Basketball: National League – Men’s division one and Women’s league   Baya stun leaders Drifters in extra-time |26 July 2022

Coach Kenneth Sinon talks tactics with his players. Anse Etoile Star remain unbeaten in three games (Photo: Roland Duval)

● Anse Etoile Stars stretch winning streak with victory over B Challenge

Men’s division one leaders Drifters dropped a crucial point on Sunday after suffering a 70-66 defeat against Bel Air-based Baya in added time, while Anse Etoile Stars maintained their top spot on the women’s league table after edging out B Challenge 35-34 in their last league match.

Drifters started Sunday’s match on a high tempo winning the first quarter 17-10, before allowing Baya to catch up on the score, clinching the second quarter 14-9, cutting Drifters’ lead to 26-24 at half-time.

In the third quarter, Drifters again stepped up their game, outscoring Baya 18-14 for a 44-38 advantage. Baya claimed the fourth quarter 19-13 to force a tie ‒ 57-57 ‒ at the end of 40 minutes of play.

Extra-time was needed to decide the winners. Baya scored 13 points compared to nine for Drifters, giving the Bel Air side a 70-66 victory.

Jason Benstrong was Baya’s top scorer with 14 points, while Ervin Agathine led the scoring for Drifters with 16 points.

Despite the defeat, Drifters still lead the standings with 10 points from four wins and two defeats out of six matches.

The win steered Baya to fourth place on seven points from three wins and a loss out of four matches.

Beau Vallon Heat burn Mont Fleuri Dawgz

Following their first league defeat at the hands of PLS Hawks two weeks ago, second-placed Beau Vallon Heat bounced back to beat Mont Fleuri Dawgz 63-45 last weekend to maintain second position on the league table.

Heat started the match stronger, winning the first quarter 16-12, before winning the second one 10-8 for 26-20 advantage at half-time.

Boasting a more-experienced line-up compared to Dawgz’ younger players, Beau Vallon Heat used their advantage to score 15 points in the third quarter, compared to 12 for Dawgz, extending their lead to 41-32 at the end of the third period.

In the last and final quarter, Heat came out with all guns blazing, outscoring Dawgz 22-13 to win the match 63-45.

They remain second on nine points from four wins and a single loss in five matches, while the defeat kept Dawgz fifth on six points from a win and four losses out of five matches.

James Oliseh was Heat’s top scorer with 14 points, while with 11 points Anil Charlette led the scoring for Mont Fleuri Dawgz.

PLS Hawks outclass Premium Cobras

Third-placed PLS Hawks collected their second consecutive win, defeating rivals Premium Cobras 72-55 in their last league encounter on Saturday.

Led by captain Jean-Philip Esparon, Hawks started to inflict the damage on Cobras early on in the match, winning the first quarter 26-19, before stretching their lead to 37-25, after winning the second period 11-6.

Smelling victory, PLS Hawks maintained the pressure on Premium Cobras during the third quarter, winning it 17-12 to extend their lead to 54-37 at the end of the quarter.

The last quarter, however, was equally contested, with both teams scoring 18 points apiece, allowing PLS Hawks to emerge victorious 72-55.

Darius Adam had the hot hands for PLS Hawks with 15 points, while Juan Collie scored 10 points to lead the scoring for Premium Cobras.

Anse Etoile Stars sneak past B Challenge

Two free throws from Marie-Claire ‘Ti Claire’ Damoo in the dying seconds of the match were enough to give Anse Etoile Stars a narrow 35-34 victory over B Challenge, keeping the girls of coach Kenneth Domingue comfortably on top.

Played at a snail’s pace, the encounter featured an Anse Etoile side with mostly mid-age players, against a much younger B Challenge who however failed to make their fitness advantage count as they played their opponent’s game.

B Challenge won the first quarter 11-7, before winning the second one 9-7 for a 20-14 lead at half-time.

In a very poorly played third quarter, B Challenge scored six points, while Anse Etoile scored four, concluding the third period at 26-18 in favour of the former.

After some poor performances in the first three periods, Anse Etoile Stars managed to redeem themselves in the fourth and final quarter and they trailed by only point – 33-34 – with seconds left to play in the match.

Anse Etoile were awarded a shooting foul and the responsibility fell on the shoulders of ‘Ti Claire’ who made no mistakes in converting both free-throws to give her team a 35-34 win.

Veteran player Simone Asba led the scoring for Anse Etoile with nine points, while her former Anse Etoile teammate Simone Malbrook was B Challenge’s leading scorer with 10 points.

The win keeps Anse Etoile Stars on top with six points from three wins in as many matches, while B Challenge lie second on five points from two wins and a loss out of three matches.

Mont Fleuri outsmart HotShots

In the other women’s match played, Mont Fleuri defeated HotShots 55-48 to stay third on the league table.

After winning the first quarter 21-14, Mont Fleuri let down their guard in the second period, allowing HotShots to close the gap, winning the second quarter 13-7 to reduce the former’s lead to just one point – 28-27 – at half-time.

HotShots entered the third quarter with the same momentum to again outscore Mont Fleuri in the third quarter – 15-11 – for a 42-39 lead at the end of the quarter.

Feeling the pressure, Mont Fleuri stepped up their game in the final quarter, outscoring HotShots 16-6 to win the match 55-48.

They are now third on four points from a win and two defeats out of three matches, while HotShots are still at the bottom on three points after three defeats in as many matches.

Sarah Rose was Mont Fleuri’s top scorer with 18 points, while Shanice Dubel and Sherifa Agathine scored 13 points each for HotShots.

Roland Duval