Ella Fotu led the way with 21 points as Oaklands Wolves reached their first major final with a 99-68 crushing of Essex Rebels in front of a capacity crowd on Saturday evening.
Lee Ryan's team will meet Caledonia Gladiators at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on January 26th as they look to life the SBL Trophy for the first time.
Ryan was naturally delighted following his team's semi-final victory in what was their first last four appearance in nine seasons of playing in the top flight of British basketball: "It was a terrific win by the team, a top performance from start to finish to beat a talented Essex side" he said.
"The players took the game to them from start to finish and what a moment to share with the crowd at the Wolfden. A great landmark moment for the whole Oaklands College organisation, to make its first senior final is really special. There's lots of work to be done between now and January 26th, but we will be ready to fight for the trophy! Hopefully the entire Hertfordshire community can get behind its team and be there with us to make more history."
Fotu came off the bench to add four rebounds and three assists as she led Wolves for the first time this season while Terri Battle also made an impact despite not starting, finishing with a ten points, 14 rebound double-double in just under 20 minutes. Abigail Rafferty had seven boards to go with her 18 points while Sam Ashby finished with 15 points, four steals and as many rebounds.
Shanice Beckford-Norton opened the scoring for the hosts in what proved to be a tight first period, and Fotu's lay-up gave Wolves a 10-9 lead at the midway stage of the quarter. Dani Macray's triple put the hosts up by nine and although Rebels finished the period strongly, Oaklands took a 23-20 lead into the first break.
Ashby sunk a trey to open the second period and back-to-back three-point plays from Fortu put Wolves into control as they opened a 32-20 lead inside two minutes. The three point barrage continued as Rafferty and Beth Sarson got in on the act, before Ashby sunk another from downtown and Rafferty's lay-up sent Ryan's team into the locker room with a 55-36 lead.
Fotu completed her third and-one of the game before hitting a trey to open the third period and Rebels never got any closer than 19 points despite only being outscored 22-21, and a pair of Lavinia Da Silva free-throws sent Wolves into the final break with a 77-57 lead.
Any thoughts of an Essex comeback were ended within three fourth period minutes as three Ashby free-throws helped extend the hosts' lead to 88-62 and it was St Albans-based Sarson who completed the scoring before Wolves' young fans stormed the court to celebrate their team's place in the final.
It was a different story for Wolves' men as they came up just short at Cambridge Cats, going to down 84-82 Liam Jefferson's team trailed 66-56 at the final break but eight straight points from La'Quarne Sayles saw them slash the deficit, only to run out of time.
In a game of multiple runs Wolves had trailed 21-12 at the first break only to cut that deficit to 40-37 at halftime. Cats pulled away to lead 66-56 at the final break before Wolves charge proved to be too little, too late
Sayles led the visitors with 20 points, with Gavin Mitchell hitting 16, Dan Kostadinov getting 15 and Amaukwuim finishing with 13.
The U-18 women - the academy second team - continued their excellent season with a sixth straight league victory as Woking Blackhawks were beaten 100-33 on Sunday evening.
Da Silva's side rushed out of the blocks, scoring the first 19 points on the way to a 33-5 first period lead. The scoring slowed after that but Wolves were 57-13 up at half-time and 83-27 ahead at the final break before wrapping things up with an 18-6 fourth frame. Katie Nicholson led the Wolves' scoring with 22 while Merlene Ribeio and Imogen Baker scored 17 apiece.
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