Rebels get back to winning ways with victory over London Lions  

The Essex Rebels saw a return to form after a win in the capital on the weekend, beating the London Lions 80-95 in Super League Basketball action.  

A much-needed result keeps the Rebels within touching distance of the top of the league standings, with just two points separating them from the Caledonia Gladiators.  

Paige Meyer and Natalie Chou combined early on for the away side to give the Rebels an 0-5 lead early in the first quarter, which set the pace for the rest of the game. Back-to-back three-pointers from Quinesha Lockett and Claire Paxton put the Rebels firmly in the driving seat, with the first quarter ending 19-22.  

Both sides carried their momentum into the second quarter, with the home side not making it easy for the Rebels. Some sharp shooting from Mya Proctor and two free-throw conversions from Annika Shah saw both sides heading into halftime with the score reading 41-43.  

Back on the court, the Rebels began to put some distance between themselves and the home side. A signature three-pointer from Natalie Chou saw the Rebels take a twelve-point lead, before Annika Shah responded with a three-pointer of her own. The Lions’ offence continued to keep up the pressure, with Mia Proctor’s jump shot keeping the London side in the game for the final quarter.  

A fantastic steal from Olivia Forster and neat offensive play from Claire Paxton saw Quinesha Lockett get a lay-up to go, before another three-pointer from Paxton extended the Rebels’ lead to 15 points. 

Despite their persistence, the hosts could not find a way to overcome the deficit, with Paige Meyer’s lay-up rounding off a top performance from the Rebels.  

Next Sunday will see the Rebels travel to face Scottish side Caledonia Gladiators in a fixture that carries huge significance at the top of the Super League Basketball table, with just two points separating the sides at the summit.  

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By Nicholas Melton