Colbert delighted with final spot

The BBL Trophy final looks set to be a repeat of the Cup final, with UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders already through to the title games and Newcastle Eagles virtual certainties after a 32 point win at One Health Sharks Sheffield.

Prestige Homes MK Lions had won the Friday’s first leg 87-81 thanks mainly to 31 Demarius Bolds points, but the Raiders made home-court advantage count in Sunday’s second leg.

Raiders’ forward Lehmon Colbert was delighted after his side won 107-99 in overtime against to take the tie 188-186 on aggregate.

“I’m pretty happy, we played well and everyone chipped in tonight and bought into the system” he said. “We needed to slow [Demarius] Bolds down and make the other guys try to beat us, and it worked. It means a lot to be in a final, I always want to win.

“We’ve got Newcastle again, and the guys are looking forward to it. Last time wasn’t the way we wanted things to turn out, I wouldn’t say it was an embarrassment, but we obviously want to do better than that.”

Jeremy Bell was the hero for the Raiders, scoring the final six points in regulation time to force the extra period and then added a further ten points in overtime to finish with a game-high 32 points.

Thirty-two was obviously the number of the weekend as Eagles recorded a stunning 116-84 victory at Sharks to virtually guarantee themselves a place in the two-leg final. Led by 37 points – including 6/10 from three-point land – from Joe Chapman, Fabulous Flournoy’s side never looked back after a second period which saw them outscore the hosts 32-12.

The second leg takes place in Newcastle on Friday as the Eagles look to finish the job.