This past weekend, October 19th and 20th, Team Wolverhampton SLAM! took on a series of challenging opponents across several fixtures, and the action on the court did not disappoint. Although we didn’t always come away with the wins we wanted, the quality of basketball was impressive, and our players left it all on the floor, showing incredible determination and grit.
The crowd energy was phenomenal throughout the weekend, with our home fans bringing the noise and making a huge impact! 🙌 Your passion helped push our teams through some intense matchups, creating an electric atmosphere at every game.
Here’s a look at how the weekend played out:
Saturday, 19th October
U15 Boys took on Shrewsbury Storm at home in their season opener, delivering a fierce battle.
Result: Slam win 49 - 45
Player of the match: Diallo Ahmed SLAM! U15’s played their very first game against a motivated Shrewsbury storm. Starting the game off slow, we allowed Shrewsbury to get comfortable with the pace of the game; we kept the score close but momentum was on their side. After realising the advantages we have in the game: we ramped up the pace on offence and applied more pressure defensively, the game was ours. Great job earning our first win
U15 Girls faced RAW Zone Basketball at home in what promised to be a highly competitive game.
Result: Slam win 56 - 26 Player of the match: Kiara Nwarie
In a landmark moment for Team Wolverhampton SLAM!, the U15 Girls secured their first-ever victory in the YBL U15 Girls League with a commanding 56-26 win over Rawzone Basketball. Co-captain Kiara Nwarie was named Player of the Game, driving aggressively to the basket and finishing with an impressive 17 points. Her leadership on defence, where she organised and instructed teammates, was a key factor in the team's dominant performance.
This was the team's debut game in the league, and despite being new to this level of competition, they displayed great cohesion and intensity, particularly in transition play. Co-captain Chenae Nelson contributed 12 points, while the energy from the bench and crowd added to the team's momentum. This is just the beginning for the U15 Girls, and we are excited about their potential as they develop further in the league.
Sunday, 20th October:
U16 Boys travelled to Stourport Spartans, aiming to extend their unbeaten league run.
Result: Slam Win 45-105
Player of the Match: Alfie Marston
After a slow start where we were too loose defensively, we trailed 8-6 after about 3 minutes. Coach Ethan called a time out to reset. It had the desired effect as we went on to end the quarter 12-30. The second quarter was quieter, reaching halftime 23-47. Throughout the game we sought to address Spartans main threat, with mixed success. We had a rampant third quarter, adding 26 points to Spartan’s 8. Our pre-game goal of scoring more than 100 and conceding less than 40 was possible as we began the final quarter. Unfortunately, we failed to prevent their captain going on a quick 8 point run.
Rithik Bagra’s 2 took us into triple figures as we closed with 105. Nkemnor Adams and Valentino Williamson worked well in the post, scoring 18 and 8 respectively. Max Allen’s poster dunk was the highlight. Five players scored in double figures with Alfie’s 24 topping the list. A Marston 24; N Adams 18; G Cuthbert 11; D Akanihu 11; A Hughes 10.
U18 Boys headed to Warwickshire Hawks, eager to bounce back after two tough losses.
U14 Boys faced Nuneaton Predators, seeking their first win of the season in their debut national league campaign.
Result: Slam U14 Win 45-58
Player of the Match: Jaiden-Lewis Anderson
We are thrilled to announce that the U14 boys secured their first victory of the season! This win was truly a team effort, and everyone contributed to the result. We played with unity, especially on the defensive end, which was the key to our success today. Because of this shared effort, every single player got on the scoreboard—a testament to how well we supported one another on both ends of the court.
Their defensive intensity was fantastic throughout the game, and that energy was a massive factor in this win. they’ll need to make sure that same focus and effort remain the foundation of their play moving forward. Offensively, they attacked the basket with aggression, leading to several opportunities to get to the free-throw line, which played a big role in their final result.
Head Coach Watson Chirara had this to say:
Although they started off a bit slow, I was impressed with how quickly the team responded to the coaching adjustments after our first timeout. From that point on, the game really opened up for us. The rest of the timeouts were simply used to give players a breather—proof that you were executing the game plan perfectly. In the final two minutes, we even had the confidence to try some specific pick-and-roll movements without fear of losing the lead, and that’s a testament to how well everyone performed. The players' ability to adapt and stay focused made all the difference. They showed not only individual skill but, more importantly, a selfless commitment to playing for the team. This approach is what leads to success, and today’s win is clear evidence of that.
U18 Girls hosted Leicester Warriors at home, looking to continue their dominant, unbeaten streak in the league.
Result: Slam wins 122-13
Player of the match: Rhianna Shackleton The u18 girls had a comfortable victory vs Leicester Warriors. Establishing their dominance quickly, the slam girls were hitting long range shots and getting to the basket after strong defensive pressure. Credit to the opposition who fought to the end.
Slam are now 3 wins out of 3 to start the season. Well done girls!
Head Coach Marc Evans had this to say:
Every player on the slam team contributed with stand out performances all round. Special shout out to sharp shooter Rhianna Shackleton after an early 3 point barrage ended the 1st quarter with 26 points and finished the game with 51 points.
Women’s Team took on Tamworth Tigers at home in their second game of the season, fighting for their first victory.
Result: Slam win 36 - 53
Player of the match: Maia Omar
In the newly merged YBL Women’s League, which now includes teams from both Division 1 and Division 2, the Women’s team took on Tamworth Tigers but suffered a 36-53 defeat. Coming off last season’s Division 2 playoff victory, the team faced a higher level of competition in this season's opener.
Despite a slow defensive start, which saw the team trailing 6-12 after the first quarter, the Women’s team showed moments of promise. Maia Omar, displayed great leadership from the point guard position, scoring 12 points and making two crucial three-pointers that kept the team in the game at key moments. Her court vision and ability to orchestrate the offence stood out throughout the match.
Although the team struggled to convert on fast breaks and had difficulties containing Tamworth's main scorer, there were positive takeaways from the game. Jessie Allen contributed 10 points, while Tanya Jide-Ojo and Gloria Mensio both added 9 points each. Special mention to Jessie Allen, who put in a solid performance on her birthday.
With the step up in competition this season, the team is focused on growth and adapting to the challenges ahead. Both teams showed potential, and we look forward to their continued development in the upcoming fixtures.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our teams—it makes a world of difference. Let’s keep the momentum going and get ready for more exciting basketball next weekend!
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