ST MARY’S BLACK has cemented its place atop Hamilton Basketball Association Women’s Division 1 ladder, with a resounding defeat of Barber Babes, 43-28 on Tuesday night.

St Mary’s Black took control of the game in the first half as it opened a 16-point lead at the halftime buzzer as the Saints attacked the Babes from the opening jump-ball.

The Babes appeared to be stunned by the speed that the Saints played the game and had little or no answer to the onslaught of that first term as the buzzer sounded with the Babes trailing 13-29.

The second half was much more even as both teams conducted an arm wrestle as the ball moved up and down the court, but the Babes were only able to close the gap by a single goal in winning the second half 15-14.

Saskia Gould topped the Saints scores list with 14 individual points while she had support from Maddox Ryan and Holly Rhook who both contributed nine points each.

The Babes had a focal point in Danielle Van Kalken who put up 10 points but could not get their attacking game going until after halftime.

Tigers v Minders Sportscene

The late time slot had an enthralling contest between last placed Tigers and second placed Minders Sportscene, and it appeared that the Tigers were going to cause an upset as it led 17-8 at the halftime break.

Like Barber Babes in the early game, Minders failed to show up for the first half as Tigers shot from all over the court to open that nine-point gap.

The break came at just the right time for Minders Sportscene as they regrouped and returned to the court determined to chase down their quarry.

In a classic case of ‘a game in two halves’, Minders Sportscene blitzed Tigers with an attacking game plan that kept the ball from the Tigers hands and the score mounted quickly.

When the final buzzer sounded, Tigers had let slip their grasp on victory as Minders dropped 23 points for the half to only 10 in reply to earn a hard fought three-point win.

Zoe Hill led the charge for Minders Sportscene in posting 12 points of her own, while Tigers pair Maddison Cotten and Molly O’Brien put up nine each.

Men’s Division 1

Barber Boys Black v Barber Boys White

HBA Men’s division one ladder leaders, Barber Boys White has continued to dominate the competition with a resounding victory in round 10 against its brother club team Barber Boys Black, 53 – 11.

The premiership favourites display all facets of their game with brilliant attacking flair and brutal defence that simply didn’t allow the Black side the opportunity to score.

The White team burst onto the court from the opening tip off to dominate the game and by the sounding of the buzzer to end the first half they held a 24-goal lead, 29 – 5.

With such a lead it would have been understandable if the White side ‘put the cue in the rack’ and coasted to victory, but not this group of players as they returned to the court and continued their dominance.

The second half was a continuation of the first as the White team continued to defend as if it was a grand final, although the Black team did manage to keep the opposition attack to less points in the second half, 23 – 6.

Nate Krause top scored for the victors with 13 points while Karatau Keightley contributed six points for the Black team.

St Mary’s Orange v Minders White

Unfortunately, the late time slot was vacant as St Mary’s Orange forfeited to Minders White which was disappointing as these teams are third and second respectively on the ladder, while St Mary’s Black had the bye.