Academy recap: EABL, WEABL enjoy ten game afternoon - week 12

The Academy Leagues are back in full swing, with teams working through the remainder of their regular season schedules.

With a bumper slate of ten games, five in the EABL and five in the WEABL, there was plenty of action to enjoy across the country.

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

WEABL

In the much-anticipated clash at the top of the South Conference, Copleston High School (7-0) took a huge step towards sealing the regular season title with a 75-70 victory over City of London Academy - Southwark (5-1).

CoLA's first loss of the season came in part due to a 35-point, 14-rebound double-double from Christabel Osarobo as the hosts overturned a 59-52 deficit heading into the final quarter.

JMA Reading Rockets (1-6) picked up their first win of the season as they beat fellow strugglers Barking Abbey (1-7) 53-38.

JMA's Millie Day led all scorers with 22, adding eight boards as Charlotte Devereux (8pts, 10reb) and Elia Ando (9pts, 16reb) both narrowly missed double-doubles.

Oaklands Wolves (4-4) continued their push to grab a playoff spot with a 63-48 W against Itchen College (3-3).

Trailing 39-36 going into the fourth, Oaklands put up a 27-9 final frame to win at a canter behind a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double from Cleo Lewis-Gayle. Captain Caitlin Ryan added 12 points to go with seven steals in support.

In the North, Charnwood College Riders (7-0) continue to steamroller their way through the competition, this time beating The Sheffield College (0-6) 84-38.

Erin Powell (26pts, 10reb, 6ast, 5stl) made short work of Sheffield in just 20:59 of action, with Louise Fisher (15pts, 12reb) and Lauren Cooper (13pts, 10reb) both adding double-doubles. 

That left Manchester Mystics (3-3) and Nottingham Academy Wildcats (3-4) to continue their tussle for second spot, with their latest battle going the way of the Mystics, 74-54.

Nottingham were held to just 14 points in the second half as Carina Costa (21pts, 7reb) led all scorers for the hosts.

EABL 

South Conference leaders The Canterbury Academy (8-1) were made to work in their first game of 2024 as they narrowly saw off Itchen College (3-4) 81-71.

Ludlow Hewson (25pts, 8reb, 8ast) was the standout for the hosts after another strong performance. Tim Oboh (15pts, 15reb) added a double-double, with Itchen's best performance coming from Joe Lloyd (18pts, 7reb).

Barking Abbey's (5-3) title defence was dealt another blow as they went down 100-90 away to JMA Reading Rockets (4-5).

Isaac Round (28pts, 14ast, 8reb) continued his recent hot form with a near triple-double, Ethan Round (5/5 3pt) and Isaac Spurrier both added a further 17 points each

BA are still well placed to make the post season despite the set back, with Harry Godwin (26pts) top-scoring yesterday.

City of London Academy - Southwark (5-2) ground out a narrow win on the road, beating Copleston High School (2-7) 63-55.

Isaac Fiagbe (16pts, 13reb) came up big from the CoLA bench to cancel out a massive 10-point, 20-rebound performance on the glass from Copleston's Sam Wood.

North leaders Charnwood College Riders (6-1) kept up the pace at the top as they beat SGS College (2-8) 98-62.

A 28-14 opening frame allowed the hosts to lead from almost tip to buzzer, allowing Riders' captain Edward Onyia (34pts, 13reb) to put on a show.

Manchester Magic (5-5) moved back to .500 on the year as they got the better of BMET City of Birmingham Rockets (1-7) 75-57.

A 29-9 third quarter broke the game open as Manchester ran away with the contest from there. Shaq Furlonge (15pts, 12reb) was on double-double duty for the hosts and team mate Darstin Onye dropped a game-high 21 points.

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Main image credit - Tara St Clair