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NBL Junior Leagues - League Standings
Junior Finals produce high-flying hoops
RAF Cosford was the dramatic setting for the climax to the first full season of sponsorship by RAF Careers of the Junior and Cadet National Basketball Leagues for both men and women. Sixteen of the country's top teams in both categories took part in the Final Fours in the magnificent facilities of the Royal Air Force School of Military Training and treated their supporters, spectators and officials to a feast of outstanding competition.
The Junior men’s final brought together London rivals Ealing Tornadoes and Islington White Heat. In a hard fought, fast and physical match there was little to separate the sides with Ealing holding a narrow six points advantage at half time but producing the better basketball in the latter stages of the game. they ran out worthy winners 91–77.
Action from Ealing v Islington
In the Cadet men’s showdown, Derby Storm won a gruelling East Midlands Derby to dispose of Nottingham in the semi finals before facing City of Manchester, who came from behind in their semi against East London. The Cadet men’s final produced the match of the weekend with City of Manchester pegging back an 18 points first half deficit only to see the title fall to Derby Storm who held of a determined fight back to win by 2 points – the final score 96-94.
The women’s matches saw the tenacious Rhondda Rebels fielding teams in both Junior and Cadet, as did the Stockport Lapwings and this is where the titles went. Rhondda edged out Stockport Cadets in the semis and went on to win a close final increasing a first half 1 point lead over Chelmsford to clinch the title 56–40. In the Juniors, Stockport, unbeaten this season, proved their superiority beating Nottingham 82–61 in their first match and running away with the final against Sheffield who clearly had peaked in their semi against Rhondda.
The RAF Final Fours was attended by Group Captain Ian MacEachern who presented the trophies to the Cadet teams on Saturday and clearly impressed by the matches that he had seen.
“I would like to congratulate the winners and say bad luck to the runners-up. All the teams have done extraordinarily well to make it this far and should be commended on their outstanding ability. I have seen a fantastic display of team-work, something which is of paramount importance in the Royal Air Force and I hope that the RAF’s involvement with your teams, through various aspect of sponsorship, such as the Club development Fund has been a benefit to you.”
Whilst the Ealing Tornadoes, Derby Storm, the Stockport Lapwings and the Rhondda Rebels were individual winners and can enjoy their new found status as National Champions the overall winner this weekend was youth basketball. .
Final Four Results
Semi-Finals
Junior Men Islington 103-99 Solent , Ealing 74-52 London T
Junior Women Rhondda 44-48 Sheffield , Nottingham 61- 82 StockportCadet Men E London 48 - 70 Manchester , Derby 80-72 Nottingham
Cadet Women Rhondda 69 - 60 Stockport , Chelmsford 65 - 53 Ware
JUNIOR MEN’S FINAL
Islington 77–91 Ealing
Jeffrey Danchie 22 Walid Mamuni 32
Trevor Hosten 15 Robert Smith 22
Michael Baptiste 12 Garry Mcann 13Junior Men’s 3-4 Play off Solent 90 – 80 London T
JUNIOR WOMEN’S FINAL
Sheffield 37- 67 Stockport
Katie Crowley 12 Lisa Hutchinson 22
Kim Hinchcliffe 4 Jo Clayden 14
Frankie Morton 5 Dawn Brown 11Junior Women’s 3-4 Play off Rhondda 71– 59 Nottingham
CADET MEN’S FINAL
Manchester 94 – 96 Derby
Simon Morton 19 Robbie Bowen 21
Alan Metcalfe 18 Jack Glazebrook 20
Callum Jones 13 Jez Harrison-Thompson 12Cadet Men’s 3-4 Play Off East London 85 – 91 Nottingham
CADET WOMEN’S FINAL
Rhondda 56 – 40 Chelmsford
Sara Moon 28 Danielle Hills 8
Aimee Rowlands 12 Nikki Braine 7
Martha Edmunds 8 Kate Nicholson 7Cadet Women’s 3-4 Play Off Stockport 66 - 72 Ware
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