Academy recap: Both leagues edge towards playoffs - week 14

For most conferences, just three game weeks remain in the 2023/24 regular season.

Teams are still battling hard for titles and the coveted #1 seeds, while others are still scrapping to stay in the playoff picture. 

With 11 games spread across yesterday afternoon, six in the EABL and five more in the WEABL, it was another great week for academy basketball.

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

EABL 

Charnwood College Riders' (7-2) got back to winning ways in the North as they saw off Manchester Magic (5-6) 70-53.

Their latest success came courtesy of 20 points off the bench from Thomas Johnston, who nailed three triples to cancel out a 14 point, 12 rebound double-double from Magic's Darstin Onye.

The victory takes Charnwood back level with Myerscough on 21 points, and since they own the tie-breaker between the two sides, the Riders would be the #1 seeds if the the teams stay level.

The Sheffield College (6-3) jumped past Manchester and into third spot after a successful trip to SGS College (2-10), winning 73-48.

Mohamed Ngebeh meant business for the visitors as he dropped an impressive 27 points, hitting five of his shots from long range to go with 11 rebounds and three steals.

Derby Trailblazers (6-2), like Myerscough and Charnwood, only have two losses to their name this season and can get into the title mix if they can win their games in hand.

They claimed another W yesterday, beating BMET City of Birmingham Rockets (1-9) 92-59 behind 24 points from Elliot Lawrence

With two games against Charnwood still to play, it's worth noting that Derby don't own the head-to-head with Myerscough, but there's plenty more basketball to be played before those kinds of scenarios might come into play.

With leaders Canterbury out of action, that gave the chasing pack in the South a chance to close in.

City of London Academy - Southwark (7-2) pulled to within three points of top spot following an 81-62 win against Oaklands Wolves (2-9).

Bilal Khan and Emanuel Adeniyi both had 15 points for the visitors, who restricted Oaklands to 31% shooting that included a nine-point third quarter.

Barking Abbey (7-3) also made up ground as they knocked off Itchen College (3-6) 98-59, with Ethan Conway (20pts), Moziah King-Danchie (18pts) and Bolade Egbeyemi (17pts) all doing their bit.

JMA Reading Rockets (6-5) continue to steam towards the playoff spots with yet another win, this time beating Copleston High School (2-8) 86-74.

The win takes JMA's current streak to four in a row, with Isaac Round (30pts, 11reb, 12ast) grabbing a stat-filling triple-double.

WEABL

The title race is still a close one in the South, with both top dogs picking up wins yesterday.

JMA Reading Rockets (1-7) were no match for unbeaten Copleston High School (8-0), with a 96-35 final score.

A 30-7 opening quarter put the writing on the wall for the visitors early, as Copleston's Yazmin Edwards poured in 32 points and Christabel Osarobo (14pts, 10reb, 9stl) flirted with a triple-double.

City of London Academy - Southwark (6-1) also picked up a win, taking down Oaklands Wolves (5-5) 70-52.

Adaora Dioramma (11pts, 10reb), Esther Kursite (12pts, 7reb) and Shay Oyewole (13pts) all played well for the visitors, who now look set for a potential title showdown at home against Copleston on 6 March.

The South's only other contest saw Itchen College (4-3) beat Barking Abbey (1-9) 70-51.

Glory Uzonfuma had a game-high 19 points as the South Coast programme look to chase down #3 seeds Oaklands.

In the North, unbeaten leaders Charnwood College Riders (9-0) sealed their perfect regular season with a comfortable 73-39 victory over The Sheffield College (0-8).

The Riders enjoyed 15 points from Charley Woodman and 14 more from Emily Taylor, keeping Sheffield winless in the process. 

Nottingham Academy Wildcats (4-5) ended their regular season with a victory, beating Manchester Mystics (4-4) 72-49.

Samantha Mullock had a big 14-point, 22-rebound double-double as teammate Valerie Cassidy De Falco (18pts, 12ast) had one of her own, with Carina Costa (19pts) and Elizandra Costa (10pts) the only Mystics to make it to double-digit scoring.

With just one game remaining between Sheffield and Manchester, Charnwood and Sheffield are long confirmed as the #1 and #4 seeds respectively.

Manchester own the tiebreaker with Nottingham having won their season series 2-1, meaning win or lose in that final game against Sheffield, the Mystics will finish second with Nottingham third.

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