The Gauteng Jaguars faced the Eastern Cape Aloes and came into this encounter determined to snap their two-match losing streak following defeats to Crinums and Fireballs. The Jaguars capitalized on two early center pass turnovers to race into a four-goal lead, while the Aloes only opened their account four minutes into the game. Momentum soon shifted as Aloes Goal Shooter Zandre Smit found her rhythm in the circle, converting four consecutive goals to level matters midway through the quarter. The shooting accuracy from both teams became a standout feature of the game and kept the contest finely balanced to ensure the quarter ended all square.
The Jaguars raised the intensity in the second quarter, producing clinical defensive display that saw them score five quick goals within the opening three minutes. Their ability to shut down the Aloes’ attacking flow and convert turnovers efficiently allowed them to gain control of the contest. In response, the Aloes introduced a change at Wing Defense, Simone Louw came in for Ziyeza Mjoji, in an attempt to disrupt the supply inside the Jaguars shooting circle but the shooting combination of Luane Smith and Thato Legodi continued to convert confidently. Despite the Jaguars stretching the lead by ten goals, Aloes Shooter Smit once again proved instrumental during the Super Shot period, sinking three two-pointers to cut the deficit to just five at halftime.
The third quarter presented the Aloes with a golden opportunity to close the gap or even take the lead, particularly after Jaguars Goal Attack Legodi was sent to the sin bin following a dangerous collision. However, the Aloes struggled to fully capitalize on the numerical advantage following a couple of missed shots, but they were only able to trim the deficit to three goals. In the last quarter, Jaguars coach Rozanne Matthyse made three attacking changes, Caroline Paul took over the Wing Attack position and Goal Shooter Jamie Williamson partnered up with Smith on Goal Attack. On the other end, Aloes’ Goal Defense Noluthando Maliehe was also sent off for two minutes and that dealt a blow to the teams’ comeback hopes. The Jaguars maintained control of the game while Williamson converted the bulk of the shots that came in, to seal a 52-44 victory.
In Division two, Sonoblomo edged out the Kingdom Queens 50-48, denying the KZN side to move up the log standings after both teams entered the clash level on fourteen points. Both teams were trading blows in the opening quarter, but the Queens managed to come out of the quarter leading by a solitary goal. The second quarter turned into an intense intercept battle as both teams disrupted possession in the goal thirds and made entry into the shooting circle difficult. One goal separated the two sides just before the Telkom Super Shot, Queens Goal Attack slotted a two-pointer to level matters, but Sonoblomo responded with a one-point conversion to head into halftime with a slim one goal advantage.
The Queens fired out in the third quarter and briefly reclaimed the lead through strong defensive pressure in Sonoblomo’s attacking third, forcing held ball calls and turnovers. However, the Free State side were quick to equalize after capitalizing on a wayward midcourt pass to draw level once again. The Queens started to become a little bit expensive, surrendering ball too easily and allowing Sonoblomo to stretch the lead to four goals. The Defensive contest resumed in the final quarter, Sonoblomo Player of the match Kekeletso Molotsi secured a lovely intercept on Wing Defense, only for Queens’ Center Asanda Myeni to answer immediately with an intercept of her own. Myeni later sustained an injury and had to be stretched off court, but the setback did little to diminish the Queens’ fighting spirit as they continued to push until the final whistle, ultimately falling to a narrow two-goal defeat.
Meanwhile, The Comets failed to replicate the fighting spirit they displayed in their previous outing against the Lilies as they succumbed to a dominant Tshukudu side that defeated them 57-43. Tshukudu settled quickly into the contest and built a nine-goal lead in the first quarter before extending their advantage to ten goals at halftime. The pressure intensified in the third quarter as Tshukudu’s defensive unit forced the Comets into costly mistakes, including three consecutive unforced errors. The defensive pressure resulted in held ball calls against the Comets while Tshukudu’s shooting combination of Luarike Mynhardt and Molebogeng Moeketsane thrived in converting turnovers into goals. Tshukudu’s dominance was further highlighted as they restricted the Comets to just five goals in the closing stages of the quarter.
Although both sides matched each other with three super shot goals apiece, the Comets still trailed by sixteen goals heading into the final stanza. The Eastern cape side showed greater urgency in the last quarter and managed to force a few wayward balls in the mid-court, making the contest more competitive. With five minutes remaining, Tshukudu only narrowly led the quarter 9-8, but the damage had already been done as the Comets eventually fell to a convincing defeat.
RESULTS:
Sonoblomo 50-48 Queens
Comets 43-57 Tshukudu
Aloes 44-52 Jaguars
