London Lions beat Newcastle Eagles to win SL Trophy

London Lions withstood a spirited late charge to hold off defending champions Newcastle Eagles 74-68 and lift the Super League Basketball Trophy.

The Lions, who have won the championship title in each of the past three seasons, won the Trophy for only the second time, having lifted it in 2021.

After dominating the first two quarters to reach the halfway stage leading 45-28, Lions, who are top of the SLB Championship, had to withstand a second-half comeback from the Eagles which narrowed the gap to five points with 41 seconds left on the clock.

With the London Lions keeping their opponents at arm's length they were able to extend back out to a six-point lead at the buzzer.

Eagles' Terrell Burden Jr was the top scorer, albeit in a losing cause, with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Chaundee Brown Jr led the way for the winning side with 15 points.

Sheffield Hatters beat defending champions Caledonia Gladiators 80-62 to land a first Women's Super League Basketball Trophy final victory since 2016.

Vanessa Ellis's side lifted the Betty Codona Trophy for a third time having landed the inaugural event in 2015 before repeating the feat 12 months later.

The first two quarters finished with the two sides locked at 22-22 and 39-39 at the halfway stage.

But the Hatters were able to turn the screw on the South Lanarkshire outfit in the third, taking it 21-7 to lead 60-46 with one quarter to go.

Megan Mullings top scored with 26 points in the win and took the MVP award as the Hatters picked up the first piece of silverware of the season.