London Lions Reclaim British Basketball All-Stars Championship

Image Credit: British Basketball All-Stars Championship

London Lions won their second British Basketball All-Stars Championship in three years, beating B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 39-33 in the final at the Copper Box Arena, London, live on Sky Sports.

Lions had lifted the inaugural All-Stars title in 2017 and reclaimed the trophy at their home venue after beating Sharks and London City Royals in the group stage to set up a semi-final clash with Newcastle Eagles, who they overcame 41-36 in one of the top games of the afternoon.

After losing to Lions in their opener of the tournament that features 12-minute games and other adapted rules, Sharks bounced back with wins over Surrey Scorchers and Royals to make the last four, where they beat Leicester Riders 37-25.

At the halfway staged of the £25,000 showpiece final, Lions led 10-17 and pulled further ahead after coach Vince Macaulay hit the Golden Buzzer to activate the two-minute Power Play. where everything is worth double. Sharks bit back in their own double-point period, with Mackey McKnight one of their standout performers of the day. But the Sheffield outfit were unable to close the gap far enough, and Lions clinched a six-point victory

“It feels great,” said Brandon Peel, who received the gold Molten MVP ball. “We’ve had a slow start to the season and this is a real big confidence booster.

“Today shows that the Lions are all about winning. No matter how many times we fall down, no matter how many times we take a loss, we are always looking to fight back. We are Lions, we never back down.”

Defending champions Surrey Scorchers had earlier gone 0-2 in the double elimination group stage. They lost the day’s opening game 31-37 to Royals before Sharks ensured an early coach home for the 2018 All-Stars winners.

2019 British Basketball All-Stars Championship Results

Double Elimination Group Stage
Surrey Scorchers 31-37 London City Royals
London Lions 40-24 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks 30-27 Newcastle Eagles
Leicester Riders 30-28 Cheshire Phoenix

London City Royals 23-27 London Lions
Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks 24-37 Leicester Riders

Surrey Scorchers 21-52 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Newcastle Eagles 32-30 Cheshire Phoenix

London City Royals 26-37 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks 24-28 Newcastle Eagles

Semi-Finals
Leicester Riders 25-37 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
London Lions 41-36 Newcastle Eagles

Final
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 33-39 London Lions

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