Junior Kings go fourth in Elite 8s

ON Saturday, the Thames

Valley Kings Junior league team travelled to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield for the Elite 8s Competition.

It was a chance to battle it out to become the winner of the 2018/19 National Junior league competition.

Kings, seeded eighth, had a tough first game in the quarter-final against the top seeds, Jaguars. It was Kings who picked up the upset win, 43-36 to advance to the semifinals.

In the semi-final, Kings took on the Lancaster Spinners and the game started well for both teams as they each took 14 points in the first quarter, the second quarter is where it all changed with Spinners taking complete control finding 26 points.

Kings battled for the rest of the game keeping their heads high but ultimately going down, 65-38.

Liam Barker was the top scorer with 12, with George Gray and Carl McIntyre both making 10 points and PJ O'Donovan, the playmaker making three assists.

For Kings third and final game of the day, they took on the Wakefield Whirlwinds in the bronze medal match.

Although Kings found a great rhythm in the first quarter and took an early lead 16-8 lead, Whirlwinds retaliated and they picked up the win by eight points, 58-50.

The game saw Liam Barker picking up 18 points and 4 assists and Carl McIntyre picking up 10 points and 7 assists.

The Kings juniors finish the season in 4th place overall and will be very proud of this achievement.