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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15th
SURESHOT UNDER 18 WOMENS NATIONAL CUP - SECOND ROUND
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 88 WANDSWORTH STING 59
On
a busy day with all four female teams in action, Southend Swifts under
18 opened proceedings with a second round cup match against Wandsworth
Sting at Eastwood High School. The South London team have a new look
line-up this season and currently sit in second place in the league
table. Southend made a positive start, taking a 7-4 lead, with Francesca
Whitby and Jennie Rodgers sharing the points. A Rodgers three-pointer
and a basket from Katie Doubleday took the score to 12-9 before Swifts
scored nine straight on the way to a 21-11 first quarter lead. A 9-6
spell for Wandsworth brought them back into the match at 27-20 and
despite some excellent work from
Whitby
and captain Rebecca Brough, the margin was further reduced to 36-31 with
four minutes to play. But over the next four minutes the home side
stamped their authority on proceedings with a 13-1 stretch to lead 49-32
at the half time interval.
Southend
were in no mood to relinquish control and a 10-2 run in the last four
minutes of the third quarter gave them a 67-44 lead going into the final
period. An 8-2 stretch gave Sting some glimmer of hope but nine
straight for Swifts, with three-pointers from Doubleday and Hannah
Culwick, took the lead to 27 at 78-51 and although the visitors had
eight of the next ten, the Essex side scored the last eight points to
secure a very good win by 88 points to 59. Whitby 23 points, Doubleday
14 and Rodgers 13 leading the scoring.
UNDER 14 GIRLS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH
CHILTERN PUMAS 30 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 123
Whilst the
three older girls team played at home, Southend Swifts under 14 team
made the journey into Buckinghamshire to take on Chiltern Pumas.
Southend had two convincing wins under their belt and were looking to
build on their early season success. But they were to get a nasty shock
when they conceded the first six points as they failed to score in the
first three minutes. But a basket from Jess Holland and a Beth Robson
three-pointer were the start of a run of 27 unanswered points that
completely changed the match and after conceding one point, made the
final six points to lead 33-7 at the end of the first quarter.With
Holland in irrepressible form, 16 points in the
first half, the gap continued to increase and with good scoring from
Sophie Hankin, Shannon Matthews and Amy Rodgers, a 19-2 run over the
final five minutes gave Swifts a 62-13 half time lead.
Still there
was no let-up and with Robson and Rodgers scoring at will, the
margin went over 60 at 86-24 before Pumas had the final three points of
the third quarter. But the final period was just a barrage as the young
ladies ran in 30 straight points in a seven minute spell to secure a
123-30 victory; the third week running that they have scored more than
120 points. There were six players in double figures led by Rodgers 39
and Robson 17, both club career highs, Hankin with 22 and Holland 19.
UNDER 16 GIRLS NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH DIVISION 1
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 96 HERTFORDSHIRE WARRIORS 38
When all of
your club mates have played a number of fixtures, some as many as five,
and you have reached the middle of November without having played a
competitive match, there can be little doubt as to the level of
frustration felt by the Southend Swifts under 16 girls team. The
question was whether they could channel their frustration into
a positive performance or would they simply try too hard to succeed.
Five minutes into their match against Hertfordshire Warriors, the answer
was clear. Swifts led by 12 points to nil and that could have been even
more with a little more match sharpness. Their pressing defence caused
numerous turnovers and with Kitty Hall and Maisie Elston scoring freely,
the lead at the end of the first quarter stood at 25-8. The same two
players shared their teams first eight points of second period and a
fast break lay-up from Lauren Tate kept the scoreboard moving. Both
Abbey Keys and Francesca Moody were playing outstanding defence and with
the fast-improving Emily Hankin taking rebounds at both ends of the
court, the margin increased to 49-19 at the midway break.
Ten unanswered points, led by Katie Holland converting some fast breaks,
took the lead to 40 and with Grace Keys and Hannah Gowland scoring well,
the lead at three-quarter time was 71-29. Swifts gave their younger
players some valuable playing time with Emily Watts doing particularly
well and Sarah Cozens finding her scoring range as the score moved out
to 82-38 with two minutes remaining. The reintroduction of the starting
players saw a remarkable run of 14 straight points that left Swifts with
a 96-38 victory. Leading scorers were Elston with a club high 26,
Holland and Hankin on 14 and Hall with 13.
WOMENS SENIOR NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 106 HERTFORDSHIRE WARRIORS 57
After the
success of their younger team-mates, it was left for Southend Swifts
senior team to make a clean sweep on the day when they met Hertfordshire
Warriors at
Eastwood
School. Both teams were looking for their first victory of the season at
this level. Southend started well, taking a 5-0 lead, and with Rebecca
Brough, Jennie Rodgers and Francesca Whitby very active on both offence
and defence the margin increased to
14-4 after five
minutes. A 9-2 spell, with five from Hannah Culwick, stretched the gap
and three-pointers from Bintou Traore and Rodgers triggered a 10-2
stretch that gave the hosts a 33-10 first quarter lead. 11 straight
points, with five from Kelly Matthews, made the lead a remarkable 34
after just two minutes of the second quarter, and despite constant
changes of personnel, the intensity level was maintained throughout the
period. Ellie Shaxon was having her most dominant display of the season
and she helped her team to a 62-29 half time lead.
Unsurprisingly the third quarter was a much tamer affair from both
teams. The play was much more disjointed, with only Rodgers and Culwick
finding the basket with any confidence; the score with one stanza
remaining standing at 78-44. But the last 10 minutes would see Swifts
play more fluently, with Whitby and Traore constantly getting easy
scoring opportunities. The score edged towards the magical three
figures, which was duly reached with two minutes to play. All that
remained was for an outrageous tip in from
Whitby
on the final hooter that gave her team an excellent 106-57 win that gets
them off the mark in the senior division.
Whitby
22 points, Rodgers 21, Traore 13 and Shaxon 12 leading the scorers.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16th
MENS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE - SOUTH CONFERENCE
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 95 HERTFORDSHIRE WARRIORS 55
After a
close defeat in their previous outing, Southend Swifts under 18 boys
looked to get back onto winning ways when they entertained Hertfordshire
Warriors at Eastwood High School. The visitors were looking for their
first victory of the season having suffered five defeats; albeit three
of them by less than 10 points. Southend made a good start, taking an
11-2 lead, and with Ben Tipper showing an excellent shooting touch the
margin soon became double digit. Hertfordshire battled hard with some
good shooting before five points from Tipper and two from Jamie Cooper
helped the home side to a 29-18 first quarter lead. The second period
saw a dramatic change as Swifts kept their opponents scoreless for seven
minutes whilst scoring 14 themselves to put the game beyond doubt at
43-18. Three-pointers from Alex Gilbert and Tipper continued the
barrage and at the half way interval the score stood at 53-27.
The
third quarter again saw good concentration from the hosts and with Josh
Gridley, Joe Hart and captain James Gaskin finding their range, the gap
increased to 82-38 going into the final 10 minutes. With the starting
players taking a well-deserved rest, Warriors came back into proceedings
but it was never going to be enough as Southend ended with a comfortable
95-55 victory. Tipper with a career high 30 points leading the way with
Hart on 25.
BOYS UNDER 16 NATIONAL LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 81 ESSEX & HERTS LEOPARDS 62
After three
tough defeats, Southend Swifts under 16 boys looked to get off the mark
in the very competitive Premier Division South when they welcomed Essex
and Herts Leopards. Leopards traditionally have a very strong junior
programme so Swifts had to expect a difficult encounter. From the start
Southend made their intentions clear as they went into a 9-2 lead. But
the visitors showed great resolve and scored the next six points to
reduce the deficit to one. Despite good scoring from captain Joe Hart,
the hosts could not get away and at the end of the first quarter the
game was tied at 21. But after conceding the first basket of the second
period, Swifts exploded with 13 straight points with Hart contributing
11. E & H made a three-point play but four points from Solomon
Ogunyinka restored the initiative and at half time the home side's lead
was 43-30.
Some
excellent defence stopped Leopards getting open looks and with Thulani
Sibanda and Oliver Crussell taking over the scoring reins the lead
extended to 58-34. Further good shooting from Alex Smith and Alex
Gilbert maintained the momentum and with one stanza remaining the lead
was 66-41. Southend took the opportunity to give all of their players
some valuable playing time and Alistair Smith and Billy Hale made their
way onto the scoresheet as their team ended up victors by 81 points to
62, with Hart on 34, Crussell 13, Sibanda 11 and Gilbert 10.
WOMENS NATIONAL TROPHY
WELLINGBOROUGH
PHOENIX 72
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 50
After six
victories for the club at the weekend, the final game saw the senior
women travel to Wellingborough Phoenix in the National Trophy. This was
the third meeting between the teams in just six weeks of the season so
far. Both sides made a tentative start with Southend leading 5-3 after
four minutes but
Phoenix
took the initiative scoring 11 straight. Swifts replied with six of
their own and at the end of the first quarter the hosts led by just
18-15. The second period saw a poor performance from the Essex side as
they failed to convert relatively easy scoring opportunities that saw
them concede the first nine points. Shots that would normally be made
were disappointingly missed and at half time the home side led 36-20.
The third
quarter, however, saw a much more concerted effort from Swifts as they
battled to get back into the game. The deficit was kept under control
but this was marred by an injury to Francesca Whitby which required
hospital attention; Wellingborough increasing their lead to 50-31 with
one stanza remaining. But the Essex team were determined to give a good
account of themselves. Hannah Culwick began to find her range and with
Amy Andrews and Bintou Traore scoring over much taller opponents the
margin got down to 14 with a 6-0 run. But they could get no closer as
Swifts conceded the last eight points to lose 72-50.
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