Basketball: Cadettes post 11th straight win

Dec 24 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

GLASGOW ROCKS 36 ST MIRREN RKC 95

BUDDIES Cadette Women, sponsored by Reid Kerr College, stormed to their eleventh straight win in the National League, defeating Glasgow Rocks in a game which the league leaders dominated from start to finish.

With seven National League fixtures remaining, Saints now have a three-week winter break to rest up and then prepare for their final league encounters and the Scottish Cup, with the first round being played at the end of January.

And it was captain and internationalist Sarah Thomson who controlled the Rocks game with precision passing and “assist” play to allow her team mates to capitalise and rack up the score.

“Sarah has great vision and awareness on court and leads the line extremely well for someone so young,” said head coach Lindsay Lang.

“She plays strongly and has finished clinically all season.”

“This rapid progress has not gone unnoticed at the club, as she steps up regularly at Junior level and recently has performed effectively in short periods for the Senior Women's team.”

Saints started very brightly, jumping into a 9-2 lead after three minutes through good scores from Gemma McCrea, Robyn Lewis and Jennifer Harris.

Rocks replied, forcing Lang into a timeout and changes from the bench.

At the end of the first quarter Saints had regained the momentum and shot into 6-23 lead.

With the younger Saints players coming into the match in the second period for more National League experience, Sarah Hunter and Rhona Downie equipped themselves well at both ends of the court and got themselves on the scoresheet.

By the interval the visitors were 19 points up.

With Saints changing their defensive shape in the third period, the Rocks found it difficult to finish and as a result were punished on the break where Sarah Thomson, Robyn Lewis, Beth Mackie and young Sarah Hunter scored freely to push Saints further ahead, winning the quarter by 28 points to lead going into the final period by 26-72.

Vice captain Jennifer Harris, ably assisted by captain Sarah Thomson, sunk shot after shot from different areas of the floor to shoot a massive 23 points and a personal best this season.

Robyn Lewis and Sarah Thomson also hit the big points, scoring 39 points between them.

In the end Saints ran out convincing winners by 36-95. Top scorers were Jennifer Harris (23), Sarah Thomson (20), Robyn Lewis (19), Beth Mackie and Sarah Hunter with nine points.