The four-time champions cruised to a 60–38 victory over the North West Flames in Durban, maintaining their position at the top of the Division 1 standings during the opening Power Week.

A disciplined defensive effort, combined with sharp transitions through the court, allowed the Crinums to seize control early on. They held a comfortable 29–18 lead at halftime and continued to pull away, stretching the margin to 43–27 by the end of the third quarter.

The result further underlines their status as early title contenders, with the Bloemfontein outfit firmly setting the pace in Division 1.

Liamé de Lange. Photo: NSA

Captain Karla Pretorius said the side is pleased with their momentum but remains focused on steady improvement.

“We’re very happy to walk away with a win – and a good win at that. For us, it’s all about building into the season and towards the TNL, and that’s exactly what we’ve done from the previous game.

“It’s very much a process-driven approach. We believe if we get all those steps right, the process will deliver the outcome we want.

“We want to make sure we’re on top in every game. As I said, it’s about doing the right things consistently, and that should lead to a winning result. If we can go unbeaten throughout the tournament, that would be great – but ultimately, you want to be the best on court, stay consistent, and be accurate in everything you do.”

“We’re focused on building with every game and making sure that each time we step onto the court, we’re better than before. In this match, there were a few ebbs and flows, but we’re pleased that when we had the lead, we were able to build on it – that’s very important.

“It was also great to get all our players onto the court. It’s about building combinations and growing them. We believe we’re a strong squad of 12, not just seven.”

Elsewhere, in a key Division 2 clash, the Diamonds showed grit to edge Sonoblomo 48–44 in one of the standout fixtures of the day.

Xandri Fourie earned her second player of the match award. Photo: NSA

Rebounding from a heavy earlier defeat, the Diamonds produced a determined performance in a match that swung back and forth. They led 26–24 at the break, with the contest still on a knife-edge at 37–36 going into the final quarter.

A decisive late surge saw the Diamonds open a four-goal cushion in the closing stages. Sonoblomo were handed a final opportunity after a handling error, but the Diamonds’ defence held firm to seal an important win.

Looking ahead, Friday’s fixtures will see Sonoblomo take on the Limpopo Lilies at 13:00, before the Crinums face a major test against the six-time champions, the Gauteng Jaguars, at 15:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg