GIRLS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 149 EASTSIDE EAGLES 39
WITH Wandsworth pulling out of the league, this was the final regular season match for Southend Swifts under 18 girls before the start of the play-offs. Although third place was almost certainly guaranteed from the very tough South Division, Southend were looking to end on a high, particularly as it would be the last league fixture at this level for Hannah Culwick, Katie Doubleday and Jennie Rodgers, stalwarts of the club – Ella Rees, Emma Scudder and Christina Gaskin all unavailable on the day.
Their opponents, Eastside Eagles, have been the revelation of this years girls games, surprising a number of more illustrious rivals. With the two teams due to meet at under 16 level in the following game, Eastside elected not to play any of their younger squad but certainly had an experienced and athletic group ready to compete.
However, what was witnessed had the spectators shaking their heads in disbelief as baskets from Rodgers and Culwick in the first minute were followed by three consecutive three-pointers and after three minutes, it was 15-0. Still it continued, with the ball appearing to be drawn by a magnetic force towards the Eastside basket. Emily Hankin and Rodgers dominated the rebounds and with Doubleday controlling the tempo as well as making numerous interceptions, the barrage continued. After eight minutes it was 40-0 and with further three-pointers from Doubleday, Katie Holland and Rodgers the score at the end of the first quarter was a remarkable 57-0; almost unheard of at under 18 level for either boys or girls.
Eagles finally managed to open their account, but Swifts just continued their exquisite ball movement that saw players constantly looking for a teammate in a better position. From 72-10, they reeled off 20 points straight in four minutes to hold a 92-12 half time lead; Rodgers already with 40 points personal.
Unsurprisingly the intensity dropped in the second half, with the scoring load spread amongst all of the home players. The 100 mark was reached after four minutes and the scoreline continued to climb despite some spirited play from Eastside and with one quarter remaining it was 125-29; Swifts having lost Culwick to injury midway through the third period.
The visitors were again kept scoreless for the first five minutes as Southend moved to 138 and with two minutes remaining it was 142-36. The Swifts individual club scoring record stood at 59 points, set jointly by Luke Jones and Nick Squires some six years ago, but with Rodgers on 56 with two minutes to go, it seemed apt for her to try to take the record. This she duly completed with the next five points as she led her team to an outstanding 149-39 victory, that is also a record Swifts team score after 14 years competition. Rodgers' 61 points naturally leading the way, with Hankin on 20, Culwick 18 and Doubleday 15.
BOYS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE – EAST CONFERENCE
HERTFORDSHIRE WARRIORS 72 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 62
WHILE there were fireworks on Swifts home court, their under 18 boys team travelled to Hertfordshire to take on the home Warriors, who were standing just one place above them in the league table.
Swifts made a poor start, quickly finding themselves 10-2 down, and despite both teams struggling to find the basket it was 17-6 after seven minutes. With only Alex Smith showing any form, an 8-2 run gave the home side a 25-8 first quarter lead.
A more positive opening for Southend looked to have given them some hope and midway through the second period it was 31-17. But Hertfordshire upped their intensity, putting together a 14-2 spell that broke the game open at 45-19. Surprisingly Swifts found some resolve and a 9-2 run brought it back to 47-28 at half time: Oliver Crussell and Graham Oluwadare sharing the points.
Led by 5 points from Smith, Southend certainly made a determined start, reducing the deficit to 53-37 as they fought to get back into the match. Five straight for Crussell made it 57-44 and suddenly it was game on. Hertfordshire got away again at 64-46 but with the last five points the visitors gave themselves a chance at 64-41 going into the last 10 minutes.
With scores at a premium in the early minutes, it was 68-57 after four minutes. But Swifts lost their discipline, conceding two technical fouls as they surrendered eight of the next nine points and there was no way back, as they lost disappointingly by 76 points to 62, with Smith on 21, Crussell 20 and Oluwadare 16.
GIRLS UNDER 16 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 58 EASTSIDE EAGLES 67
SO the final game of the day would be the most crucial as Southend Swifts under 16 girls needed victory to secure 3rd place in their division, which would give them a home tie in the first round of the play-offs. Their opponents had already secured 2nd place in the very tough division.
Southend missed some early scoring chances but a Beth Robson three-pointer gave them a 7-3 lead after three minutes. The teams traded baskets before Eastside made the first break, taking a 16-9 lead. Swifts fought back and scores from Katie Holland and Shannon Matthews helped them narrow the gap to just 20-17 at the end of the first quarter.
A change of defensive formation stopped Eagles scoring but Swifts failed to take their own opportunities with just 10 points scored in total in the opening five minutes. Indeed the hosts failed to score in the final four minutes of the second period, with only their defence keeping them in the game as they trailed 30-24 at the half time interval.
But the half time team talk seemed to galvanise matters. Defensive pressure began to bring rewards and consecutive three-pointers from Holland helped her team to a 33-32 lead. Six straight for Eagles took them ahead and after another Holland trey, they made seven in a row to lead 45-36. There was no fluency from Southend and they found themselves 51-42 down going into the final stanza.
The opening six minutes would be a nightmare as Swifts failed to score whilst Eastside scored the next 12 to put the game beyond doubt. With two minutes to play it was 67-46 and despite some spirited play from Robson and Jessica Holland it was all in vain as Southend fell to a very disappointing 67-58 defeat that will make the play-offs a very tough proposition; Katie Holland with 19 points and Beth Robson 14 the only scorers of note.
GIRLS UNDER 14 NATIONAL LEAGUE – SOUTH DIVISION
SOUTHEND SWIFTS 76 NEWHAM YOUNGBLOODS 38
For their final league fixture of the season, Southend Swifts under 14 girls met Newham Youngbloods on their home court at Eastwood High School. Southend were without captain Amy Rodgers, at the schools national finals, and gave a national league debut to 11 year old Becky Lawless.
The young ladies were determined to end on a high and they immediately established their superiority with their customary pressing defence. All five starters were on the scoresheet within three minutes as Swifts scored the first 20 points of the contest. Newham got their first reward after eight minutes but to little avail as the hosts led 28-2 at the end of the opening quarter.
Southend slackened off their defence, rotating their line up, and this naturally caused some disruption to the flowing play. Despite a four minute period where they failed to score, the margin increased to 43-11 at half time
The introduction of 12 year old Megan Jones gave Swifts a boost as the youngster quickly added four points. With Fay Solkhon directing operations, Samantha Toole and Abbie Jones were able to capitalise on scoring opportunities as the lead moved out to 65-22 with one stanza remaining.
With just year 8 players on court, all gaining valuable playing time, Southend maintained the margin before Newham had their best spell, scoring eight straight points, but there was no way back as Swifts recorded a 76-38 victory that clinches second place in the league table. Abbie Jones with 17 points, Lucy Lawless 14 and Megan Jones 11 leading the scoring.
BOYS UNDER 18 NATIONAL LEAGUE – EAST CONFERENCE
COLCHESTER JAMMERS 74 SOUTHEND SWIFTS 67
THE final league fixture for Southend Swifts under 18 boys team saw them meet Colchester Jammers, a team they had defeated on their own court by 17 points just two weeks earlier.
The home side showed their intent from the off, jumping out to an 8-2 lead, which they extended to 14-6 after six minutes. A three-pointer from Alex Smith looked like it would stem the tide, but six straight for Colchester helped them to a 22-14 first quarter lead.
The gap widened to double digit at 29-18 but good work from Smith, Oliver Crussell and Daniel Eagling triggered an outstanding 16-4 run that took Swifts 34-33 ahead before they conceded five of the last seven points to trail 38-36 at the half time interval.
Jammers again came out stronger, nine unanswered to again lead by 11, but three consecutive three-pointers, from Crussell, Eagling and Wilfred Mutero, brought it back to two. The hosts again led by four but another Smith three-pointer and a Ross Mann basket made it 54-53 to Southend going into the final quarter.
A Crussell three-pointer should have led to a strong finish, but Swifts went scoreless for six minutes as Colchester took a six point lead. They extended this to nine at 68-59 going into the final minute and despite a flurry of points it was not enough as Southend fell to a tough 74-67 defeat that will leave them in 5th place in the conference. Smith with 28 points and Crussell 20 leading the scoring.
Next week sees the start of the play-offs, with fixtures to be announced over the coming days.