As a writer, commentator, podcaster and more, Paul had the difficult task of selecting his usual Player and Team of the Week selections from a strong pool of potential candidates.
Have your say on this week's choices and give a shout-out to the players you think deserve one using the hashtag #NBL2324. Don't forget to tag us!
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Darren will pick a Player of the Week and four other selections to round out his Team of the Week, paying attention to the following criteria:
The FocusHoops Team of the Week 
Wallace is this weekend’s Player of the Week following Bristol’s big win over Loughborough in front of a packed out SGS. Wallace bagged a game-high 32 points, on 44% shooting, including three triples and seven free throws. She led her side in steals with five, and contributed on the boards with six boards. Wallace had eight points in the final period, helping keep the Riders at bay and put Bristol in the box seat for a playoff finish.
Khalil put in an incredible display in a losing bid at home to Ipswich finishing with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double against the league leaders. Khalil did her scoring with remarkable efficiency, hitting 9-12 from the floor and nailing five threes from six. She pulled down 11 rebounds, dished five assists, swiped two steals and only turned the ball over once.
Davids was instrumental in Brent defeating ARU and continuing their chase of Ipswich at the top of the standings. Davids was a made basket shy of a triple-double having scored eight points, grabbing 11 boards and dishing out 10 assists, all up on her season average. Scoring on 50% of her shots, Davids was efficient with the ball and played an important part in winning the battle of the boards as Brent made life tough for their guests.
Izunze continues a great campaign for TVC with a 16-11 double-double on the road in Birmingham. She shot efficiently, going 6-10 from inside the arc and putting down 4-6 from the stripe, whilst contributing 11 boards and finding teammates with four assists. Iwunze made an immediate impact on the game, scoring the first five points for TVC and helped prevent Birmingham mounting a response with timely baskets in the second and third periods.
The game leader in rebounds, Amadi was one of the performers of the week as the Flyers took down the Riders at SGS. She finished with seven points, going 2-2 from two-point land and 3-4 from the stripe it was battling on the boards that was Amadi’s major impact on the game. Her five offensive boards added points to the total and added to the foul count, all contributing to the win with two assists coming directly from her rebounds.
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball maintained their spot at the top after a 76-64 victory on the road in Manchester.
— NBL (@NBLengland) February 12, 2024
🗞👇https://t.co/zlY1MCTNkL pic.twitter.com/xFEGuz8FNQ
The Bristol Flyers took down Loughborough Riders this weekend in front of full stands at the SGS Wise Arena, strengthening their playoff push and can start aiming for a top-five finish to the season. Buoyed by excellent home support, Bristol were led in scoring by POTW Hannah Wallace who finished with 32 points, and 12 points apiece from Mara Marchizotti and Cristina Bigica from the bench. The big differentiator between the sides on Sunday was at the charity stripe, as Bristol shot double the free throws as Loughborough, making eight more of them, with Bigica particularly devastating at the line going 8-9 having drawn eight fouls. Erin Caldwell continues to impress for the Riders as she top scored with 17 points from the bench.
Ipswich secured another win over Manchester but Brent sit second in the standings with a 12-3 record and a game in hand over the league leaders after defeating eight-placed Anglia Ruskin University at home on Sunday. Brent were led in scoring by Eleanor Bishop (12 points) who went off from beyond the arc draining four triples and was joined in double-digits scoring by Judit Fritz and Josephine Maignomo who both scored 10 apiece. Brent led after the early minutes and despite a rally from Ruskin in the third, didn’t see their lead drop below 10 points for the final three periods of the contest. Brent dominated the boards 69-43 with Jess Davies, Rochelle Davids and Milly Watkins all bringing down double-digit rebounds. Ruskin, who sit behind Bristol only on PD, were led in scoring by Nadege Talva (11).
Mara Marchizotti BRI 12-9-4 19EFF
Ruchae Walton BA 18-9-5 19EFF
Helene Trailin TVC 6-14-1 20EFF
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Main image credit - B.East Photography
