Sheffield Hatters seal SLB clean sweep with another playoffs crown
Sheffield Hatters completed a season clean sweep in the SLB with a 73-66 victory over Caledonia Gladiators in Sunday’s playoff final.
Vanessa Ellis’ side have now won five consecutive pieces of silverware in the top flight with a repeat triumph at The O2 Arena in London – in front of an attendance of 8,123 – as they held off a valiant fourth quarter comeback.
Megan Mullings posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win to claim Finals MVP honours, with Antoinette Lewis top scoring with 19 points.
Lewis helped set the tone inside early on for the Hatters with seven points in a 13-2 opening
Tess Amundsen hit a much needed three for the Gladiators, before a tough and-1 finish made it a one possession game.
Grace Graham’s layup ended the first quarter with Sheffield up 23-17, and the momentum was carried into the second quarter. Another run from the Hatters saw them re-establish a double-digit cushion and move ever closer to the clean sweep.
Caledonia were held to just 11 points in the second quarter as they found themselves trailing 42-28 at the break, even with Sheffield being without a made three and committing 12 turnovers.
It was more of the same in the third as the Hatters edged the quarter to stay in the ascendancy. It was a 20-point gap early in the fourth at 64-44.
And, then came a mighty, late Gladiators run. 17 straight points.
All of a sudden it was a one-possession game. Sheffield finally ended their scoring drought – as Jess Eadsforth-Yates hit their first three from a 21st attempt – only for Annie Warren to immediately respond with a three of her own. 67-64.
Mullings and Lewis would add four points from three trips to the foul line to find some valuable breathing space in the final minute, as yet another turnover from Caledonia proved costly.
Gayle would ice the win from the line and the celebrations commenced on a historic season.
Notes
– Hatters starters: Stubbs, Graham, Harrison, Mullings & Lewis
– Gladiators starters: Warren, Robb, Amundsen, Hodges & Masikewich
– Hatters were defending playoff champions, and chasing a season clean sweep
– Gladiators were aiming for first playoff title, and second overall title
– This was Robyn Lewis’ final game in her professional career
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