A BUSY weekend of basketball saw the three elder Southend Swifts girls teams all have home matches at Eastwood High School.
GIRLS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 81 BRIXTON TOPCATS 70
First into action were the under 18 team who met this year’s surprise package, Brixton Topcats, who are currently top of the table with 7 wins from 10 games. Swifts were sitting in third place with six wins from eight games but were forced to play without captain Jennie Rodgers, out with an Achilles injury.
Southend took an early 8-2 lead as their pressing defence brought quick rewards and with Christina Gaskin in dominant form the lead extended to 20-10 after eight minutes of the first quarter. However, Topcats hit back with 12 unanswered points before an Emily Hankin three-point play gave her team a very narrow 23-22 lead at the end of the opening 10 minutes.
The visitors had the first five points of the second period but 10 straight for Swifts gave them back the initiative; gaskin and Katie Holland sharing the spoils. The Londoners would not be denied and they had a 9-0 run to lead by three and they increased this to 42-38 at the half time interval.
A change of defensive formation stemmed Brixton’s scoring and a Hannah Culwick three-pointer made it 47-44. However, Topcats showed their resolve with the next five before Swifts made the crucial break, Led by some outstanding defence from Emma Scudder, who kept Brixton’s main scorer out of range her team-mates combined for the next 10 points to lead 57-49 which was narrowed to 57-52 at three quarter time.
The teams shared the first eight points and scores from Culwick and Gaskin made it 65-8. The margin reduced to five and when Brixton made another three-pointer, it was 69-65 with three minutes to play. But Katie Doubleday, who was suffering from a stomach upset, came through with the next four points; Scudder converted off a fast break and when Gaskin made a three-point play it was 78-66 into the final minute. With a flourish from the foul line, the job was finished and Swifts recorded a very hard earned 81-70 win with Gaskin on 37 points, Doubleday 14 and Culwick 11.
GIRLS UNDER 16 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 51 HARINGEY ANGELS 87
This was a crucial game for Southend Swifts under 16 team who were striving for position towards the end of season play-offs. The visitors were Haringey Angels, who are unbeaten in all play so far this season and who recorded a five-point victory when the teams met earlier in the season.
But this time the Londoners established their superiority from the start, opening a 14-2 lead after just five minutes. Southend could find little or no cohesion and despite three-pointers from Beth Robson and Stephanie Smith the score at the end of the first quarter was 24-10; Smith’s effort right on the buzzer.
The second quarter was even worse as Swifts managed just one solitary point as they seemed incapable of carrying out the most basic of skills. Angels had 20 points and at half time it was a very humbling 44-11.
But the home side at least showed some character in the second half. Jessica Holland and Shannon Matthews led from the front and the team had doubled their scoring output after just seven minutes. The team showed their fighting qualities and with one quarter to play it was 28-63. For the final quarter, it was Sophie Hankin and the mercurial Hannah Gowland who came to the fore as they combined for the first 11 points to keep the deficit to a reasonable level. Robson and Hankin kept the scoreboard moving and the final score line of 87-51 meant that the second half had been a three point differential; at least restoring some pride on what was a disappointing day.
WOMENS SENIOR NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH EAST DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 56 LONDON WESTSIDE 84
The final home game saw Southend Swifts senior team (none of whom are seniors) take on unbeaten London Westside, Southend are having a tough time as their understrength team struggles against much older and experienced opponents.
The visitors made the better start, taking a 6-2 lead after just two minutes, but Swifts hit back with the next seven points, to take an unexpected lead: Hannah Culwick including a three-pointer in the spell. The next two Southend scores were also three pointers; Culwick and Sarah Cozens sharing the load, but Westside hit back with the next six to lead 18-15. However, with Katie Holland finding her way to the basket the hosts kept in the game, trailing just 22-21 at the end of the first quarter.
The second period would see a remarkable 10 minutes as the youngsters from Essex gave a remarkable display of long distance shooting. The first three baskets were all three-pointers, Culwick with two, Holland had the next five points and when Culwick had two further three-pointers, the lead was a most unlikely 40-32 with the team making 27 of their points from very, very long distance.
But the exertions of the first half had certainly taken their toll. Culwick was shut down and with Westside using their experience they got themselves in front at 47-45. After that, it was largely one-way traffic as the London side took the second half by 52 points to 16 to take a deserved victory if by the slightly flattering margin of 84 points to 56. Culwick with 22 points (including six three-pointers), Holland 18 and Cozens 10 leading a valiant effort.
The under 14 boys had two outings over the weekend meeting Westminster Warriors and Newham Academy. The game against Westminster, who are just one place ahead of Southend, was a nail biter with Swifts battling back from 10 points down at half time to just miss out on their first win of the season as they fell to a 58-55 defeat. Newham, who are top of the table with an unbeaten record, showed their undoubted pedigree with a 127-25 win.
For the under 16 boys there was also disappointment. Despite being without captain Alex Gilbert, they kept second in the table Islington Panthers within striking distance due to some excellent defensive work. Trailing 38-28 going into the final quarter, they battled back to one point down at 47-46 but the loss of Graham Oluwadare to five fouls proved too costly as the team lost by a very creditable 53-48 with Oluwadare on 16 points and George Cassidy with 14.
For the two youngest girls teams there was a return to winning ways after recent defeats. The under 14 girls gave a national league debut to 12 year old Megan Jones and the youngster was able to get valuable playing time as Swifts recorded a 107-30 victory over Norfolk Iceni. From four points apiece, the home side scored the next 32 points to stamp their authority on proceedings, with play that brought prolonged applause from all spectators. Regular leading scorers Amy Rodgers and Samantha Toole sat out the second half as the team strengthened their hold on second place in the league table.
The final fixture in a very hectic weekend saw the under 16 girls travel to Suffolk to take on the Ipswich Bobcats second team. Swifts scored the first 18 points of the contest, converting a 66-22 half time lead into a 116-37 victory, with constant changes of players. Katie Holland and Sophie Hankin on 21 points each and Francesca Moody with 19 leading the scoring that saw 7 players in double figures.
Next weekend is a little less frenetic for the club. On Saturday the under 16 girls take on Ipswich Bobcats first team at Eastwood High School with an 11 am start. Later in the day the under 16 boys travel to London Spartans and the senior women to Sevenoaks Suns. On Sunday the under 18 boys travel to West Anglia whilst the under 18 girls have a crucial fixture when they welcome Sevenoaks to Eastwood High School with a 5 pm tip off.