BRENT PANTHERS: 81
SOUTHWARK LEGENDS: 66

Brent Panthers U16 boys finished the 2023/24 season with a season-defining victory over the Southwark Legends to defend their CBL Prime U16 crown with a polished performance that delivered a 78-56 win.

The CBL finale fell on a difficult date for the team as many of the year 11 boys were locked into GCSE exam season, which impacted preparation and training for the final.  However, the commitment to well-planned time management which enabled the boys to balance their studies with their basketball paid dividends for the Panthers as Kailyn, Kyran, Stellios, Ash, Ali, Theo, Ren and Chaim were all able to make the game - which proved to be the decisive factor in this game.  Joining the year 9 (Albie and Daniel) and year 10 (Ruben and Justin) boys - the Panthers were able to put out a team who were ready for the challenge and delivered a finals performance that crystallised how far the team has come this past season.

The final itself was no easy match up for the Panthers.  The Legends are a NBL Premier League team, and have some outstanding players in their squad, such as the high-scoring guard Haydin Edwards-Meade and the powerful Etemi Toghanro.  However, the Panthers have long-known they match up well with anyone at any level when at full-strength and so were certainly not phased by the challenge.  A strong first quarter from Panthers dynamic backcourt duo, Kyran and Kailyn, with the 'Tower of Power' (aka Stellios Christofi) propelled the Panthers into a 6 point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Legends came storming back in the second quarter behind hot shooting from Edwards-Meade and powerful play from Toghanro which snatched the momentum back in favour of the South Londoners.  Southwark went into the half up 40-34.

After some 'focused' words from coach Swift at half-time, the Panthers came out in the third quarter with winning energy, led by a rejuvenated Kailyn Panchal-Bedward and Kyran Palmer who outscored the entire Legends team by themselves pouring in 21 points between them, to the Legends 10.  With Panashe Kuwana and Theo Satwell making their presence felt on the defensive end and Christofi continuing to grab any and all available rebounds - the Panthers went into the final quarter up by 7 with momentum firmly back with them.

Legends looked to climb their way back into the game in 4th, but Panchal-Bedward and Palmer let them know this championship would be heading back to North West London with the Panthers, continuing their unstoppable play, supported with timely and valuable contributions from the vastly improved Ruben Cryer (7 points) and Justin Fagbenle (6 points).

By the time the final buzzer rang out, Panthers had powered their way through to a convincing 15 point win, by a score of 81-66, led by 3 outstanding performances from Panchal-Bedward (28 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals), Palmer (22 points, 5 assists, 5 steals) and Christofi (11 points, 15 rebounds).  For his excellent all-around game, Panchal-Bedward was awarded game MVP, while the Panthers secured their second back-to-back U16 CBL Prime Championship.

U16 CBL Prime MVP: Kailyn Panchal-Bedward