15/5/16

BWB  2nd Division South

Warwickshire Bears 62

Swindon Shock 55

Bears, already promoted to Division One of the National Wheelchair Basketball League, will go up as champions following a thrilling victory over title rivals Swindon Shock.
With both teams level on points, Bears secured the Division Two (South) crown at Henley College on Sunday.
“This has to be one of our proudest moments since we set up the club,” said head coach Tom Masterson.
“I gave the team the target of staying in the division when we started the season so to be champions is amazing. I am absolutely delighted.”
Sunday’s match, played at a high tempo in front of a vocal band of supporters, was too tight to call until the final quarter. Then, Ben Fox, a GB under-23 international who had been an influential player for the visitors, had to leave the court having committed five fouls. Bears saw their opportunity and edged ahead with the clock ticking down. Even then, Swindon had their chances to come back, but the basket proved elusive when it mattered most.
Derek Hall was voted the home team’s most valuable player.
Bears have a final match, away at Surrey side Blackhawks on Sunday, and will go into the national play-off finals in Worcester on the 4/5 June. This will determine who is champion of the combined division two (north and south).
Match scores: 1st quarter: 12-12; 2nd: 16-18; 3rd: 12-12; 4th: 22-13
The second team were also winners on Sunday, beating Swindon 45-29.
THERE was further good news for Bears recently when they were told that they will be able to stay at the Warwickshire College sports hall for a further year. The college is due to close this summer.