Trophy disappointment for Lions' men

Injury hit Lions were unable to make it a dream double for the club as they went down 82-68 against Cheshire Phoenix in the BBL Trophy final, on Sunday.

Dirk Williams drained four three pointers on the way to a 24-point game for James Vear’s side, playing all 40 minutes. But with the London team missing talisman Isaiah Reese along with several other players and big man Jordan Williams limited in his playing time, Phoenix proved too tough as they lifted the Trophy.

Captain Justin Robinson added 12 points and five assists for London, with Lorenzo Cugini also contributing 12 points, and both players adding three rebounds. Phoenix out-rebounded Lions 43-33, and MVP Levi Austin proved to be the difference between the teams with a 33 point, ten rebound double-double.

Lions started well with Robinson giving them the lead and Ryan Martin’s triple making it 5-2. Dirk Williams’ triple kept Vear’s side within a point with seven minutes gone, but despite scores from both Williams and Cugini, Phoenix went into the first break 22-16 ahead.

Namon Wright’s triple took Cheshire’s lead out to ten as Lions went scoreless in the second period’s first three minutes but Lions hung around with Dirk Williams’ fadeaway and Robinson’s jump shot dragging them back into the game.

A triple from Dirk Williams  saw Lions make it a three point game with 4:11 on the clock and a rare dunk from the American followed by another score from downtown helped Lions stay in touch before Chris Tawiah reduced the arrears to 40-35 at half-time.

Cheshire took the lead out to nine early in the third period only for Robinson to drain a triple but an Austin and-one made it a 12 point game before a Bradley Kaboza three point took the margin back into single digits.

Kaboza and Robinson ensured Lions stayed in touch with key free-throws, the latter going three-from-three, before Tawiah’s hook-shot made it a five point game but – inevitably – Austin hit a pair at the foul line to give Cheshire a 61-55 lead at the final break.

The fourth period showed how much Lions miss a core of their players sitting out with injury as Cheshire reeled off 13 straight points to open the frame.

Dirk Williams scored another of those rate dunks to break the tear but there was no way back as Phoenix closed out the period strongly to lift the Trophy.