BBL & WBBL Trophy Finals: Cheshire Phoenix and London Lions crowned in Glasgow

Cheshire Phoenix and London Lions are BBL and WBBL Trophy winners respectively after victories in Glasgow. 

Phoenix won the BBL Trophy for the fifth time - the first since they won it four times in a row up to 2004 - after beating the Lions' men 82-68 at the Emirates Arena. 

The Lions’ women were dominant to beat Sevenoaks Suns 72-36 in the Betty Codona WBBL Trophy Final. 

Larry Austin Jr was named BBL Trophy MVP after a rugged double-double of 23 points and 10 assists, with Cheshire scoring nine points directly from his five offensive rebounds, as he scored six of those himself on put-backs. 

Head Coach Ben Thomas said: “I’m just so happy for everyone involved. The players, they played an amazing game today; defensively we were outstanding, especially in the fourth quarter. I’m made up for the fans, we brought a lot with us and they can enjoy it." 

Lions, already WBBL Cup champions, added the WBBL Trophy for a second consecutive year behind an MVP performance from Holly Winterburn. The guard scored 11 points in the first quarter as Lions led 16-8 and in total had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. 

Winterburn said: “I think I just tried to make the right decision at every moment and that can be scoring, assisting, stealing and we all do that. We really pride ourselves on letting the game come to us and making the right decisions. 

“We just make each other better and respect each other. It doesn’t matter who scores, we’re just a team and want to get the win.” 

There was a 24-second applause for Sheffield Hatters legend Betty Codona OBE, who sadly passed away last week, ahead of each final and at games across the country at the weekend.

Pictures: Mansoor Ahmed