The 2023/24 season KO Cup finals came to an exciting end today at Sports Central in Newcastle.
In the Division 3 final the favourites Kenton Thunder managed to hang on after a tough game against the Hexham Gaolers to extend their winning run to 15 games this season by edging the encounter 58-51. Ollie Finlay lead the scoring for Kenton with 15 points whereas for Hexham Finn Stanton managed to bag 11.
In Division 2 the favourites Cardinal Vipers 1 were narrowly beaten by NorPol 84-87 in a bruising encounter which went right down to the final possessions of the game. Top scorer for the Vipers Was Jai Naylor with 26 points closely followed by Liam Gardner on 23. For NorPol Lee Goldsbrough scored an impressive 28 points followed by Sean Nicholson on 24.
Division 1 saw the Newcastle East Griffins claim their 19th consecutive Tyne Met silverware and their 9th consecutive KO Cup Winners title after defeating FoWS 136-65. Jack Thompson top scored for the Griffins with 45 points while John Palmer top scored for FoWS with 16.
These finals represented the first time we have managed to run 3 person officiating on all 3 of the finals for a number of years and saw referees on the current level 3 pathway, (Derek Fleming, Nick Hilton, John Palmer and Dave Vincent) officiating together along side more experienced referees.
It also allowed our newest Level 3 table officials (Liam Appleby, Seraphine O'Neill and Neil Rogers) to get first hand experience using the FIBA Digital Scoresheet software