After a thrilling 68-62 victory over Sussex Storm in the semi-final, our squad advanced to the National League Final in Manchester to face familiar foes—London Stars, reigning National Cup champions and our cross-city rivals from the east side of the capital.
From the opening tip, the energy was electric, and both teams came out trading baskets in a fast-paced, evenly matched first quarter. Unfortunately, a major setback came early, as Omer Zardok Shemer, our standout performer from the semi-final, was forced to exit the game due to injury. Losing a key contributor so early was a blow, but the team responded with heart and resilience.
Zan Milovidov provided a strong spark off the bench, helping to keep momentum alive and ensuring our young squad stayed in contention. Kaya Birsen made an impact with powerful, fearless drives to the basket, pushing us into a narrow lead. Still, the Stars—known for their composure and depth—fought back and edged ahead by just one point at halftime.
In the second half, London Stars adjusted their defensive strategy, switching to a compact zone in an attempt to clog the lane and force outside shots. Despite our strong perimeter performance in previous games (including a scorching 12-for-14 from three), our outside shooting suddenly went cold at the worst possible moment.
The Stars capitalised, stretching the lead to 15 points. While Leo Bowman and Daniel Olusanya brought intensity and hustle in the fourth quarter, pushing hard on both ends of the floor, the comeback fell just short. Final score: London Stars crowned National League champions.
General Manager Daniel Szatkowski said: ” I cannot describe how proud i am of Coach Daniel James and Boys. They made a history as a first London Elite U16 team to make Final 4 and they pushed further more to claim Silver medal. Lots of them are returning to team next year and i am excited to see project growing from strength to strength under such talented coach this squad has. U16’s squad made whole club proud.
Despite the loss, there’s plenty to be proud of. Our team, featuring several U15 players, showed tremendous growth, chemistry, and spirit throughout the season. With such a young and talented core returning next year, preparations are already underway as we set our sights on reclaiming the title.
The future is bright. Watch this space.
London Elite U16 squad:
Kaya Birsen, Daniel Olusanya, Will harper, Will Henderson, Zan Milovidow, Omer Zardock Shemer, Olly Raynolds, Luca Petrou, Leo Bowman, Kye Thomas, Niko Sagiryan
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