Basketball: Women’s Play-offs Final – Game 1 |16 November 2022

Guyra Boniface scored 23 points to lead B Challenge past Anse Etoile (Photo: Roland Duval)

B Challenge stun Anse Etoile Stars to lead final series

Bel Air-based B Challenge took an important step forward in being crowned this season’s women’s champions after winning the first match of the best-of-three final series 61-48 over Anse Etoile Stars last night at Victoria Gymnasium.

B Challenge made the final after eliminating HotShots 2-1 in the semifinals, while Stars swept their series 2-0 against Mont Fleuri in the other semifinal match-up

In yesterday’s match, Stars came out as the most dominant side, winning the first quarter 14-9, before winning the second 20-13 to lead 34-22 at half-time.

With the clock ticking against them, coach Michel Malbrook changed B Challenge’s strategy in the third quarter, intensifying on their defence and pressing on Stars’ players who could not catch up to the good physical condition of their opponents.

The tactic worked as B Challenge managed to catch up the score, after winning the third quarter 18-12, cutting Stars’ lead to 46-40.

Spotting their opponents’ weakness, B Challenge kept pressing Stars in the fourth and final quarter, blocking all their playing angles and allowing them to score only two points in this last quarter, while adding another 21 to their tally to win the match 61-48 and take 1-0 advantage in the play-offs finals.

Guyra Boniface was B Challenge’s top scorer with 23 points, while Hillary Nourrice led the scoring for Stars with 13 points.

Game two of the final series will take place on Saturday at 2pm at Victoria Gymnasium.

Meanwhile, the first match of the men’s division two finals between AB boys and Anse Etoile will take place today, starting at 5.30pm at the Victoria Gymnasium.

Roland Duval