| Match
Reports by Ray Oakley
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50 ENFIELD PHOENIX -v- HOLBROOK
TIGERS 45
EBL DIVISION TWO WOMEN (SOUTH)
SATURDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY 2008
Enfield Phoenix got their season back on track
after a final quarter comeback secured a 50-45 victory over
Holbrook Tigers when the sides met in EBL Division Two Women
(South) at Edmonton Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Both sides went into the game vying for position in the end
of season play offs and with both holding identical 10-5 win-loss
records a close match was always in prospect.
Phoenix made a confident start when Bonnie Laird returned to
the starting five after injury and won the jump ball from which
Zoe Mallett scored the opening basket. Lily Frederick then scored
a big three-pointer before Laura Shemming opened Tigers’
account from the free throw line.
Patsy Imbert made a three point play after drawing a foul from
Shemming, but the experienced Holbrook guard helped her side
recover with three from the line before Tigers’ captain
Karen Cadman hit a basket to reduce Enfield’s lead to
8-6.
Mallett scored twice in as many minutes but a run of scores
by Kirsty Clark, Shemming and Catherine McLean tied the scores
at 14-14 before Bex Njoku came off the Phoenix bench to score
an inside basket and give Enfield a slender 16-14 first quarter
lead. A basket by Sasha McCarthy at the start of the second
extended the lead but Tigers fought back with good outside shooting
by Clark and Kayleigh Read, who scored three baskets in quick
succession to give the visitors an 18-16 lead. Frederick then
hit her second three-pointer and Fiona Scarlett scored inside
to regain a three point lead, but Phoenix were becoming increasingly
frustrated with the referees’ calls and lost their discipline
when Lisa Williams received a technical foul after contesting
a decision.
Shemming failed to capitalise from the resultant free throws
and Mallett struck twice as Phoenix went 25-20 ahead and although
Charmain Payne scored from a good inside move, a late score
by Clark and a three-pointer by Cadman ensured the sides would
be separated by just two points at the interval with Enfield
holding a 27-25 lead.
Holbrook made a determined start to the third quarter when baskets
by Read, Clark and McLean were supported by the solid Tigers
defence, which prevented Phoenix scoring for a full five minutes.
Now trailing 27-33, Phoenix fought their way back with inside
baskets from Imbert and Laird and a mid range effort by Sylvie
Dixon but a basket by Clark and a three-pointer by Cadman saw
Holbrook take a 39-33 lead into the final quarter.
Phoenix coaches Michelle Brown and Sylvie Dixon called for increased
intensity and Mallett cut the deficit to just four points but
Shemming scored twice from the line after Imbert was called
for a foul. Great defence by Phoenix then kept Tigers at bay
for four minutes during which Imbert and Payne dominated on
offence and another three-pointer by Frederick turned the match
around to give Enfield a 44-41 lead.
Cont’d
A basket by McLean cut the lead to a single
point but a crucial fifth foul by Clark saw the Tigers’
forward foul out on a game high 14 points with just over three
minutes to play. Phoenix failed to fully capitalise from the
free throw line in the closing stages, hitting only three from
ten as Tigers battled valiantly to stop the clock and get back
in the game, but Lily Frederick effectively sealed the win with
her fourth three-pointer from only five attempts as Enfield
ran out 50-45 victors and retain second place in the EBL Division
Two Women (South) table.
Phoenix face an even sterner challenge on Saturday when they
make the short trip to Holloway to face leaders London Metropolitan
University in a top of the table encounter
86 SEVENOAKS SUNS II -v- ENFIELD PHOENIX
48
EBL DIVISION TWO WOMEN (SOUTH)
SUNDAY, 27TH JANUARY 2008
Enfield Phoenix’s hopes of a strong position
in the end of season play offs suffered a setback on Sunday
when their injury hit line up lost 86-48 to a strong Sevenoaks
Suns II side in EBL Division Two Women (South) away at Sevenoaks
School.
Phoenix had drafted in three experienced players in Lily Frederick,
Zoe Mallett and Charmain Payne to strengthen the squad in light
of the injuries sustained by Bonnie Laird, Arlynne Rodriguez
and Fiona Scarlett who all remained sidelined for this important
fixture.
Phoenix battled well at the outset and a three-pointer by Mallett
gave Enfield an early lead but a lay up and a three-pointer
by Leah Dehaan was quickly followed by a pair of free throws
by Cristal Turner after she was fouled by Sasha McCarthy and
Sevenoaks raced to a 9-4 lead. Sylvia Dixon and Patsy Imbert
fought back from the free throw line but another basket by Dehaan
and a pair of free throws by Kristine Lewis saw Suns take a
15-8 advantage into the final minute of the quarter before the
lead was sensationally cut to a single point when Frederick
hit a three-pointer and Dixon made another three on the buzzer.
Sevenoaks extended the lead to six points at the start of the
second when Dehaan hit a three-pointer and Chanel Lassman scored
inside. Successive baskets by Mallett could not prevent Suns
extending their lead to 27-18 when Turner was on hand for the
first of her trio of three-pointers in the quarter, but Imbert
stepped up her game and scored three inside baskets in a two
minute spell that saw Phoenix rally to trail 24-27.
Enfield remained in the game after Lisa Williams struck twice
and Payne made a three-point play after being fouled by Lassman
and the interval came with Sevenoaks holding a 40-31 lead. Phoenix
were confident of a second half comeback that had characterised
recent matches but Suns stepped up their defence at the start
of the third and prevented Enfield from scoring a single point
for a full four minutes during which Lewis scored inside and
both Avery and Dehaan were successful from the free throw line
as Suns went 45-31 ahead. Enfield’s plight worsened when
Lisa Williams suffered a back injury that was to sideline her
for the rest of the game and although player/coach Michelle
Brown came off the bench to score a lay up, Suns stepped up
a gear to extend their lead to a commanding 18 points at 57-39
as the match went into the final quarter. Worse still, Imbert
was in foul trouble and a block in the second minute saw the
influential Enfield forward foul out with eight minutes still
to play. Suns capitalised with a run of eight straight points
before Mallett added to the Phoenix score with two from the
free throw line but Dehaan and Turner piled on the pressure
to take Sevenoaks to a 77-45 lead with three minutes left to
play.
Mallett scored a second three-pointer to lead the Enfield scorers
on 12 points but that was Phoenix’s last success as Turner
scored her fifth three-pointer of the match to secure a game
high 26 point tally and keep Suns in contention for the play
offs with an 86-48 victory.
Phoenix return to Edmonton on Saturday where
they continue their National League campaign with the crucial
match against Holbrook Tigers, who have an identical win-loss
record and are also fighting for a place in the play offs
37 BRIXTON TOPCATS -v- ENFIELD
PHOENIX 39
EBL DIVISION TWO WOMEN (SOUTH)
SUNDAY, 20TH JANUARY 2008
Enfield Phoenix came through a tough encounter
with Brixton Topcats to secure a hard fought 39-37 victory when
the sides met in EBL Division Two Women (South) at Brixton Recreation
Centre on Sunday.
Phoenix made a bright start when Sasha McCarthy scored inside
from an assist by Bonny Laird but a three-pointer by Ogundare
gave Topcats an early 3-2 lead. Laird then sustained a leg injury,
which was to sideline the Enfield centre for the rest of the
game.
Fiona Scarlett scored for Phoenix and although Imbert hit two
inside baskets in quick succession, a run of baskets by Adeshina,
James, Akra and Hunte gave Brixton a surprising 15-8 lead at
the end of the first quarter. Imbert pulled two points back
from the free throw line but the plight of Enfield’s already
depleted squad worsened when point guard Arlynne Rodriguez joined
Laird on the sideline after sustaining a hand injury. A second
three-pointer by Ogundare kept Topcats 19-14 in front but a
basket by Lisa Williams and a three-point play by Imbert quickly
tied the scores at 19-19 before a free throw from Scarlett edged
Phoenix ahead.
A pair of baskets by McKoy and three more points by Scarlett
saw the teams tied at 23-23 at the interval but it was Brixton
that had the best of a dour third quarter in which neither side
was able to break down the opposition defence. Two baskets apiece
by James and Akra were all Brixton could muster but Enfield’s
only successes came from Imbert and Williams and free throw
from Bex Njoko as Phoenix trailed 28-31 going into the final
quarter. It was then all a matter of self-belief and Brixton
were clearly confident of avenging the 72-39 defeat they suffered
when the sides met at Edmonton in November. Ogundare gave Topcats
a four-point advantage with a successful free throw but Imbert
struck twice as Phoenix stepped up the intensity to level the
scores at 32-32. McKoy scored after she was found inside by
an assist from Ogundare but Imbert made a three-point play to
edge Phoenix 35-34 with five minutes to play. Ogundare then
scored to regain the lead for Topcats and Enfield still trailed
with less the three minutes on the clock. Phoenix coach Kas
Stuart gambled by putting Michelle Brown into the game despite
the influential point guard still recovering from injury. The
effect was immediate and obvious, as Phoenix were lifted by
the vociferous support in the crowd at Brown’s introduction
and were back in control when Imbert scored to seal a game high
22 point tally and give Enfield the lead with two minutes to
play.
Brown herself then drove through the Brixton
defence to score a layup and although Sylvia Dixon fouled out
after picking up all five fouls in an intense final quarter,
Adeshina could only score one from the line as Phoenix held
on for a slender 39-37 victory and maintain second place in
the EBL Division Two Women (South) table.
Phoenix continue their National League campaign
with a visit to Sevenoaks Suns II on Sunday, 27th January. The
match takes place at Sevenoaks School and tips off at 3.00 p.m.
SATURDAY, 12TH JANUARY 2008
88 ENFIELD PHOENIX -v- WEST HERTS WARRIORS 48
EBL DIVISION TWO WOMEN (SOUTH)
Enfield Phoenix maintained their challenge among
the leaders of EBL Division Two Women (South) with a comfortable
88-48 victory over West Herts Warriors at Edmonton Leisure Centre
on Saturday.
Phoenix got off to a storming start when Patsy Imbert made a
three-point play after drawing a foul from Jenny Stenzel and
Fiona Scarlett proved unstoppable, scoring three baskets in
quick succession as Enfield went 13-0 ahead after just three
minutes.
Warriors coach Paul Jones had little option but to call an early
time out and the visitors clawed their way back into contention
with a basket by Tina Duff and a three-pointer by captain Jo
Godfrey to trail 7-15. Phoenix then stepped up their game and
a basket by Sasha McCarthy was quickly followed by a second
three-point play by Imbert after the Enfield captain drew a
foul from Gemma Farmer.
Katrim Hulme cut the deficit with a well worked inside move
but successive baskets Arlynne Rodriguez and further scores
by Scarlett and Imbert gave Enfield a commanding 30-11 lead
at the end of the quarter.
Three baskets by Stenzel in as many minutes at the start of
the second quarter saw Warriors recover to 17-33 but Sylvie
Dixon came off the Enfield bench to score two quick baskets
and Scarlett continued her impressive scoring form with two
more layups. Now leading 43-22, Enfield continued to dominate
and Lisa Williams scored a layup before Imbert added a further
eight points to give take Phoenix into the interval leading
55-29.
Phoenix made a strong start to the third quarter when Imbert
hit three from the free throw line and McCarthy scored a layup
off an assist from Dixon. Successive three-pointers from Godfrey
and Farmer saw Warriors recover to trail 40-65, but Phoenix
stepped up their defensive intensity and a sensational block
by Dixon when defending an attempted layup from Godfrey sparked
a run of baskets by Fawaz, Laird and Rodriguez to give Enfield
a 73-41 lead going into the final quarter.
Dixon, Laird and Williams all added to score in the early stages
of the fourth and a free throw from Johnson was Warriors only
success in a six minute period as their plight worsened with
Tina Duff fouling out with six minutes to play.
Imbert sealed an impressive performance with two more from to
line to secure a 27 point tally as Phoenix ran out impressive
88-48 victors and maintain second place in the EBL Division
Two Women (South) table.
Enfield Phoenix players and scores:
P Imbert 27, F Scarlett 15, A Rodriguez 14, B Laird 11, S Dixon
8, S McCarthy 7,
L Williams 4, N Fawaz 2, E French 0
West Herts Warriors players and scores:
K Hulme 12, K Farmer 9, J Godfrey 9, J Stenzel 8, T Johnson
4, G Farmer 4, T Duff 2
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SATURDAY, 5TH JANUARY 2008
61 ENFIELD PHOENIX -v- SOUTHEND SWIFTS 50
EBL DIVISION TWO WOMEN (SOUTH)
Enfield Phoenix resumed their National League
campaign with a hard fought 61-50 victory over Southend Swifts
when the sides met in EBL Division Two Women (South) at Edmonton
Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Coach Kas Stuart could not call on point guard Michelle Brown
who was still recovering from the injury sustained in the National
Trophy defeat to Sevenoaks Suns last month and Phoenix found
Swifts difficult to contain when they conceded three-pointers
from Rebecca Brough and Jennie Rodgers and trailed 10-0 after
just three minutes.
A time out stemmed the tide and a mid range effort from Sylvie
Dixon opened the Phoenix scoring but a pair of free throws by
Fran Johnson after she was fouled by Dixon kept Southend 10-2
ahead. Enfield then fought back with baskets by Fiona Scarlett,
Sasha McCarthy and Patsy Imbert but still trailed 8-16 at the
end of the quarter.
The second quarter saw Swifts initially extend their lead with
a basket by Rodgers and a three-pointer by Katie Doubleday to
lead 21-10, but an inside score by Bonnie Laird and successive
baskets by Imbert saw Phoenix pull back to trail just 21-18.
Another basket by Laird tied the scores at 22-22 and although
Christina Gaskin edged Swifts back into the lead, further baskets
by Scarlett and Imbert gave Enfield a slender 26-25 advantage
at the interval.
Phoenix recognised that Swifts would make a renewed effort at
the restart and could not contain the visitors’ fast break
as they quickly conceded five baskets to trail by nine points
and force coach Stuart to call a time out. Enfield worked their
way back into the match with baskets from Imbert and Lisa Williams
and when Narjes Fawaz came off the bench to confidently score
a mid range shot Phoenix had regained their composure and recovered
to 37-39.
Gaskin scored for Swifts and McCarthy added another Enfield
basket but a successful free throw from Emma Hart at the end
of the third meant that Southend took a 42-39 into the final
quarter.
Phoenix refused to panic even when Rodgers and Gaskin both scored
immediately after the restart to extend Southend’s lead
to seven points, and Enfield piled on thirteen unanswered points
in a dominant three minute period that effectively sealed the
game.
Scarlett scored nine of her impressive fourteen point tally
in this period, including a big three pointer and the score
line forced Southend coach Stephen Pearl to call a time out.
Gaskin then scored for Swifts to cut the lead
to 52-48 with five minutes to play but Arlynne Rodriguez demonstrated
her shooting ability to match her deft ball handling skills
and hit a crucial three-pointer after which Imbert scored and
Williams added another four points to seal a 61-50 Enfield victory
and maintain second place in the Division Two (South) table.
Enfield Phoenix players and scores:
P Imbert 24, F Scarlett 14, L Williams 8, B Laird 4, S McCarthy
4, A Rodriguez 3,
S Dixon 2, N Fawaz 2, S Jordan 0
Southend Swifts players and scores:
C Gaskin 14, J Rodgers 13, E Hart 7, F Johnson 6, R Brough 5,
K Doubleday 3, J Jobey 2, R Armstrong 0, H Culwick 0, M Elston
0, E Shaxon 0, F Whitby 0
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