Hatters, Rebels, Wolves into Semi-Finals; Gladiators perform stunning comeback

The Super League Basketball Playoffs are finally here, opening with four action-packed fixtures.

After the Sheffield Hatters, Essex Rebels, and Oaklands Wolves all booked their places in the Super League Basketball Playoff Semi-Finals, the Caledonia Gladiators recorded a remarkable comeback victory.

Sheffield Hatters 95-52 Nottingham Wildcats

Grace Graham led the charge for the Sheffield Hatters by scoring 20 points and grabbing four assists, while the Nottingham Wildcats put up a valiant performance against the regular-season champions but ultimately fell to defeat.

Both teams exchanged blows for the opening three minutes of the game, as Nottingham held their opponents to six points. However, Sheffield found their momentum to establish a 14-point lead.

Shauna Harrison and Grace Graham each scored five points to increase the deficit heading into the halftime break.

Georgia Gayle hit two shots from three-point range when play resumed as Sheffield continued the relentless pursuit of their fourth trophy of the season.

The score may have been out of sight, but the Wildcats did not give up the fight — outscoring the home team by one point in the final quarter.

Player of the Game: Grace Graham (Sheffield Hatters)

Essex Rebels 93-72 London Lions

Quinesha Lockett carried her fantastic championship form into the Essex Rebels’ postseason campaign with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance.

The London Lions struggled to contain the Rebels in the opening quarter of the game as their opponents stormed into an early 16-point lead.

Essex refused to take their foot off the gas as they put up another 31 points in the second quarter, eight of which were scored by the impressive Rhema Ogele.

Lockett’s aggressive approach allowed her to consistently drive into the paint and accumulate eight points in the third quarter, and all but confirmed that they would progress to the next round of the playoffs.

Annika Shah sparked the Lions into life in the final period with eight points; however, the game was out of reach for her team, and Essex clinched the victory.

Player of the Game: Quinesha Lockett (Essex Rebels)

Oaklands Wolves 72-68 Newcastle Eagles

The Oaklands Wolves narrowly defeated the Newcastle Eagles in a tightly contested matchup at the Oaklands College Sportszone.

Lavinia Da Silva had an impactful opening quarter of play for Oaklands, scoring nine points and registering a big block with just two seconds left on the clock.

Jada Dapaa’s five points for Newcastle in the second quarter were not enough to prevent the Wolves from heading into the halftime break with a nine-point lead.

The Eagles came out fighting in the second half and managed to steal a slender lead thanks to a seven-point effort from the talented Andrea Daley.

Oaklands regained their composure and outscored their opponents by five points in the final period of play to book their place in the Playoff Semi-Finals.

Player of the Game: Andrea Daley (Newcastle Eagles)

Caledonia Gladiators 87-82 Manchester Basketball

The Caledonia Gladiators and Manchester Basketball matched up in the final game of the weekend, and it did not disappoint.

Frannie Hottinger chalked up seven points in the opening quarter to send Manchester into a shock early lead against the Gladiators, who had registered eight more championship wins than the away team.

Manchester increased its lead to nine points before the halftime buzzer sounded, as both Chantelle Handy and Oli Parr looked to gain control of this tactical chess match.

Again, Manchester controlled the quarter and edged the game in scoring. Jori Davis scored five points to put her team further in the ascendancy, and it seemed like the underdogs would be stealing a sensational victory on the road.

However, in the most remarkable fashion, the Gladiators put up 39 in the final quarter to somehow clinch a victory that seemed so unlikely. Anastasia Warren scored 19 points and buried five shots from deep in the final 10 minutes to break Manchester’s hearts as the game came to a breathtaking close.

Player of the Game: Tierra Hodges (Caledonia Gladiators)

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