Ryan expects tough Caledonia test

Oaklands Wolves coach Lee Ryan is ready for a tough test as his side host Super League Basketball Women's title favourites Caledonia Gladiators, on Saturday (7pm).

"Caledonia are the leading programme going into this years SLB competition, a really strong organisation and flying the flag for the UK in FIBA Eurocup for a second year running" said Ryan. 

"They have our respect and admiration for what they are doing, especially with a strong Scottish core to the team. It won’t stop us preparing to beat them, the players are locked in and focused on game and making sure we leave it all out there in the last game before the international break.

"The game is going to be a tough one and we will need the crowd there to give us the support we need to get the win!"

The Scottish club finished second in the league behind a dominant London Lions team in each of the last two seasons, but with Lions having drastically cut back their expenditure this season, Caledonia are expected to challenge for honours. 

After qualifying for the SLB Trophy semi-final with victories against Durham and Newcastle, Gladiators were shocked in their opening league game as they went down 86-76 at Leicester Rider on Sunday. 

Tickets are available for the game at www.oaklandsbasketball.com.

It was a disappointing weekend for Wolves men as the first team went out of the National Cup with a 100-83 loss at Essex Charge and the second team lost 83-71 at Bedford Hoopers.

Liam Jefferson's side never recovered from a 31-11 first period in Colchester despite outscoring the hosts during the rest of the game. A 25-21 second period save the deficit cut to 16 at half-time before the teams shared 44 third period points and Charge edged the final frame 26-25.

Lore Adekeye led Wolves' scoring with 16 points, while La'Quarne Sayles, Gavin Mitchell and Dan Kostadinov all finished with 15.

In contrast Sayles'' team were only four down at the final break but were outscored 26-18 in the fourth quarter as they lost in Bedford.

Wolves led 27-26 at the first break, but the hosts edged the second quarter 15-13 and the third 16-13 before extending their advantage in the fourth quarter.