Basketball – National League |11 October 2022

Guyra Boniface of B Challenge takes on the Mont Fleuri defence

Beau Vallon Heat sneak past Drifters to maintain top position

• Anse Etoile Stars stretch unbeaten run with win over HotShots

Beau Vallon Heat are maintaining top position on the men’s division one league table following their narrow 71-70 win over Anse Boileau-based Drifters, while Anse Etoile Stars are still unbeaten in the women’s league after registering a 49-45 win over HotShots in their last match.

Heat are now on 22 points from 10 wins and two defeats out of 12 matches played. As for the Stars they are on maximum 16 points from eight wins in as many matches in the four-team women’s league.

Against Drifters, Heat had a run for their money in the first quarter, with the former matching them in both offence and defence, concluding the first period 14-13 in favour of Beau Vallon Heat.

The league leaders, however stepped up their game in the second quarter of the match, outscoring Drifters 21-14 to lead 35-27 at half-time.

The third quarter was evenly contested as both teams managed to tie the score at 22 apiece, before Drifters chipped in another 21 points in the fourth and final quarter, while Heat scored only 14, but managed to hold on to their advantages from the first two quarters to win the match 71-70.

Captain Kris Andre was Heat’s top scorer with 17 points, while with 21 points, captain Ervin Agathine led the scoring for Drifters.

Drifters are presently second on the table on 18 points from six wins and six losses from 12 matches played, and they will definitely be relegated to third spot when third-placed PLS Hawks play Premium Cobras later today.

Mont Fleuri Dawgz collected their fourth league win, bringing their points tally to 15 after defeating Premium Cobras 66-58 in extra-time.

Dawgz started the match on the higher tempo, winning the first quarter 12-10, before allowing a more-experienced Cobras to come back and clinch the second quarter 19-12 to lead 29-24 at half-time.

Premium Cobras came out stronger in the third period of the match, scoring 19 points, compared to 13 for Dawgz.

It was in the fourth quarter that things went wrong for coach Dominic Pillay and Cobras when Dawgz scored 19 points, while their opponents added in only eight to seal the match on 56 points apiece after regular time.

In extra-time, Dawgz scored 10 points, compared to only two for Cobras to go home with a 66-58 win.

Despite the win, Dawgz are still sixth overall on 15 points from four wins and seven defeats out of 11 matches played, while Cobras are fifth on 16 points from five wins and six defeats out of 11 matches played.

Women’s leaders Anse Etoile Stars had to dig deep into their reserves against HotShots to go home with the win, stretching their unbeaten streak.

Stars started the match on the prefect note, clinching the first and second quarters 10-4 and 16-8 for a comfortable 26-12 lead at half-time.

It was in the third quarter that HotShots changed their strategy, pressing Stars on every possession, outscoring them 22-14, closing the gap to 40-34 at the end of the period.

In the fourth and final quarter, HotShots scored 11 more points, while Stars chipped in another nine to win the match 49-45.

The defeat keeps HotShots third on the table on 10 points from two victories and six defeats from eight matches played.

In the other women’s match played, B Challenge defeated Mont Fleuri 56-33 to maintain second position overall.

Bel-Air-based B Challenge dominated the match in the first quarter, outscoring Mont Fleuri 14-8, before winning the second quarter 14-12 to lead 28-20 at half-time.

In the third period, both teams scored nine points, before B Challenge shifted to a stronger gear in the fourth and final quarter which they won 19-4 and the match 56-33.

B Challenge have so far amassed 13 points from five wins and three defeats in eight matches played, while Mont Fleuri remain at the bottom on nine points from a single win and seven defeats from eight matches played.

Roland Duval