All-Star Game Report: North 81-99 South

The South claimed the Copper Box Arena as their own in the first ever Women’s British Basketball League All-Star Game.

Led by 20 points and eight rebounds from London Lions forward Temi Fagbenle and 17 from Essex Rebels‘ Kat Tudor, the South claimed a 99-81 win over the North, who were led by 19 from B. Braun Sheffield Hatters Georgia Gayle.

Starting Five

North All-Stars: Georgia Gayle, Georgia Anderson, Emma, Eichmeyer, Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, Kirsty Brown.
South All-Stars: Shanice Beckford-Norton, Megan Gustafson, Temi Fagbenle, Allison Day, Sam Ashby.

First Half

Playing on her home court, Temi Fagbenle began strongly by scoring the first-ever Women’s British Basketball League All-Star points en route to seven early points on 3/5 shooting for the South.

It took a few minutes for the North to get going, trailing by as many as 14 points in the first five minutes thanks to a three from Leicester Riders sharpshooter Sam Ashby, but they hit back as the first wound down.

Emma Eichmeyer of the B. Braun Sheffield Hatters led the charge with five points. However, Shanice Beckford-Norton got the last word of the first as the South led 29-25.

Despite holding on to the lead after the opening ten, the North was threatening, and it didn’t take them long to tie the game at 29-29 through the duo of Tierra Hodges and Myah Pace.

But the North couldn’t press ahead through their hard work as Kat Tudor found her groove.

The Essex Rebels player drained two triples in quick succession and nine points in the first four minutes to keep the South’s place at the summit.

However, it didn’t last as the North took their place at the head of the table as a three from the wing by Janika Griffith-Wallace of Durham Palatinates gave her side a 43-40 lead with 2:17 left as part of a 9-0 run.

Despite last minute pressure from the South, the North turned it around, shooting 45% from the floor to lead 45-42 at the break.

Second Half

It was a sense of déjà vu as led by Fagbenle; the South re-established control before a Georgia Gayle-inspired North squad hit back.

A barrage of three-pointers excited the near-sell-out CopperBox crowd, as four straight triples kept the scoreboard ticking, but nothing separated the two sides.

Something had to give, and the South made their move with a 9-0 finish to the third as they took a 74-67 cushion into the fourth.

The South continued their strong push in the final period, as Mari Stewart of the Nottingham Wildcats scored five points in the blink of an eye to give her side an 84-70 lead.

Then, with more than two minutes to go, London Lions’ Savannah Wilkinson hit back-to-back shots from deep to give the South a 94-76 lead.

From there, the bragging rights was settled.

Player of the Game

Fagbenle claimed inaugural MVP honours with a stellar showing to lead the South to victory.

What They Said

“It’s great, it’s a fun game, I had much more fun than I anticipated and to be honest it was more competitive than I anticipated. So that’s good for the game in general, for the growth of the game and it’s great to see the kids here and they made a lot of noise.” Temi Fagbenle  (South)

“It was fun, it was very quick, fitting everybody styles of basketball together. Honestly I didn’t know what to expect but it was fun.

“There has been a lot of back chat and messages between us and the guys from the South before the game and it’s awesome having everybody together this weekend and just enjoying each other’s company, staying at the same hotel and it’s been fun.” Kirsty Brown (North) 

 

Team Player Points Rebounds Assists
North Georgia Gayle 19 1 5
North Janika Griffith-Wallace 14 2 1
South Temi Fagbenle 20 8 1
South Savannah Wilkinson 19 7 1

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