Academy Leagues: Honours even as EABL, WEABL get underway - Week 1

JMA Reading Rockets and Copleston High School started both the EABL and WEABL seasons yesterday, splitting their pair of games.

The Rockets took the EABL South encounter 110-73, thanks in part to a 40-23 third quarter, before the tables were turned in the WEABL South encounter, as defending regular season champs Copleston sauntered to a 81-22 victory to open their title defence.

We've got a recap of both games below ahead of another seven Academy games next week.

Isaac Spurrier enjoyed a game-high 24 points for JMA yesterday

EABL

JMA Reading Rockets 110-73 Copleston High School - BOX SCORE

Reading provided an emphatic answer to the question of who would replace now graduated EABL top scorer from 2023/24, Issac Round, as they passed the century mark to see off Copleston yesterday.

Isaac Spurrier (24pts, 10reb) enjoyed a double-double along with a game-high points haul, whilst Round's brother Ethan (21pts, 4reb, 3ast) also played well.

The duo, plus Matthew Daines (16pts, 4stl) off the Rockets' bench, allowed the hosts to build a 56-29 half time lead that would grow further following a 40 point third quarter.

Copleston would close the gap in the fourth behind a team-high 16 points from Matthew Liddamore, but the result was never in doubt after the Rockets' third frame barrage.

Copleston are back in action on the 9 October, as they entertain Oaklands Wolves, whilst JMA need to wait another week (16th) before they welcome the same opponent in their next contest.

WEABL

JMA Reading Rockets 22-81 Copleston High School - BOX SCORE

It was business as usual for defending conference champs Copleston, as they brushed aside JMA to open their season with a victory.

JMA were only able to pass into double digit scoring in the third frame as they slipped to a 16-4 deficit after one and 34-7 by the half.

Coach Drane's side move into the post-Liv Forster, Christabel Osarobo and Yazmin Edwards era with plenty of questions to answer about how their roster will fare going forward, but new face Maisie Keyes looked right at home as she dropped 14 points to go with five boards and four steals.

Kara Bassil (12pts, 11reb) and Deanna Carrington (10pts, 10reb, 6ast, 4stl) both recorded double-doubles, with captain Louisa Gibbins (10pts, 9reb) coming close to joining them.

It was a fairly comprehensive performance from the Suffolk programme, as they also won the rebounding battle 63-43, including 31 offensive boards in that tally for 28 second chance points.

Like their EABL sides, Copleston are back in action on the 9 October at home to Oaklands, and the Rockets will try to bounce back a week later against the Wolves.

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