Basketball: National League-Leaders earn easy wins |14 September 2011

Defending women’s champions HotShots had four players scoring in doubles digits – power forward Myra Solin 19 points, Sheriffa Agathine 17, Beguitta Fontaine 17 and Jenita Toussaint 16 – in their 75-43 win over Mont Fleuri.

Toussaint netted four treys and Fontaine got three for Anse Boileau-based HotShots who dominated three of the four quarters as they collected their sixth win in seven matches to lead the six-team women’s standings with 13 points.
Veteran Patricia Samynadin was the only Mont Fleuri player in double digits with 10 points as they lost for the third time in seven matches.

In another women’s match, RA Sisters got only their third victory in six games with a 47-31 win over Juniors as Tessa Mathiot carried their scoring load with a game-high 15 points. Captain Irene Bau paced Juniors with 11 points.
In the men’s first division league, defending champions PLS Hawks had no trouble earning their 10th and 11th wins in 12 games, thumping the league’s worst team Razors 79-33 on the back of 20 points from Nigerian Alao Solomon and defeating the struggling Drifters 96-49 on Monday at Victoria Gymnasium.
Centre Rodney Lozé and power forward Neddy ‘Oye’ Fanchette added 10 points apiece in the Hawks’ win against the Razors.

While coach Clifford Joubert’s Hawks sit at the top of the 10-team standings with 23 points, tailenders Razors are winless in 10 games.

MBU Rockers and Baya are locked on 21 points and boast the same win-lose record of 9-3. Coach Alvin Alcindor’s Rockers lead coach Michel Malbrook’s Baya on the head-to-head rule after winning the first-round encounter.

Paced by Pascal Bibi with 15 points, while Brian Morel also got 15 and skipper Nigel Sinon netted 12, the Rockers edged Cascade Bullets 58-56 in a close encounter.

Big centre Ronny Julienne finished with 13 points for the Bullets who have lost seven in 11 outings.

The Rockers have the same win-lose record of 9-3 like Baya but lead coach Michel Malbrook’s team on the head-to-head rule after winning the first-round encounter.

Bel Air-based Baya welcomed back centre Robert Léon who had not featured in their first two second-round matches as he was rumoured to be wanting a transfer to either Premium Cobras or PLS Hawks.

Léon made a strong impact on his return to action with a game-leading 26 points as Baya defeated Mont Fleuri Dawgz 78-72 to stay in touch with the leading pack.

Nigel Cafrine got 18 points, Kevin Romain 17 and Steven André 11 for the Dawgz who are on 18 points with seven wins and four losses in 11 games.

Centre Timmy Adam had the hot hands for Premium Cobras, playmaker Christopher ‘Toto’ Camille added 19, Dominic Pillay 13 including two treys and Nigerian centre Ugbaje Ajodoh 11 as they controlled the first three quarters on the way to an 82-73 win over RC Dynamics.

The win is the Cobras’ ninth in 11 matches for 20 points and they are in fourth position in the standings, while RC Dynamics are eighth with 14 points although ‘big men’ Emmanuel Larue (22 points) and Emmanuel Jupiter (20) had a strong game.

In an Anse Boileau derby, Angels finished on top, beating last year’s second division winners Drifters 81-62 for their fourth win of the season in 12 games to bring their points tally to 16.

Skipper Chabel Servina fired on all cylinders with a game-high 24 points and he got help from Steve Antat with 14 points and Barry Dubignon added 10.

Arnaud Arissol again paced Drifters with 19 points and captain Henry Monthy added 13 as coach Denis Dodin’s team fell to their 11th defeat in 12 games played.

Meanwhile, in two men’s division two league matches, Praslin Warriors made a rewarding trip to Mahe as they beat Beau Vallon Heat 71-41 and AAP Brothers earned a 67-42 victory over Cadets.

G. G.