Basketball: National League-Can anyone catch the Stars and Hawks? |07 August 2012

Stars and Hawks extended their winning run to seven and 12 games respectively at the weekend at Victoria Gymnasium and they now seem to be in a league of their own as their opponents figure how to put an end to their purple patch of results.

With the mother-and-daughter duo of Simone Malbrook and Jana Malbrook combining for 31 of their team’s 58 points, Anse Etoile Stars hammered former champions HotShots 58-31 on Saturday.

If 17-year-old Jana top-scored in the match with 16 points including a trey, her mother Simone finished with 15 while Dynah Louis was the third star in double digits with 10 points including a shot from downtown as coach Michel Malbrook’s team brought their points tally to a maximum 14 in seven games.

Asked if her team can finish the three-round league unbeaten, skipper Simone Malbrook told Sports Nation that her team will be looking to make it eight victories on the trot when they meet Mont Fleuri this coming Sunday.

“We will be in good position to say if we can finish the three-round championship unbeaten after Sunday’s game,” said captain Simone Malbrook.

The loss was HotShots’ fourth in eight games and they have 12 points to occupy the runner-up position in the five-team standings.

Mont Fleuri are third with nine points after collecting four wins in five games, RA Sisters are fourth also with nine points (two wins and five defeats) and Juniors are fifth with six points (six defeats in as many matches).

In the men’s division one, defending champs PLS Hawks were without Bernard Bristol and Barry Baron but they had enough ammunition to outgun MBU Rockers and even reach the century mark in a 101-59 win on Sunday.

Nigerian forward Alao Solomon again had the hot hands for the Hawks with a game-leading 31 points including a trey, while centre Rodney Lozé and veteran captain Jim Domingue also scored in double digits with 14 and 11 points apiece.

Sunday was the second time leaders Hawks, who are on a 12-game win roll for 24 points, clocked a century in the second round as they also beat Drifters 105-60.

As for the Rockers, the defeat was their second consecutive after starting the second round on a good note with wins over title challengers Premium Cobras (72-69) and Baya (84-83).  They have five wins and seven defeats to their name.

In another top-flight match during the weekend, third-placed Baya returned to winning ways as inspirational captain Timmy Adam finished with 27 points including two treys and Alex Baron added 21 in an 80-68 victory over Angels who are occupying sixth position with 14 points (four wins and six defeats).

Mont Fleuri Dawgz are second with 20 points (nine wins and two losses), with 20 points (nine wins and two losses), Premium Cobras fourth with 17 points (seven wins and three losses), Drifters fifth with 14 points (three wins and eight losses), Cascade Bullets eighth with 13 points (one win and 11 losses) and RC Dynamics eighth with 12 points (one wins and 10 losses).

Meanwhile, in the men’s bottom division, Praslin Warriors look set to make a return to the top flight after amassing two more wins last weekend when they travelled to Mahe.

They beat Anse Etoile 53-48 and cadets 90-45 to bring their win-lose record to 8-1 for 17 points.
Beau Vallon Heat are second with 15 points (seven wins and one defeat), Anse Etoile third with 13 points (five wins and three defeats), AAP Brothers fourth with 11 points (three wins and six defeats including one by walkover), Razors fifth with 11 points (three wins and five defeats), Cadets sixth with nine points (one win and seven defeats) and Juniors seventh with seven points (seven defeats in as many matches).

G. G.