Lions and Hatters add Cup to Trophy successes
Tautvydas Sabonis (left) is in his first season as head coach of London Lions [Super League Basketball] London Lions won their second final of the season as they beat Manchester 83-74 to lift the Super League Basketball Cup. The Lions, who beat Newcastle to lift the Trophy last month, trailed 40-32 in Manchester at half-time. However, they reduced the deficit to one by the end of the third quarter and quick three-pointers from Kameron McGusty, Joel Scott and Deane Williams turned the game in their favour in the last quarter.
Guard McGusty was named MVP with 21 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the winners. "They understood that without doing what we do every day, without playing with the defence that we do, we are not a good team," said head coach Tautvydas Sabonis, who is the brother of Sacramento Kings forward Domantas. The Lions are four points clear at the top of Super League with four games in hand and remain on course for a domestic quadruple.
Hatters make it a double It was a doubly disappointing day for Manchester after their women's team were beaten 90-71 by Sheffield Hatters in the first final of the day. The Hatters beat Caledonia Gladiators 80-62 in the Trophy final and were in similarly dominant form on Sunday. Sheffield led 22-12 after the first quarter and maintained their 10-point cushion at the break as they went in 49-39 up.
They extended their advantage to 21 points by the end of the third and although Manchester rallied at the start of the fourth, MVP Georgina Gayle took her personal tally for the day to 20 points as the Hatters cruised to the buzzer. Like the Lions, the Hatters are also top of their division standings.