DURHAM PALATINATES v NOTTINGHAM WILDCATS
Durham Palatinates Forward Elle Hendershot:
“Obviously, we have had a lot of bumps in the road this season. I think the best is yet to come for us this year. We are just trying to build confidence, find our stride, get to know each other, and just get better as a Team. The Coach (Matt Newby) coming in has really been an earth-angel and I really appreciate everything he has done for us and the programme.
Against Nottingham, we are going to have to play our best Basketball. They have a solid core with Jahnae Gyles who is a solid player and Kayla Shaw and other’s so we have to go in there and play our best level. We know nothing is going to come easy to us so we need to be prepared and ready to go. Any team can win on any given night and we hope our first win in the Championship is this weekend. We really need to show up and be ready to go.
I believe in us we have some good girls here whose hearts are in the right place. Early on we have been fighting against the tide but hopefully, that tide will turn. We have a play-off run in us. We just need all the pieces to come together. Potentially, we have 2 more players to come in which would be a massive boost for us. For now, we have a fully fit Team and we are ready to go. If you had asked me at the start of the season if making 8th spot was good enough I would have said no. However, now, even though I would still not be happy with it, that would be a big accomplishment for us. Everyone is so great here and I am grateful for the Team mates I have.
Our style is to play fast and high tempo and slow down the opposition. We concentrate on steals and turn-overs. I enjoy playing home games as I do not enjoy the travel and brutal away trips. I am very comfortable playing at home.”
Nottingham Wildcats Head Coach Kenrick Liburd:
“Of course, you have got to be disappointed losing to local rivals and missing out on an opportunity to reach a semi-final – so an opportunity lost. The main thing we are focusing on is how to improve our performances as we look at the recent loss to Essex and know we were well in that game and how it got away from us. We just need to do a better job in those little moments. We know we have the talent in the group we just must be trusting in our work and that will give us the opportunity to win games. We are figuring out the best way to do that. We are 3 and 4 so we are not in dire straits but obviously it is difficult when you lose a game. We are a little behind where we want to be. We don’t want to be only 7th in the league that’s not where we want to be. We do have to do a better job of making our shots and cut out those turn-overs. We are certainly in no doubt we can compete and we are getting closer together as a group every day.
With Durham we are feeling good going in to the test at the weekend. We will be where we want to be in terms of our preparation. The Coach (Matt Newby) has done a good job for them stabilizing the situation. You can see the players are beginning to enjoy playing. They have just brought in Kara Elderkin and we are yet to see what she can do. For them you also have to look at Jessica Wayne and Elle Hendershot for them to be successful. We have to make our shots and make sure those players are not in there comfort zones. We need to take advantage of our strengths. We, as a squad and a programme, do not find it acceptable to lose 4 on the bounce so we are going there believing we can win”
MANCHESTER MET MYSTICS v NEWCASTLE EAGLES
Manchester Met Mystics Head Coach Marg Jones:
“Certainly not having played for 3 consecutive weekends has been challenging. It was unfortunate that our game against Durham was postponed at the last minute as our team was well prepared and ready to play. However we have done our best to maintain momentum, continue to work and progress. We are a very young team and have endured significant injuries already this season. So, we have had some challenges, but I am extremely pleased with how the players are working. Every injury provides an opportunity for another player to step up and gain experience. This will benefit us later in the season. And of course both Georgia Jones and Dominique Allen have taken career breaks this season, both of whom were such incredibly impactful players for the Mystics. However they both remain so supportive of the team and we are so grateful for that. Given the significant break in our game schedule, we added some controlled scrimmage’s against a Men’s University Club. My role as Coach is to find ways to motivate and maintain game readiness. Everyone has been working very hard to do so.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Newcastle have been terrific; they are playing really well. Heading into this game I feel that we have let 2 games slip away and as a young Team we need to learn how to finish games and play with composure in the 4th quarter. We have played well in spurts, however we have definitely shown that we are a young Team. We know that Newcastle will challenge us and will show presser the entire game. They bring physicality and composure from their returning players. Marina Fernandez Pardo is a phenomenal player, she is so impactful both offensively and defensively. In addition, Chloe Gaynor Is always a tough match-up for any Team as she plays with confidence and composure. They have added Lewis to their roster and she brings additional size and strength. Newcastle will challenge us in every position, no question, so we are going to have to be confident and composed for a full 40 minutes. This is such an important game for both teams and certainly a win would be a huge boost for our team.
We are still missing significant contributions from our injured players Claire Abbott and Abby Niehues. It will be some time before they return to the roster. So for now, we get stronger every day while we have to wait for our injuries to heal and our roster returns to full form. As mentioned we relish this opportunity for others to gain significant on court experience which will benefit us in the long run!.”
Newcastle Eagles Head Coach Noelia Cacheiro:
“Our last game (against Oaklands Wolves) was the first time we had the squad at 90%. So, we finally managed to play with most of our players healthy and that was reflected on the court with the speed of the game, our energy and being able to compliment the Team with our rotation. We are really seeing the Team come together with the things we have practiced and you saw the results. For the first time we were the Team we hope to be for the rest of the season.
With Manchester they have not had a game in 4 weeks which can be an advantage as they have had more time to practice and come up with the goods. From that aspect we have respect for them, and they have a good core group. However, we are going there to get the win we are not hiding that. We are in a good position to give them a game although playing away is always hard. I am sure they will be ready for us but we hope to build on our last performance to get the right result at the end of the game. They have a couple of good scorers such as Calli Danielle Mcmillan and of course we tried to recruit Shaelynne Sanchez Czerniecki. From the aspect of missing out on her it will be an interesting rivalry. When we prepare for games of course we look at individuals but we more focus on our Team, what we can do.
We are in good spirits and the last 2 weeks training sessions we have had have been outstanding with high energy levels. We are coming together as a Team and importantly everyone gets on both on and off court. That is starting to show in the way we perform and how we deal with adversity. We are about where we want to be right now. Team’s I have Coached in the past have always got better as the season progresses and we tend to peak around January or February time. The key word for us this week has been ‘consistency’ and consistency is our goal from now until the Christmas break. The target is to make the play-offs one way or another as we missed out last year. Having said that we do not set any goals in terms of league position. We want to do our homework early as we do not want to leave it to the end of the season and relying on other Team’s.
On the injury front touch wood we are only missing Courtney Clasen. However, she is making good progress. Hopefully she will be back by the new year and we can have a full squad. We would of course welcome a point-guard coming into the group but as we have Marina Fernandez Pardo, Rachael Bland, and Maggie Justinak coming in we feel a lot more comfortable. Team’s were pressing us from the get-go but that is not a problem any more. So we are in a very good spot right now. “
OAKLANDS WOLVES v ESSEX REBELS
Oaklands Wolves Head Coach Tor Freeman:
“We’ve had 2 weeks off, so we are ready for the next game but of course we were disappointed to lose last time we played (at Newcastle Eagles). We had 2 consecutive wins going into the Newcastle game and we really wanted to compete in that respect, but on the day our execution was not of the standard we expect of ourselves. The journey home wasn’t too bad, but it always hurts after a loss. As a young Team, we’re all quite excited and ready to play the next game. Everyone works hard and wants to push onto the next thing. Bringing in the 3 Australians has been huge as it gives our younger players someone to look up to. We have WBBL experience already but to have 3 Australians of this standard has been great. When they came in it raised the standards of our junior players as well. For our first 3 games (without the Australians) I was really pleased with the energy that we demonstrated, especially in the in Sevenoaks game.
So, a big week this week getting ready to play a competitive Essex side. I think we have every chance if we execute everything we’ve worked on in practice. We’re going up against an experienced Essex side. But the energy our juniors bring is unmatched, that enthusiasm and if they execute gives it us a chance against anyone. We don’t give up. I heard the commentator say in the Newcastle game we were down 20 but our bench was still loud and that summarises what we do. Yes, the Christmas table will be interesting this year with my sister (Tia Freeman) playing for Essex! I think Essex are strong all round. They go 7 deep or so and any one of them can off on their day so that makes them quite dangerous.
We say that the last game of the season will be our best. We want to have improved more than anyone else. The Australians have really helped with that and pushed everyone to be better. We don’t set targets we just ask our juniors how much better can you get this season and hope they can cause a storm on the way.”
Essex Rebels Head Coach Tom Sadler:
“For us winning at Nottingham was a big step in the right direction. It was the last of a stretch of games just before the international period. In the build up to that game we had seen improvements. We moved and shared the ball well. I would have to say probably our best Team performance to date this season. It was only the second time we have won there since we came into the League five years ago and it felt good to come away from there with a win. Hopefully we can build on that and take it into the game against Oaklands.
Oaklands have brought in some key players that have turned things around for them, giving them a real fighting chance to win games in this league. I think they are a dangerous Team who want to play fast and push the tempo. They are second in the League in 3 point attempts, and aren’t afraid to let it fly. If they’re hitting them it’s going to be a long day for us. We have to ensure we get back in transition, slow them down and definitely guard the perimeter. The Australian imports they have brought in such as Jorjah Smith, can really let the ball fly from 3, so we will have to try and limit her touches and her ability to shoot. The other Australian Cassidy Gould is a high energy player for them and will want to get to the basket. Again, if we allow her to get where she wants then we will struggle. In addition there is a solid post player, Grace George who suits how they want to play. They have some decent youngsters who are getting better all the time such as Kizzy Spence, Daisy Porter and Miriam Menendez. We have seen massive improvements from them over the years. Of course we have Tia Freeman who is the Sister of the Oaklands Coach but she has not spoken about that. She is a true competitor and is focused on the business of winning. However, I am sure it will be an interesting conversation around the dinner table during the Christmas break!
We are exactly where we hoped to be at this stage. We had a few issues with Visa’s etc at the start of the season but we kept going continuing to chip away and focussing on getting better as a group. We’ve also had some injuries and will still be without Megan Haines for another week who is a key player for us both ends of the floor. She has had an issue with a knee but we are hopeful she will be back for the Sevenoaks game (10th December). I really love coaching this group. I think come February time we will really see what we are capable of.”
SEVENOAKS SUNS v CARDIFF MET ARCHERS
Sevenoaks Suns Head Coach Len Busch:
“Last time out we were pleased to get the Cup win against Caledonia as we had lost there only 3 weeks previously in the Championship. We were particularly pleased as Glasgow is not an easy trip to make.
Turning to Cardiff, they have been playing well and we are particularly conscious of the threat from Shannon Hatch and the Guard Lauren Saiki. Generally, we are still trying to figure out how to close Games out. Catherine Carr naturally has been a big loss to us as I consider her to have been the best player in the league. The ambition remains to be competing at the level of the London Lions but we are still short-handed as we currently only have one American. We have two more to come in, one of them in January, so this has meant more minutes for some of our younger players. However, we have no injury worries at present and so go into the game with a fully fit roster.”
Cardiff Met Archers Head Coach Stef Collins:
We look forward to getting back into the swing of games after the international break. Our last outing saw a heart-breaking loss to Oaklands on the road, despite being down double digits into the 3rd . We managed to equal the game before losing at the buzzer.
We’ve had some time to reflect and train over the international break so we look forward to competing this weekend vs Sevenoaks. It will be important for us to stay disciplined during the game at both ends of the floor – games can take so many twists and turns, one minute you are in the lead, the next you are down, so as long as we can stay together as a team and continue to stay focussed on a few details then we are putting ourselves in a good place to perform at a level we are happy with.
Sevenoaks have come off an exciting win vs Caledonia in the Cup and will certainly use that momentum ahead of Saturdays game, Renee Busch has really developed and proven her efficiency at the offensive end alongside GB international Janice Monakana. They are complemented well with the likes of Judit Fritz, Julia Koppl and their new American signing Araion Bradshaw.
Training has gone well this week, as we re-group after the international break and look forward to taking the floor on Saturday in Surrey Sports Park.
SHEFFIELD HATTERS v CALEDONIA GLADIATORS
Sheffield Hatters Head Coach Vanessa Ellis:
“It has been a really tough time not being there with the Team as I have been away for 11 days on GB duty. In our last game (against London Lions in the Cup) we played terrible. Against a top team like Lions you need to be on your top game to be in with a chance. It is especially hard with me being away as we needed to galvanize as a Team. It does make a difference my not being there but Stef Collins (Cardiff Met Archers Coach) is in the same boat. I don’t want to make excuses and player’s have to be responsible and accountable and do the work while I am not there. But that is the situation, and we have to move on.
We approach this game with the thought of winning but knowing it will be a tough game. They are in a group of Sevenoaks, Leicester and ourselves who seem to be coming up into that top part of the league. They have some good players obviously the likes of Chantelle Handy who has been in the GB squad this time. They have got some experience with Erin Jones and Robyn Lewis. They are also supported by some imports and an experienced Coach so they are a Team to be reckoned with. So we are going to do some work on my return on how we approach the game and deal with the pressure as they seem to press a lot and play well as a Team. But we will be ready to have a good game with them. Helen Naylor will be back for us after missing her first game for me for over a decade.
Other than against Lions in the Cup I have been really pleased with the Team. We have done what we have needed to do. Obviously, we can improve but I think we are on the right track at the moment. We will keep working hard and strive to be the best we can be.”
Caledonia Gladiators Head Coach Miguel Marco:
In our last game (against Sevenoaks Suns in the Cup) we had a very strong first three quarters. However, in the fourth, we struggled physically which started to impact the intensity of our defence. Going into extra time, fatigue got the better of the us and we started to make mistakes on both offense and defence. Our level of confidence depends on the level of intensity at practice this week.
This weekend will be a difficult game for us. Sheffield is a strong team. They play a high intensity game with different offensive and defensive options. Sheffield has a very experienced coach who produces good basketball. Sheffield has various good players but for us, we are more worried about how they collaborate as a team.
With the international window in the last few weeks, we have been missing a few players at practice, but the rest of the team have been preparing well ahead of this weekend. Everyone is fit and ready to play.