The Junior NBL season came to an end in Manchester last weekend, with two Breakers teams crowned national champions after emerging triumphant at the Final Fours.
It was a weekend Breaker Nation will never forget. As the best in the country travelled to the National Basketball Performance Centre at Belle Vue, no fewer than three of our own teams took part.
U-14 Boys
Up first were our U14 Boys, who overcame a nervous start to ultimately win Saturday’s semi-final against London Legends. Trailing 18-17 after the first quarter, Breakers rallied behind Nathan Mubela, who ended the game with a 27-point, 22-rebound double-double to help seal the 78-65 win.
That booked a place in Sunday’s final against London Stars, where the full depth of talent developed by Coach Burak Haciismail shone on the biggest stage. While only one member of the opposition scored in double figures, Breakers had no fewer than four in what would be the consummate team victory.
Jermain Tuffour would clinch MVP honours thanks to a wonderful performance that saw him score 19 points and grab 21 rebounds. Never trailing by more than two points through the entire contest, Breakers would win 70-61 to claim the first ever title for the boys in a season that saw them win every single game they played.
U14 Boys Head Coach Burak Haciismail, who has now led the team to three consecutive undefeated seasons, was delighted with his teams performance; “The boys showed exactly what discipline, determination, and teamwork can achieve in both games against two strong London teams. Beating the Legends and the Stars back-to-back to become champions is a testament to how far they’ve come this season.”
“Every player played their part, and they earned this together through consistent hard work. I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished and excited to help push this talented group to the next level.”
“Thank you to MK Breakers and all the parents who supported us every step of the way this year.”
U-14 Girls
Up next were our U-14 girls, on a mission after finishing 4th in 2023 and losing last year’s final. COB Rockets were no match for them in a one-sided semifinal that saw Breakers triumph 88-45 thanks to Chantelle Okoli’s 24 points and 14 boards, while there were also major contributions from Abi Ajayi (12 points, 21 rebounds) and Alessia Dinu (18 points).
Richmond Knights were waiting in the Final, but the Breaker girls were in no mood to be denied. They led from start to finish, winning 64-48, Chantelle delivering an even better performance that saw her narrowly miss out on a triple double as she walked away with 18 points, 14 rebounds, 9 steals and a well-deserved MVP award.
Head Coach Björn Westman was elated for the team becoming U14 National Champions; “It was a truly incredible weekend for the U14 girls. For some of the team it was their third time at the U14 final four, and we leant on their experience and leadership after the disappointment of the last 2 seasons.”
“We had to dig deep defensively to contain Richmond and offensively we had to band together, share the ball and trust each other in the intense environment of the finals.”
“I’m incredibly grateful to have coached all the girls in this team and delighted their hard work has paid off.”
“A big thank you to the parents for their continuous support.”
U-16 Girls
In the U-16s, our girls were narrowly beaten in their semi-final by Richmond Knights, ultimately falling 65-60 despite Chantelle Okoli’s 20 points and 17 rebounds. That meant they would battle for third place, losing out 78-60 despite a valiant 10-point, 15-rebound display from Itansan Ajayi.
Despite the losses, Head Coach Björn Westman was incredibly proud of his team for their efforts this season; “It has been great fun coaching this team and it was a brilliant achievement making it to the Final Four as the Northern 2nd seed with the likes of Mystics and Hatters in our league.”
“We battled hard in the semi-final against Richmond but unfortunately came up short after a difficult final quarter.”
“Despite the disappointment of Saturday, the girls battled hard on Sunday against a tall and physical Sheffield Hatters team, but ultimately came up short.”
“The team can be incredibly proud of what they have achieved this season, finishing 4th in the country and being the only team to secure a win over the eventual Champions Manchester Mystics.”
“Again, I would like to give a special thanks to the parents for their support all season.”
