Basketball: Hot Amazons overcome All Stars

Bognor knew Holbrook could provide a challenge but they played with impressive intensity as Laura Whitaker asserted her shooting authority early by sinking two successive three-pointers.

Defensively, the Amazons were a force to be reckoned with and Holbrook had to call an early time-out to talk it over. But Amazons continued to dictate the first quarter, ending it 18-7 up.

The game lulled in the second quarter as Holbrook began to find their feet. Amazons increased their ball movement and began to use the middle. D King fought for her space in the centre of the court which made room for Mel Phillips and Anneleise Flynn to shoot.

Bognor were still 11 points clear at halfway.

The third quarter delivered some minor difficulties for the Amazons as Holbrook’s only real threat, Aleksandra Buzala, began to heat up. Amazons coach Vicky Smith called a time out in order to change the defensive formation.

Ellie Lowe was determined to mark the Holbrook number four out of the game; Lowe’s effort proved successful as the player became increasingly rattled by the extra attention.

Offensively Bognor were becoming stagnant. This was no problem though as Zsofi Vitanyi picked up the slack and repeatedly got Amazons out of trouble by showing impressive strength under the basket and scoring six quick points.

Tensions ran high in the fourth quarter as Holbrook’s frustrations became apparent. These culminated in a tussle for the ball under the basket between the Amazon captain Jo Gabb and three Holbrook players. Gabb refused to let the unnecessarily aggressive play of the All Stars get her worked up.

This self-control set the tone for the rest of the quarter and nullified any Holbrook attempts to make a run. Fiona Binnie, a vital spark off the bench, consolidated this attitude with strong rebounding leading to four easy points.

Amazons could bask in the glory of a convincing 12-point win.

Amazons top scorers: Whitaker (14) – 21pts; Vitanyi (5) – 14 pts; King (13) – 12 pts.