Lions edge thriller; Hatters’ win-streak continues

Super League Basketball Championship action resumes with an exciting five-game slate.

After a breathtaking round of cup fixtures, league action returns with ten teams continuing their hunt for a playoff place.

Cardiff Met Archers 65 – 85 Nottingham Wildcats

A dominant 18-point, nine-rebound performance from the Nottingham Wildcats’ Jocelyn Tate proved to be the decisive factor in this fixture.

The Wildcats started the game emphatically with a 10-0 run and prevented the Cardiff Met Archers from putting points on the scoreboard for the first five minutes of action. Despite Cardiff clawing back 15 points, the away team would continue to expertly work the ball inside, which contributed to a nine-point lead at the break.

It was a tighter contest in the second quarter; however, Nottingham’s Kayla Buggs recorded five points, three rebounds, and two assists to ensure her team were in the ascendancy heading into the halftime interval.

Sheridan Flauger’s eight points for Cardiff put pressure on their opponents’ defence throughout the third quarter. Still, two big blocks from Jocelyn Tate, supplemented by five points, poured cold water on any hopes of a shock comeback.

Defences stayed on top for the final period of play, in which Nottingham outscored Cardiff 13-6 — cementing the franchise’s fourth consecutive victory.

Player of the Game: Jocelyn Tate (Nottingham Wildcats)

Leicester Riders 69-72 London Lions

This fixture was very much a tale of two halves, with the London Lions taking control of the opening period comfortably. The Lions outscored the Leicester Riders by nine points as Annika Shah continued her scintillating scoring form by recording seven points.

London continued to flex their muscles in the second quarter by extending their lead by five points. Shah contributed another six points to her total, and it seemed like this tie was already over with the score sitting at 29-43 in favour of the Lions.

In true Super League Basketball championship fashion, this was far from the case. A half-time team talk sparked the Leicester Riders into life. Not only did the home team restrict London’s offence to just 11 points in the quarter, but they also reduced the deficit to five points — Leicester’s electric guard Soniyah Reed chalked up 10 points and drained three shots from deep.

The drama continued into the depths of the final quarter as Leicester refused to give up the fight. Both teams tirelessly exchanged blows, and the Riders’ Brooke Bigott sank a vital three-point attempt with six seconds left on the clock to reduce the lead to two points. Nevertheless, with four seconds remaining, Monique Esbrand finished one of her two shots at the line to confirm a win on the road for London.

Player of the Game: Annika Shah (London Lions)

Sheffield Hatters 84-64 Essex Rebels

Another fantastic offensive performance from Megan Mullings (24 points) and a dominant showing on the glass from Chantel Charles (11 rebounds) ensured the Sheffield Hatters would continue their impressive recent form.

It was a breathtaking opening two minutes of play as both the Hatters and the Essex Rebels went back-and-forth in an attempt to gain control of this fiercely contested matchup. Nevertheless, Sheffield found their rhythm on both sides of the ball to take a seven-point lead into the first-quarter break.

The second quarter continued to showcase why both these teams are located in the higher echelons of the championship standings. Essex’s Natalie Chou scored eight points to keep her team in touching distance of the recently crowned Betty Codona Trophy champions.

Mullings and Georgia Gayle combined for nine points in the third quarter for the Hatters, while Sheffield’s defensive efforts allowed the home team to build a 10-point lead heading into the final period of play.

Sheffield’s depth proved to be too much for Essex as the game came to a close. The Hatters went on a 10-3 run in the final three minutes of the game, cementing their ninth victory of the regular-season campaign.

Player of the Game: Megan Mullings (Sheffield Hatters)

Caledonia Gladiators 55-62 Oaklands Wolves

Despite the Caledonia Gladiators heading into this tie as favourites, the Oaklands Wolves took control in the game’s opening period — storming to a 9-3 lead. However, the Gladiators responded with resilience, ensuring the deficit was only two points as the first quarter came to a close.

Caledonia began to find some positive momentum after the break, inspired by Tierra Hodges. The Gladiators star forward recorded six points and seven rebounds to give her side a five-point lead heading into the second half.

Oaklands flew out of the traps in the third period to record one of the most dominant quarters of the season. The Wolves outscored their opponents 22-6 — Shanice Beckford-Norton led the charge with five crucial points.

Maura Fitzpatrick scored five points for the Gladiators in the fourth quarter, while the home team restricted Oaklands to just 10 points. Nevertheless, the damage was already done, and the Wolves came away from Playsport with a victory over a team that sits at the summit of the championship standings.

Player of the Game: Tierra Hodges (Caledonia Gladiators)

Manchester Basketball 62-86 Newcastle Eagles

Manchester Basketball and the Newcastle Eagles went head-to-head at the National Basketball Performance Centre in a bid to climb the Super League Basketball standings, but it would be Maaja Bratka (25 points, eight rebounds) and Andrea Daley (24 points, 15 rebounds) who would steal much of the spotlight.

Newcastle took a six-point lead into the first break as Daley scored eight points and drained two impressive three-point attempts. Bratka responded emphatically with two three-point shots of her own – recording 10 points in the process.

The Estonian versatile forward continued to put up a fight for Manchester, scoring six points. Nevertheless, the Eagles’ dominance continued, but this time, it would be Maria Mongomo who shone brightest for her team with 14 second-quarter points.

Manchester managed to keep the fixture competitive after the half-time break by outscoring their opponents 20-19; however, the deficit remained at nine points.

After regaining their composure, Newcastle shifted up the gears to dominate the final period. Daley contributed five of the Eagles’ 24 points to ensure the victory.

Player of the Game: Andrea Daley (Newcastle Eagles)

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