Ipswich Basketball Club's amazing season continued at the weekend with two more victories for their senior boys and girls sides.

Ipswich Basketball Club's amazing season continued at the weekend with two more victories for their senior boys and girls sides.

The results meant that, momentarily, all six of the club's junior sides remain in contention for the end-of-season national play-offs.

Ipswich Under-16 Bobcats

National League South I Conference

West Herts Warriors 60 Ipswich Bobcats 62

IPSWICH sealed victory in dramatic fashion thanks to the late heroics of injured Beccy Dodunski.

The Bobcats travelled with a small squad due to Emma Swain, Montanna Jackson, Amy Linton and Milly Stubbs all being injured or unavailable, while Dodunski had to start on the bench after twisting her ankle last Tuesday.

The game started nervously for Ipswich who made just three from 12 at the free throw line early on as West Herts ended the first quarter two points in front.

The second period saw the Bobcats' passing improve, with Lizzy Harrison making some sublime assists. Katy Merryweather and Beth Yapp found space on the perimeter to sink mid-range shots as Ipswich went into half-time 31-23 in front.

The third period saw West Herts score 10 consecutive points without reply and Danielle Eady picking up her fourth foul, the Suffolk side's lead being reduced to just three (47-44) by the end of the quarter.

Merryweather sank two from the floor to put the Bobcats three up with three minutes to go and it was at that stage that Coach Kathryn James decided to gamble on introducing the semi-fit Dodunski.

Despite having practised shooting from a chair all week, she immediately got on the scoresheet, while down the other end Eady fouled out. The converted free throws were quickly followed up by another home score to put West Herts two points in front with just over a minute to go.

Dodunski netted a sweet equalising shot and then soon afterwards was fouled and handed the chance to win the game. Both free throws were coolly sunk.

The Bobcats look forward to a run of four consecutive home games in the next few weeks with Chiltern being the first next Sunday.

Ipswich Under-16 Tomcats

National League East Midlands Conference

Ipswich Tomcats 88 North East Essex Jammers 62

IPSWICH moved seven points clear at the top-of-the-table with this win over their main title rivals.

As has become the norm at Holywells the home side were first to the basket and the following 10 minutes effectively decided the game.

Two early injuries to the Jammers' starting five did not help the visitors set into their game as the home side went on a points fest. The quarter ended with the Tomcats 24-5 in front.

The Jammers came out fighting in the second period causing Coach Dennis Dixon to call the Tomcats in for a timeout after the visitors sunk 10 for very few in reply.

The Jammers' new found speed and accuracy was kept under control from the restart as the home side relaxed into their game again after the lead at one point had been cut down to eight points.

The Tomcats set about building on their lead for the rest of the game, which they did in both quarters, finally finishing 26 points clear.

Ipswich Streetcats

THE next generation of the town's basketball players took to the court for the first time on Sunday under their new name of the Ipswich Streetcats.

The new squad of year five and six players was first formed in October last year following an initiative by Suffolk Sport and funding from Sport Unlimited.

Since then the youngsters have been training under Ipswich Basketball Club coaches at Holywells High School every Sunday morning between 10 and 11.30am.

On Sunday, the squad was split into two mixed teams and, as a curtain raiser to the afternoon's Suffolk Under-14 Roadshow, they played their first competitive game.

Suffolk Sport's Basketball Development Officer Kathryn James said: “We've picked up these children from many different places. A few were interested off the back of the council's summer Game On initiative, some have been attending after school basketball sessions, while others have older brothers and sisters who play the game.”