19 points.
Manchester Basketball 95-108 Caledonia Gladiators
In a high-scoring game to end the weekend, the Caledonia Gladiators overcame Manchester Basketball 108-95 at Belle Vue.
In a game where both teams shot 50% from the floor, the visitors had enough in the tank to seal the win, connecting on 11 triples and shooting an impressive 25/28 from the foul line.
Tierra Hodges led Caledonia with 28 points. Frannie Hottinger matched Hodges’ total with 28 for Manchester in defeat.