Basketball players throughout England competed all season to qualify for a position in the much-anticipated Final Fours and the standard of play at the event was outstanding.  Held within the top class facilities of RAF Cranwell, hundreds of players, coaches and supporters converged on the courts to experience an action-packed weekend of brilliant basketball.

Saturday saw newcomers Milton Keynes Lions lift the under-13s trophy in a success story for the tournament’s ‘underdogs’.  In the semi-finals Milton Keynes Lions faced the London Towers, and in a nail-biting performance stole a three-point victory with a final score of 68:65. The final game saw the Lions meet Brighton Bears West who they beat convincingly 72:54.

Liam Anderson-Brown, Head Coach of the Milton Keynes Lions said: “The semi-final was a very tough game. We knew that the London Towers would come out strong as they dominate this age group, as do many London teams, however we worked hard all season and came through in the end.

“This is the first time the Lions have ever got this far in the tournament, and the first time these players have played in the national league, so today is a bit of a Cinderella story really – like one of those American teen films, when the underdog actually wins! The kids on the team are great, it’s been an unbelievably special day for them and I’m incredibly proud of their success, they thoroughly deserved to win.

“The sky’s the limit with these kids – they’ve got commitment, dedication and incredibly supportive parents. Now we have a programme that is proven to be successful, which will hopefully put Milton Keynes on the map.”