Hoop Zone: Barking Triple Weekend

What a weekend for Abbey Basketball, 2 league victories and success in the National Shield. Thanks to Mark and all the team for pics and info.

Manchester Mystics 56  Barking Abbey 63

Barking Abbey Senior Women moved to 2-0 in VCars.co.uk Division 1 with a 63-56 defeat of Manchester Mystics, in Manchester, on Saturday evening.

“Pleased with win,” said head coach Mark Clark after the game. “Ros (Mason) really led by example and showed why I think she still offers the national team an option. It was good to get some young players in to the game.”

Mason led BA with 19 points, Shequila Joseph added 15, whilst Georgia Jones finished with 7 points and 5 assists.

“We must continue to get better every game if we are to compete with the best though,” Clark added.
BA will look to keep their perfect record on November 24, when they take on City of Sheffield Hatters at home (8:00pm tip)

University of East London NASSA 72  Barking Abbey 74

Barking Abbey left University of East London Sports Dock with their closest victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, beating University of East London NASSA 74-72, to move to 5-0 in the VCars.co.uk Division 4 Men’s league.

Both teams entered the game undefeated, and with the top spot in the league table at stake, BA didn’t back down from the more experienced NASSA side.

“This was a great win for Barking Abbey, I couldn’t be happier with this group of players,” enthused head coach Frank Holloway after the game. “This was a game we have been preparing for all week. In the end our players just wanted it more. They stuck together, played hard, and never gave up.

“We shot the ball well as a team, and dominated the glass; both areas we focused on this week in practice”
David Akibo (pictured, above) led BA with a 20 point, 7 rebound, 4 assist effort, Josh Steel added 17 points, Paulius Satkus had a 12 point, 15 rebound double double, and Joe Lockwood finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

“Joe, Paulius, and David were huge for us in the post,” continued Holloway. “They played a physical game, and didn’t back down at all.

“Our defensive pressure in the second half is what helped us secure this win.”
Roy Downey added 9 points and 5 assists.

BA will now play Medway Park Crusaders II at home on November 17 (6:00pm tip).

Barking Abbey 99 Solent Kestrels 90

Barking Abbey advanced to the National Shield quarter finals on Sunday afternoon, with a 99-90 home victory over Solent Kestrels.

The win came with no less than six players scoring in double digits, led by 18 points from Ryan Addision as he drained 6 three pointers.

“Solent were very aggressive on both sides of the floor, something we expected,” explained head coach Frank Holloway after the game. “We made some adjustments at half time that really helped us down the stretch of the ball game.”

Paulius Satkus had a 17 point, 11 rebound, double double, Roy Downey finished with 17 points and 5 assists, whilst Josh Steel, Joe Lockwood and David Akibo added 16, 14, and 11 points respectively.
“In the end our defense won us the game,” continued Holloway.

BA advance to play Nottingham Hoods away on December 9.