Oaklands make it rain in Nottingham win

Oaklands Wolves feasted on the Nottingham Wildcats with a barrage of three-pointers in a comprehensive victory.

The Wolves shot 12/21 from three-point land, and Jorjah Smith led with 26 points as they eased past the Wildcats 113-82 at Oaklands College on Saturday.

Caterrion Thompson and Allison Day added 17 each in the win.

The game was also one to remember for Oaklands’ Beth Sarson, as she reached 1000 points in her sixth season in the Women’s British Basketball League.

Mari Stewart posted a double-double of 18 points and 11 boards for the Wildcats.

Oaklands Wolves starting five: Caterrion Thompson, Jorjah Smith, Shaquera Wade, Amy West, Allison Day

Nottingham Wildcats starting five: Valerie Cassidy De Falco, Abbey Whitehouse, Mari Stewart, Jessica Wayne, Brooke Bjelko

From the first score coming after less than six seconds to the first timeout being called with more than three minutes played, the tempo was blistering.

However, the fast pace and attacking style Favoured Oaklands, who raced out to a 14-7 lead thanks to a three from the wing by Smith.

Smith got off to a hot start as she scored 13 of the Wolves’ first 17 points, but the visiting Wildcats, hampered by playing perhaps too quickly, found their groove and came back.

Trailing by as many as ten points by this point, Nottingham reduced the deficit to 24-18 with 3:01 to play in the first, thanks to a basket in heavy traffic by Jess Wayne.

The positive spell by the Wildcats was only temporary, though. Oaklands regrouped and, in the final three minutes of the first, went on a 10-4 run to lead 34-22.

Both teams had shot more than 50% in the first ten minutes due to the quick pace leading to transition scores, which the Wolves continued doing in the second quarter as they extended their lead.

Nottingham, however, were guilty of playing that exact game with little joy, becoming victims of an 11-0 Oaklands run and not registering a field goal for nearly four minutes.

Alina Riley unlocked the scoring shackles with a three, but by this point, the hosts were comfortable, shooting 62% and going 9/13 from three-point land to lead 60-41 at the break.

Indeed, the mountain was too steep for the Wildcats to climb; a quick Oaklands score at the other end halted any run they mustered.

The hosts managed to keep their field goal percentage above 50% heading into the final quarter along with a big double-digit lead, and were out of sight.

Team Player Points Rebounds Assists
Oaklands Wolves Jorjah Smith 26 3 3
Oaklands Wolves Allison Day 17 4 7
Nottingham Wildcats Mari Stewart 18 11 2
Nottingham Wildcats Val Cassidy De Falco 14 3 4

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