Raiders keep finals hopes alive

Raiders under-18 development squad kept their slim finals hopes alive in the Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade competition after a hard-fought three-point victory over Slayers on Tuesday night.

Both sides sat outside the top four going into the round 15 fixture, but it was Slayers who made the early running before Raiders forward Aleesha Narkle began to find her range.

Narkle helped herself to a long-range basket and knocked down a couple of other wide-open shots as her eight first-half points helped Raiders go into the break level at 14-all.

Fellow youngster Taimania Jones was lively for Slayers and also had eight points at the halfway stage of the match.

Slayers again shot out to a five-point lead early in the second, but a triple from Anita Onions and a three-point play to Shianne Arthur had Raiders back in front quickly.

After just 10 minutes of the last half, Slayers had committed seven team fouls and offences woul trouble them for the remainder of the match.

Raiders skipped out to a 27-21 lead through the work of Narkle, Savannah Hill and Onions as their side did enough to prevail 32-29.

Narkle was the star with 14 points, while Onions, Arthur and Ellen Linnett all chipped in with five points in their side’s sixth win of the season.

The result leaves them three points adrift of the fourth-placed Phoenix, with two rounds remaining.

Taimania Jones was superb again for Slayers with 12 points, but she lacked support in the absence of Claire Hard.

Flames stitched up the minor premiership with an eight-point win over Magpies, prolific scorer Zandalee Arthur leading the way with 16 points in the 39-31 win.

In the other round results, Mystics jumped to third with a 22-15 triumph against Rebels, and Grammar prevailed by a point in a thrilling close to their clash with Phoenix.

Grammar led by five points in the dying stages, but a free throw to Courtney Henderson, a three-pointer to Rachael Goetze and another successful free throw from Cass Cheetham reduced the margin to a point.

Cheetham was fouled in the final moments and went to the free throw line after the buzzer to win the game, but missed both shots as GSG hung on 25-24.