Academy Playoff Finals 2024: Recaps, reaction and gallery

The 2024 Academy playoff finals didn't disappoint, with the CBL, WEABL and EABL all crowning their latest champions.

The day started with St Aloysius College claiming their first CBL title as they beat holders MK5D Shenley Brook End 78-70.

The WEABL showpiece was a cracker as City of London Academy - Southwark edged past Copleston High School 89-84 before the curtain fell on the EABL season with Charnwood College Riders standing tall. They beat City of London Academy - Southwark 64-59 to bring the day to a close.

There's a recap and highlights from all three games below, including reactions and a gallery of images at the bottom of the page.

EABL Playoff Final

Charnwood College Riders 64-59 City of London Academy - Southwark

Charnwood College Riders won their fourth EABL title but were made to work for it by City of London Academy - Southwark, eventually coming through 64-59.

The final appeared to be ticking along in Charnwood's favour, with the Riders leading by as many as 18 points in the second quarter. Entering the fourth still up by 15, the 2021/22 champs were comfortable but a 16-3 run from CoLA to begin the final frame pulled the contest back to a surprising two point game with 2:50 remaining.

That brought the crowd alive for both teams as the programmes traded buckets down an exciting final stretch.

Charnwood regained their composure to get themselves over the line, thanks in part to the MVP play of Oscar Curran. Steady from the line to ice the game, the Riders guard chipped in nine points to go with an impressive ten assists and four steals, avoiding a single turnover across 33:04 of action.

Lewis Malcolm (15pts, 11reb) top scored for the winners, with Edward Oniya (7pts, 10reb, 4ast, 4blk) also putting in a strong two-way performance.

CoLA were left disappointed in their first-ever EABL final but they have plenty to build on going forward. That includes first year guard Khyle Capanzana, who had a 20 point, 10 rebound double-double. Captain Mou Wol (11pts) was the only other player to reach double digits on the score board.

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WEABL Playoff Final

Copleston High School 84-89 City of London Academy - Southwark

City of London Academy - Southwark extended their record as the most successful team in WEABL history, sealing their fifth title with an 89-84 victory.

Copleston came to Manchester with an undefeated record, including two wins over CoLA during the regular season, but were left empty-handed at the last following an enthralling showpiece.

With neither side able to lead by more than five points for the majority of the contest, a late CoLA run ballooned their advantage to double digits with 4:15 remaining.

That invited a Copleston fightback and that's exactly what the Suffolk programme did, pulling to within a point before CoLA finally managed to shut the door for good.

Key to the Londoners' late run was MVP guard Ayla Habbal, who had huge plays at both ends of the court to finish with 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds and a priceless block on a Yazmin Edwards' triple with 17 ticks to go.

Habbal was supported by a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double Felicia Jacobs, plus strong showings from Glory Kabia (15pts, 6ast), Adaora Diroamma (16pts, 7reb) and Violet Stutz (17pts).

Copleston will no doubt be devastated they couldn't turn their #1 seed into a first WEABL crown since their joint win in 2019/20, they were led by Yazmin Edwards (27pts, 8reb) and Christabel Osarobo (22pts, 12reb).

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CBL Playoff Final

St Aloysius College 78-70 MK5D Shenley Brook End

St Aloysius completed their unbeaten 15-0 season to finish the CBL reign of defending champs MK5D Shenley Brook End, winning 78-70.

Both teams competed hard across an even opening half before a scrappy 16-8 third quarter gave the London programme the cushion needed for victory, fending off MK5D's late comeback attempts.

Regular-season Group C MVP Devontae Da Costa (10pts, 13reb, 5blk) had a strong outing but it was teammate Tyresse Poku-Mensah who would secure Finals MVP honours, filling the stat sheet to the tune of 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Kayden-Lee Dawkins-Ellis added another 22 points for the victors, who led from late in the first quarter through to the final buzzer.

Shenley shot 36% from the floor as their offence struggled, particularly in that pivotal third frame, with Buai Luak (17pts, 13reb) and William Issekya (15pts, 10reb) both posting a double-double.

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