Mar 22, 2021
The London Lions collected their first pieces of silverwear this season as both the Mens and Womens won the BBL Trophy Final as the mens team defeated Plymouth Raiders 88-82 in Worcester.
DeAndre Liggins led Vince Macaulay's side with 19 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and five steals to collect the MVP award. Dirk Williams finished with 20 points and five boards while Orlando Parker added 15 points and five rebounds.
The Lions led from tip-to-buzzer but a Raiders team led by Ricky McGill's 31 points, battled throughout and helped make an excellent final. Scores from Parker and Robinson saw the Lions start well, and they dictated the pace of the game as triples from Parker, Williams and Ware kept them in control as they went into the first break 28-17 ahead.
London couldn't buy a bucket in the early stages of the second period as Raiders hit three treys before Liggins broke the run with a free-throw and Robinson's drive to the basket gave Macaulay's team a bit of momentum before Liggins drained from downtown to make it a seven point game. Jules Dang-Akodo's triple made it 41-30 with 3:24 on the clock and he hit a second from long range to help the Lions go into the locker room with a commanding 52-38 lead.
Liggins got the Lions going in the second half but Raiders opened with a 15-2 run to make it a one point game before Williams scored from the Land of Plenty before Parker did likewise to force a Plymouth timeout but the break didn't really help the West Country side as another Williams three helped the Lions lead 67-61 at the final break.
Orlando Parker opened the fourth period scoring but it was nip and tuck throughout the quarter and the Lions took a a five point lead into the final two minutes before Prince Ibeh hit a lay-up to make it a five point game with 80 seconds remaining.
Liggins went to the line with 1:11 on the clock and although he missed the second shot it was tipped in by Ibeh for an own basket to give the Lions a seven point lead. Plymouth weren't done as Porter-Bunton and Ubiaro made it a two point game with 12 second left, with Robinson missing a pair at the line.
Parker doubled the lead at the foul line before Josh Ward-Hibbert wrapped things up with a pair at the free-throw stripe.