ABA 2023-24: Shanaya Weeden drops 25 points to help dismantle Sonics 2 in round six of women’s A-grade season

For the second time this season, Valkyries have got the better of Sonics 2 in the Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade competition.

A bright start and strong finish were the catalyst in Valkyries’ second victory of 2023-24 on Tuesday night, the result keeping them right in touch with the top four teams after six completed rounds.

A brilliant display from shooting guard Shanaya Weeden lifted Valkyries to the 15-point win, holding out a second half challenge from Sonics 2.

Weeden hit 12 points in the opening half to get her side out to an eight-point lead and she failed to slow down in the second period, adding 13 more.

Her 25-point haul was the difference in the 49-34 triumph as Valkyries kept responding every time Sonics 2 gathered some momentum.

With just the bare five players, Sonics 2 were always going to find running out the game tough.

They trimmed the deficit to two points early in the second before Valkyries fought back to establish a five-point buffer.

When Aleesha Narkle hit two shots from the line, Sonics 2 were again mounting a comeback but this time youngster Kleo Proudfoot stood tall and her triple again gave Valkyries the required breathing space.

The margin ballooned out in the final five minutes, as Valkyries preyed on their tiring opponent.

Weeden nailed one of her three long-range baskets on the verge of half-time, giving her side a 21-13 advantage.

Kleo Proudfoot chipped in with 10 points while Valkyries were also well served by Narelle Humpries and sisters Isabella and Angelina De Giambattista — that trio dominating the glass at both ends.

Valkyries scored the first seven points of the game, which had Sonics 2 chasing from the outset and they went on to suffer a third loss of the season.

Narkle and Lily Parker-Halstead toiled hard in defeat with 15 and 13 points respectively.

Meanwhile Barking Owls suffered their first loss of the season, strangled by Denmark in the dying minutes.

In front narrowly, Denmark controlled possession in the final two minutes and forced some uncharacteristic errors from the previously unbeaten Owls.

Denmark star Danielle Carne finished with 16 points as her side emerged four-point winners.

Casey Gabriel led the way for Owls with nine points and Keely Berry added seven, but competition star Rebecca Benson was kept to just three points in the 28-32 loss.

In the other round six contest, Shianne Arthur and Telikah Collins combined for 15 of their side’s 25 points as Sonics 3 prevailed in a hard-fought contest against Raiders under-18 development squad.

Collins had eight and Arthur ended with seven as Sonics 3 got across the line by five points to close the gap on ladder leaders Owls.

Five field goals from Berry (10 points) kept Raiders in the game for long periods but they went down 20-25 in the end.