Christmas Special double-header sees both Rebels sides victorious in final games of 2025 at the Essex Sport Arena
Essex Rebels Women vs Sheffield Hatters
In their last Super League Basketball home game of the year, the Rebels Women hosted the Sheffield Hatters as part of a festive double header at the Essex Sport Arena.
An end-to-end opening quarter saw both sides trade baskets, with Emma Gandini stepping up with three three-pointers for the Hatters in the absence of their talisman Megan Mullings.
Despite the Rebels’ best efforts, the first quarter ended with the scoreline reading 20-25.
As the visitors began to pull away in the second quarter, the Rebels showed their fight. A fantastic steal from Quinesha Lockett saw her slip the ball through to Rhema Ogele who was able to complete a lay-up for two points, before Olivia Forster’s three-pointer sailed into the net from the corner.
With the score reading 58-56 as the sides came in at the half, the Rebels comeback was complete. Paige Meyer’s sixteen points in the quarter made the difference, with her persistent energy catching the Hatters off guard.
With 28 points and 3 assists at the half, Georgia Gayle was having a game to remember for the visitors – and giving the Rebels something to think about heading into the third quarter.
The intensity resumed after the break, with neither side willing to budge. Georgia Gayle continued a fine performance, giving the Hatters the edge before the last quarter. With just four points separating the sides as the score read 75-79, everything rested on a massive fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the tempo and intensity continue, with both sides unable to establish a clear lead.
As only two points separated both sides in the penultimate timeout, a two-point lay-up from Paige Meyer saw the Rebels draw level with 28 seconds to go.
After the timeout, Georgia Gayle converted once from the free-throw line for the visitors, before Quinesha Lockett was fouled at the buzzer. Two perfect efforts from the line saw the Rebels snatch victory from the jaws of the defeat in a dramatic 103-102 victory.
Following the game, Head Coach Ashley Cookson said:
“It wasn’t our best performance but I’m really proud of the group for finding a way to pull through, making key defensive plays and valuing possessions down the stretch. Credit to Sheffield for putting up a tremendous fight.”
Key Performers:
Essex Rebels
Paige Meyer – 33 points – 3 rebounds – 1 assist
Quinesha Lockett – 28 points – 11 rebounds – 3 assists
Natalie Chou – 17 points – 5 rebounds – 1 assist
Sheffield Hatters
Georgia Gayle – 40 points – 6 rebounds – 6 assists
Cheyenne Stubbs – 18 points – 4 rebounds – 5 assists
Nina Krisper – 16 points – 7 rebounds – 2 assists
Essex Rebels Men vs Nottingham Hoods
Tip-off: 6:30pm
Following the Women’s side onto the court, the Rebels Men faced off against the Nottingham Hoods in a British Championship Basketball clash to bring all of the action at the Essex Sport Arena to a close for 2025.
A chippy first quarter ended 19-18 to the Rebels, with Miles Brown converting twice from the line to put the home side in front as the last action of the opening ten minutes.
With the Hoods’ defence proving difficult to crack, the second quarter saw the Rebels beginning to pull away in impressive fashion, as they led the visitors by six points with just over five minutes to go to the half.
Daniel Johnson-Thompson’s two-point layup put the home side firmly in the driver’s seat, while Miles Brown led the points-scoring for the Rebels with eight.
Three-pointers from Tom Child and Kyron Martin were the highlights of the half, as the Rebels led the Hoods 38-33.
As the visitors began to build momentum, Tyrone Williams led the game in points scored with 11 at the half – while also notching up three rebounds, three turnovers and two steals. Heading into the second half, the Rebels would need to keep the Hoods’ danger man quiet if they wanted to secure a win in their last home match of the year.
The Rebels started the third quarter where they left off, with Kyron Martin sinking a three-pointer from the corner before Remy Udeh converted both of his chances from the free throw line.
Captain Tom Child tallied up back-to-back three pointers after great work on the touchline from Miles Brown to keep the ball in play – and the Rebels had all the momentum.
At the end of the third quarter, the Rebels led the Hoods by ten points, with the score reading 60-50.
A tense fourth quarter saw the Rebels seal an 85-76 victory in their final game at the Essex Sport Arena for the year. Despite the Hoods’ best efforts, a spirited Rebels defence denied the visitors the opportunity to make a comeback.
Speaking after the game, Head Coach Joe Hart said:
“It was a gritty, gutsy performance. It wasn’t pretty, but we made a big improvement on our defensive rebounding and playing with our fouling.”
Key performers:
Essex Rebels
Miles Brown – 21 points – 4 rebounds – 7 assists
Tom Child – 17 points – 6 rebounds – 7 assists
Daniel Johnson-Thompson – 11 points – 9 rebounds – 1 assist
Nottingham Hoods
Tyrone Williams – 24 points – 5 rebounds – 4 assists
Sam Akano- 19 points – 2 rebounds – 5 assists
Byrce Johnson – 16 points – 1 rebound – 3 assists
Thank you to all of our fans for your continued support! We hope to see you back at the Essex Sport Arena in the new year for plenty more high quality basketball action.
By Nic Melton
