Leopards

On Sunday morning a collection of people gathered around a coach outside a school in Barking. A number of them I'd known for many years. We are the remnants of a fanbase who supported Leopards Basketball from the mid 1990s until the then owners pulled the plug. Over the years many have drifted away, frankly it's not easy watching EBL basketball, the equivalent on non league football.

Leopards have attempted to find a home and base in Brentwood, it was the last resting place of the old organisation after they left the then London Arena. Those were heady days of decent crowds and big sponsors. Today it's more meagre fayre. But now is not the time to discuss in length the decline of British basketball, we are waiting to board the bus to travel to Sheffield to see the Leopards in the National Cup Final

The Leopards reached and won the Cup in 2006 but as I'd been hospitalised the week before with concussion I was unable to travel and had to content myself with following the game over the internet. Now I'm filled with hope that the team that's a mixture of oversea players and students from the Barking Abbey Academy can lift the trophy.

The journey on a foggy Sunday morning drifts by and we reach Pond Forge in time to sample some Sheffield pubs before entering the arena. After the introductions the game commences and it seems that Leopards team are still on the bus as the opposition Bristol City Flyers storm into an early lead. Players miss shots that they would normally execute in their sleep, and at one time during the first half we trail by seventeen points. At half time there's still a twelve point deficit.

The second half starts at Bristol begin to miss shots, Leopards begin to claw back points and reduce the deficit. Basketball is a game of runs and momentum is all important. Self belief returns to those who seems like nervous rabbits trapped in car headlights thirty minutes earlier.

However shots are still being missed from the foul line, and it still seemed improble that Leopards could inch ahead as the clock ticked down. However with Bristol struggling , the score became ever closer and a three point shot saw Leopards inch ahead, foul shots gave us a four point lead and even though Bristol scored a three point shot at the buzzer. Leopards had pulled off an improbable victory 64-63 and Ousman Krubally lifted the cup with Vernon Teel MVP.

After photo time, back to the pub and then the long journey back home. Leopards name will be engraved on the Cup but perhaps more importantly basketball although under pressure is still alive.