BBL Trophy final: how they got there

London Lions and Cheshire Phoenix will both be looking to collect their first piece of silverware this season when they meet at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow, on Sunday.

The  BBL Trophy is one of four competitions run by the UK's basketball league. It's played on a knockout basis, although the semi-finals are over two-legs, with the ten member clubs being joined by representatives from Scotland, Wales and four from the English NBL.

Will Neighbour had his biggest game of the season as Lions opened their defence of the competition with an 84-70 victory at Newcastle Eagles, doing most of the damage with a 50-35 first half. British big man Neighbour finished with 16 points, hitting three triples, and seven rebounds. All five of Lions’ starters finished in double digits, led by 18 Dirk Williams points. Kylor Kelley finished with a 15 point, ten rebound double-double while Julian Washburn added 14 points. Isaiah Reese missed out on a triple-double by just two rebounds having dished out an amazing 15 assists to go with his 11 points.

Phoenix had a much easier time of it as they hammered Scottish League representatives Falkirk Fury 123-64.  The game was over as a contest by half-time, with the hosts building on a ten-point first period lead to go into the locker room 58-31 ahead. Londoner Teddy Okereafor led an incredible eight Phoenix players in double figures, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and as many assists, while Levi Bradley chalked up a 16-point,  20 rebound double-double.

Another big night from Williams saw Lions power their way into the semi-finals with a dominant performance to beat Manchester Giants 90-79 in the last eight. Williams hit six of his nine three-point attempts adding six rebounds and four assists as he finished with a game-high 28 points fora depleted Lions team. Reese continued his great season with 20 points, nine assists, five steals and four rebounds while Julian Washburn and Lorenzo Cugini added 11 points apiece.

Meanwhile Cheshire had a considerably tougher test in their second Trophy outing winning 88-77 at in-form Plymouth City Patriots thanks mainly to a 31-17 second quarter. The visitors took a 20-point lead into the final break and survived a late surge to reach the semi-final. Larry Austin led six Cheshire players in double figures, adding seven rebounds and six assists to his 16 points, while Bradley finished with 14 points.

The last four saw the format switch to two-leg basketball with the winner on aggregate progressing to the title game.

Lions did most of the hard work in the first leg as they returned from Bristol with an 81-61 victory. A strong fourth period saw Lions outscore the hosts 27-14 to take a massive step towards the final.

Williams again led London with 17 points and eight rebounds while Cugini came off the bench to drain five three pointers, finishing with 17 points in just 21 minutes of action. Reese finished with a massive 13-point, 14 assists double-double, Josh Ward-Hibbert continued his good form with 13 points, and Julian Washburn pulled down a huge 15 rebounds.

Despite the second leg looking to be a formality, it was an entertaining game at the Copper Box with Lions finishing with an 85-81 victory on the night to complete a 166-142 aggregate victory.

Williams made it four-from-four in the competition as he again led his side, sinking four triples on his way to a 22-point, six rebound game/ Will Neighbour also had a productive evening with 17 points and three boards. Cugini finished with 13 points and four assists on a night where all ten available Lions got on the scoresheet. Seventeen unanswered points across the end of the first period and the start of the second proved key for the home side .

Cheshire's semi-final proved to be something of a rollercoaster as they overcame a 102-90 first leg loss in Glasgow as a massive 115-72 home win prevented the Rocks setting up a home final against the Lions.

Phoenix only led briefly in the opening minute of the first leg, but chipping away at a 19-point deficit early in the fourth period gave them some momentum heading back across the border. Austin went close to a triple-double with 23 points,nine rebounds and seven assists, while Bradley added 17 points.

There was no clue of the comeback that was to follow in the first period of the second leg as the teams shared 38 points and Phoenix were still four down on aggregate at half-time as they led 46-38 on the night. But a storming 34-16 third perido put the hosts in charge and they wrapped up their final spot with a 35-18  final frame.

Bradley continued his good form in the competition with 25 points,  Okereafor  added 23 points and eight assists while Namon Wright added 21 points and six boards as Cheshire again had six players posting double-digit points tallys.