Girls top of the tree at Christmas

Wolves U-16 girls will go into Christmas sitting top of the NBL Premier South table following a 69-26 hammering of visitors Brentwood Fire.

The result means Tor Freeman's side reach the midway point in their league season with eight wins from ten games, knowing that their pair of games against Ipswich will be key in both the race for the title and home court advantage in the play-offs.

It was another comfortable win for Wolves, with the only sticky period coming early in the second period when Fire's zone caused problems for the hosts' bench. But once the starters returned, they pulled away and Freeman was able to give all of his players double-digit minutes.

Wolves led 9-4 at the first break before finishing the second period strongly to take a 28-12 lead into the locker room at half-time. A 22-5 third period effectively wrapped things up as Wolves led 50-17 at the final break before they completed the win with a 19-9 fourth frame.

Lillibelle-Giselle Harkness led the hosts with 16 points and four rebounds while Caitlin Ryan had a ten point, ten rebound double-double, adding sven steals and three assists. Amye Swinney also had ten points to go with her five boards and four assists, with sisters Tiffany and Paris Tyson each finishing on seven points as ten Wolves got on the scoresheet.

In contrast, Wolves U-14 girls never recovered from a 26-0 first period against Milton Keynes, with the visitors running out 99-15 winners.

With a blank final weekend before Christmas, Freeman gave the U-16 training players on Saturday, and they went down 64-59 in a tight game against NBL Conference side Southend Scorpions.

Tamia Windless - the only member of Wolves performance team in action - led the way with 30 points while Norma Franci added 12 and both Jessica Stocks and Darcey Judge had six apiece.

Wolves led 16-14 at the first break before dominating the second period to go into the locker room with a 36-26 lead. That proved to be as good as it got for the hosts as Scorpions cut the lead to 50-47 at the final break before winning the fourth quarter 17-7 to take the victory.