Sheffield Gems basktball club win cup and league double

Gems, already league champions, with a 13-1 record, could field only eight players in the KO Cup final against York Tornadoes.

And one of those Megan Kelly was injured in the warm up, but Gems - the female team from Chesterfield-based Linbraze Arrows - won a tense final 61-59.

Top scorer in the final was Gems’ Kendall James with 21, including eight in the first quarter.

Scorers: Kendall James 21, Helen Palmer 19, Kate Loftus 9, Rachel Campbell 6, Stephanie Kirk 4, Kelly Simcox 2.

Coach Pete Kelly commented: “I am thrilled for the group. Time and again they have looked adversity in the eye and found a way to get the job done.”

It has been a tremendous season for Gems, who won just two games last term. And the team were delighted to edge out perennial league winners Leeds Trinity.

Now they are to apply for full National Lweague status from September with the prospect of double headering with the Arrows men next season.

Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters continued their great run of form in the Women’s British Basketball League with an 87-64 win at Sevenoaks Suns.

The visitors trailed going into half-time, but turned it around with a strong second-half display with Helen Naylor finishing with a game-high 26 points, while Baendu Lowenthal pulled down 16 boards to go with 22 points for another big double-double. Young star Georgia Gayle added 15.

Nottingham Wildcats continue to run away with the league, having won all their 15 games. They are on 30 points with Team Northumbria and Hatters joint second on 24 points, having suffered three defeats each.