Birmingham Rockets make history with inaugural BCB Trophy title

By Guest Writer on March 28, 2026

Somebody had to be first. In the end, it was the City of Birmingham Rockets who wrote their name into the history books, beating the Yorkshire Dragons 85-66 to claim the inaugural BCB Trophy at Harvey Hadden Sports Village in Nottingham.

The first-ever piece of silverware in British Championship Basketball history now belongs to Birmingham, and on this evidence, it could be the start of something significant for the Rockets programme.

Eric Donaldson was the story of the afternoon. The Molten BCB Trophy MVP was flawless from the field — 7-for-7 shooting, 4-for-4 from the free-throw line — finishing with 19 points and seven rebounds in a performance perfectly calibrated for the occasion. When the biggest stage in BCB’s short history demanded somebody step up, Donaldson didn’t miss. Literally.

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Zack Powell added 18 points in a continuation of the form that has defined Birmingham’s Trophy run — he scored 18 in the group stage opener against MK Breakers and 17 in the quarter-final win over Loughborough. Consistency from a player who delivers when it matters.

But perhaps the most poignant storyline belonged to Ronald Blain. Five previous finals in English basketball. Five defeats — with the Dragons, Newcastle Knights and Worthing Thunder. On Saturday, the sixth time was the charm. Blain chipped in with 16 points and six assists, and finally got his hands on a winners’ medal. After years of being the best player on the wrong side of the result, Blain’s fingerprints were all over this one.

Yorkshire started brightly, finding success attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line early. But Birmingham regrouped, and once they did, the gap widened steadily. The Rockets shot 51% from the floor compared to the Dragons’ 32%, and at their peak led by 26 points — a margin that reflected the gulf in composure between the two sides on the day.

Jordan Jefferson led Yorkshire with 15 points, while David Ulph — the walking double-double who had been so influential throughout the Dragons’ run — produced a monster 12 points and 21 rebounds, 11 of those on the offensive glass. Ulph did everything he could to keep Yorkshire in the fight, but Birmingham’s collective efficiency was too much.

The Dragons’ journey to the final had been box office — a 122-120 win over Newcastle Knights sealed by an Ulph dunk with a second remaining, a 112-108 shootout against Worthing Thunder, Corey Johnson’s eight triples to beat Falkirk in the semi. But the final asked a different question, and Birmingham had the answers.

The BCB Trophy now has its first champion. The Rockets’ name is on the trophy, and with Donaldson, Powell and a finally victorious Blain at the heart of it, Birmingham have set the standard for a competition that promises to grow.

Stats.

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