METS TOPPLE MAGIC, WILDCATS WHIP WARRIORS
02/28/2010

London Mets upset favourites Manchester Magic today to win the EBL National Trophy.

The northerners took an early lead, but tough defence from the London club saw them claw their way back...and, helped by a hot first half from Arturo Noha, hit the break up 43-33.

In the third quarter, the ever-high-scoring Stefan Gill did his best to get his team back into the game - nailing 5 threes in the period and helping to cut the gap to just two going into the final act.

But with Courtney Van-Beest shooting a perfect 6/6 from the field (en route to 13 points, 6 rebounds and two steals) and Jeffrey Danchie hitting big shots (17 points, 7 boards) the Mets came away with an 80-73 victory.

Noha was named MVP - finishing with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.

Gill lead all scorers with 31...his partner in crime David "Tin Tin" Watts had 15.

"The secret was just to play defence," Mets Coach Andrea Norton told 24/7.

"We hadn't met each other at all this season, so we just had to match up and see what they were gonna bring. We knew Stefan Gill was their weapon, so we had to play good defence on him, but I think the whole team came to play defence today...and the best team won."

Meanwhile the Durham Wildcats made short work of the Westminster Warriors in the Patron's Cup final. Whilst the Warriors were the stronger, more athletic team, the Wilcats played excellent team basketball - exposing Westminster's zone defence with great passing and accurate shooting.

Scott Morton was named MVP (29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) as the Wildcats took the game 96 - 70.

"It's the first time the guys have been to a cup final, and playing London teams in not easy, but I thought we kept our discipline really well," coach Dave Elderkin told 24/7.

"The biggest difference was we kept moving the ball until we had a really good chance to score. We didn't make them all, but we certainly created a lot of good looks."

Elderkin added that he's hoping for promotion to Division 1 next season.

Jordan Parrish - Monday, March 1st I am glad English basketball is on its way u, thanks to sites like these and hard workers like Greg. London Mets are a Killer team, they have worked hard and deserve that win.