Panthers net double

Apr 3 2003 Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

BASKETBALL: ELLESMERE Port Panthers netted two national titles at Sheffield's Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday.

The squad captured the Sureshot National Cup in both Cadette and Junior Women's categories.

Jim McGinn's team also wrote their way into the record books by becoming the first club to retain the Cadette Women's National Cup after a victory over their namesakes from Doncaster.

Pioneer Female Sports Personality of the Year, Johannah Leedham, also pulled off a double individual success by top-scoring in both finals to earn a brace of MVP awards.

Ellesmere Port held on to their Cadette crown with a 72-60 win over Doncaster Panthers, whom they also defeated in last year's final.

They then faced Northants Lightning, who had toppled them last season, but the Panthers showed how much they have improved over the past 12 months with a comfortable 75-51 victory.

McGinn said: 'I'm delighted with the girls' grit and determination. Some of our team played in both games and it was a gruelling day with less than three hours' rest between the two finals, but all the girls contributed well.

'First we had to overcome a dogged Doncaster defence that tried to stop us from playing our normal running game but Helen Naylor fouled out, which she always does on neutral territory.

'A big factor to our second win was the job done by Alex Lodge and Jennifer Fields, restricting England international Angelina Browne to just 16 points.'

He added: 'I'm pleased for Johannah getting two MVPs but her I think her sister Jennifer Leedham's efforts should also have been acknowledged. She was terrific for us against Northampton but it's the big scorers who tend to catch the judges' attentions.'

Panthers' double-winning squads included Kate Buckley, Nicole Clark, Lucy Edwards, Jennifer Fields, Laura Hughes, Kim Jones, Amy Kenny, Lisa Kenny, Sarah Kenny, Emma Lacey, Alex Lee, Vicky Lee, Jennifer Leedham, Johannah Leedham, Kirsty Leedham, Helen Locke, Alexandra Lodge, Victoria Lodge, Tyler Murray, Lauren Thomas-Johnson and Leanne Webb.