After the U-14 boys reached the play-offs without bouncing a ball last week, their U-13 counterparts went one better at the won two games at the same time on Sunday lunchtime!
Opponents Braintree Blue Devils U-14s have lost all 15 games actually played their season, and the Essex side pulled out of the fixture on Friday morning. With a determination that the show should go on, an Oaklands Select team was put together consisting of eight U-14 development players as the three highest scorers from the U-12 NBL team, with the U-13s running out 98-64 winners. Harry Regan led the U-13s with 30 points with Rocky Starr adding 20.
The U-14 boys [pictured] did continue their winning run, despite being forced to actually play as they recorded a comfortable 102-55 home victory against London Stars II on Saturday.
Ibrahim Gariba's team made a good start with a 22-14 first period before taking control with a 27-7 second frame to lead by 26 at half-time. A 27-14 third period ended the game as a contest and the margin touched 50 a couple of times in the fourth quarter as Wolves improved their record to 14-6.
Albert Dye led the hosts with 21 points and four rebounds, while Liam Schertal missed a double-double by a single rebound, with 18 points. Titoaun Vimeux added 14 points, Zac Butterworth had 12 points , while Sam Mcree had six boards to go with his perfect 5/5 shooting for ten points.
In contrast, both U-16 teams faced tough tests as they lost at home.
The girls played some of their best basketball of the season as they trailed only 21-20 against South Premier runners-up elect CoLA Southwark Pride but were restricted to just 15 points during the rest of the game as they went down 68-35.
the boys also had a tough day offensively, failing to score in the first period and managing just two in the second as they lost 77-36 against county rivals West Herts Warriors.
It took nearly five minutes for Warriors to get on the scoresheet, but they led 12-0 at the first break before Otis Lau-Johnston finally got Wolves off the mark with 8:33 on the clock in the second period. That sparked a better spell for George Walker's team as they cut the deficit to 31-22 at half-time but a 22-12 third period ended hopes of a comeback and Warriors wrapped things up with a 22-2 final frame.
Lau-Johnston led Wolves with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, Jayen Pisharody added eight points to his massive 13 rebounds while Jeremy Akpan had five points and three boards.