LIVE Women’s British Basketball League PLAYOFF FINAL🏆🏀 London Lions vs Newcastle Eagles

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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e playoff finals after 128 games only two teams remain it’s the Newcastle Eagles up against the London lions live from the Oto arena in London where preparations are very much underway every past dunk and three-point made has been building up to this moment a moment in time that will live forever I want to win a final e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e me I’m I’m I’m when kicking through the door I a be CH is running out stop and we running out the clock I fa words never stop I I I aable yeah I am aable I unat yeah iable iable iable I unbeatable yeah it all comes down to this it’s the women’s British Basketball League playoff finals after 128 games only two teams remain it’s the Newcastle Eagles up against the London lions live from the Oto arena in London where preparations are very much underway every pass dunk and three-point made has been building up to this moment a moment in time that will live forever I want to win a final yeah yeah you know I can foresee a game of high speed chess as soon as they see see the O2 uh the motivation is there right this team has had such an up and down season and now with the five wins in a row we’ve got nothing to lose and this team’s got great I think we got this we’re dogs we fought back from so much adversity injuries everything and just where we are now proves that it all happens for a reason this is a huge occasion to win three out three for the for the year they are a team with capital letters they succeed to become really tough mentally and um when you got this uh then the rest of the things about tactics and how you will play are the easiest thing to do we’re just really closeit team and it’s our last game together so we’re just going to enjoy every moment the way I feel for this GR nothing can you know take this away I’m not waiting uh a game or a trophy to feel proud of them uh I’m proud of them every day 1 2 set [Music] go the you conquering London lions have their sight set on a domestic treble and a fourth consecutive playoff final Victory they’ve been Unstoppable all season and made history by becoming the first ever British basketball team male or female to win European honors with a Euro Cup Triumph just over a month ago unbeaten in the League this season this team just doesn’t know how to lose six seed Newcastle Eagles are hitting form just at the right time during the playoffs they beat third seed Sheffield and second seed calonia both by just two points this lineup features players who were defeated by London in the 2021 playoff final and they’ll be looking to avenge that defeat on the biggest stage of all and taking Center Stage alongside me is former London Li in GB International OB St and former brickton Top Cat College VOA Kyler Nelson the atmosphere is building in here Kyler and what a stage for the women today to really show what they can do the biggest stage right this is what they’ve been playing all season for been grinding fighting for this moment right here in front of a crowd of British fans and I can’t wait I mean it’s going to be a really really good one but we have got today a spectacle and a really good team Obie just how good are that London lion Squad if you haven’t seen them good thing you here today absolutely terrific they’ve done a incredible job this season I think the only thing that they haven’t done um that one could say they might have been able to was playing a uh in a Euro league competition but they’ve done a great job they’ve won the Euro Cup competition they’ve only lost two games all season um this is a big time team and when you think about it this is a one-off game right Kyla it’s the first seed against the sixth seed but the for goes out of the window right we are here now all bets are off let’s go nothing matters the playoffs become at its own season so does the final it’s about playing your best basketball when it matters and we don’t know until that ball throws up what’s going to happen so that’s what makes it so exciting look at newcastle’s run right who thought they’d be here and that just shows what basketball’s about I mean they got nothing to lose right OB why not let them just come in and see what they can do absolutely nothing to lose everybody loves an Underdog Story you know usk last night he pulled off the underdog Victory it’s 2024 this is the time it could happen it’s going to be good TP hop is at 1220 later the men take to the Flor Flor for the final and the London Lions take on the cheser Phoenix and that tips off at qu pass 4 but now it’s time to meet the players competing in the women’s playoff final New Castle We rise up soing through the sky Eagles on the court we play to Domin Electrify no one can stop us we got the skills intact grab here we go New Castle Eagles for our show ride up my high let the world know I feel the show weing number four Zoe wom and as Ana Stewart this team Newcastle comes in as we like to say with a full head of steams well first of all I’ve got chills the starting lineups are coming out you’re right you know they shouldn’t really be here but it doesn’t matter is who’s playing their best basketball at the right time and they have been playing fantastic team names that really jump out obviously tiarra hajes and Laurence psyche they’re going to have to have big game to if they have any chance to beat in London yo hod has been fantastic you know she was player of the month it’s back in January she’s a double double machine offensively Unstoppable so London lines are going to have to find it but defensively also trouble Matt new’s team comes in on a five-game win streak as you said a lot of people said there’s no way they get out of that first and second round but here they are the six seed and they’re going to go toe to- toe in the capital with the Lions yeah they got to make this game Scrappy right but therey for me is the point guard is going to be crucial the ball’s going to be be in her hands a lot but she has seven assists she’s going to be massive for Newcastle so the Newcastle eal have arrived here in O2 can they get it done it’s going to be a tough Hill to [Applause] climbon lions [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] this is your former team this year it wasn’t even close between London and Newcastle but this is not the same London team that Newcastle face in the regular season absolutely not they’ve got four women who have left for the WNBA tamy benley has gone to the fever kly Samson has gone to the mystics and then you also have Meg gon’s gone to the Aces and also Shay Penny this is not the same team but you know what they’ve managed to come together they still got some key pieces it’s going to be a big game and if I’m Newcastle maybe I could get the London Lions looking like this London looking to close out this season in class form obviously 20-0 in the season they have the Firepower not a deep team only 10 players and Stella’s not afraid to run the whole bench yeah she’s not she goes deep in her bench she moves it around but there Holly Winterburn I think is going to have to put up bucket she’s going to have to control the game and really have an MVP performance Oe wiber played her college ball at the University of Oregon it’s an international team with International experience it’s the Lions and the Eagles from the O2 and now we get ready for the national anthem please put your hands together and welcome to the floor classical reflection [Music] if you can please stand for the national [Music] anthem King [Music] Victorious happy and glorious to R [Music] Us okay we are moments away and we’re going to be back with pregame analysis and tip off right after [Music] [Applause] this e e e e a defeat in the league all season and someone else who’s been unbeatable all season is our very own floor General Drew [Music] lasar speaking of Flor General no one does it better than Holly Winterburn she’s evolved she’s grown a game so she’s an elite PG now in this environment this moment this is what she lives for she’s clutch have you seen the shot the biggest shot in British basketball history but it’s not just about her she has other Talent around her as well come with me baby right here Savannah Wilkinson look at the body look at the frame she’s a mismatch nightmare there’s nobody on the Eagles that can stop her because she has the mid-range game where she can bring the bigs out and also if she gets a small on us she can work down low her along with the rest of this Talent is the reason why this team has been unbeatable this season W and with Savannah Wilkinson you know GB International a rookie season but a rookie season of dreams but also a coach’s dream as well she’s so versatile she’s so versatile but she’s so comfortable in this league before she went to the states she was already playing high amount of minutes in the wbbl as you see her here Waring up but she’s she’s a vet in this league doing everything for this team 13 points a game seven rebounds has improved during the playoffs as well and Savannah’s just one that you you won on your floor and coming off a player of the month in April and that versatility as well Obie that’s somebody who’s got that college experience it is absolutely key for games like this up against a Newcastle team who you can’t get you can’t be complacent against experience cannot be understated in these sort of games you know when it comes down to Championship time you know from your Sprint in days when it comes down to time to perform experience um you cannot you can never have too much of it you know so all of those things I think are going to help these guys today for real and then we’ve got fellow GB International Holly Winterburn as well her resume is ridiculous I mean 13 domestic titles here Kyla she’s only 23 what did you put it all in she’s such a class ass absolutely ridiculous if you if you look at what she’s done in her career so far on a piece of paper and she’s only getting better we have to talk about the huge shot she kind of won the game for Euro Cup Final against bikas and she’s just been on a rhythm since then leading this team doesn’t matter who’s on the floor she’s ready to go she’s ready to go she’s in great shape as well and when we think about another professional a person who’s been playing playing professional basketball for longer than Holly’s been around cattina 38 years old oie she launched her career in 1999 it’s her final game this level of experience you can’t buy this this level of experience let me just explain you know to play professional for that amount of years over here in Europe um It’s a Grind It’s a Grind you know every single season is something different and for her to have been around this long um it’s just a testament to her hopefully they can she can put a bow on her career and finish it the right way it’s going to be an emotional one for her for sure well that’s the London Lowdown now it’s time to S with the Eagles former Newcastle Eagle Drew laska is remaining impartial as [Music] always yes jet I promise I wouldn’t be bias but I just can’t help myself because abil low I’ve been watching her game closely for three years and this is what she does drives hard get behind the arc and knock him down but for this team this year she’s become the defensive Ace so look for her to be matched up against Holly winter burn offensively it will be taken care of by right there on the Baseline number 15 tiarra hajes the second leading scorer in the league she loves to create mismatches in particular the middle of the third of the court and work her jelly this day this environment means everything for these women but for Tiara today means just that much more yeah for sure Tiara hudes will be stepping out on the court today truly inspired and KN that someone very special will be looking down on Earth of course making it to a final in any way shape capacity is amazing it’s every basketball player’s dream is to play on the biggest stage in wherever they’re at um but me personally um I lost my sister last year on May 19th so to be playing in the finals on May 19th which is the anniversary of her passing is like just makes this mean a thousand times like this is everything to me and on that day like I would be playing for her more than anybody else so yeah this is it’s a big one for me Obie for tiarra today it’s going to be really emotional isn’t it it’s going to be emotional you know but I think the more reason the more cause you give uh to any achievement any goal you have the more likely you are to pull it off so I think she has a good chance she’s got a good chance but she’s got some great stats we can see them there Kyla wow look you know 21 points per game 13 rebounds she’s really carried this Newcastle team especially postseason hasn’t she she has and we have to remember this is only her second year as a professional basketball player she’s just stepped up and stepped in as Newcastle team as a scorer as a rebounder averaging double double All Season the Newcastle uh team has 35 offensive rebounds over the two playoff games you H had half of those 17 offensive rebounds in two games yeah now she is really really a player and another player to watch on this squad GB International Abby low lost to the lions in the 2021 playoff final she’ll be out for Revenge what does that bring to the rust down oh she’s ready and actually the only time she scored more in the wbl she’s been a part of this league for six years in total going in and out but the only of the time she scored more was that 21 year she’s averaging just over 11 points this season and she’s come for Revenge she’s not happy with their 21 L and Obie when you think about this Newcastle team like we say they were the six seed coming into this they fancy their chances they’ve got nothing to lose here they do they weren’t expected to maybe get as far as they’ve even gotten throughout the playoffs but they’ve done an incredible job and um rhythm is is everything when it comes to the playoffs and they’re in Rhythm right now so the lies have to be on point the Lions have to be on point can they do it can the Eagles cause an upset cuz after this next up is the women’s playoff final I want to win a final yeah [Music] yeah the way up I’m on the way up going on the way up I’m on the way up I’m on the way up I’m on the way up going all the way up every level got a new Devil I’mma give them cuz I don’t know better I’m a born winner I’m going all the way Up’s you can do make me up ready set’s [Music] go e [Music] [Applause] and we are set to go underway here at the O2 Arena and it is the Newcastle Eagles in their traveling whites that will be controlling the ball first the London lions in their home blacks the officials today Paul unsworth John Paul Heron and Chris curl in charge of the [Applause] action I guess the big question right off the B if you are coach Matt newbie in the Newcastle Eagles then you know you come in as a sizable Underdog what do you do to flip the script on what happened in the regular season well I think you got to make the game dirty you know Scrappy be bumpy be annoying get up under London lines frustrate them but um finally I’m kind of relaxed now you know that build up where your heart rate’s going you’re feeling a little bit nervous the butterflies um and finally just we can take a deep breath so that should be a big screen set by Chloe G on hly winter bur and no call there and the shot Off the Mark so back come the London Lions now their first offensive possession this is a team we know well we’ve seen them a lot they’ve got so much experience in a deep bench minus the four players who are off to the WNBA yeah and those WWA goals were a lot of offense but cat that would have been great for her to shoot that first up cat sits nina not able to H the first one but a big bucket for Abby Meyers voted six player of the year the 11th pick in the WNBA draft a product of Princeton University so you know she’s the smarts yes she does low on the Drive SE her tried to get in the lane multiple times and the ref’s letting it play little bit of bumping there but the ball is turned over and back come the London Lions looking to run TI hajes picks it off and that was the defense that I spoke about at the top of the show she’s not only great in offense um but she’s a big body She’s Not Too Tall she’s about 5 9 51 which I thought she would be a little bit bigger but obviously she’s strong Broad and here she is down low JRA hajes gets her shot in the paint little 10 footer turn around she gets the back of the rim Z how difficult is it to make this transition or adjust to the sight lines if you’re a shooter inside the O2 beautiful entry pass into winterberg yeah an easy bucket but you’re right uh when you come to a final you don’t have any practice time you know you don’t really we we came in this morning the floor was getting laid the lights and the fireworks everything’s getting put down so it’s really difficult to adjust and if you see like history kind of uh the the percentage at the three-point line isn’t as high as as normal so layups are going to be important another turnover for the Newcastle Eagles something they cannot have against a very powerful London Lions team as cat Sita goes behind her back gets it right back plays the glass can’t get it and TI Hodes comes away with the rebound and a bump there so a very physical game so far and I think that correct me if I’m wrong Z that’s playing into the hands of the London lions yeah I I think so um especially you know down low we talked about Savannah wilon who needs to be a present here she is right on time Up and Under can’t get it to fall rebound taken away by Marina Fernandez Paro a player that I think could have some impact she stands 5’11 out of Spain great outside shooter has not been involved so far Hodes with the ball now out the low gner now hands it gives it to psyche she comes across the line little 12-footer still can’t get it to fall you see what I mean just and these are also brand new rims we need to we need the men to dunk on it if you loosen it up a bit nice drive on the inside Ivana katanic yeah and katanic part of the Serbian national team and part of that team that will be going to Paris Olympics so Matt newbie has seen enough of this his team is just ice cold here in the capital city how about this Baseline yeah and there it is so as any as we are purched high at top the 02 here a great view as London has rattled off seven quick points so for Matt Newby and his Squad what do they do to change things and to move it around for them yeah I think um for sure that you know London started off 70 that is a hard um kind of start but I think also I said it’s difficult to shoot from when it’s brand new Arena you kind of off I think you go for layups have you seen the last couple of shots for London Lions have all been layups get something easy in offense and get to the room if you’re Matt new you told your team and say guys take a deep breath it’s going be a long game it’s 40 minutes here in the British basketball league Let it Fly you got nothing to lose I think that’s a great Point listen this is the big you know lights camera action uh there might be a few nerves uh maybe you know calm down and I think that’s why that time out here is so good so they can just settle down settle the nerves and then come back out with a deep breath do you need a deep breath no I’m good I’m feel great just being here with you Tira Hodes is someone obviously has to be involved in that offense yeah I think either you know it wasn’t a bad shot they found her down low um but something going to the room is going to be super important and also seeing the ball go through the N right you’re still on zero still a bit struggling and and once that ball just goes through you can relax and think okay we’re at the finals now very emotional day for Tiara hodj as the 59 forward out of the states played her ball at Ferman University it was a year ago today that she lost her sister and she is playing on and she said that is going to be some motivation for her it’s a tied up ball so it’ll be possession arrow the way of the London Lions so early on here at the o02 it is all things London Z we knew it was going to be an uphill battle for Newcastle but spotting London seven points off the bat it’s probably not what Matt newbie had in mind yeah you know you knew it was going to be difficult but here uh Tiara is obviously his post player but I think uh saki comes and and comes and gets that ball you’re the point guard London put on a full court press and they get the turnover that they want and you know that’s what London lions are like they’re not going to let down it’s going to be ferocious the whole game their head coach still Kido Euro Cup champions they have brought a lot of attention to women’s basketball here in London not only women’s basketball just basketball in general because that is a huge get for the women to win that Euro Cup tough to block that and tough to defend Savannah Wilkinson yeah and the GU started um oie and the crew were talking about that she actually it was Drew laska talking about that she can draw the big out but then also she can post up and that post up was big big three-pointer on the way off the mark TI Hodes keeps it alive so fresh 14 she’ll turn and fire and she will finally get the Eagles on the board so they spot the Champs a nine spot and she comes back and gets the two they needed that in a big time wa yeah and that’s big and you know uh in the semi she had 18 points 13 rebounds Abby Myers inside and out tough player and look at it to your point picking up almost full court so by the time they get the ball into Lawrence psyche’s hands they’re at 15 seconds on the shot clock and also that wears you down you know to have to look after the ball bring the ball Up full courau Tira Hodes will turn and fire no one there and only person to the rebound is Ivan Katan and she’ll start things off big long pass down to the front end why not fire a three as I said Abby Myers is feeling it inside and out the sixth player of the year she gets the start today amazing I I love that we’ve uh done these Awards this season so important to be the six man so right now newcastle’s got to try to find someone other than tiarra hajes that could put some points on the board could it be ABY low she can’t get it to fall and again three black jerseys around the ball and they come back looking look at Holly winterberg head up looking already to make a pass that’s what’s so great about Holly Winburn her size right she loves to play the wing but can be the point guard Myers was feeling it so why not let it fly low comes away with a rebound she’ll push it ball knocked away no foul called 3 seconds I think for a foul and it was Savannah it was Savannah Wilkinson that was posting up down low and a little confusion on the call offens 4 to the 12 going to be a foul on Savannah Wilkinson so an offensive foul on her right now in the capital city 142 Lions on top by a [Music] [Applause] dozen e e [Music] [Applause] as Anya stud as you know London Lions have mastered the Inside Out game and you’re right and exactly we had s Wilson underneath post up and then once you establish your post game now you can kick it out now the shooters start filling themselves and Abby MERS has come off playing really well but look again this full court press slowing down they they’re putting their foot on the gas London Lions they’re not going to make it easy Kitty noan has checked into the game for the Eagles to try to give them some Sid down below right now hod so it’s London Lions 14 de’arra hajes four interesting cuz I thought uh Nolan was on the injury report so good to see that she’s out here she’s definitely a bigger body physical down low cat can’t get it to fall psyche looks like she has it knocked away back into the hands of London lions and on the drive Abby mys looks she’ll kick it back out top shot clock now at 8 Holly Winterburn with plenty of time this is Holly time one-on-one with low she throws it up shot clock at one have to get to fall and can’t get it off in time so nice defensive St by The Eagles great defensive stand really made it difficult for London Lions to even get a a look at the rim AIS she’ll just take matters into her own hand going right at K sittina in her final game well it’s Hodes versus London Lions right now and if I’m Newcastle I’m going to her every single time last game of the season nice back cut looking for Whitburn down below well defended and kis stepped on the Baseline so now an opportunity for London to go to their bench as cat stina will sit down and they check in the captain chenice Beckford Norton SPN out of LSU 58 guard she was part of that 2021 team last time these two teams met up yeah that’s H’s left hand finish but you’re right um shenise Beckman for Norton was my old teammate too just the speed on her you know she’s able to jump out the gym also won community champion um a new award for the British basketball what she does for the community and as a coach for younger kids Fernandez Paro gets a shot off she can’t get it to fall low comes away with a rebound so another opportunity for the Eagles desperately in need of points here 230 nice no look pass underneath as Nolan shot is blocked Away by Abby Meyers that entry pass was a thing of beauty wow until it wasn’t yeah Myers noan for she had an easy wide open layup no you don’t look at this that’s some nice help defense and noan gets the revenge and she gets a bucket yeah good job way to stick with it so a 12-point ball game is now a six-point ball game well Newcastle finally just settled in oh nice drive to the Lane beautiful hesitation katanic gets another bucket and that’s where Newcastle just need to clean up it’s way too easy just to get to the rim and also picking up the ball here like we said look at where that offense starts that’s a match up that you think Newcastle might be able to take advantage of Fernandez Paro being guarded closely by Abby Meers Sierra Hodes finally gets it she gets off a 15 foter G gets the front of the rim Nolan comes away with the rebound psyche now stutter on the drive off the glass hand here at 53 Lauren psyche that’s really nice I spoke about her skills and I’ve been watching her through her career you know she’s a top level point guard can handle the ball and the ability is very high London Lions fed with a six-point lead outside in beautiful pass and a nice job on the finish at the other end for Maya price Maya price a former Newcastle Eagle so she’s giving it to her former teammates and there’s a foul in the front Court as T hod just crossed the line and was double team against number seven Holly Winterburn it’s a little weak see that was soft yeah that’s not foul I love the referees and I saw them before I said I’ll be nice to you but that’s a this is a final you know um but either way let’s have a look we get the the luxury of looking at it twice okay the little slap down 1810 the champion London lions with the lead and they’ll go right inside to Nolan and this time on the block by Abby Meers they’re going to get her for the call I like that for Newcastle Eagles find uh K down low look the mismatch used the body yes Abby Myers has blocked one before but put put the pressure on the referees yes the coach says let’s go that’s a great play good understanding and they’re at the free thr line so Katy no strolls to the line gets the first one a 71% shooter during the season played her college ball in the states at Sean Hall so she’s played some highlevel basketball Division One basketball as they say in the states and she steps up and knocks the second one down so it looked to be a bit of a blowout early on in the Newcastle legal say you know not so fast we didn’t make the trip all the way down here just to see Drew Lasker we’re going to try to get missing a game and now they’ve closed it down to six they sure did and that’s what I thought we that timeout that coach took Matt just took that time out a great one to settle the nerves I felt like they came out um you know a little bit and there he is Drew next to CEO Aaron there he is he’s next to the big dog oh he sitting Courtside Las her man he knows someone and as soon as London gives it away at a bad entry pass Newcastle gives it right away back to London on a miscommunication on the inbound so Stella c not so nervous just yet but she’s starting to Pace a little bit Team Up by six under a minute to go here in the first this is the women’s British basketball league championship final Todd Harris Zia Stewart Drew Lasker with you here from the beautiful O2 Arena on a piter of Sunday in London Holly winterberg tries to cross back to here Hodes is right there like a shadow look at her keeper on the outside has to give it away and it’s going to be a shot clock violation as hurn saw the shot clock winding down and launch the step Curry like three and could not hit the rim but hodges’s defense yet again she’s obviously a threat um but the defense to move your feet stay in front of Holly Winterburn who’s got handles a great job and there’s AB Meers got eight early points in this first quarter got a tweak on the ankle so Abby Myer is going to sit on the bench for a second get a little treatment see if she can rest that up loosen it up and the London Lions as we mentioned with the four players that have departed for the WBA they’re a little bit thin on that bench a team that usually can go 10 to 12 players deep to win that Euro Cup Championship they’re going to have to get it done with 10 on the bench today yeah and it’s such a big part Hodes Allstar gives up to psyche beautiful head fake by psyche 53 can’t finish with the left Nolan there to go up no foul called this time and here comes SN a lot of bodies flying in gosh officials are letting them play final 8 seconds and the shot goes up and it’s off the mark and there’s going to be a foul in the back court at 1812 with 2.1 seconds you can see Meers trying to get that right ankle loosened up yeah there it is got a band just to keep the motion in the ankle joint don’t let it stiffen up and and that’s horrible sometimes when it’s just a quick tweak just a little oh a little pain um but it’s good to just keep it moving going it to seize up well with that silly foul they walk the end of the floor don’t so Zoe Willis just steps right up a 68% free throw shooter and she’s going to knock in a big free throw there possibly a second one to cut this one to four Z this was a double figure leave the lines looked like they were running away with it and they are leaving the fourth quarter only up by four yeah well it was hoges she was huge in this first quarter and on the first quarteron so the first quarter comes to a conclusion and it is the London Lions 20 the Eagles 14 we’ve got a great second period coming up on our way to crowning a champion will it be the Lions of London or the Eagles of Newcastle [Music] [Applause] e e e [Music] London Lions L it by as many as 10 in the first quarter they end the first quarter only leading by four so congratulations to Newcastle for fighting back when they were down big 144a Stewart looked like Newcastle had no answer offensively and then somehow they calmed and rided the sh with Matt newbie at the head and they’ve closed it now down to 186 so it’s a two-point game absolutely and hoders is absolutely going to work I love it she said she dedicated this to her sister and her sister would be so proud of this first quarter and into now the second quarter um efforts on the drive Holly winterberg with a nice back cut and can’t finish it but she is fouled and she will go to the line if you’re just joining us tiarra hajes there number 15 player at a Ferman University in the USA her sister passed away a year ago today and she is playing with increased motivation there you see the foul on [Music] [Applause] Hodes I’m just uh sorry go ahead no I was going to say Holly winterbird out of the University of Oregon part of that GB Olympic team headed to Paris and she is just such a stabilizing Force as she hits both yeah for me holly Winterburn I just think she’s grown and and really I’m so proud of her as I came out of retirement in 200 what year was it 2020 yeah uh she was at the leester Riders and she was so young and and big shot Willis who hit the free throws just before the end of the first half hits a three there so now they have five points for her Abby Myers back in we saw her stretching that right ankle it looks like it’s a looks okay to me she doesn’t get the bucket the fall but she will go to the line yeah Newcastle feeling themselves sorry let me finish my thought with Holly winb yeah just that the growth of her game and the maturity the fact that you know she’s really taking it on her mentality I just love the sky is the limit for her she is so young she’s achieved so much she is also listen to this stat 90 and one in the British basketball league the one we lost um to calonia when uh Stella took the new job that was her first day at the office and we lost that game so sorry for that but hly Winterburn is 90 and one so Winterburn and Company now lead it by three 2219 Nolan stays in the game gives it over to psyche psyche all of 53 dishes the ball the hot hand right now that being Willis shot goes up off the end Nolan right there and and she’s going to be fouled and going to line as kattina just caught her on the arm and Nolan doing work she’s working hard on that offensive rebound and that’s exactly what you need keep chipping away but she’s so you know she’s a big broad body she’s hard to box out right now Holly goes up for that she doesn’t get it who gets it uh Nolan and she goes back to the free throw line d noan as we mentioned a 71% free throw shooter misses the first of that so she’ll try to hit the second one in close the game back down to a two-point ball game can’t get it done so it remains a three-point lead for the London Lions your Euro Cup champions regular season Champions defending [Music] [Applause] Champions F and Dean is checked in now handling the ball for still calue and the London Lions drives the lane and they’re going to get the foul it looks like AB low I think AB low on the outside and in the quarters and the semis Abby actually fouled out in in the semis Newcastle had calonia let me have a look at here lots of bodies flying but um yeah they went into overtime in that semi-final and she actually fouled out so they didn’t even have her in that overtime but she’s got her hands full having to guard hly winter bed on the switch Winterburn finds Myers in the corner Myers nothing wrong with that ankle buries the three yeah great drive and kick so now how does Newcastle answer best way to answer is probably with tiara Haj just handling the ball they’ll give it over the side and it’s knocked away cleanly nice block there as Zoe Willis tried to get it done stays with the shot and gets it to fall London Lions need to do a better job in rebounding they do a great job turning over the ball Willis here we go back come the Eagles entry pass and a slip on the floor tiaja somehow comes away with it kicks back over to Willis and it’s taken away by Savannah Wilkinson Lions looking to run Myers down the lane and she is fouled be interesting to see yeah so two quick ones on Abby low and she’s going to probably have to take a seat here for the final 7:30 of the first half and that’s exactly what Matt newb is going to do yeah that’s such a shame he gets in the way pick up to such a big part of this offense so low averaging three 12 points a game three rebounds three assists will have to take a seat although low has struggled against London the two previous games this season the regular season she got four and seven points so not a great matchup for her as Myers hits the first of two and she’s been with the uh Newcastle Eagles a good couple of years now 2020 2022 season and then went Dar then came back so that’s going to be a bit of a loss she’s going to have to head to the bench Abby Myers leading the Lions charge she had 22 points in six rebounds and three assists in that semi-final win against Lester she is dominant for us especially when that outside shot is on psyche looking for some space to operate at 5-3 she gets that shot up can’t get it to fall cat comes away with it in her final game pushing the pace now the London Lions surveying the field goes behind the back Savannah Wilkinson on the and she is fouled by Katie Nolan yeah and that’s what Drew laska spoke about earlier being able to put the ball on the floor the ability to get past post players lovely rip through and she’ll go to the line for two that will send Katie mlan as she picks up her second foul she’ll go to the line and they’ll sub her out for Khloe Gainer who will step in Khloe Gainer who played her college ball in California at Long Beach State University and that’s how she knows Lauren psyche her back court mate played at UC F just about about 30 Mi down the 405 in Orange County it’s down to 405 when it’s not jammed with traffic well she has a great body she’s 63 26 years old you know coming into her prime she’s been with uh excuse me Newcastle Eagles for quite some years and I’ve I’ve played against her really smart intelligent got the nice little 15f footer and also is going to help on the rebounding end so here come the eagles they Trail it by seven under 7 minutes to play in the British basketball league they play 10 minute quarters psyche look at driving into the tall trees no fear there kicks it back out to gain a beautiful pass as Willis finds herself free can’t get it to fall and Myers comes away with a rebound but not before she is fouled oh that was a great pass and catch By Zoe Willis she needs to just go up with that that was fantastic look at this great pass look she was wide open but she just took that extra step there lovely pass threads the needle yeah look just go [Music] up and she tries to get the ball back she is called for the foul so Matt newbie and his Newcastle Eagles will try to strategize and come up with something as they will close out this first half of play but you can definitely see you know they’ve settled into the game into into this second quarter I feel like that was a great job um yeah this is their road to the 02 Newcastle a lot of people didn’t think they’d get past that first round game with Sheffield but the win against calonia on the road was enormous I think both games Sheffield is a tough team in the league they’ve played fantastic and then you’re right calonia um two big teams and and Newcastle yes they’ve had this up and down season I think their record really shows that they only got 11 wins um but for me it doesn’t matter the playoffs is a whole new brand brand new season the women’s league is a little bit different the men play best of three the women only play one game um so it’s really important that you are feeling good you are playing well you are jelling the chemistry is good together CU you only have one shot where the men are best of Threes And there’s London Lions Road yeah easy for them at home especially in the copper box where they are almost Unstoppable once they get rolling we talked about it the one thing that’s an interesting fact and I had to go back and look at this you know the London Lions 20 and0 in the regular season they lost their first game of the year now it was a EUR Cup qualifier against team but but I was tell where do you find a a weakness in the London lions in their very first game of the year it took them a while to jail but they lost that team to a Hungarian team 6348 well there’s the ches Phoenix looking on as they are playing right after this but you’re right um I do think I was at that game that uh they were trying to qualify for the Euro league and you know disappointed and that that Hungarian team went on and and did really well but then they just kind of come together and clicked and just figured it out and trusted and more and more and and this is why even though those four girls have gone to the WNBA there’s still this main core good part of leaders especially with cat Nina Holly Winterburn who’s been with London lions for a fair few years they haven’t really Dr dropped off I feel like there’s a London Lions way of doing things from their warm-ups to their stretching to everything they just have a system the way they do it shot clock now at 3 you have to get this one up up and it doesn’t hit anything that’s going to be a shot clock violation but the Lions Come Away With The Ball yeah I mean it they’re trying to this is a semi-pro and trying to be become professional and especially at the the rate at the league and you’re in Euro Cup and you’re trying to bring that professionalism here to the British basket League Myers left open can’t get it to fall and Fernandez Paro gets the rebound it’s knocked away bya and it’ll stay with the Eagles how about her career 21 years 76 games 7 51 points and seven trophies and this is her final go she gave you a nice wave during warm-ups yes she did she gave me the love heart um and we spoke about it you know because I retired last year with her and we spoke about um the retirement announcing it at the beginning and you can really enjoy the journey and the season of you know cuz some days it’s really hard and you don’t want to do it and you and it’s really hard in the grind but those hard days you can say man this is my last day but you think about to Obie soo’s point about that wasn’t just you know champagne caviar and private jet she was doing it the hard way in Europe she was and as a travel you’re right she’s originally from bellarus is and uh played with their national team played with the Olympic belarussian team and you’re right she played professional from Young she didn’t go to college she didn’t go she went straight to Pro Y in in Russia so she’s played many many years and for her to finish it here uh she also found love in London last year she found a new partner so she’ll be here for good Cat Lets this one fly can’t get it to fall ball knocked away and once again Ivan katanic comes away the rebound they’re going to call the foul and they’re going to get Courtney Clen for the for the foul on that as they are both fighting for the board this is a critical point would you say for Matt newbie and the Eagles Z not to let this thing slip away with just 5177 to play in the first half I think that’s a great point you don’t want to burst this lead dop and they’ve done a fantastic job managing pushing and then also going into halim you can really you know come on girls we’ve still got that confidence um but the third is my most important uh quarter that you need to come out but you’re right don’t break it open and how about Stella cidu coach of the year I mean that’s unanimous I mean she just did such a fantastic job I think she also grew in confidence right she’s she over prepares if you look in her little inside pocket of her jacket she’s got all these plays all these defenses so many things that she wants to do she will probably have changed a few things in practice uh she’s so serious and has just become an incredible coach on the drive Abby Myers are going to call TI a Hodes and she’s going to ask for some NBA continuation and they’re going to give it to her foul and the point well if you don’t ask you don’t get there you go 459 to play and the londons threatening to burst the dam as they now lead it by [Music] 12 e e [Music] [Applause] and just moments ago Skyler white of the cheser Phoenix I don’t know if this is a normal pregame warmup but he said I’m not doing that Pat the dog you got me all the way I got a game later Matt newbie is a little bit more concerned on his plate right now as his team cut it to 12 after being cut it to two I should say after being down by 10 in the 1 they now find themselves in a 12 make that a 13o hole with just 459 to play here inside the 02 with the women’s British Basketball League Championship on the line lond lions are defending Champions they won the regular season at 20 and0 and they are also your Euro Cup champions they have been the dominant force on this side of the pond but I’ll tell tell what Newcastle showed a lot of guts in that first period not folding up 10 early yeah well what I liked is their movement on the offense look they’ve got multiple screens multiple actions shot comes up short didn’t hit the rim so London there comes away with a rebound no shot clock violation as the Lions now will look to push it this is a critical 4 and 1/2 minutes for Newcastle they have got to find a way to get some offense bounce pass trying to get into Winterburn catch pass goes arai as Laurence psyche comes away with it she weaves her way to the defense psyche going left right left goes up with a hook and gets it to fall I told he says come on listen she’s a elite she’s a Class Act she can look after the ball and no doubt she was on The Scouting Report but you can see how they defend them they’ve got two guys on them worried about her that was a wonderful move we’re going to have to see that again later just 5T 3 in tall she went left right left behind the back cat Fe it back out to Abby Myers for a step back three boom triple gosh she’s feeling it too right she says yep come on don’t worry I’ve got us she doesn’t want Z Stewart talking too much about Lawrence psyche in that behind the back PL too much let me let me change the narrative yeah I like psyche a lot I think you go to her too again but you see there’s lots of movement pass knocked out of bounds as Fernandez Paro was trying to get the skip pass this lendon Lions team just too quick too tall to get that kind of pass to fall she was trying get into the hands of Courtney who will take a seat and surprised to see this move Abby Low’s going to come back into the game she’s going to have to be careful if I’m London Lions I’m going to attack her try and get her on that third foul you know you’ve got when you’ve got three fouls it’s it’s difficult hardes on the Stutter Step can’t get it to fall looked like she was having in right off the bat oh low thought she was going to have a problem another one and it is a jump I know she freaked out a little bit then 3723 let’s check in with Janette quach overso and Kyla Nelson to see what’s coming up at the half oh we have been excited watching this one Kyler who’s caught your eye Abby Myers 18 points 71% from the field getting it done everywhere and drawing fouls she’s been busy in for OV tiarra Hodes you know I think she’s kept 1 minute they got off to a very slow start but they’ve done a great job fighting their way back into the game yeah there’s still plenty more to come and I’m sure you keep us across it t is AA all right thank you very much JK we look forward to the second half and the halftime also want to mention coming up later today we got the men’s championship of Z we Haven really got into that the London lions taking on the Chester Phoenix but let’s go back to this play how about this look at that double behind the backs and then throw it up she says yes she’s one of my favorite point guards and then here Abby M for her 18th Point nothing but net splashes it in great job by both of them a lot more of Lauren psyche the pride of UC Irvine as she tries to get her Squad back into it score points five assists so psyche will try to work with here a hajes who else of that group is it a Zoe Willis is it a Katie Nolan that’s going to have to chip in double figures well I also need to see some more from I think she’s kind of obviously struggling with those with those two fouls um but you’re right Zoe Willet also came in um but right now G also is in she’s got to use her height but I like what Newcastle are doing on their offensive end you know what they they doing is offensive rebounding getting themselves second and third opportunities that’s huge is how they they dug back into that lead in the first quarter so gain psyche and Hodes are back on the court for Matt newbie we’ll see how they can close out this one just a moment ago he was letting the officials know that he wasn’t super thrilled with some of their calls but his team is battling to try to stay in this one they Trail now by 14 trying to claw their way back into a single digigit lead remember they were down down by 10 early down by 12 and then they cut it to two that pass goes arai picked off now psyche looking beautiful lead to low and low will have an easy layup wonderful long lean uh steps that’s exactly I said hey we need more from and she comes out and says don’t worry Zena I got you 12-point lead now pass inside wurn just way too easy lovely reverse had on the other side of her and just went reversely up good offense from H and look at the swarming defense the Killer Bees and it turns into another bucket so a quick 40 run by the London Lions as they sense Newcastle trying to build some momentum and they push the lead back to 4125 trapping them now foul here but what’s happening is London lions like you said bees they’re swarming they’re sending a trap to uh to Newcastle trying to turn them over and that’s how they got this steal always with heads up looking to make the Quick Pass and you sub out a player like Abby Meers with a deep thread and you bring in the speed package none other than the captain SBN Chenise Beckford Norton the speed package indeed she is lightning quick she’s so fast and also she can jump out of the gym such a talented player out of LSU yeah and British homegrown went to America bounce pass to psyche she takes a deep range shot for her usually not known for outside shooting and here comes cat crossing over thinks about it drives Up and Under cat gets a bucket there you go cat since Lina when the three isn’t dropping she can also put the ball on the floor Abby low now kicks it back out to gainor gain hits a big three for the Eagles yeah she can stretch the floor obviously a big big body she’s tall at 63 that’s a great shot from her 140 now to play Newcastle aware of what that stick with the championship you got to be kidding me holly Winterburn goes full Hocus Pocus magic with that pass no look and threads the needle at the same time gosh she just knew where her teammate was going to be deep brains three coming off the heel black jerseys there and they’re going to look to run smartly without the numbers they back it out and and Holly wiber says let me show you my outside game as well she’ll go inside Savannah Wilkinson Wilkinson tough to stop that and they’re going to get Fernandez Paro Drew Lasker talked about in the pregame just her size and her athleticism Savannah Wilkinson at 61 she’s just a mismatch nightmare yeah here look at this the magic she knew exactly where she was going to be at the right time that’s beautiful pass and that’s fantastic basketball and that is what I’m talking about the sky is the liit for Holly Winterburn and the fact that she’s so young you know she hasn’t she’s she’s not even 25 yet she’s 23 would you were playing with Holly winterberg did you always have to keep the head on the swivel cuz you might get the ball upside the head if you weren’t pay attention the head on the swivel and you have to have your hands ready at all times record setting Pace right now as the London Lions most points scored in a half in a women’s basketball league final 46 so far and still a to play Oh Hodes would have loved to have that one back misses it back come the Lions and uh shenise Beford Norton love that look at that hustle still shenise Beford Norton hurt her ankle there but great job by PES H wurn uh that’s a size mismatch Holly wiber goes 511 and Lauren py goes 53 yeah that’s a big hit let’s have a look you know what that is that’s duck on an eater crime Holly winterberg played her ball at the University of Oregon home with the Ducks and Lauren psyche UC Irvine aners it doesn’t matter how little or big you are that’s got to hurt it was a full shoulder and hip into her chest so glad to see that she’s up psyche’s tough as nails look at this coming right back at it showing no signs of the winter burn Crush Hodes working her way in and she’s going to get cat on the foul as she worked that pivot foot couldn’t get the ball to draw but with 32 seconds left she’s going to go to the line yeah good Patience by her she likes the left hand drive there she is but look she gets multiple what she should have done on that second uh fake is go up into catch this Nina and get that foul well she gets there anyway yeah she gets the foul eventually she will go to the line hajes an 88% free throw shooter she’ll try to close this thing down to 16 points remember they were down by 10 in the first qu 14 to CLA back to cut it to two and this Midway to the second period Stewart London has shown their class yeah and I think they’ve done it in multiple different ways you know uh they’ve done it inside there it is Abby is obviously doing well cats going into the rim also her three-point sh hasn’t been dropping um Holly Winterburn showing it all so they’ve done in different ways but this is what’s been so great and and really the um the the toughness and why it’s so difficult to guard London lines is because who do you stop yeah and I feel like you bring up a great point if you focus on one player a lot of times people come in and focus on Holly winterman or Savannah Wilkinson someone else steps up yeah correct and and here are the top scorers uh p with the eight points is that I feel like it feels a little bit more than that she’s played almost the entire game as tiarra hajes if you’re just joining us Tiara Haj is playing with a heavy heart today as her sister passed away one year ago today so telling us before the game started this is going to be a very emotional game for her yeah and she’s been really good in that first that first quarter especially when the Lions broke out she was the only one scoring so um I think you got Abby May is also excuse me Abby L getting herself going offensively a nice Breakaway layup get something like that moving and keep chipping away um but you know 32 seconds here and being at the free Thro line is a good way to chip away at that lead Tira hajes got the first six points for the Newcastle eagal when they couldn’t buy a bucket as she misses uncharacteristically the front end of those two shots an 88% free throw shooter Hodes is averaging regular season 21 points so misses them both and the lead remains 46-28 as we go under 30 seconds to play here in the first half Wilkinson drives to S good defense there by Nolan back comes Hodes with the ball psyche now Fernandez Paro from Deep range can’t get it to fall halfway down Hodes there battling for the rebound and it’s going to stay with the Eagles last Touch by Fay and Dean oh great offense by Newcastle to get that rebound push it in transition you know the three doesn’t drop but it’s the right look coach Max could definitely live with [Music] thatn to the bench cat snen will come off aswell Holly Winterburn for these final 7 seconds so a little bit of coaching work there by C do keeping them on for offense and now the defensive situation fernandz parto another look at a three can’t get it to fall we talked about the sidelines again and it’s been difficult for Newcastle as the final seconds tick away and that one just off the mark so it is a 4628 halime lead for the defending champion and Euro Cup champions London Lions gave us a little bit of scare as they came out and put up a quick 10 on the Eagles the Eagles fought back cut that lead down to two but Midway through the second the London Lions really Flex their muscles and offensively they have looked dominant now with 46 points in the first half Z looking strong yeah look really strong and and multiple players getting into a rhythm and looking good so coach newbie is going to just have a little chat here with his assistant coaches and figure it out Drew Lasker one of the few people in the O2 that’s been able to catch up with Abby Meers Abby big half we saw the emotion from the very first bucket what was the tone you were trying to set early yeah you know it’s last game of the season it’s the finals we got a great crowd today um you know we want to end this end the season on a win so um just wanted to come out come out strong come out with energy and uh yeah really just come out strong with it and defensively we see you throwing a lot of different looks at them what are you trying to do to the Newcastle Eagles offense yeah I mean the goal of the game is to keep him out of their flow keep them out of the Rhythm so they hit a they hit a shot we want to try and mix it up on them and uh give them different looks on D thanks for your time Abby thank you let’s head over to the studio back to you Janette thank you very much Drew well it is the Lions 46 and Newcastle Eagles 28 we’re going to be back with all the halftime analysis right after [Music] [Applause] [Music] this e e e e [Music] we got 10 seconds to go 10 welcome back to the women’s British Basketball League playoff final and the London lons are in control it’s an 18-point game but Newcastle they’re showing flashes of Brilliance from Sierra Hodes who picked up and closed that Gap in the first but much of that she had to do alone with a bit of help from Zoe Willis but it wasn’t sustainable for the Lions Abby Meers is on fire 21 points 75% field goal percentage the rest of a spoil share between katanic Winterburn and Wilkinson it’s over paace second period for the Eagles who are desperately trying to bring it back to a single digit game but the lions are smashing records here most points scored in a half look at that Kyler Nelson when you look at those those um those stats it really shows where the London lions are at oh it does they’re super efficient from the two point uh from within the The Arc 46 points and a half Newcastle just cannot win at that rate all of their playoff games were below 70 points and under and they kept three-point Shooters to under 20% they have to do a better job defensively and again look 29 out of the nine nine shots out of 29 for Newcastle they’re just not Landing over they aren’t um but to be fair you know Tiara hod she missed a couple bunnies uh in the first half and I think that they’re missing a couple opportunities that they’ll love to have back you know so they just have to calm down they’re here now they’ve done a great job and just finished EAS easy B and that’s what it’s about isn’t it just taking a beat taking a minute and this halime is going to be really important for them because you got players like Abby Myers like we said on absolute fire here Kyla yes she is 21 points as you said 75% from the field but it’s coming out of the of her of the offense she’s not forcing much you see she gets it done on both ends she plays bigger than she is has the ability to guard one through five as you see right there and on the offensive end she’s always been a scorer she’s just found her role in this lion team and with the amount of stars um that they did have in the from the WNBA she was just kept under the radar but every time her number was pulled she founds way to score lovely step back to finish that clip right and that’s the main thing in O to come out here and shine when it’s your time and you know you got to step up to the plate she’s done exactly that I love that I love that you know um because taking your opportunity is something that young players um they they dream about and she’s doing that you know she had people in front of her all season MVP caliber players WNBA caliber players but she waited her turn and now she’s having a big game for tier hodies it’s going to be a frustrating game isn’t it because you could see in that first qu she was going for R Kyler she really wanted to make sure she could lay something down it’s not sustainable if you do it by yourself I think what also makes it hard is CA is a great person to guard her because she’s more more guard likee but a bigger body sies is maybe used to having post players guard her where she found success was right there was catching her on the perimeter and facing up and driving downhill at cat Cena the power the speed was way too much and that’s where she started scoring was inside the lane but then oie we saw her miss a couple of three throws you cannot do that in a game like this you need to have your accuracy up there you can’t you can’t and and I love this matchup because this is a similar matchup that I sort of had when I was playing I wasn’t a great shooter um I was probably more similar to Tiara but you use your physicality get those guys off balance and you try and win the match up that way yeah Holly Winterburn though great passing from her she’s someone so useful isn’t she she literally Stacks every stat line you can think of she just understands the game so well look at that great pass the reason she does it she keeps the ball on the string in her hand she has a high dribble but the ball stays wide and she’s always ready to release the ball out of either hand a lovely wraparound left hand past to Savannah Wilkinson she knows where her teammates are finds them on time on time and Obie it’s about knowing your role isn’t it it’s about knowing exactly what you need to do reading the room reading the court and knowing where your players are going to be oh it is you know and I think Holly she’s one of the more DEC more decorated um UK players that we’ve seen in recent history so you know there’s no surprises that she’s making these reads but seeing the high level of basketball that she’s bringing and KY I know you’ve been watching Lauren p as well what what your thoughts on her in this game and how she could potentially maybe help turn this around I think she’s the ex Factor right now I think she’s so crafty you’ve seen the oo and AR from the crowd so far and she’s got it done by being just a great point guard she’s avoided a lot of the traps and in the half court she’s found ways to be effective going downhill even know she’s she’s the smallest play on the floor she finds ways to finish over bigger bodies and the best thing about her she’s number one in the league for aist she’s got six already in this half what do they need to do Newcastle to be able to try and bring this in they have to limit the scoring of the London Li have to limit them offensively they have to go at them okay let’s see what they can do it’s Hal time in the woms British Basketball League playoff final and the score is London 46 Newcastle 28 we’ll be back with the second half right after [Music] [Applause] this e e e e [Music] sh welcome back to the women’s British Basketball League playoff final where currently the London Lions lead by 18 points against the Newcastle Eagles and just over a month ago history was made in a grouping encounter a sold out copper box the London Lions clinched the Euro Cup women’s title with a remarkable Victory they became the first British team ever male or female to win European honors and at the very heart of that Triumph was Great Britain’s Very Own Holly Winterburn when I caught that ball I I knew I was going to shoot hly W it just felt like the stars aligned in that moment step up and take your moment a British team winning the Euro Cup is just unheard of the way I like to describe Euro Cup to English people is it’s like the Europa League and football you know it’s not the champions league but it’s right under that I say oh yeah we won the Europa League it doesn’t do justice to what we did but shik test you know they’re a huge program the first leg we lost by seven um so going into the second like we were down seven effectively to start the game that’s one basket a quarter that we had to be better than them took one little spark and the others followed London Lions Euro Cup winnings Champions it was just an out of body experience you know the crowd was so loud and um you know everyone was on their feet wow photos like this and memories like this every time I see these pictures and think about it it brings all the emotions back honestly the most special moment of my life whole day the whole evening the whole night was super special um yeah I’ll never forget it we were the first British team to ever win a EUR cup title you know men or women so just to think of how significant that is we wrote history and um there’ll never be another first to do it I mean Kyla just put into context for our viewers what that victory for London in Europe represented it’s really hard to put into words because it’s never been done before that is British basketball history in our back garden and it’s going to take a long time for everyone to understand how big that was and the impact that these female players had on British fans on kids boys girls and just more involvement in the sport and understanding the level and what does it mean in your opinion OB for basketball in Britain you the kids see stuff like that it’s accessible it’s something that they can see it is so incredible so massive you you can’t really genuinely can’t put it into work but me as a Hooper um I understand the significance of being the first the first to break down a barrier to show that uh and prove that it is possible you can do it um now other British teams you know we’ve got um we’ve seen the blueprint we’ve seen a team do it men and women and we just need to follow their lead well let’s see what they can do seems like a great player but just before the second half starts let’s hear from coach Matt newbie he’s with Drew Las go Matt your team proved that you can look London in an eye for those first 10 minutes what did you tell the girls in the locker room I mean literally at that you know um in terms of our our possessional play we’ve only turned the ball over eight times which is good for us against the team of this lie we let them leak a little bit in transition and of course they’ve got quite a lot from the line some of those mistakes were on us some of them were a tough calls you know what I’m saying so um fundamentally right now we’ve just got come out and uh bounce back we got to fight back that’s it that’s the reality of it thanks for your time good luck in the second half coach cheers what can the London Lions do or can the Newcastle Eagles turn it around that Todd Harris and a z will take you through so here we go with one half to play on the road to history or we like to say is z Stewart The Road to Glory will it be London or will it be Newcastle uh after the first period of Play It Was London by just four but they really blew it open that second quarter leading Now by 18 yeah and that’s the uh turnovers that mat nuie coach mat nuie talked about just then Dre some mistakes were ours some was theirs and that’s not how you want to start the third quarter going to get a heavy dose of tiarra Hodes number 15 in white for Newcastle as cat drives the lane and she is fouled and this could be on AB L and that could be number three remember in the British basketball league you only get five personal and that’s 20 seconds in you know it’s you know you’re playing with two you can’t afford any little slap Downs or uh any for the referee to call at this point though you got to leave her in right yeah I think you do I think you do Matt Newby the head coach of the Newcastle Eagles just gave her the three showing her that’s not disciplined in in my opinion you know you shouldn’t I guess you felt the temptation to to slap down your team needs you cat gets one of two back comes Lauren psyche feeds it over to Gainer Hodges now with the ball look how quick she comes off that Nolan back to psyche now good Movement by The Eagles there but look at the defense on the inside interior defense is brutal Nolan finally gets it Gainer left wide open for a three and she buried it beautiful offense by Newcastle the real patience getting the ball inside then the kick out that is what I’m talking about beautiful women’s basketball does it the best in my opinion keep the game simple that’s what they’re doing indeed Abby Meyers who had the big first half she comes off there can’t get that one to fall but gets helped by Wilkinson who comes away with a rebound Holly Winterburn one of the best players in the entire league just so skillful look at that delayed pass to the inside what a dime and what a finish yeah the she knows where all of her teammates are and this is what I’m talking about when you play a whole season together seven eight months um you just know you can she’s has her eyes closed basically you talk about her Youth and and she played her college ball at the University of Oregon in Eugene but she just seems to have a knack she just seems to Abby low that’s a great Simon Eagles she hits the three talking about Holly winterberg she just seems to have a knack of knowing where people are flowing to what position on the court yeah one second uh Savannah look just hurt herself a little bit but here’s another dime good timing wide open just think and ab low we need more of this and this is why you leave her in right she’s such a good shooter she’s a great defender but she’s got to be careful she cannot afford to pick up that fourth Abby low played her college ball at San Diego State University she was part of that 2021 Squad that faced off against these same Lions D remember that well in 2021 for the title and London won that one oh go yes I rolled my ankle that’s why we lost obviously so a little bit of a grudge match going here 802 to play here in the third period London another great pass that over the shoulder a hook shot Abby Myers would have buried that in the first half as the Lions try to track it down to no avail so 4934 halfway to the title for the London lions and for Stella CS to do Euro Cup champions I love that feature that they ran at the half um with Holly wiber explaining to local folks what it means to win the EUR cup it’s a big deal in football terms yeah it’s a big deal yeah it is it’s not a big deal huge massive never been done before and for London Lions to have that as a yeah to have their you know their name stitched into that trophy nobody can take it away from from this London Lions team certainly a game that is growing here in Great Britain nice pass inside Nolan she’s able to convert so Nolan playing a part possibly in the comeback for the Eagles 4936 730 to play in the third Wilkinson she’ll just size up this 15 footer it trip yeah good choice and she’s feeling it as her tongue is out she sees the post player drop off he shoot the mid-range AB low Rush that one and and it’ll be a turnover as it goes out of bounds what a player Savannah Wilkinson is started her college career at Southern Methodist University and finished up I know I hate to say this in front of you Florida State the seminal you love that no right is that how you say I can’t believe you even allowed to say that as aor it’s a no not a o um but yeah and also came up Grassroots from North London Haring gate Angels this exact same path as I did as a kid and and she followed and I’m just so proud of her um that she’s able to become back to London and play a great another three so backto back triples for Khloe Gainer 62 forward out of Great Britain pler college ball at Long Beach State big six points for [Music] her Wilkinson on Nolan drives to a right oh and a nice block there but they’re going to get Nolan first with the foul going to call the block think that’s three or four for Katy Nolan yeah that’s tough I thought she uh that was a good job good timing I thought she was a ball if we can have a look at [Music] that Savannah Wilkinson will go to the line steady Eddie throughout the season at 73 3% free throw [Music] shooter you talked about London lions in that first half where they brought the full cour pressure and the offense uh not letting off the Gap it seems like the pace here in the third is a little bit different little more methodical running more of Stella’s offense and last Touch by number 20 Abby Meyers Stella looks pretty calm for a lady that’s already won quite a bit able to still get to a championship without the services of aenna Stewart that in itself is a feat gosh she doesn’t need me anymore kodes trying to get the handle Marina Fernandez Paro is another player that they could desperately use some outside shooting [Applause] from Nolan back to psyche psyche directing traffic shot clock at seven psyche will take the short range shot she comes up short ball knocked away lands in the hand capable hands of holly winterberg [Music] Ivana katanic walked right up no one guarded her she thought she’d take a three and then she thought maybe I should have res thought that one yeah well nobody was guarding her so I get what she was doing so Timeout on the floor 5539 as the London Lions have slowed the pace just a little bit but still the same results they are the dominant team out there Todd Harris alongside aena St we talked about your career and what you able to do I got to say this though you played at some of the highest levels we’re talking the Olympics uh division one basketball of Florida a little time in Australia and throughout Europe it has been a great run for you you’ve got to be part of the reason why women’s basketball has done so well I’m just I’m just praising you right now but come on look at that look at that younger you surprised me oh no this is wonderful thank you so much and and it is and that’s what my last game and ah so emotional thank you um and yeah and it’s re the reason why I came back um to play and really retire again here in British basketball is um I love these shots is how important it is for me to give back um to young girls but also to British basketball how much um it’s grown and I think it’s shown in just you know 3 years and now London Lions uh winning you guys are so sneaky by the way so sneaky um thank you for that guys thank you so much but in just that 3 years of of uh London Lions to win Euro Cup it is the biggest reason why I came back and you see the Chester Phoenix getting ready for their game that’s coming up at 4:00 on Sky Sports just continue on with my partner here you have done such a fantastic job being an inspiration for young women in this country to say I can not only play in America around the world I can take it to the highest level hero play in the Olympics and then you transition so nicely into broadcast I remember last year the first time we worked together you called a game with me and then you went and got dressed and played in a game I did I was doubling I was doubling up double bubble yeah and and you’re right and just being able to do that because when I was growing up uh a nice still there was no AIA Stewart to look up to and to be a basketball player tiarra Hodes receives a nice bounce pass just a little too low for her to catch in stride but Z you’ve done a great job magnificent job and you’ve just been a class act on the microphone so their loss is game coach Rob look at this he’s coach Rob got the gum in he’s already working does anyone tell him he’s not in the next game he he’s he looks like he’s already getting up fever pitch yeah Co coach Rob psto in His stunning suit we’ll see him with oie Soo and Janette quat coming up for the pregame remind you we’ll have that all on Sky Sports nice head fake Khloe gner decides to dump it down below when she’s having a personal battle Tira Hodes and Holly Winterburn that’s a good idea though coach likes he understands it 5539 now is the time for Matt newbie and his Eagles to fly can they close the gap on the Lions we’ll find out [Music] next e e e [Music] [Applause] 5539 with 454 to play in the third here in the Women’s Championship there you see Matt Morgan and his fellow London Lions as they await their turn to try to Hoist the trophy on the road to glory one more game to go after this one it’ll be the men’s final London and chesher Z we are looking forward to this it’s a matchup a rematch of the trophy championship in which chesher won cat Cena for three yeah cat finally really struggled in the first half couldn’t hit a three so she was getting to the rim but there to see the ball go in from the three-point line I know she’s feeling good from that trying to get the ball to Hodges in the paint she has to come out to receive that they kick it back over to Willis and that pass just intercepted going nowhere gner tried to get it inside almost forcing Wilkinson off her fingertips I think she was going to dump that I think she was going to go full left hand Tomahawk dunk at least that’s what I’m going to tell people yeah she knew she could have held that one but I think Newcastle going back to that last offense they got the right thing it’s just taking them a bit too long you’ve got Hodes down low sealed catch it Nina down low get the ball to her quicker hes on the curl Fernandez PARTA way out top finally gets the ball in the Hodes but look how far they to your point she drives kicks it out to psyche psyche with the shot clock at six Andy berries a three yeah nice offense I really like that that multi move in and loads of screens between the two bigs making Cat s Nina and Savannah Wilkinson have to switch and work on defense Myers now answers back with a three and she does indeed as she told Dre last at halftime they get a momentum we come back and match that momentum and that’s exactly what she does as she erases psyche 3 by returning the favor 6142 and it looks like the players have adjusted to the sight lines here would you say Z yeah the last last five buckets have been three pointers Y and a jump ball so the arrow goes to London lion so anytime here zi three-point shot looks good uh with a jump ball action you back in the day you used to jump ball and and whoever won it but now you go to the table and there’s an arrow and it will switch every time so let see Abby’s ankle also will keep an eye on that she’s come back out of the game 6142 it’s a 19point lead for London their biggest lead of the game and that’s going to just take it up another level 21 points and still pressuring with that speed package SBN checked back into the game psyche gets ah head to low low thought about a three drives and they’re going to get Winterburn on the slap good decision by hereo saw that hly Winterburn was off balance and just drives that Baseline and now that’s Holly’s third so both of them on three fouls win bur a smart enough player to know you have to adjust just a little bit on her defense Tira Haj she’ll Drive the lane no problem getting to the rim and she’s going to be fouled you saw the convergence of black jerseys the lady Lions recognizing with Hodes has the ball more than likely she’s going to the hole indeed yeah again she’s a lefty so she likes to get to that Drive you’ve got to cut that off you’ve got to get there quicker make her come back to that right hand and and do something different Tira hajes is such a talent coming off that big semi-final win against calonia when she went 18 points 13 rebounds you go back to the game against Sheffield what you talked about what a a big surprise to see them get that win she went 23 points and 13 rebounds and she plays a ton yeah rebounding machine and it’s funny cuz obviously she shoots with the right hand but she loves that left hand drive all in the first half we saw her going left Drive left drive one after another Winterburn on the curl she’ll pull up on the 15 footer hard off the back and it’s going to stay with London didn’t hit the rim so the shot clock not reset shot clock now at five katanic deep range three Off the Mark that one did so it is a reset Holly wiber directing traffic and she’s going to take a shot from tiarra Hodes AJ is aing eight and a half offensive rebounds in the playoffs so to your point she is a rebounding machine not just a pretty face and a great score yeah yeah she has and also the allar is she’s also an all star you know she she got that a reward for her hard work throughout the season I thought it was fantastic and great for her to be shown at the allstar game that was a fun copper box wasn’t it absolutely back in March right February February love to see the allstar game back the Three-Point Shootout the dunk contest yeah it’s just a great Testament I thought the British basketball league has done so well it was so fun here’s the drive and the and the foul um and to finish here at such an iconic venue the O2 and to celebrate here is of this long season the British basketball league goes quite quite long it’s a long season to go into you know mid a lot of seasons are already finished wrapped up and already on holiday with their feet up in a in a a cold drink beverage and the good news is we’re probably less than 4 months away from the start of the next season so don’t get too comfortable yeah be interesting to see what players come back what teams what moves they make in the offseason see if things change if you’re London lons you’d love to keep the whole thing but uh that’s the problem with success that usually breeds people poaching your players what should expect for Norton has been with London lines for fair few years here she is getting the rebound ripping it SBN with a tie up with low this time the possession arrow favors the Eagles 21 point lead as cat snit will take a breather as we mentioned already 21 years 76 games 751 Points Plus today and seven trophies plus possibly another one today and she’s calling it a career so we wish her the very best and thank her for all that she has done now a 21-point lean Hodes drives the L wow and she got in between three black jerseys and all of them are looking who got the call and is it on De cuz I thought for a second there Holly wiber and that would be four for her and another Lovely St from cat snit n she’s third all time in uh points for Euro Cup she’s scored 1,114 points she’s stood in the table can we also just say she’s just a nice person a delight yes a beautiful person and she’s uh sporting a new haircut too what do you think she does next have you talked to her I mean have you talked her about retirement how easy it is and how much fun it is and free time um yeah we have we have discussed what she’s going to do next I I do know she’s in uh in the mints of filming a a movie about her life very so that’s quite cool as she’s from originally from bellarus um so that’s going to be great I can’t wait for that to come out 20-point lead 6545 after London jumped out to a 10-point lead the Eagles fought back cut it down to two and in the second period really The Telltale was London and the Killer Bees just swarming defense and they W on a run to push the halftime lead up to 18 points and here we are at 20 with a buck 40 to play in the third still to come the men’s final coming up you’ll see the London lions taking on the chesher Phoenix a rematch of the TR final that we saw back in January up in Birmingham which was fantastic sprung it on him and I don’t want to say they’re The Underdogs because today they might be the top dogs you know they like to be called the top dogs how about those two top dogs yeah that’s Josh sha to your right Defensive Player of the Year Slam Dunk champion yeah yeah and Matt Morgan and then there’s Lord Nelson whose sister is in his sister’s a pretty decent broadcasting yeah she’s off with her Soo and Janette so a little Family Affair and sadly Luke Nelson’s been a bit injured so don’t plan on seeing him today great nice of them to be here supporting the women’s team as they sit Courtside and obviously take some notes on what Holly Winterburn does how how she’s able to pass like that still this full court press here Chenise back for n that’s a nightmare right there SPN covering you full core press one-on-one yeah you don’t want any part of that yeah but look now they’re into their offense under 10 seconds fernandz Paro lets this one fly and that’s way short never got her feet set she’s averaging 12 points a game and she is off the mark the product of North Dakota State University just struggling from Beyond Tira Hodes will sit for Matt newbie probably come back in at the start of the fourth where she’s got four fouls remember just five fouls in the British basketball league for both the men and women Myers Janice doing work on the boards how is she able to get in there I she’s can jump out the gym clearly 58 and she comes way with a rebound nice pass left there on the inside shot goes up nothing block and on the second nice follow up by Maya price yeah price sticking with [Music] it defense slow to get back Holly wber saying where was the help people that’s where AB low is fantastic get out in transition Abby Myers and she’s going to get the bump foul from Zoe Willis 6947 it’s a 22-point lead with 33.1 seconds to play in the third and then it’s all down to the final 10 minutes for the 2024 season as the London Lions get that much closer to pulling off I guess you could just call the treble I mean they get the regular season they get the cup and if they win this one boom yeah and the trophy that is not too shabby you’ve hosted a few trophies in your time we saw that video just a few while ago doesn’t seem like that long ago does it it’s a year you you were in the confetti and shown off your dance move it’s literally a year this week um which is just crazy how quick the year has flown by and and to celebrate a year now under my belt with British basketball league well you got to be proud of the what you accomplished and and your career no question about it as much as I’ve tried to get you out of retirement it’s just all season all season long deep brain three unable to get it to fall low can’t get hers to fall and the follow up with Katie Nolan who really has been a presence down below for head coach Matt newbie and the Eagles and doing a wonderful job on the offensive end you’ve got to box her out she keeps the ball high also and we’ll go to the line for one so Nolan who has been hampered by injury will step to the line and she will shoot the extra and barrye so a 21-point lead with 19 seconds we’ll see what the Lions do here the shot clock is off vonica tanic now going [Applause] one-on-one Abby Meers for three and still good hitting big buckets gosh lines of feet up and they missed that but she had all the Time in the World to finish that shot 7450 a 24 point lead they led by four after one by 18 at the half and now it is balloon to 24 points we’ll see what happens in the fourth on the way to the title The Road to Glory here in the British basketball league [Music] [Applause] e e e sport this afternoon you got feel pretty good when the sixth Player of the Year comes off your bench starts and it’s chipped in 31 points so far wow and it’s just she’s done it with confidence a tweak of the little ankle but you know it doesn’t matter because tomorrow you can rest the rest of the season is off so you do play through that but she is playing fantastically 31 points she had 18 at half and she’s at the most points by playing the wbbl final right now so hopefully she can keep adding to that ball knocked away bodies on the floor and it’s finally Maya price who gets backto back buckets oh way to stick with that price with the shot clock running down [Music] Fernandez parto trying to find some space Tira Hodes remember she has four fouls she’s got to be careful low driving puts it up hard off the glass comes away to SBN and she’ll feed it up to enden I think we need to get Hodes going again in this four don’t they she was so good in the first half Wilkinson price off the curl gives it right back and Wilkinson just bows her way in and backs it down L and she was had a double team there but just leans back and there’s the cheser Phoenix they come out now they had orange in the trophy and they’ve gone with the blue okay AB low Dives on the ground TI hajes on the ground might be the last game of the season but the women are let at all hang out possession arrow goes the way of the Eagles Katy Nolan will step aside Chloe Gainer will come back [Music] in 840 to play in this ball game and the London lions with a 28-point lead as they are looking to complete the trifecta this year with the Euro Cup the regular season title and now the championship in the playoffs Hodes inside takes the bump gets it up no harm no foul she would think it was otherwise F Dean fees it to Wilkinson Wilkinson steps back can’t get the second one to go off the fingertips and into the hands of Khloe Gainer well z a lot of the teams will dispan not dispan but you know they’ll go back to their homes wherever they may be around the world think about this season and then they’ll be back in London if they aren’t living here by the end of August because the season gets kicked up again in September if you’re London what is Priority One for Stella keeping everyone together keeping everyone healthy what what’s what’s their biggest priority of the next 3 four months well you know I think they’re going to have a massive transition a lot of things have been going on behind the scenes and uh they’re going to just have to re-evaluate what the league looks like what their team looks like uh but I think they just fully concentrate on uh putting a bow and really collecting all the trophies that they could and and really celebrating this moment because it doesn’t matter what you know next season looks like I think this season has been just a wonderful SP for not only BR British basketball but for women’s basketball and Al just women’s sport we’re seeing it in the WNBA we’re seeing it across you know not only basketball but women’s sport in general and I just think it’s a a massive congratulations to them and and stellar and and what they were able to do and and to show what is the the product that you can get when you invest when you put love into it when you get fans when you have young people behind it um it’s a is just a a real uh lovely story to to follow and to potentially keep pushing yeah well said as Fay indeed hits one of two I think it’s certainly something to be celebrated you can look to the Future in a few weeks but I think for now they should be celebrated and rightfully so throughout the throughout the basketball landscape I mean I just for what they did in Europe and the British basketball league London Lions have certainly been the team of the year with the coach of the year player of the year they have done it all yeah and they had the defensive player of the year from Tammy F benley is unfortunately not here but she’s with Indiana Fever who has the big Caitlyn Clark If you have heard anything about women’s basketball she’s the big name and tamy F benley is playing with her they have a sizable lead but we also want to mention Newcastle they went on a roll at the right time this season their record was 91 in the regular season they were six seed coming in no one thought they’d get out of the first round they go on the road they get it done then they go on the road again and beat calonia to set up this massive matchup these are the kind of games that you might not get the win but this certainly lays great groundwork for the future in the Newcastle Eagles women’s program yeah and you know it’s not the first time they haven’t been here before they a prestigious uh Club men and women winners yeah but you’re right considering this is wilon somehow she came away with the ball in between three eagles and now it’s Tiara Hodes working her way through ABY L will let this one fly and she hits with the but and just going back to you I think you’re right I think you know Eagles had a nine and 11 only nine wins and 11 losses six in the table I don’t think when they looked coming to the end of the season would we be at the O2 playing you know a number one team I don’t think so so nobody likes to lose as a competitor um but to be proud of how you the SE the ups and downs how you’ve bounced back I think that they can really hold their heads High not saying one player would have made a difference but i’ like to see this game with a fully healthy Newcastle Squad nice bucket there by fena Jada dppa in particular the injury that just oh she is such a talent and I think in a game like this she would have made a huge difference I think you’re right and sadly and foul on the floor yeah Zappa has uh sustained a massive injury and this was a big part of that team so want to say um you know wish are the best speed recovery and just sorry but great glad that she’s in the building today to be able to support her team this is a lovely move hard to guard step back looking like DT vinsky and snitch Nina in her final game maybe we need to start talking about her some more too because I just a wonderful career wonderful person and I couldn’t be more happier this is how her final year imagine winning the Euro Cup the trophy the regular season and now being able to be here in the O2 for the playoff finals on Sky Sports it’s just tremendous and I’m so happy for her and Dean matched up with low remember low straddle with those three fouls CA tries to get it down low to Wilkinson who drops back in one more time can’t get that one to fall and a nice follow in by price price gets two three shots at it can’t get it to go still gets the rebound fighting and it’ll go out of bounds last Touch by the London Lions gosh she’s trying to get a bucket right after this those rebounds after the second rebound I would have thrown that one out and found a player but she went you would have gone you would have gone up strong and dunked it if I missed the second I throw it out final 545 psyche continues to thread the needle with great passes that time low had a good look at it couldn’t get it to fall clock does not reset fernandz Paro she’ll let a three fly off the heel into the capable hands of Maya price SBN has to do a batt Arena act on the sideline to save that one and Dean sees price fading to the left finds her can’t get it the fall good look though and back comes psyche so many of these players have been so fun to watch throughout this year Z and you think about it love to see them come back and that’s putting a little extra spin on the ball as psyche went up and under and tried to spit it off the glass she has so much skill I really do think she’s had such a great career and come from Cardiff that little look off she’s Elite for you know how small she is you said 53 toall and I don’t know if you can call 53 tall it’s short if you’re 52 she’s tall fair but she’s tiny but you know stays low to the ground AB low keeps this one in play and she smartly gets it into TI Hodes she going to be fouled by F and Dean yeah smart foul W well she certainly has given her all Tira Hodes as we’ve mentioned playing with a heavy heart came into this game we knew she’d have to go big 18 to 13 against calonia in the last semifinal uh her sister pass any away on this one and she has been an absolute Workhorse for the Newcastle Eagles who can hold their head high 8157 453 to play before a champion is crowned [Music] [Applause] e e [Music] in back inside the O2 Arena the final 4 minutes and 53 seconds in the Women’s Championship between the London Lions and the Newcastle Eagles it is all London 8157 Todd Harris alongside Isa Stewart and Drew Lasker there is the coach of the year Stella cido and the London Lions PR I they were pressured Z but I think Newcastle gave him a little bit of a scare early as they were able to close that gap of 10 down to two and then London I think got the message and said you know what it’s time to go to work yeah they said that’s enough um but I do like that reaction from Newcastle they didn’t just shut up shot uh that comeback inside to SBN and somehow she finds it up and off the glass oh beautifully executed Play No Doubt coach Cassidy drew that up in the huddle Hodes off the front end blocked Away by Khloe Gainer back to Hodes for another opportunity that one kept a lie momentarily into the hands of F and Dean so Z you got a big decision to make and I don’t know how difficult it’s going to be but you’ve got to find out who the player of the game is I know I it’s not time for me to say it yet is it it’s it’s getting close okay well let me know what I want to say I I think there’s been a play or two that have made your life easier in making that decision yeah but uh also ré Walton we need to give a shout out to yeah number nine in the black jerseys for London Lions British national get an opportunity to play and TI hod is going to go back to the line as she does the work oh good job Hodes not giving up on that offensive rebound like we said she’s been deadly All Season doesn’t give up so strong but yes uh R is actually has doubled up in you talked about me doubling up in the fact of commentary she’s actually uh she was my London Lions manager last year but she was also playing uh British basketball they brought her up so how great is that yeah and then this one here is Katie Cox only yeah only 18 years old and guess what she’s also an England goalkeeper she’s doubling up as well so women out here who are you started a trend look at the trend you started multiple ETS of of different things and and the young Kat Cox is you know playing basketball but also a goalkeeper and not just any goalkeeper an England goalkeeper Top Notch so Katie Cox and rousa Walton get an opportunity to play at the 02 in front of family and friends as London up by 22 with 335 to play in this game ball inside pass inside and a beautiful dime unselfish ball play there by shenice Beckford Norton to get it in the hands of Maya price oh no that was um r w and we need to I’m sorry okay SBN just stepped off the court she’s up she is she certainly has watched SPN because that was the kind of pass Ray Walton has seen her do time and time [Applause] again this is what I’m talking about the London way they’re up by 24 points and they’re still doing things the way they were doing it in the first quarter [Applause] goes off of London and it will go to Newcastle final 3 minutes Z at the start of the Season yeah would you predicted what we’ve seen from London um I think in the British basketball league yes um I think they were building something bigger they went out and got some really great British uh pieces in tamy F benley and K Kari Samson um and then they added a big pickup with shea Petty as a as a point guard she’s known as playoff p with the Mercury Hodes lovely uh and so they went and really went out for European uh stint and they were so [Applause] successful that’s a shame steps out of bounds so that shot won’t count Walton British national just 5’8 plays the guard position for the Lions and the Newcastle Eagles continue to battle 8563 Hodes with 19 points and she has played as we thought Z almost the entire game yeah and she’s going to have to right I mean why not you can rest tomorrow like I said but she’s their offensive weapon and look she’s just keeps on going Todd make it 21 for number 15 20o ball game and the London lions are on their way to hoisting yet another trophy in 2024 perfect 20 and0 in the regular season they won the Euro Cup and here they are getting ready to host and Hoist the trophy in the playoffs low and that has been a problem the outside shooting for Newcastle they had a a hot spot there for a little while just unable to sustain [Music] it shape get thr own rebound and dishes nicely sub and substitutions now as Chloe Gainer will step aside Rodriguez Perez checks in [Music] [Applause] for Deborah Rodriguez getting her first action number 13 for Matt newbie and the [Music] Eagles Sarah Burkett number two two has stepped on as [Applause] well so the coaches starting empty their benches this is a great opportunity Z as a young player you know you might only get a couple minutes in the game but you’re playing at the 02 in the championship and I think uh I think it’s great when you can bring in your bench and is this moment you know you can’t replace the minutes that you play and and as a young person I don’t forget my time when I was playing with even with Great Britain and I got a few moments um it’s the way you can Lear Matt newbie will pull off Abby low and give Alex Campbell an opportunity to hear her name called as she’s on the [Music] court Holly Winterburn still going to work for the Lions kicks it out and a one-handed rebound and the reason why it was one-handed is she’s fou by trra Hodes and that’s going to wrap things up for Tira she picks up her fifth foul so a big day for tiarra Hodes as she did her part 21 points just wasn’t enough to get them past the Lions no and she puts her hands up and says thanks to the crowd as well wonderful job and just shout out to her like we said it’s it’s bigger than basketball she’s doing it for her sister and and congratulations to her travel on Deborah Rodriguez as she took one too many steps so aenna I have not heard the official word on who is your player of game I think you should down the final 52 okay Abby Myers yeah 31 points playoff final six from 10 and was just [Applause] incredible deep R three ré Walton buries it yes r in the middle and the bench get up and support her and she gets a steal really stating patting the stats now nice turnaround can’t get it to fall gets her own rebound so a steel a rebound and a bucket all within 10 seconds that’s the way you do it and with that the London Lions Now set another record most points by a team in a wbbl final 92 [Music] [Applause] good save by Holly windburn and that will do it in 2024 the London lions are the champions lions2 lovely smile from Stella and as they should celebrate they are the best team in British basketball league the women celebrate fantastic congratulations to the London Lions as they get the win at the O2 Arena and they reign supreme in 20124 also want to congratulate the Newcastle Eagles for getting to this championship game Matt newbie and his Squad what a tremendous run you got to give it up for the likes of Chloe Gainer Marina fernandz Paro ABY low Laurence psyche tiarra hajes Jada Dappa zoy Willis Courtney class and ktie Nolan Sarah Burkin and Alex Campbell well done ladies yeah congratulations especially to Matt there go Stella famous dance move of the year um but you’re right Newcastle to get to the final was huge and you know today isn’t their day but they’ve got to celebrate that quarter final and that semifinal big wins against Sheffield Hatters and calonia Gladiators and let’s be honest there’s there’s 11 or 10 other teams that would love to be in their position right now they’ve got the chance to play absolutely and they got there so congratulations but in the end it is too much London Lions we s it down on the court and Drew Lasker thanks s Abby MVP and this win puts the bow in a magical season tell us exactly what you’re feeling I mean it’s surreal I think like I don’t have any words to really explain how I’m feeling right now but it’s cat Cena’s last game um she’s retiring so we wanted to win this one for her and let’s talk about the group The Plane Rides the buses the late nights the early mornings talk about the bond you built with these ladies uh this Bond will last a lifetime um I I now have a second home away from my home back in the state so I know I can always come back here see familiar faces and it’s a special group and I love this team and finally talk about the impact that you guys wanted to create for the Next Generation here the young girls the boys that’s picking up a basketball hey you know um this game does a lot it gives you a lot of opportunities and I’m just thought we got the Triple Crown we put British basketball on the map um you know and it’s a passion for all of us everyone here today they love basketball and uh it’s just great to to celebrate with this group of people thanks for sharing the moment with us go celebrate we’ll see you thank you over to you Janette thank you very much Drew and of course to Todd and toia for taking us through what was a sensational final and a master class from the London lions in particular Abby Meyers Kyler Nelson Obie Soo alongside me and Kyla for Abby what a game for her today she showed up she showed out and she showed exactly why this London Lions women’s team are unbe it’s win by committee and they’ve shown that today in the playoffs this team has averaged six players in double digits five of them were in double digits today and the leader right there was Abby Myers with 31 points she just did everything coming off of executing offensively a lot of down screen to get wide open for jump shots and for this team they’re about to lift this trophy how special is this for them oie these lady lons have done you know um an incredible job over the last two years I was part of the team last year and I’ve seen how they’ve grown um um there was a lot of expectations around these Lions teams and they’ve come in and they’ve achieved and they’ve absolutely knocked down every Target that they set for themselves fantastic stuff and you can see them there getting in position and ready to lift that trophies I’m going to hand you back to to to take you through all right thank you very much Janette oie and Kyla and I think Kyla said it best Z this London Lions team win by committee it wasn’t just one player you take away four maybe some of the best players in the league and they still got it done still got it done indeed and actually we need to shout out those four girls cuz they are part of this journey not only you know they they’re not here today but tamy F benley Al Shay pedy Megan gers and kly Samson I think those to four excuse me are tremendous that’s 40 points that those four bring and then for these women and like you said Win by Committee of just sharing his caring and they’ve just figured it out W with those four goals leaving and they’ve done a really good job give all credit to Kyla Nelson and all credit to Matt newbie and his Newcastle Eagles they’ll be back there’s no question about it we’ve talked about it the Legacy that that Newcastle team has developed a program that they had developed up there uh doing a great job uh Matt should be congratulated on getting his team to this Championship as we said there’s a lot of other teams that never even got a chance to get this far and he got his team to the O2 to Face Off with not only the the British basketball league Champs but the Euro Cup champ yeah yeah that’s such a good point and you know that their season could have been finished two weeks ago so for them to still get that semi-final win I thought in overtime was really could have been a final and itself and and they said they knew they had their their hands full this is a massive task to to win but they did a good job well done and congratulations and now it is time for the Lions to receive their just rewards and their championship winning Roser number two Ivana kich as they go through the line you’ll hear a big cheer forena as the captain Beford Norton is introduced to the crowd number four just finish the season you know wait for it here we go number six and retiring from the professional game today the sniper ceren spena sniper that indeed seven win number eight the talent that they brought to the uh the floor this year was fantastic but I think we’ve talked about this so many times when you look at London and you were part of that program last year they do things a certain way and they’re always looking for Perfection and playing the best basketball as a group that they can I think that’s such a great point to Perfection driving to be professional driving to be the best and and that’s definitely why I came back right I wanted to hand over the bat to these young women to show them the way how I’ve played overseas for many years played at a top level playing in the Olympics silver medal at the commonwealth games um to to hand this over to this women and then for them to keep going to keep pushing forward and to win multiple trophies is just a fantastic moment the coach of the year the team of the year in women’s British basketball and throughout Europe the London Lions a perfect 20 and0 in the regular season and this all comes from losing their very first game against DBQ TK excuse me of hungry 6348 and from then on Z it was full gas full stop yeah full steam ahead and you’re so right this is my favorite part of Championship when they figure out who the MVP is but also when they rock at 31 points one leg it’s the number 20 from the London Lions Abby Mayers Abby Mayers you know the other step they forgot yeah two interviews with Drew Las yes that there’s people that don’t get that all year she got two in one day well also most points by a player in a wbbl final that is massive so she’ll be in history not only for Euro Cup in British basketball but this MVP 31 points six from 10 from the three-point line big smile from [Applause] [Music] [Applause] her so the MVP trophy has been handed out and that means there is one more trophy to go consecutive women’s British Basketball League playoff championship chenice and they bring the captain out [Applause] organiz the practice you know last season we practiced which way you rock and then go up we’ll see how it looks here we go the moment you’ve been waiting for if you’re a London Lions fan Jenise Beckford Norton raises the trophy the London lions are the title winners oh the Flames go up and the confetti what a beautiful moment lovely congratulations London lions and they went with the Euro Step as The Rock for the trophy that was original well Z it was a lot of fun as we bring the women’s season to a close we send it back to Janette quach unbelievable scenes here is the London Lions who are the 2024 women’s playoff Champions a m thanks to my guests KY Nelson and oie Soo there are your Champions they done a great job League champions playoff Champions and a Euro Cup tooot they’ve made history here in London fantastic stuff we’ll have more analysis in our men’s show but for now we’ll be back in half an hour take it in there are your Champions and your MVP Abby Meyers congratulations to the London lions [Music] e