BRENT PANTHERS 105
BRACKNELL COBRAS 65

The Panthers U14 National League boys team capped off an outstanding National League season with an outstanding performance against the Bracknell Cobras in the Premier League Promotional Playoff finals, winning 105-65 in the pivotal game.

The top teams in NBL Conference divisions throughout the country all progress through to an end-of-season promotional playoff competition, which pitches the best performing squads from Basketball England's junior second-tier against one another to see which teams are able to win promotion through to the BE's Premier Division.

The Panthers travelled to Brighton in the first round clash, where they were able to overcome the Brighton Bears by a score of 121-47.  This propelled the Panthers into a final promotional decider against the talented Bracknell Cobras, who came into the game with an outstanding record of 20 wins and just 2 losses on the season.  However, Coach Swift had Brent well-prepared and working as a cohesive unit on both the offensive and defensive end, playing with an energy and spirit that would not be denied.

Jayden Chan was in particularly fine form, scoring with confidence and suffocating the Cobra guards on defence.  With Daniel Oronsaye and Josiah Bosire-Dixon both attacking the basket and scoring at will, it was clear the Panthers had turned up with the right mind-set and intention.  Albie Waddell put everyone on notice that he will certainly be a player to watch moving forward with his blend of athleticism, timely plays and jump shooting continually wearing down Bracknell each and every time they showed signs of making a run in this game.  On the defensive end, the ongoing development of Ayomide Ajayi continued to be a season-defining revelation for Panthers - as the shot-blocking sensation firmly put up a 'no entry' sign on the Panthers basket, finishing the game with an outstanding 9 blocks.  With Mo Novolani in 'dominant post-player' mode, the Cobras were left searching for answers on how to stop the swift footed forward - a problem no team has been able to answer all season.

By the end of the game, the whole Panthers squad were able to contribute on court to the win, sealing a victorious end to an outstanding season, summed up by our outstanding Coach Swift:

"I want to say congratulations to the Bracknell Cobras on a great season themselves, coming into this game with only 2 losses all season.  It's not easy to be consistently good all year long and despite the score today, they should be proud of what they've achieved as the season isn't defined by one game.  They have a great program over there with good coaches and experienced and highly respected people managing their club, so I want to give them full acknowledgment and respect.  For us, we prepared for this game and scouted Bracknell intensely to prepare and it paid off for us today.  It was a good game for the boys and I'm happy they have won promotion to the Prem as they have worked hard all season long and put up with a lot from me - so to see it all pay off for them and to see them celebrate at the end was a nice moment.  Now we go into preparation mode for next season as the challenges will only get bigger from here!". - Coach Swift