THE Hamilton Basketball Association’s winter season got underway this weekend with senior games played across Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Women’s Division 1-2

Tigers d St Mary’s

TIGERS and St Mary’s faced off in the early game on Tuesday night, with Tigers getting the better of the Saints by seven points at the final buzzer.

It was a tight opening half, with 32 points scored, as Tigers’ Mimi Chun put up four points to give her team a four-point margin at the main break.

Danielle Vankalken hit the first points of the second period to half the Saints’ scoreboard deficit, but it was the experience of Rhianne Lewis which settled Tigers, as the reigning season MVP put up five second-half points to guide her team to a 29-22 victory.

Lewis top-scored for the winners with eight points, while Vankalken matched the output for St Mary’s.

St Mary’s Black d St Mary’s Orange

IT was the tightest of contests between the Black and Orange sides to open the season, with Black holding on to win a thriller by one point.

Both teams battled hard in the first half, with defensive efforts from both teams leading to a 13-13 score at the main break.

With both teams defending hard in the first half, the game opened up a little more in the second half, with scoring a little easier at both ends of the court.

Ruby Cleaver’s two points late in the game proved to be the difference, giving Black a one-point lead with the buzzer sounding shortly after.

Emily Iredell’s top division debut impressed, putting up 17 points for Orange, while Saskia Gould led the way for Black with 10 points.

Monivae d Barber Babes

IT was a bigger margin in the late game, with Monivae edging out Barber Babes by 13 points.

A 22-point first half set up the victory for Monivae, with Barber Babes struggling to match their opponent on the scoreboard.

Barber Babes could only manage 14, to go into half time trailing by eight points.

With Barber Babes only having one rotation off the bench and Monivae fielding a team of five, scoring slowed in the second half, with a combined 13 points scored.

Monivae’s five players all contributed, with the team going on to record a 31-18 victory to start the season on a winning note.

Ella Sevior top-scored for the winners with 11 points, while Amy Pepper led the way for Barber Babes with six points.

Men’s Division 1

Minders d St Mary’s Black

IT was a dominant performance from Minders to start the season on Wednesday night, accounting for St Mary’s Black by 41 points.

Black could only manage 15 points in the first half, as Minders grabbed control of the contest early on with 27 points.

The second half was even more one-sided, with Black adding only seven points, while Minders put up 36 points to run away comfortable 63-22 winners.

Kyle Rhook (17 points) and Karatau Keightley (16 points) were the standouts for the winners, while Zac Elliott, Riley Iredell and Craig Jackson each put up five points for St Mary’s Black.

St Mary’s Orange d GT Storm

IT was a strong showing from GT Storm in its first game after stepping up into the top division this season, falling 10 points short of St Mary’s Orange in Wednesday night’s late game.

Archie Porter led from the front with 11 points for Orange, guiding the team to a five-point lead at half time, which eventually turned into a 50-40 victory at the final buzzer.

Pip Steer was the standout for Storm with nine points.