In a match that constantly ebbed and flowed, second placed Colchester Hornets recorded an excellent away victory over Southend Saints in their Essex Basketball League men's division one clash.

Saints came out like greyhounds, opening an 11-2 lead before Hornets came back to trail 17-13 after eight minutes.

The home side then upped the tempo again, moving out to a 29-15 lead with a series of intense defensive plays.

However, Southend were starting to get into foul trouble against opponents who were both extremely tall and strong.

Disaster struck for Saints when Jon May, who is 6ft 9ins, appeared to be knocked unconscious and had to leave the game midway through the first-half.

Although Saints were able to bring in 16-year-old Liam Hughes, measuring seven foot one and a half inches, the loss of May severely diminished their firepower.

For Colchester, Matt Yabsley was starting to score regularly, a factor that was to prove decisive in the overall result.

Southend led 52-45 at half-time, but Yabsley already had 20 points to his name.

Hornets started more strongly in the second-half and took their first lead at 67-66 after nine minutes of the period.

Lettieri then made two "steals" for Saints, both leading to dunks, to restore Saints' lead but the visitors has taken the initiative.

May, later diagnosed as having a dislocated jaw, left the game with five fouls followed soon after by Hughes.

Colchester capitalised on their height advantage and, despite the efforts of Lettieri, Saints was starting to wilt.

When Andy Mathurin also fouled out with five minutes to play, the match was lost as Hornets closed out for a comfortable victory.

Yabsley finished with an incredible 52 points, 32 in the second-half. Lettieri's personal 35 was not enough to lead his side to victory.

This was an outstanding game of basketball, reckoned by many present to be as good as anything the National League can offer.

Despite Rodney Hall weighing in with 21 points, Southend JD Sports suffered their second men's division one defeat at the hands of Brightlingsea, who completed the double with an 88-69 scoreline.

In the women's division, Southend Scorpions overcame Hockley Hurricanes 60-40.

This week sees the staging of the Cup semi-finals with Saints taking on Division Two Lakes in the men's and Scorpions facing a tough task against Hornets.

In the women's competition, League leaders Erkenwald meet nearest rivals Cravens while Panthers visit Rebels.

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