Academy recap: Penultimate action of 2023 across the country - week nine

The Academy Leagues are nearly at an end for this calendar year, but both competitions are set up perfectly for what should be an exciting 2024.

Five EABL games took place yesterday, as did a pair of WEABL clashes, with some big winners across the four conferences.

Just a few games are now scheduled for next Wednesday, with the leagues then hitting the mid-season break to end December before roaring back into life in mid-January.

Here’s how all the action played out on another exciting Wednesday afternoon.

EABL 

The North Conference's first half came to a close yesterday, with no further games scheduled until 17 January 2024.

That means Charnwood College Riders (5-1) and Myerscough College (5-2) will head into the New Year as co-leaders on 15 points, though Charnwood have bested their North West rivals in both their meetings this year.

'Sco ended their year with a commanding 96-65 victory over Derby Trailblazers (4-2), a contest they led from tip to buzzer.

Tyrese Lacey (18pts, 8ast, 6stl) and Daniel Nwauzu (23pts, 15reb) both put in solid performances for the hosts, with Adam Coxon (12pts, 4/5 3pt) dialed in from beyond the arc.

Manchester Magic (4-4) also picked up a victory, seeing off SGS College (2-6) 92-82 behind 30 points from Joe Buchanan.

Buchanan added nine boards and six assists to a top afternoon's work as Darstin Onye (20pts) and Robbie Wild (15pts) both played well.

The only other game in the North saw The Sheffield College (3-3) move back to .500 with a 79-74 road win against BMET Birmingham Rockets (1-6).

Isaac Askwith's 18 points led the way for the visitors as Mohamed Negbeh added 15 more, with BMET's Larry Duru scoring a game-high 23 points in the losing effort. 

The Canterbury Academy (6-1) will close 2023 top of the South Conference following an 82-68 win against JMA Reading Rockets (2-5).

The teams entered the fourth tied at 56 but Canterbury blew the game open in the final frame to earn another win, with Ludlow Hewson (26pts) leading the charge.

The other game in the South saw Oaklands Wolves (2-5) edge past Copleston High School (2-4) 77-71.

Another game that was tied after 30 minutes, it was the hosts would would have the better of the final quarter to see themselves home.

Calum Johnstone (15pts, 7reb), William Irvine and Dan Kostadinov (14pts each) all played well for the Wolves, cancelling out strong games from Sam Wood (15pts, 23 reb) and Femi Edu (28pts, 6reb).

WEABL

Both conferences enjoyed a game each yesterday, and Copleston High School (5-0) will finish the year unbeaten in the South following a 74-43 road win against Oaklands Wolves (2-4).

Yazmin Edwards continued her great form to drop 28 points on 57% shooting, with team mate Liv Forster (18pts, 9reb, 5ast, 4stl) also filling the stat sheet.

Likewise, Charnwood College Riders (5-0) will lead the North going into 2024 after they continued their perfect start to the season with a 69-56 home W against Nottingham Academy Wildcats (2-3).

After a sluggish start, the hosts went through the gears after the half-time break and eventually led by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter.

Erin Powell notched a highly-impressive 20 point, 12 rebound, 10 assists triple-double, going head-to-head in a great battle with Nottingham's Samantha Mullock (20pts, 21reb).

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Main image credit - Tara St Clair