Copleston Sixth Form picked up their second WEABL title, and a first since being named co-winners five years ago, as they beat Manchester Mystics 83-68.
Joint-winners in the COVID-hit 2019/20 campaign, the Suffolk programme wouldn't be denied lone glory, ending the hopes of a first-ever WEABL title for Manchester despite some raucous local support at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
Winning all four quarters, Copleston slowly pulled away the longer the game wore on, with only a brief Mystics spell midway through the first half denying a tip-to-buzzer victory.
Taking the rebound battle 58-40 and pulling down 20 offensive boards, Coach Drane's side enjoyed solid outings from forwards Louisa Gibbins (17pts, 14reb) and Holly Ensoll (6pts, 10reb), leaving guard Cerys Leach to splash six triples on the way to a team-high 24 points.
MVP honours would go to Hannah Gray, who put together a stunning all-round performance to offer a bit of everything, closing with 21 points on 72% shooting, plus 10 rebounds and seven assists in just over 30 minutes of action. Having overcome two seasons of injury problems, the award and the victory was richly-deserved for the 19-year-old.
This is a crowning achievement for the Copleston Basketball Academy and Ipswich Basketball Club who have now have a complete set of National Championships that includes three Senior National Cups, three WNBL Division One Titles, a Division Two title, a D1 Playoff title a D2 playoff title, two u18 National Cups, an u18 National Championship, two 3x3 National Championships and an u17 English Schools title in a seven year span to go with their second WEABL Title and first outright claim to status as the best basketball academy in the country.
If you'd like to re-watch the action, you can do so here:
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