SOUTHEND Swifts basketball clb failed to come away with a title after three teams competed in the end of season National play-offs on Saturday and Sunday, but they returned from RAF Cosford with a lot of pride.
The only side to reach a final were the Under 14s, who beat Cheshire Jets 76-45 in their semi-final, but went down 65-45 in the final to Haringey Angels.
MANCHESTER MYSTICS 100 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 55
FIRST into action were the under 18 team who had the task of overcoming Manchester Mystics, who had defeated them in the National Cup Final in February.
An excellent start saw Southend take an 8-4 lead after five minutes with Jennie Rodgers and Francesca Whitby sharing the points. Manchester hit back with the next five before an Ellie Shaxon score gave Swifts a one point lead. But the Essex side would fail to score over the last four minutes as Mystics ran in 13 of their own to lead 22-10 at the end of the first quarter.
A Hannah Culwick three-pointer and a Rebecca Brough lay-up gave some renewed hope but the North-western team scored five straight to open the gap to 12. The next three minutes would see Swifts score the next eight points, Culwick and Rodgers both with three-pointers, and it was 27-23 and game on. With three minutes of the second quarter it was just 31-25 but it was another disastrous stretch for Southend as they conceded the final 15 points to trail 46-26 at the half time interval.
A 9-4 spell in the first three minutes, Rodgers with seven, produced a false dawn but another ruinous spell, four minutes and 16 conceded, made it 66-35 and game over; two further Culwick three-pointers the only bright spot as the margin reached 77-41 with one quarter remaining.
With only pride to play for, Southend did not let up but there was insufficient firepower across the team. The final scoreline of 100-55 does not reflect the difference between the sides but on this day it was Mystics who deservedly reached the final. For Swifts Rodgers on 21 points, Culwick 14 (with four three-pointers) and Whitby 12 had too much of the load to share to get their team through.
GIRLS UNDER 14 PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL
CHESHIRE JETS 45 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 76
WHILE their older team-mates were suffering defeat in their semi final, Southend Swifts under 14 girls team were making their attempt to reach the national final. Their opponents were Cheshire Jets, who had finished in second place in the very tough Northern division.
But the youngest Swifts team showed no signs of nerves as they ran in the first 11 points as they held their opponents scoreless for the first four minutes; Amy Rodgers with seven points. Stretches of 5-2 and 4-2 extended the advantage and at the end of the opening quarter Southend’s lead was 20 points to 6.
Cheshire made a better start with a 6-2 run but baskets from Sophie Hankin and Jessica Holland took back the initiative. It was just 28-17 with two minutes to play but seven straight for Swifts, including a Beth Robson three-pointer, took Swifts clear and at half time the lead was 37-19.
But if the first half was good, the third quarter was absolutely devastating as the Essex youngsters really turned up the defensive pressure. Rogers, Hankin and Stephanie Smith combined for 16 points in the first four minutes, whilst their team conceded just four, to lead 53-23 and victory in place. The young ladies were relishing the big stage and another Rodgers three-pointer helped her team to a 62-29 lead with one period remaining.
This allowed all of the Southend team to get court time; a remarkable situation considering that for eight of the 13 squad members this was the first season in a Swifts vest. Cheshire, to their credit, battled to the last but there was no way back as Southend reached the final at this age group for the 4th successive season with a 76-45 victory. Rogers on 27 points, Robson 16 and Hankin 12 leading the scoring.
GIRLS UNDER 18 3rd/4th PLAY-OFF
NOTTINGHAM WILDCATS 90 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 74
AFTER the disappointment of their semi final, Southend Swifts under 18 team looked to restore some pride when they met Nottingham Wildcats in the 3rd/4th place play-offs at RAF Cosford; both teams having finished second in their respective divisions in the regular season.
Southend made a good start, with scores from Ellie Shaxon and Rebecca Brough, but Nottingham replied with a 9-0 run to take the initiative. Shaxon and Brough again replied but an injury to Shaxon forced her to leave the game for good which enabled Wildcats to capitalise on their height advantage to again register nine straight points. They maintained their advantage for the remainder of the opening quarter to hold a 25-16 lead.
A much more concerted effort saw Swifts register the first seven points, Jennie Rodgers with five, but a 9-1 spell again took Nottingham 10 ahead at 34-24. A 7-4 run took them further ahead and despite a Hannah Culwick three-pointer, another eight straight took the Midland side 18 ahead at 49-31 with two minutes remaining. But three pointers from Culwick and Katie Doubleday and a Francesca Whitby basket gave some hope as Swifts reduced the deficit back to 51-39 at the half time interval.
The late flourish carried on into the third quarter as the comeback started. Another Culwick trey triggered a 10-2 stretch that reduced the deficit to four. Wildcats scored again before successive three-pointers from Whitby tied the game up at 55 after four minutes; an 18 point turnaround in six minutes of play. When last season’s England under 16 player of the year scored the next five Swifts led 60-59 with three minutes remaining. But perhaps the euphoria was too much as Nottingham hit back with the final eight points to lead 67-60 going into the closing period; the loss of Rodgers with five fouls to some very dubious decisions not helping the cause.
A 6-2 run got Southend back to three but seven straight took the Midland side back out to a 10 point lead. Swifts took the opportunity to give all of their players’ court time in this final game of the season and ended up with a disappointing 90-74 defeat that was a rather unsatisfactory conclusion to a very good season. Whitby 24, Brough 17 and Culwick 10 leading the scoring.
GIRLS UNDER 14 PLAY-OFF FINAL
HARINGEY ANGELS 61 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 45
THE top two teams in the South Division found themselves in the final. Swifts, with eight first season players in their 13 girl squad, against the very talented and hugely physically imposing Haringey Angels; the London side with probably the tallest ever team at this age level.
With both sets of young ladies understandably nervous, Haringey were first into their stride taking a 7-2 lead after five minutes that looked like it would pave the way to a comfortable victory. But suddenly Swifts produced the kind of form they have displayed throughout the season. Tenacious defence was converted into very rapid attack as they scored the next 11 points to take a most improbable 13-7 lead. But Angels showed their resilience by going on a 10-0 run to lead 17-13 at the end of a very exciting first quarter.
The London side scored the next five points and their height advantage simply stopped Southend getting close to the basket. The Essex side managed just six points in the second quarter, whilst conceding 23, and the deficit of 40-18 at the half time interval was always going to make it a mountain to climb to get back into the match.
But slowly Swifts regained their composure. Some excellent passing movements brought prolonged applause from the large crowd and although the margin remained the same, it was a much better third period with the scoreboard showing 52-30 going into the final 10 minutes.
But these youngsters wanted to go out with a flourish. Finding reserves of energy, they actually won the final quarter by 15 points to nine to end with a 61-45 defeat and showed how crucial the disappointing second quarter had been. Beth Robson with 11 points, 4 steals and 3 assists, Jess Holland 10 points and 9 rebounds, Amy Rodgers 10 points and three assists and Sophie Hankin with a huge 13 rebounds led the team at the end of a remarkable season.
GIRLS UNDER 16 PLAY-OFF SEMI FINAL
SEVENOAKS SUNS 76 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 44
DAY two of the RAF-sponsored national finals saw Southend Swifts under 16 team in action in the semi final against Sevenoaks Suns. This was a different line-up for Southend with a number of the under 14 team getting some huge experience following their success at their own age group.
Despite knowing this would be a very tough battle, Southend took the lead with a Sarah Cozens basket and they kept their opponents to just five points in the opening four minutes. But from 5-4 down, Sevenoaks scored the next 12 points to open a double digit lead. There was just a Katie Holland three-pointer in the remainder of the quarter as Swifts found themselves 23-7 behind at the end of the first quarter.
A 10-5 run increased the margin but changes of defensive formation kept the scoreline within bounds and with Jessica Holland and Amy Rodgers belying their youth to get to the basket, Swifts had probably surprised themselves by reaching 20 at half time against Suns 42 points.
With just one year 11 player in their line-up this was a huge learning experience for Southend and again their defensive efforts kept Sevenoaks from easy scores and a three-pointer from under 14 captain Beth Robson ended another good 10 minute spell as the deficit increased by just five to 60-31 at the end of the third period.
Again there was another battling display but at 72-34 with three minutes remaining it looked like a 40 point loss would be inevitable. But further three-pointers from Kate Holland and Robson aided a 9-2 closing spell that left Swifts with a 76-44 defeat but a huge amount of pride.
GIRLS UNDER 16 3rd/4th PLAY-OFF
HARINGEY ANGELS 70 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 52
SO, perhaps surprisingly, two perennial rivals met in the 3rd and 4th play-off for the under 16s division.
Haringey made the better start, taking an 8-1 lead as Southend struggled to find any fluency in offence. From 16-5 it looked like it could be a rout but four points from Katie Holland gave her team a boost at the end of the first quarter.
Eight straight for Angels again gave them the initiative and with only Emily Hankin able to get close to the basket the London side were able to extend their advantage to lead 36-18 at the midpoint break.
But here was a much greater sense of urgency in the third quarter. A three-pointer from Lauren Tate and further good work from Hankin kept Swifts in touch and a three-pointer from Amy Rodgers helped keep the deficit at the same level as Haringey led 57-39 going into the final stanza.
The hard work continued and with all five under 14s on court together they actually reduced the margin. But there would be no way back on this day as Swifts fell to a very creditable defeat by 70 points to 52 to end a difficult weekend for the club in terms of results but one of great pride with all three teams again at the national finals.