Southend Swifts had six teams in action on a busy weekend and for once it was two of the boys’ teams that took pride of place.  The under 18s met Colchester Jammers who have won their last five games and looked to be on their way to six straight taking a 16-4 lead after just five minutes.  Despite Oliver Crussell finding his range, the deficit was 27-18 after the first quarter but Swifts regrouped to trail just 49-48 at half time.  The third period saw Southend take a firm stronghold with Crussell hitting four three-pointers and Graham Oluwadare controlling the rebounds.  Alex Smith showed superb control in the final 10 minutes as he led his side to a resounding 95-78 win that puts them back into third place; Crussell finishing with 35 points and Oluwadare and Smith 18 each.

For the under 14 boys, they finally got just reward for their efforts over a very hard season as they managed their first victory by 80 points to 66 over Baddow Eagles.  Taking a 10-1 lead in the first four minutes, the young Swifts had the watching crowd on the edge of their seats as they managed to concede double digit leads on four occasions.  From 25-20 at the end of the first quarter, Southend moved out to 34-22 in the next four minutes, but turnovers cost them dearly and at half time it was just 44-39.

Baddow got back to just 46-45 down before 12 unanswered points gave Swifts some breathing space.  This time they held on and at the end of three quarters it was 62-53.  Six straight took them 15 ahead but Eagles clawed back and with five minutes to play it was 68-58.  Six missed foul shots set the nerves on edge but the young men regained their composure to record an excellent victory.  Perry Osbourne with 20 points, Daniel Emmanuel and Nathan Smith 13 each and Bradley Wood and Jordan Smithers both on 12 leading the way.

For the girls’ teams there was mixed fortunes.  The under 16s fell to a disappointing defeat at Solent Suns by 78 points to 65.  From a 17-16 lead after the opening 10 minutes, Southend moved out to 24-18 but poor finishing and some strange officiating decisions pegged them back to trail 35-31 at half time.  Neither team could take a meaningful advantage and at three-quarter time it was 53-48 to the home side.  Swifts got back to just one point down but with fortune not favouring them, they conceded six straight to find themselves 69-60 behind which put the game out of sight, to lose 78-65.  Katie Holland with 25 points and Beth Robson 12 leading the scoring.

The under 14 girls continued on their way with a 100-69 points over Hounslow Hawks.  Making their normal rapid start, they led 26-10 at the end of the first period, which they stretched to 40-14 midway through the second.  Constant changes of personnel had little effect as Swifts led 48-21 at half time.

The speed and dexterity of the young ladies brought prolonged applause from the spectators as they put on an outstanding display of team basketball.  At 85-47 midway through the final quarter, the least experienced five players were on court together and to the delight of everyone watching, they reached the 100 mark with a basket from Abbey Parsons.  The 100-69 win saw all of the players on the scoresheet with Amy Rodgers on 25 and Abbie Jones and Fay Solkhon on 14 each.

The under 18 girls travelled to Brixton without Christina Gaskin to take on the in-form Topcats and took a 27-10 lead that should have led to victory.  But they contrived to concede 19 straight points before recovering their composure to lead 43-38 at half time  Despite having Jennie Rodgers adjudged to have committed her fifth foul in the first minute of the second half,  Swifts managed a 14-5 run to lead 57-51 but the momentum had swung and the lead with one stanza remaining was just 60-58. 

Topcats came out strongly to lead 66-63 but Swifts drew level and a Sarah Cozens three-pointer took them 71-68 ahead.  Brixton again took the initiative to lead 76-71 but four points from Katie Holland made it a one-point game again and a three-pointer from the same player took Swifts 79-78 ahead.  The home side got 84-81 ahead going into the final minute but Swifts got Katie Doubleday open for a shot on which she was fouled.  To everyone’s surprise it was ruled a two-point attempt rather than three, which allowed her just two foul shots, both of which were converted.  Southend got the ball back from a turnover but despite frantic efforts, they failed to find the basket to fall agonisingly short by 84 points to 83.  Holland 30, Rodgers 20 and Culwick 16 leading the scoring.

Finally the under 16 girls rather painstakingly repaired some of the damage from the previous day when they got a subdued 72-45 win over Hounslow Hawks.  With a number of players either on duty for the under 18s or unavailable, it was a strange line-up that led just 15-10 at the end of the first quarter.  Eleven straight points should have been a springboard but the concentration wasn’t there as the half time margin was just 32-15.

The third period was a very sorry 10 minutes and at 45-35 a surprise looked possible.  But suddenly the defensive intensity increased and a 14-2 spell took the result beyond doubt.  The final margin of 72-45 was below where it might have been but it keeps the team in 3^rd place in the table.  Jess Holland on 16 points, Amy Rodgers 15 and Stephanie Smith 14 leading the scoring.