While the Senior Men were on their marathon road trip, the Ipswich club’s junior teams had a busy weekend too.
Many of the U12 Boys made their debuts with a pair of games at Oaklands. They first squared-off against Brentwood in a flowing game, with Ipswich edging a 26-23 win. Da Silva (15) and Hawes (7) led Ipswich’s scorers. The second game against the hosts resulted in a more comfortable win, with the newest players earning some court-time. Michaels (8) and Hawes/Beckett (6) led Ipswich’s scoring.
Coach Hayley Rigby stepped-in to coach the U14 Boys I, with coach Colin Dockrell making his way north for senior team duties. The Blues edged a 26-31 half-time lead at Surrey Rams, before the hosts’ hot outside shooting fuelled a 19-3 third quarter run to take control, leading to a tough 62-50 loss. Joe Winder (17), Harry Syrett (12) and Seb Mobee (10) led Ipswich’s scoring.
Coach Syd Payne’s U14 Boys’ II fell to a heavy defeat at home to a table-topping Luton side. However, a 12-15 fourth quarter against a much more experienced side gives cause for optimism for the Blues.
Both the U16 Boys and U18 Women travelled to face Newham Youngbloods, with the boys up first. Both teams came into the game with a 4-2 record, so it promised to be a tough fixture for coach Arron MacDonald’s squad.
Ipswich’s start unfortunately mirrored the dismal London weather, as they struggled to look after the ball and Newham built a 16-point lead.
Newham led by 32 points in the third before MacDonald’s men rallied to take the closing quarter in a 83-63 loss. Lewis Tebbit (18) led the scoring, while Ethan Price had a 17 point, 11 rebound, 11 block triple double – and a highlight put-back dunk over two defenders. Ben Winter chipped-in with 11 points and six assists for the Blues.
The U18 Women fared far better, as coach Adam Robinson’s team built a 23-13 lead after one quarter, extending it to 46-27 at the half, and then easing home to a 80-58 scrappy win, in which they were always in control, as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season. Maya Price (23), Frances Musson (18) & Ashleigh Pink (14) led the way for Ipswich.
The U18 Men faced Brentwood Fire looking to extend their seven-game win streak in a top of the table clash. In a game of runs, Fire began each of the first three quarters with an eight or 10-point run, before Ipswich blazed back to within touching distance. Brentwood’s press was a springboard for their offence, closing the game on an 11-0 run to take the game 71-60.
Jonny Hall notched a game-high 26 points, with Austin (9) and Ben Mobee (8) as the other high scorers.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here