ABA 2023-24: Owls and Denmark secure big wins while Valkyries pushed to the final buzzer

Barking Owls and Denmark powered to big victories while Valkyries were pushed to the final buzzer in Tuesday’s Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade competition.

Owls dominated across the floor to defeat Sonics 2, 54-30, led by Rebecca Benson who scored a game-high 19 points including two threes.

Benson is the league’s highest point scorer and her 19-point night took her season total to 226, more than 70 points clear of Denmark’s Danielle Carne in second.

Owls’ Keely Berry chipped in with 13 points while Ava Marmion (eight points) hit two triples.

Aleesha Narkle led the floor for Sonics 2 with 14 points and a three-pointer and Phoenix Woods contributed 12.

With three games to go in the season the Owls sit first ahead of Denmark in second, who scored a 37-21 victory over Albany Raiders.

Denmark made light work of the Raiders to win by 16 points and tighten their grip on second spot on the ladder.

Carne hit a game-high 15 points while Amy Dominiack (seven) hit a three and Emma Henderson and Rebecca Goodliffe each scored five points.

Raiders’ Dakota Bremner toiled hard for her side with a team-high 10 points.

Third-placed Valkyries scored an important four-point win over Sonics 3 to consolidate their spot inside the top four.

Tayeesha Weeden scored a game-high nine points with two triples while Narelle Humphries, Shanaya Weeden and Enya Marques each scored four points.

Shianne Arthur (nine) and Telikah Collins (eight) were Sonics 3’s main avenues to the basket while Tamara Ditchburn hit their only three-pointer of the night.