Royals & Riders Crowned Trophy Champions

One of British Basketball’s biggest weekends lived up to the billing this past weekend as the BBL and WBBL Trophy finalists tipped off in Glasgow.

The BBL final saw an all-London showdown between the Royals and the Lions, with the Royals aiming to create history by winning silverware in their maiden BBL season. Meanwhile, the Lions were hoping to add to their BBL trophy collection having already won the Cup earlier this year.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning led the Royals' scoring with 26 points and Ashley Hamilton added 25 points in the first final to go to overtime in BBL history. Justin Robinson led the Lions with 20 points and Ladarius Tabb and Brandon Peel added 17 points each.

In a low-scoring first half, the first quarter saw the Lions hold a 4-point lead before a fightback, largely thanks to Hamilton scoring 14 points in the quarter on his way to the Most Valuable Player award, saw the Royal briefly take the lead. Despite this, the Lions held on for a 2-point lead at half-time with the score 38-36.

The Royals retook the lead after the interval with Bryan-Amaning again dominant close to the basket and they maintained that with an impressive cameo from former Lions guard Orlan Jackman.

The Lions forged back ahead 69-62 with four and a half minutes remaining, but Hamilton again brought the Royals back into the game with two baskets in a 7-0 run.

Lions captain Joe Ikhinmwin looked to have won it for Lions with a three-pointer 24 seconds from time, but Ed Lucas matched that with six seconds left to send the game into an extra period.

The Royals hit the first eight points of overtime before Ikhinmwin hit another three. But the closest the Lions could get was three points, Bryan-Amaning fittingly scoring the final basket with two seconds remaining.

In the WBBL final, the Leicester Riders retained their title in a closely fought contest against the Durham Palatinates.

Leicester held the lead for the majority of the game, even creating a 10-point gap at the end of the first quarter. However, a lapse in concentration allowed the Palatinates to go into the half having reduced the deficit to a single point.

The Riders regained control early in the second half, going on a 12-4 run to extend their lead to eight at the end of the third quarter thanks in part to MVP Kate Oliver’s all-round display. A nervy finish allowed Durham to battle back before a couple of pivotal free throws saw the Riders home with just seconds left on the clock.  

Claire Paxton led the Riders' scoring with 18 points and Kate Oliver, voted most valuable player, added 16 points to go along with eight rebounds and five blocks. Paxton also proved pivotal with a team-high 18 points, shooting 8/9 from the floor.

Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby and Theairra Taylor led Durham's effort with 18 points apiece as the underdogs came close to causing an upset.