The local men’s and women’s basketball league seasons got underway last week at the National Sports Centre on Thursday evening.
Celton Warriors v Rams
New-look Warriors opened the scoring through Chris Wolfendale in what looked like being a closely-fought match at the NSC.
The Rams defence worked hard, allowing them to turn over the ball and convert the points. They took the first quarter 12-7 thanks to some accurate three-point shooting from Jay Manuel.
Warriors fought back with two successive three-pointers of their own and the first half went their way 29-21.
Both teams were given technical fouls in the second half as defences worked tirelessly to gain possession.
Warriors’ young talent eventually shone through, taking the win 68-45.
Player of the Match - Kharl Apugan (Warriors).
Phillies v Giants
Phillies opened their season against a talented Giants squad who were looking to improve on last season.
The first quarter saw both teams trade baskets with Phillies edging ahead 17-11.
As the half progressed, Phillies stepped up a gear with Revi Del Rosario finding his range on the three-point line.
Giants worked hard to gain possession and score some valuable baskets and the first half ended with a great three-pointer from Jakob Glover.
Just 20 points separated the teams as they lined up for the second half but Phillies were too strong for the Giants and took the win 86-47.
PotM - Miguel Carrillo (Phillies).
Microgaming Cavaliers
v PokerStars
Microgaming Cavaliers began their title defence against a severely under-strength PokerStars team who are in the process of rebuilding their team after some big name departures and injuries.
Handing debuts to Martin Mngoma and Dan Dunajewski themselves, Cavs didn’t miss a beat as they raced out to a 25-0 first quarter lead.
It didn’t get much better for PokerStars as they managed to finish the first half without registering a field goal, their single point coming from the stripe (free-throw line).
Reigning MVP (most valuable player) Sean Doyle was rampant alongside Daniel Pieciak and Cavs just had one of those nights where everything they chucked up went in.
Mngoma capped his league debut with double figure rebounds and a couple of baskets.
Play of the game belonged to PokerStars’ Bob Dix though, with a monster block on Doyle in the open court, but that was a lone highlight in a sea of frustration for the PokerStars.
PotM - Dan Pieciak.
Women’s League
Fellas v Skanco Saints
The women’s league started with great pace as Fellas took on Saints on Thursday.
Early baskets from Fellas put them ahead within the first few minutes, but the younger talent within the Saints squad kept them within touching distance.
Fellas pressed the Saints offence which allowed them to take advantage and earned them a 23-9 lead in the first quarter.
Saints’ Leanne Costa worked hard in defence and used her speed to convert several vital baskets, but at half-time Fellas took a 42-11 lead into the second half.
Fellas took control of the game throughout but Saints should be praised for their efforts, especially getting back on defence and creating some lovely offensive moves.
Fellas took the convincing win 79-19.
PotM - Lauren Ellison (Fellas).
Buchanan and Pitts Slammers v Paragon Legends
Defending champions Slammers met a determined Legends team who were quickly out of the blocks taking the first two baskets.
Both sides were evenly matched as they traded points with Sarah Gribben muscling her way through the Legends defence.
At the interval Legends were ahead but only just at 12-8 and went in to the third quarter feeling positive.
Their defence held strong, but baskets from Tracey Dentith and Kat Keeling saw their lead decrease, making for an exciting last quarter.
Catherine Cassidy and Wendy Owens made strong moves to penetrate the Slammers’ defence and, with six seconds on the clock, the teams were level at 30-30.
A last-second foul put Gribben on the free-throw line. Despite missing the first shot, Gribben absorbed the pressure to make the second, giving Slammers a win by a single point, 31-30.
PotM - Tracey Dentith.