A busy Sunday saw the Halifax Thunder remain perfect, Lake City 56ers earn a heart-stopping victory, Saint John’s Port City Fog with a big effort at home and Moncton Mystics earning a triumph over a pesky crew clad in orange.
All on a busy Sunday in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association as Week V came to a close.
At Truro, visiting Thunder rolled to a 92-52 win and moved its record to 7-0 on the season, a firm clench on first place overall in the eight-team circuit.
Halifax had double figures from four players in a balanced offence to tame Truro, the expansion Tidal Queens falling to 0-7.
Alexis Evans had 14 for Thunder. Maddy White hooped 13, Ava MacNutt a dozen and Mali Straker struck for 11.
Kendra MacKinnon powered all scorers with a game-high 21 points. Nalini Maharaj scored 10.
At Fredericton, it was a see-saw battle all the way, but visiting Lake City of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour/Preston held tight and scored key buckets down the stretch to down Fredericton Freeze, 75-70.
Abby Mercer paced Lake City, which had a 2-0 road weekend, with 14 points and Olivia Logan had 13. Lillian Fuller and Lauren Armstrong had 10 apiece.
Fredericton sprung out to a big first quarter and held a 40-36 lead over the 56ers, but the visitors refused to wilt.
Allie McCarthy buried 31 points for Fredericton, three off the Freeze record set by Kylee Speedy back in 2023.
Bailey Russell scored 16 points and Ann Bastien meshed 10.
In Saint John, the Fog used a 22-point effort from Grace Tilley and downed the Hornets, who finished their New Brunswick swing 0-2 after falling to Fredericton on Saturday. Clancy MacIntyre scored 13 and Amelia Mitchell popped a dozen.
Maddy Hiscock and Sasha Dabb each had eight for Halifax.
Moncton looked to be pulling away from Miramichi, but the visiting HerIcanes pushed back and made a game out of it in the fourth quarter only to watch the Mystics earn an 84-74 victory.
The win pushed the Mystics past the Hornets for second place.
Maddie Eustace continued her remarkable rookie season for the Mystics, scoring 24 points. Sadie Bowen had 19 and veteran Jenna Jones knocked down 10.
Charlee Connors meshed 21 for Miramichi. Lexi MacInnis had 14 and Ainsley Green and Lauren Wallace had 10 apiece.
It all sets up what should be must-see action in Week IV, beginning Wednesday when the two Halifax teams clash and Thursday has major playoff seeding implications in Fredericton when the Freeze and Moncton clash.
We will set the scenes Monday.
– Miramichi’s Eden Searles looks for space around Moncton’s Eve Kalala. (Tanya Everett Photo)
