Four-year losing streak finally comes to an end

AS THE saying goes - good things come to those who wait. And it certainly did for Martel- Dunn last week when the women's basketball team won their first ever match after four seasons of trying.

'They had never won a game in four years,' said their coach Chris Lamb.

'They had 12 games last year and lost 12. It's their first taste of victory and hopefully they will have it again.'

Before this season, they were known as St Sampson's Sharks. Former St Sampson's PE teacher Emma Webb formed the team from girls at the school.

Although the majority of them have since left the secondary school following their GCSEs, they have kept the team running and a number of the original members still turn out.

With Martel-Dunn coming in as sponsors and with Lamb newly installed as their coach, their debut win was over Ladies' College in the Yorkshire Guernsey Women's B Division.

After leading from the start, they came away with a 45-21 victory over a college side that was formed this year.

'We play a lot of fast break basketball,' said Lamb.

'Our shooting isn't brilliant but its getting better. They know it themselves and they are practising.'

The win was particularly sweet for Lamb, as his brother, Andy, coaches the college.

'It was nice to beat him,' said Lamb.

For the girls, it seems that it has yet to sink in.

According to captain Steph Wilson, who has been with the outfit from the outset, during the 'dark days', they have never talked about their lengthy losing streak.

'We're still in shock,' said the 17-year-old beauty therapy student.

'We didn't want to jinx it so we didn't say anything. We now want to beat a team that has been around for a few years.'

Good team spirit has been the key to keeping the side together.

A lot of clubs would have folded if they kept walking off a court defeated after every match for four long years.

'It's been a lot of fun,' said Wilson.

'We always have a laugh and we've all stuck together.'