BBL Championship: Play-Off Final 2003

Brighton Bears   76 (23,48,68)  (Davis 18, Blalock 17, Alderson 12)
Scottish Rocks   83 (18,46,66) (Myers 26, Sheckles 14, Huntley/Singleton 13)
 

The Scottish Rocks lifted the BBL Championship play-off crown - and the first title in the club's history - with a 83-76 defeat of Brighton Bears in a pulsating final at the NIA on Sunday.

And it was Trinidadian star Shawn Myers who was the hero after firing 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Braehead outfit upset the odds once more.

“We weren’t expected to win but since we were outsiders, we had nothing to lose,” he said. “So we came out on court and gave our all.”

The Rocks had made the final after scraping past Sheffield 76-74 in the semis. 

It was Brighton that came out of the blocks the quickest with a 11-4 tear to open the game, and they maintained the lead
throughout the opening period. 

The Rocks stormed back scoring 14 of the first 19 points of the second quarter to take a 32-28 lead, but Brighton closed the half out with an 8-4 run, including a Rico Alderson bucket on the buzzer to lead 48-46.  T

The third quarter saw both sides trading baskets, with the Bears extending their lead to eight before the Scots pegged them back.

A Ted Berry three-pointer on the buzzer trimmed the National Cup winner's cushion to just 68-66 going into the final period and a 9-0 run, capped by another Berry trey, took the Scots 77-70 in front with five minutes left.

Bravely, Brighton rallied to come within two points with a minute left but once Randy Duck and Sterling Davis fouled out, their hopes receded.

Andt Ryan Huntley and Most Valuable Player Myers sealed the game from the line as the Championship came north of the border for the first time in 14 years.

It was the perfect exit for coach Kevin Wall who will now return to the USA.

“It didn’t look like we would have enough to get it done but those guys came through and I’m really proud of them. 

"Ted Berry was on one leg and I had to take him out of there a couple of times. But he’s a warrior and he wanted back in and that sums up this team.”

Davis led the Bears with 18.