BOYS UNDER 16 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
LONDON SPARTANS 53 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 67
With the under 16 girls game postponed due to a lack of officials, there were just four games for Southend Swifts at the weekend. First into action were the under 16 boys who travelled to East London to take on London Spartans, a team still seeking their first win of the season. Southend had a depleted squad and gave a national league debut to Alfie Hunter.
Swifts made an strong start, scoring the first eight points and with Ross Mann showing excellent form, the margin increased to 17-4. Spartans hit back with a 7-0 but Southend had the last three points to lead 20-11 after the opening 10 minutes.
The hosts had the better of the early minutes of the second quarter, reducing the deficit to 24-18 but five straight got Swifts 11 ahead. Spartans again had a 7-0 run but Southend had the last five and at half time it was 34-25.
London’s excellent three-point shooting was keeping them in the game but with Mann continuing to keep the scoreboard moving the margin remained in double digits. David Goates and Hunter were taking numerous rebounds allowing Swifts fast break to rack up the points and with one quarter to play it was 49-35.
The opening minutes saw Swifts make a crucial move as a George Cassidy three-pointer was part of a 7-0 run that took them 56-37 ahead. The home side continued to battle, getting back to 60-50 with three minutes remaining but they could get no closer as Southend ended with a 67-53 victory in a very good contest. Mann had a career high 31 points, with Cassidy on 15 and Goates 8.
BOYS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE – EAST DIVISION
COLLEGE OF WEST ANGLIA 66 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 71
Southend Swifts under 18 boys team made the journey out to Kings Lynn to take on the College of West Anglia looking to retain their top four spot in the very competitive East Conference. Southend were missing some of their senior players and had a number of under 16s in action.
The home side had the first five points but Swifts hit back to lead 8-5. Neither side could take a meaningful advantage with the home side leading 17-15 at the end of the first period. However, the second quarter would see a complete change of fortunes. Led the Thulani Sibanda, Southend established complete control of the game. A 15-6 run took them seven ahead and then a 13-4 spell over the final three minutes gave the visitors a 43-27 half time lead; Sibanda with 15 in the quarter.
A Wilfred Mutero three-pointer helped the margin extend to 48-29 and should have led to a comfortable win. But the Norfolk team hit back with a 17-4 run to reduce the gap to just six before an Alex Gilbert basket made it 54-46 going into the last quarter.
Five straight for West Anglia made it a three point game but with the teams swapping baskets it was 64-61 with three minutes to play. Four foul shots from Gilbert kept the margin in place despite Swifts losing two of their players to five fouls. It was still a three point advantage in the last minute and it was fitting that Sibanda should make the final two foul shots to give his team a well-deserved 71-66 win; Sibanda with a career high 32 points and Gilbert on 18.
SENIOR WOMENS NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 – SOUTH DIVISION
SEVENOAKS SUNS II 53 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 72
After a run of defeats, Southend Swifts senior women looked to reverse their fortunes when they travelled to Sevenoaks Suns. Southend were again understrength and gave Shannon Matthews her first outing at this level.
Swifts made a poor start, trailing 9-2 after five minutes, but with Jennie Rodgers starting to get to the basket, the deficit began to reduce. Matthews had her first senior basket and at the end of the first quarter Sevenoaks lead was just 13-2.
Five points from Hannah Culwick gave Southend their first lead and with Katie Holland creating space for herself the margin grew to 26-21. Suns hit back and despite another Culwick three-pointer the game was tied up at 31 all at half time.
But whatever was said during the half time interval had the desired effect. Sevenoaks could find no way to the basket and with 14 year old Amy Rodgers scoring six straight points, Swifts began to pull away. Consecutive three-pointers from Beth Robson and Holland made it 47-36 and with the younger Rodgers scoring on the fast break the score was 51-40 at the end of the third period.
Southend suddenly found their long range shooting touch as Culwick twice and the Rodgers sisters once each hit three point shots to put the game out of sight at 67-43 as the visitors ended with a comfortable 72-53 win with Jennie Rodgers on 29 points, Culwick 13 and Amy Rodgers 11.
GIRLS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 75 SEVENOAKS SUNS 61
The final game of the weekend was potentially the most significant as Southend Swifts under 18 girls welcomed Sevenoaks Suns to their home court at Eastwood High School. The Kent side are currently at the top of the table with just one defeat so far this season and recorded a nine point victory when the teams met in October.
Both teams made a cautious start before a Hannah Culwick three-point shot gave Southend their first lead at 7-6 after four minutes. Sevenoaks replied with the next five points but Swifts captain Jennie Rodgers hit back with the same amount to keep it a one point game. A 10-3 spell gave the visitors the initiative as they led 21-15 but eight straight for Southend, with Katie Doubleday contributing four, got them ahead before a Suns basket tied the game up at 23 at the end of the first quarter.
Sevenoaks again came out strongly making an 8-2 run that took them ahead before a crucial passage of play. In three minutes, Swifts scored 12 unanswered points as their pressure defence began to reap rewards. Christina Gaskin was dominating around both baskets and with Culwick scoring a three-pointer with the most incredibly quick release, it was 37-31. Suns hit back with the next four but Swifts shot well from the foul line to lead 41-35 at the half time interval.
The teams traded three-pointers in the opening minute and another Sevenoaks score made it 44-40 but again Swifts hit a purple patch to match their kit. This time they had a 13-0 run as Katie Holland and Gaskin created havoc in the Suns defence. Another Culwick three-pointer led a further flurry and with one stanza to play it was 64-45.
Holland, Gaskin and Rodgers all scored in the first three minutes and suddenly it was a very unexpected 70-47 lead. Sevenoaks hit back with seven straight but Doubleday, having her best game of the season, made a three-pointer and another Gaskin score took their team 75-54 ahead and the game over. Sevenoaks had the final seven points but it would not be enough as Swifts recorded an outstanding 75-61 win that throws the league title open. Gaskin 28 points, Rodgers 19 and Doubleday 10 leading the scoring.
Next weekend is another hectic one. The under 18 girls visit Haringey Angels on Saturday morning whilst the under 16 girls visit Colchester Jammers. All three boys teams are also away; the under 18 and under 16s at Essex Pirates and the under 14s to Ipswich Tomcats. On Sunday the senior women travel to Leicester Cannons whilst there are home matches for the under 14 boys against Westminster Warriors and the under 18 boys against Hertfordshire. The home games are at Eastwood High School with the first one starting at 1 pm