Nailbiter ends in a draw

Two late free throws to Brittany Tomlinson has forced an improbable draw between Sparks and Raiders under-18 development squad in round 4 of the Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade competition on Tuesday night.

The first half saw both sides struggle on offence with the score locked at 9-9 at the end of the half.

The teams traded blows in the second half before Sparks managed to string together consecutive baskets courtesy of Kelsey McMorran and Tomlinson, to move ahead 18-11 with eight minutes left in the match.

Raiders then proceeded to reel in the deficit as Savannah Hill and Bridgette Latham put together an eight-point run to give them the lead.

Again, it was a basket-for-basket affair until Jaz Jones scored on a free throw for Raiders as they led 22-20 in the dying stages.

Tomlinson was fouled on the next play and, with the clock winding down, nailed two clutch free throws to level the scores.

Raiders had the ball for the last possession, but failed to get a shot off as the game finished at 22-22.

Tomlinson top-scored for Sparks with seven points and Erin Hetherington chipped in the six while Hill had nine points for Raiders.

Meanwhile in the other fixtures, Magpies inflicted Grammar Griffins their first loss of the season with an eight-point victory.

Magpies had a strong second half and used a late burst from Tully Lane and Taimania Jones to edge out Grammar in a tight contest.