Recap
Milton Keynes break down Eagles U16 girls in opener
It proved to be a tough opening to the new season for the Eagles U16 girls as they welcomed the Milton Keynes Breakers to the Vertu Motors Arena and ended up being on the wrong end of a 116-48 loss.
Boasting an outstanding England International and four or five players over six feet tall, the superior athleticism and size – as well as a special individual talent for the visitors meant it was a tough game.
Struggling to cope with the necessity of boxing out effectively against a bigger opponent, the Eagles got punished throughout the game. Breakers used this as an early platform to race away early and pile on the points in the later stages.
However, despite the quality of the opponent and the margin of the defeat, there were still some massive positives from the Eagles’ perspective.
When the hosts spaced the floor, then moved the ball and cut, it produced some entertaining basketball and offensively there was plenty to admire and build on.
A number of the younger players also stood out with their contributions and hustle play, including Lola Gibson-Tuck and Lexie Cardwell, who were both playing their first U16 game in an Eagles’ vest.
Meanwhile captain Sophie Hawkins led by example from the backcourt and there was also a strong performance from Seraphine O’Neill in the forward spot, while Grace Rae led the scoring with 15 points.
“It was a tough start to the season for sure, but there is a lot to break down and takeaway for all of us,” reflected head coach, Marina Fernandez.
“We just didn’t put a body on them which was our downfall because we only did it occasionally and I think at times we were too much in awe of their size and strength.”
“But having said that, when we moved off the ball and made cuts, we did get some nice looks and played some encouraging basketball. Some players also showed a lot of promise in a difficult game, so that was very positive.
“As always it’s back to the practice court to see where we can work on the areas we need to improve and build on some of the strengths we showed,” she concluded.
