Raptors Ladies finished the season with two excellent preformance and capped off a terrific first year.
Rossendale Raptors vs East Manchester Rebels
Raptors ladies were looking to get their next win of the season against a very experienced rebels side full of national league plays.
The 1st quarter Raptors started very brightly matching Rebels basket for basket while playing tough and organised defence, with the quarter ending 12-14 to Rebels.
The 2nd Quarter the ladies struggled to match the standard they had set themselves in the 1st losing the 2nd quarter 10-24, with Michelle McManus scoring 7 of those points with two 3s mid way through. Half time score 26-38 to Rebels, with Michelle Mcmanus leading scorers with 11 points.
The 3rd Quarter Raptors were slow off the blocks and rebels stretched their lead to 43-26. After a quick time out half way through the quarter, Raptors found their feet and confidence again and limited rebels to only 5 points for the rest of the quarter while Raptors manged to score 8. End of 3rd score 34-50 to rebels.
The 4th started off good with the ladies playing tough defence and quick fast break basketball with 16 year old Ashleigh
and 18 year old Beth Cattle starting to run the Rebels tired defence ragged, a very good last quarter matching the rebels 18-18. Final score 52-68 to Rebels.
Coach Byrne commented; "Even though the Rebels won by 18 points, I think the scoreline really flattered them. An absoulute fantastic performance from the Raptors ladies team especially as this team beat us by 30 odd points last time."
Scorers
E.Widdowson 9pts; A.Haythornthwaite 10pts; M.McManus 11pts; E.Hatton 2pts; B.Cattle 11pts; D.Tibbs 9pts
Holy Cross Angels vs Rossendale Raptors
This was to be the last game of a very steep learning curve of the season. Holycross sit 2nd in the league and are a team full of excellent national league players. Holycross had already beaten Raptors ladies team twice this season, the first by 55pts the 2nd game by 36pts. So could the ladies prove a much sterner test against a strong team for the final team.
With Raptors only sporting 6 players, the emphasis on the games was work hard for each other, beleive in yoursleves and most importantly have fun!!
With Raptors only having 6 players, Holy Cross went straight into the game with a full court man to man defence obviously wanting us to tire quickly! What holycross didnt anticipate was how well organised we'd be and how much the girls were up for this match! The 1st quarter was fantastic and Raptors played some of the best basketball they had played all season, matching the very experienced and well organised Holy Cross basket for basket, with the lead changing hands 4 times, Raptors got tired in the last 2 minutes of the quarter and Holy Cross hit 3 big 3s! end of first 28-21 Holy Cross.
2nd quarter Raptors started to feel the effects of Holy Cross' full court man to man and only managed to score 8pts to Holy Cross' 14. End of first half 43-30 to holycross with the Raptors still in the game. Emma Widdowson leading all scores with 11pts and leading by example and running the team on defence and offence on the floor.
3rd quarter Raptors come straight out the blocks after a good rest and go straight back at Holy Cross, forcing them to turn the ball over and Beth Cattle and Ashleigh Haythornthwaite running the fast break well with Emma spreading the ball up the court. Holy Cross also couldnt get inside the paint due Diane Tibbs not letting anyone in her house, with some real hard defence, hustling and some huge blocks!! Viv Calderbank also fouled out for the first ever time in her basketball career in the middle of the 3rd, leaving Raptors to play 15 minute with no subs! The 3rd ended 14-12, score 57-40
The 4th quarter was going to be a big ask to claw back 17pts, the aim of the 4th was to dig deep, keep playing hard and just score as many as we can! Raptors also had 3 timeouts so used them cleverly to give the girls a breather every 3 minutes. In the end Raptors ran out of steam but still gave it 100% till the very end, scoring 8 more pts.
The final score 72-48 Holy Cross.
"That was a great match for my girls to end the season on, even though we lost, the way we played for each other and what we acheived felt like a win! I couldnt have asked for more from them tonite the way they played. Im very proud, especially as we are a new team, with girls that have never played before and girls that havent played for years. We more than matched a National league side play for play tonite gave them a real scare at times. How we havent won more games is beyond me. Holycross coach also commented to me on how well we have worked together and that he can see us being a force next season. And I cant wait for next season already!!' Coach Dan Byrne
Scorers
E.Widdowson 18pts; A.Haythornthwaite 10pts; V.Calderbank 2pts; B.Cattle 10pts; D.Tibbs 6pts; L.Dickinson 2pts