With the end of the Under 15 Regional Development Tournament (RDT) in Manchester, the summer is officially over and the new season is soon to begin. It was double delight for London as they won both the boys’ and the girls’ competitions, with the region’s teams combining to go 10-1 over the course of the weekend.
“I’ve loved the weekend, the boys have made the London region proud, they’ve been amazing,” said Head Coach Dominic Ng. “The side improved so much over this journey, and their club coaches have played into that as well. It’s a great thing to have. It’s not just me and my staff, it’s the community in the London region and it’s been a real family affair.”
U 1 5 R D T 🏀@LDNBball take their first title of the day as their boys are crowned U15 RDT champs. Can their girls do the same? South East stand in their way!
— Basketball England (@bballengland) September 9, 2018
Info and scores 📋 https://t.co/8vf40nm1MU
Gallery 📷 https://t.co/Hh0I797nSk #TogetherWeAreBasketbALL pic.twitter.com/F5J8KsxPMk
“It’s been a very good weekend, tiring, but a very good weekend!” said girls’ Head Coach Caroline Charles. “All through training, the sole purpose hasn’t been to win. It’s been about development and seeing how far these players can go through the pathway. Winning is a bonus, but it’s what the players get out of the experience of playing at one of these tournaments.”
Although London’s boys couldn’t top their group after Saturday’s action, they were still able to see off Pool B winners East in Sunday’s semi-final before overpowering the South in the Final. For the girls, they kept their record spotless throughout. Going 3-0 made for a successful Saturday in Pool X, before a thrilling OT win against the South secured a place in the Final. A gritty win in the showpiece secured their path to glory against a determined South East side.
U 1 5 R D T 🏀@LDNBball make it double delight as their girls' also secure the title of 2018 U15 RDT champions!
— Basketball England (@bballengland) September 9, 2018
Info and scores 📋 https://t.co/8vf40nm1MU
Gallery 📷 https://t.co/Hh0I797nSk #TogetherWeAreBasketbALL pic.twitter.com/sqQvkd0h1a
The British Shooting Tests Finals were also held on Sunday, with both boys’ and girls’ Finals in the middle of the afternoon’s schedule. The results were as follows:
Boys
Semi Final – South West’s Louie Tucker def. London’s Delimare Adedeji
Girls
Semi Final – Yorkshire’s Anna Nevison def. East Midland’s Megan Lovatt
With classification games going on throughout the day as well as the all-important Semi-Finals and Finals, the tournament standings finished as follows:
| Boys | Girls | ||
| 1 | London | 1 | London |
| 2 | South | 2 | South East |
| 3 | East | 3 | South |
| 4 | South East | 4 | East |
| 5 | North West | 5 | Yorkshire |
| 6 | East Midlands | 6 | North West |
| 7 | Yorkshire | 7 | East Midlands |
| 8 | West Midlands | 8 | South West |
| 9 | South West | ||
| 10 | North East |
Basketball England's Programme & Pathway Integration Manager Charlie Ford said, “I’d like to thank the players, coaches, team managers and volunteers for their efforts not just this weekend, but in the weeks and months in the lead up to this event. It’s been another great showcase for our pathway and the players that continue to move through the system.”
A full list of results as well as the tables from the pool stage on Saturday can be seen by clicking HERE.
A selection of photographs from this weekend’s tournament are available by clicking HERE.
