Beede leads way as Ajax keeps winning

Hannah Beede poured in 30 points and came up with key baskets down the stretch to keep Ajax’s winning streak alive.

Ajax beat the Andy Bay Falcons Tahi 59-53, as women’s club basketball got back under way on Tuesday after its break for university holidays.

Beede hit four triples and was dominant throughout, as a depleted Ajax team kept its nose in front against the pesky Falcons who were also missing several key players.

Ajax jumped out to a 9-0 lead, before back-to-back three-pointers from Jordyn Chin (15 points) got the Falcons going.

Milly Ford (nine points) made Ajax’s lead 18-10 early in the second quarter, before eight consecutive points from Brittany Richards (20 points) pulled the Falcons back to 18-18.

They took the lead moments after.

But Ajax responded with an 11-0 run — Beede scoring nine of those — regaining a lead it never fully gave up.

The Falcons hung around as Richards, Chin and Elise Carline (15 points) all kept their score ticking over.

They got back to 40-40 early in the fourth quarter, as Carline hit a three-pointer from the wing.

But Beede responded with three consecutive baskets of her own.

Carline hit another three-pointer late in the quarter to reduce the deficit back to two, but again Beede responded with a corner three-pointer.

It was the closest the Falcons got, as Ajax closed out the game to continue its winning streak.

In other games, Varsity claimed a 91-42 win over the Falcons Rua.

Tyler Mitchell grabbed 3 points, while Sophie Adams added 18.

Madi Loudon top-scored for the Falcons with 11.

The South Pac Magic downed Varsity Gold 108-51, led by big-scoring nights from Sereana Rokotakala and Georgia Te Au, who had 30 and 24 points respectively.

Aimee Lynch led Varsity Gold with 12.