Glacier Boys, Hoopspace to meet in 2023 Hoopsfix Pro-Am final

Image credit: Hoopsfix

Glacier Boys and Hoopspace will go head-to-head in next week’s final of the 2023 Hoopsfix Pro-Am.

Defending champions Glacier Boys came through an overtime thriller to beat Ankd 61-59, while Hoopspace overcame Thames Valley Cavaliers 51-43 in another hard fought encounter.

Ankd capitalised on missed free throws at the end of regulation to force an extra period through a late three from Travis Edwards. However, Glacier Boys would have the final say as a cagey overtime was settled with Kayne Henry’s game-winning putback.

Henry finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds with Amin Adamu top scoring in the win with 14 points. Ankd were led by Edwards’ 13 points as they came close to knocking out the inaugural winners.

Meanwhile, Hoopspace advanced behind an eight-point victory over TVC behind 14 points from Hafeez Abdul and a near double-double of eight points and 10 rebounds from last year’s MVP Peter Turay.

TVC had 15 points from Aaryn Rai as well as 13 points and 11 rebounds from Kavell Bigby-Williams, but they trailed throughout with the gap as many as 14 points at one stage. Hoopspace made their move in the third with a 15-9 period to take control.

In the 5-8 Classification round, Surrey Scorchers and OT Boyz both picked up victories to set up a meeting on the final week.

Evan Walshe dropped a 30-point haul in Surrey’s 75-46 success over London United including 16 straight in the fourth quarter. The Scorchers trailed 9-13 after 10 minutes, but pushed clear with a 26-12 second period before a strong finish with Brandon Tchouya adding 15 points and four steals in the win.

For OT Boyz, they survived a frantic finish with Ebuka Ekwegh’s late basket sealing a 52-51 triumph behind a 23-point outing. Vet Status – who were boosted by the debut of two-time BBL MVP Justin Robinson – had taken the lead on a 7-0 burst in the fourth, but ended up coming up short in a tense final minute.

Results

Semi-finals: Ankd 59-61 (OT) Glacier Boys; Hoopspace 51-43 TVC

5-8 Classification round: Surrey Scorchers 75-46 London United; OT Boyz 52-51 Vet Status

Do you like our work?

We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.

We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.

We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.

If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.

We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.

Support Hoopsfix