Mark Woods

Sheffield Hatters basketball club realised yet another momentous achievement in its already impressive roll of honour, sweeping both the Division One and Two women's NBL Championships at the Nynex Arena.

The premier final showdown saw Hatters exact revenge over Thames Valley for their January National Cup upset, retrieving an 11 point first half deficit to emerge victorious 66-63. Tigers started the most positively with their veteran England centre Jane Thackray netting all but one point of a 6-0 stretch to lead 13-7. Hatters looked nervous and exhibited poor interior defence, conceding a further six points in a row to trail by ten after a quarter. A time out by coach Betty Cadona saw improved hustling by the reigning league and play off champions, but Tigers American Andrea Mangum added both points and tight defence, with only 4 late points limiting the Sheffield deficit to 35-28 at half time.

Cadona's counselling must have inspired, as Hatters emerged with a renewed zeal, playing team ball while rediscovering their efficient perimeter game. Trinidadian Sharon Castanada broke free of the defensive shadowing imposed earlier by Mangum, finding easy baskets as Tigers opened up. A 12-4 stretch handed the lead to Hatters for the first time at 48-46 with 12:55 remaining, and veterans Ann Jamieson and Helen Sharpe further widened the gap to 10 points, holding their opponents with out a field goal for 8 minutes. Mangum sparked a 0-6 retort to keep the Bracknell team's hopes alive, but although they added a further  two treys in the closing minutes, Castanada notched the final point from the line, her 22^nd of the game, and this was enough to earn her the MVP prize and Hatters their fifth Championship in six seasons.

Head coach Cadona was visibly relieved to have taken the win, despite early signs of deja vue from the Sheffield Cup Final. "One big difference is that I'm well today and I wasn't at Sheffield," commented Cadona. "I think coaches can have an effect on the team and transfer their motivation, and when half the time you can't shout, it makes a difference. I was quite pleased when they were playing defensively as I'd asked them to, but not offensively as I'd asked them to, so I gave them two rules to follow and it worked. People went on and did what I asked them to do."

Cadona also revealed some unconventional motivational techniques prior to the game. "Last night we had a meal and everyone gave a reason why we should win and they came up with some good reasons why!"

For Tigers, Mangum contributed 20 points and 9 rebounds, and it is to be hoped that Tigers can hold onto her services for another season in the NBL.

The most thrilling contest of the Basketfest weekend handed Sheffield the initial part of their double, with a victory over Tyne & Wear in the Division 2 finale. Trailing 53-55 with 40 seconds left, Lorraine Gayle added 1/2 from the line to close within one. The north east team, missed their subsequent offense and could only watch as Ann Skelton fed veteran Katherine Wilson, whose field goal with 4 seconds remaining, gave Sheffield their only lead of the half and clinched a 56-55 win.

20 year old 5'5 guard Liz Ward had 15 points and 22 rebounds for Hatters, while Jacki Stutchbury led Tyne & Wear with 18 points.