Manchester Magic edged UTC Sheffield 80–79 and Barking Abbey completed an EABL and WEABL double over City of London Academy–Southwark during Wednesday’s Academy Leagues programme.
Three games were decided by five points or fewer, while Xaverian College, The Canterbury Academy and New City College Hackney recorded their first wins of the season.[4]
Magic survive one-point finish
UTC Sheffield had two late lay-up opportunities but could not overturn Manchester Magic’s one-point lead. Asher Sibanda scored 23 points with six rebounds and four assists for Sheffield, while Abraham Sagay Isiorho posted 12 points and 12 rebounds for Manchester.[4]
Myerscough College produced the day’s biggest EABL score in a 112–52 win at Nottingham Academy Wildcats. AJ Smith contributed 20 points for the defending champions, while Nottingham’s Seamus Conlon finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and four assists.[4]
Elsewhere in the EABL, New City College Hackney beat Canterbury 80–66, Xaverian defeated Newcastle College 66–56 and Barking Abbey moved to 2–0 in the South with a 61–54 victory over CoLA. BMet beat HHS Reading Rockets 79–69, while SGS College won 79–65 at Copleston.[4]
Barking make WEABL statement
Barking’s women defeated reigning champions CoLA 73–42 behind 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals from Sytira Smith. Sharliyah Sutherland added 16 points.[4]
Nottingham Academy Wildcats held off Manchester Mystics 66–63 following a late 6–3 run. Ophelia Larder-Lee led Nottingham with 20 points and six rebounds, while HHS Reading Rockets beat BMet 90–53 as Matilda Upfold recorded 24 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals.[4]
Canterbury claimed their first WEABL win by beating New City College Hackney 69–50, and Xaverian opened their account with a 70–65 victory over Newcastle College. Barking now sit 2–0 in both South Conferences, while Nottingham lead the WEABL North at 2–0.[4]