Essex Rebels suffer league defeat away in Manchester  

The Rebels’ four-game winning streak in Super League Basketball action came to an end yesterday, as Manchester Basketball pulled off a 97-88 victory.  

A competitive and cagey opening quarter saw both sides trade buckets and fouls alike, with Quinesha Lockett perfect from the free-throw line. Long range efforts from Maria Blazejewski and Olivia Forster were not enough to stop the home side taking a one-point lead into the second quarter, though. Manchester’s Tiarra East got a two-point layup to go with a conversion from the free-throw line to put daylight between the sides.  

An impressive fightback saw the away side begin to stamp their mark in the second quarter, with Natalie Chou and Maria Blazejewski leading the charge. Both players combined for 13 points to see the Rebels turn it around to 46-47.  

With it only being a one-point game in spite of the Rebels’ best efforts, it showed the intensity and strength of the league as Manchester Basketball staged a comeback of their own in the third quarter. Frannie Hottinger and Tiarra East clawed their side back into the game, even after an early run of Rebels scoring saw the away side build their points lead up to eight. A late lay-up from Rhema Ogele saw the Rebels reduce the deficit to six points in the last action of the quarter, with the score reading 76-70 heading into the final phase of play.  

The home side showed their strength across the court in the final ten minutes, with five different players getting in on the scoring act. Hottinger continued her scoring habits, while a three-point dagger from Veera Pirttinen made it a ten-point game. After an effort to fight back and get a result, the Rebels fell to a 97-88 defeat on the road.  

Next up, the Rebels will travel to the capital to take on the London Lions in a must-win game that could see them rekindle their previous form.  

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By Nicholas Melton