News Update - 2006-07

Basketball - Academy Sides March On

Hackney Community College's Basketball Academy teams head to the climax of the season in contention to regain all their National U19 titles as well as securing the LMBL Premier League title for the 3rd time in 4 years.

On the back of the retaining both British Colleges National Championship titles just before Easter, the U19 Women were back in action last Wednesday in the semi-finals of the English Schools Academies National Cup. Despite a gruelling trip to Manchester, the HCCA side comfortably dispatched Holy Cross College 101/27. Jo Djoboga and Bobbi-Jay Thompson dominated the scoring with 33 and 27pts respectively. HCCA Women will almost certainly defend their title against Barking Abbey Academy, the only team to defeat them this season and containing most of the England U18 side in their ranks.

Meanwhile, HCCA Men took a major step toward regaining the London Metropolitan Basketball League Premier Div. title with 4 wins in just 6 days. On Friday 13/4, The Academy overcame White Heat 78/74 in a tight match. HCCA led for most of the match but couldn't break away tenacious White Heat outfit for which former Academy Captain Dean Defreitas put in a top performance. HCCA then travelled to Croydon the next day to defeat League leaders CIA 98/62. On Tuesday 17/4, HCCA took on local rivals Hoxton Heat and recorded a 99/51 victory at SPACe before going on the road again on Thursday to dispatch Wandsworth 74/59 in a bad-tempered encounter.

These 4 wins give HCCA a perfect 13/0 winning record in the LMBL Premier Div. With just 5 matches remaining and closest rivals Lithuanian BC 5 games back, HCCA just need more victory to regain London's most prestigious senior chanpionship. HCCA take on 2006 Champions Camden Knights at SPACe this coming Friday 27/4 followed by Lithuanians at SPACe on Saturday.

Meanwhile, HCCA Men and Women have the small matter of the SESSA Cup Finals at SPACe this coming Wednesday when both sides take on London SouthBank University. HCCA Men are looking to win the SESSA Cup for the 6th year running whilst the Women are seeking to make it a hat-trick of victories. Up against HCCA Men will be Academy graduates Isaac Omirin and Tophil Kintu. Along with White Heat's Ladi Brown, LSBU pose a formidable threat to the Shoreditch based outfit.

The schedule remains intense over the next couple of weeks. The following Wednesday (2/5). HCCA Men and Women host Moulton College in the semi-finals of the BCS National Cup. On Wed 9/5, HCCA Men hope to join the Women in the English Schools Nat Academies Cup Final host York College their semi-final. The Final of this Cup will take place in Nottingham on 16/5. The BCS Cup Finals should take place toward the end of May to complete the season.

HCCA Men from: Eddie Morrison, Shaz Hussain, Dave Ajumobi, Courtney Van-Beest, Darrell Bethune, Ali Fullah, Hendrix Emu, Leigh Cascoe, Tom Hughes, Victor Oguniyyi,Faruq Bilal, Oliver Ladlow, Kingsley Laudat, Tega Orogun, Ashley Whilby, Albert Margai.

HCCA Women from: Fiona Scarlett, Bobbi-Jay Thompson, Arlynne Rodrigues, Lorrell Shirley, Jo Djoboga, Storm Adams, Liberty Young, Rochelle Davids.

Chris Morris

23/4/07

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