Cup heartbreak for Thunder as they lose final to Manchester

Thunder fans were boosted prior to the game with the news that Tomas Seduikis was available and Tom Ward had recovered from a back injury, which saw him miss both games last weekend, to start the game.

Thunder opened up a 20 point lead, 39-19, during the second quarter and led 41-27 at half-time. However, Manchester came on strongly in the second half and scored 70 points after half-time, including 41 points in the last ten minutes, to retain their trophy.

Manchester scored the first four points of the final but Thunder responded with a 11-0 run, which included three-pointers from James Cambronne, Louis Allen and Josh Brown.

Magic drew level at 13-13 with a slam dunk from Simon Anumba with 1min 24sec left in the quarter but Cambronne’s basket and a three-pointer from Tom Ward gave Thunder a 19-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Thunder began the second quarter with a 12-0 run to move 31-15 ahead and their lead ballooned to 20 points at 39-19 when Brendan Okoronkwo sank a three-pointer with 4-24 left of the stanza.

Manchester finished the second period on a 8-2 run but Thunder enjoyed a 41-27 at half-time.

Magic then made a strong start to the third period as a 9-1 run saw them move to within just four points of Thunder at 42-38 when Worthing coach Daniel Hildreth called a time-out with 7-49 remaining of the quarter.

A three-pointer from Jack Minister took Magic into the lead for the first time since the early stages, at 43-42, but Thunder gradually began to regain their composure as the third stanza went on. Back-to-back three pointers from Louis Allen took Worthing 50-47 ahead and Okoronkwo and Josh Brown also nailed three-pointers as Thunder led 60-56 with one stanza to play, although Seduikis fouled out late in the quarter.

A 9-0 run to start the fourth period took Manchester 65-60 in front and, after Thunder’s Cambronne fouled out, a three-pointer from Franc Garcia Garrido took Magic 72-62 ahead with 6-28 to play.

Brown sank five quick points for Thunder, who still trailed 76-68 halfway through the final period. However, Magic proved too strong in the closing stages as they took the final quarter 41-24 to win the game 97-84.

Okoronkwo led Thunder with 27 points, Brown sank 12 and Cambronne ten. Ellis Cooper, who was named the MVP, top-scored with 28 points for Magic, while five other players were in double figures.

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