Our female programmes have enjoyed a fantastic year in 2022/23 – catch up on the highlights below!
Community Programme
A new All-Girls Community Club at Heartlands Academy has offered an alternative, female focussed playing environment for players of all abilities to learn from coaches from our performance programme.
Women’s First Team player Ellie Pierpoint has been an integral part of the session, demonstrating the commitment of our Women’s First Team to act as positive role models for the next generation of players.
Similarly, coaches Marc Evans (Under-16s) and Peter Mintoft (Women’s First Team) are also heavily involved and their coaching expertise ensures the girls have the best possible environment to learn and enjoy the game.
Under 16 Girls
It has been a memorable season for Coach Evans’ Under 16 side, with the team closing in on the title after a near perfect league campaign.
The team have stormed to a 10-1 record to sit top of the Midlands Conference and are just one win away from clinching the league title.
It has been a well fought battle all season long with Derby Trailblazers, with Rockets taking the East Midland side on head-to-head record after a 75-61 win at Nechells Wellbeing Centre back in November.
Coach Evans is delighted with the progress of the team this year and spoke about how much he is enjoying working with such a talented group.
“I am very pleased with the development of the U16 team both individually and collectively. We currently sit top of the league with 10 wins and one loss.
One more win will secure the league for us which will be a tremendous achievement.I have enjoyed working with these talented girls and guiding them in their progression on their basketball journey.“
Under 18 Girls
Our Under 18 Women have enjoyed a fantastic maiden season at Northern Premier level after last season’s promotion campaign.
Coach Marcellus Elfrey and his side sit in third place in the division, with an identical record to second place Nottingham Wildcats with 9 wins and 3 losses.
Last weekend’s 66-65 win against Manchester Mystics II cemented the teams place near the top of the league standings and they will be looking to keep that momentum going before what looks set to be a second-place showdown with Nottingham at the end of March.
Women’s First Team
It has been a season of rapid progression for our Women’s First Team this season after our first year of National League basketball in 2021/22.
Coach Peter Mintoft laid the groundwork last year before stepping back into an assistant role with Ryan Emery taking the Head Coach position for 2022/23.
Last season’s roster was supplemented with a host of crucial additions and the team has gone on to storm Division 2 Pool 2 – winning the pool with a 11-1 regular season record.
The team also garnered national attention enroute to reaching the WNBL National Cup semi-final – eliminating teams from higher divisions in a memorable cup run.
