It was another successful weekend for Ipswich Basketball Club’s junior programme’s with two key wins for the U16 boys, another important victory for the U14 girls, and a narrow loss for the U14 boys, writes Rob Schatten.

The most significant result for the teams this weekend was for the U16 girls, who battled to the end with the team that beat them in last season’s National Championship game – Haringey Angels, winning by three points.

After the win, in which Esther Little top scored with 14 points, assisted by 11 from Tash Jarvis and nine for Cameron Taylor-Willis, head coach Hayley Rigby was ecstatic, declaring “There’s no place like home!” Coach Rigby added: “When we play like we did today, anything is possible.”

The U16 boys completed an impressive double winning weekend with a ten point win on the road on Saturday against CoLA, followed up by a win against Reading Rockets at home on Sunday in the National Cup – putting them through to the quarter finals.

After the weekend, coach Adam Robinson said: “After losing our first four games, the boys have really turned the corner – we have developed a real killer instinct. Young sharks are still sharks.”

Ipswich were helped by 27 from Jacob Morgan and 22 from Ethan Price on Sunday’s game.

Coach Kevin Manning’s U14 girls got an important 76-52 win in the league at home against Norfolk Iceni, keeping them very much in the hunt for a playoff place.

Ipswich were led by 19 points from Alicia Boddy, with Makenna Williams helping herself to 18 while Susannah Rafiu added 15.

With multiple teams currently in playoff contention, it has been another successful start to the season for Ipswich Basketball Club.