Essex Rebels claim victory over London Lions in Season Opener
The Essex Rebels women saw their run in the Super League Basketball trophy get off to a winning start, as they beat the London Lions 81-50 at the Essex Sports Arena.
An action-packed opening quarter saw both sides trade baskets in a fast-paced contest, with the Rebels edging ahead 23-19 after the first ten minutes.. An impressive start from Natalie Chou included nine points, while fellow newcomer Paige Meyer also enjoyed a productive opening quarter as she knitted play together for the Rebels.
The second quarter saw more of the same from both sides, with the London Lions refusing to give up easily. Some great defensive play from the Rebels saw the Lions offence run out of time on the shot clock several times, while Chou and Meyer continued their dominance. Both players showed off their shooting skills, with each chipping in with a three-pointer of their own. With the scoreline reading 39-26 at half time, the Rebels began to pull away.
As the Lions looked to claw themselves back into the game, the Rebels found themselves calling onto their defence more and more throughout the third quarter. Centre Rhema Ogele was at the heart of the Rebels’ defensive efforts, while also winning the physical battle and creating space around the Lions’ rim.
While the Lions struggled to convert from the free throw line, they had less difficulty from range. The away side’s highlight of the third quarter was from Annika Shah, who contributed with a remarkable three-pointer from range. Natalie Chou would respond with a magnificent effort of her own, bagging three points from the corner.
As the fourth quarter began with a score of 56-39, the Rebels began to pull away from the opposition. A two-pointer from Chou saw the home side breach the sixty-point threshold, with other highlights including a three-pointer from Claire Paxton after a nice passing move from the Rebels. The floodgates began to open from there as the Rebels showed off their offensive capabilities, leaving the visitors with little hope of a comeback.
The Lions’ shining light came in the form of Guard Jada Lewis, who contributed fifteen points for the visitors, which was the second most in the game overall.
For the Rebels, Natalie Chou was a definite standout, providing the most points for either side, with twenty-three. The Guard also converted 100% of her free-throws and converted three out of five efforts from the three-point line.
Reflecting on his side’s performance, Head Coach Ashley Cookson said:
“We’re proud of the way our team competed and beating a London side in our first game is a great start. What stood out the most was the joy and togetherness we played with. We’re grateful for the energy the fans brought tonight and look forward to seeing them all next week as we continue to build.”
Tickets are now available for the next match, which includes a Rebels double header at the Essex Sports Arena. Watch the Womens team face last season’s league champions, the Oakland Wolves, in the SLB trophy, before the Mens side take on the Bristol Hurricanes in their first ever British Championship Basketball home game.
