.jpg)
Wolves under-16 boys led the way as all four NBL teams were in action over the weekend.
Adam Pearce’s side won a feisty encounter against Brentwood Leopards 77-61 to keep their play-off hopes alive.
It was tight until the fourth period when Wolves pulled away to outscore the visitors 19-9 to wrap up their sixth league victory of the campaign.
Wolves shaded the first period 15-13 and extended their lead to 39-36 going into the locker room at half-time. That lead grew to 58-52 at the final break before Brentwood lost their compose in the fourth quarter, having a player ejected for swearing at the referee, as Wolves ran out comfortable winners.
Ethan Downing led the hosts’ scoring with 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and impressive seven steals. Simon Patasin finished with 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while Trey Carter had a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double. Will Andrw just missed emulating him with 10 points and nine boards while Abraham Araba had nine points – including a trademark dunk – and eight rebounds.
Saturday saw the under-16 girls visit the only unbeaten team in that age group, Haringey Angels, for the second successive week and they recorded their closest result to date against the National Cup winners before going down 51.46
Ella Brown led a balanced offence that saw all nine players get on the scoresheet, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds, while Amye Swinney had 10 points, three rebounds and as many steals. Caitlin Ryan finished with nine points, four rebounds and three assists while Joanna Akpan shook off a disappointing shooting game to pull down an impressive 14 rebounds.
The first period proved to be the difference between the two teams as Wolves again struggled against the hosts' press with Akpan's free-throw the only score from the visitors as they fell behind 11-2 inside five minutes., Brown finally got Wolves moving with a pair of baskets but a pair of triples late in the period saw saw Angels' lead grow to 13 before Swinney's jumper made it 23-12 at the first break.
Wolves started the second period well with a pair of Brown baskets sparking a 7-2 run, and pairs of free-throws from Mila Skipic-Piscateli and Tiff Tyson kept them in touch as 35-23 going into the locker room.
The third period saw Wolves start to eat away at the deficit as scores from Ryan and Swinney made it a single digit game and Ryan's and-one followed by baskets from Tyson and jacqaline Osei made it a three point game before a late Angels' run saw them go into the final break 44-38 ahead.
That deficit grew to ten as the hosts started the fourth period strongly, only for Swinney to answer with a pair of baskets to make it a six point game heading into the final four minutes. Swinney cuthe margin to five after Angel's had gone one-from-two at the foul line, but that was the closest the visitors came as Haringey maintained their perfect record.
Sunday was a day to forget for the under-14s as the girls were beaten 63-40 at neighbours Luton while the boys suffered a 130-24 drubbing by Baltic Stars.
The girls matched the hosts in a low-scoring first period, sharing eight points before Luton took control to lead 23-13 at half-time. A 26-12 third quarter saw the home side effectively wrap up the win before Wolves shaded the final frame 15-14.
Maliya Lawal led Wolves with 18 points, with Paris Tyson adding 10 and Sophie Walsh 4.
Things weren’t nearly so close for the boys as they trailed 46-0 going into the final break and although they scored the first points of the second quarter the game was all over at 82-7 going into the locker room. An 18-7 third period saw the visitors take a 100-14 led into the final break before they wrapped things up with a 30-10 fourth quarter.
Leo Milea led Wolves with ten points and four rebounds while Jayden Harry had five points and two assists on an afternoon to forget for Ibrahim Gariba’s side.