This weekend saw the 2023-24 season come to a close with the Junior Final Fours, with six teams representing the Magic and Mystics, one in every age category, find out how they all got on below.
Saturday 4th May
Manchester Magic U8 44-77 Canterbury Academy Crusaders
Manchester Magic U18 advanced to the third-place game against Islington Panthers on Sunday after a loss against Canterbury Academy Crusaders in the Play-off Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon, find out how they got on below.
Magic U18 were led by Ronney Ani 10 points, 8 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block, Spike Noden 8 points, 2 rebounds and an assist, Osarumwense Iguma 6 points, 9 rebounds and an assist and Daniel Laycock 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
Manchester Mystics U18 70–62 Endeavour Ipswich Basketball
Manchester Mystics U18 advanced to the National Championship Final against CoLA Southwark Pride on Sunday after a win against Endeavour Ipswich Basketball in the Play-off Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon, find out how they got on in the final below.
Mystics U18 were led by Elizandra Costa 22 points, a rebound, 2 assists and 10 steals, Isobel Robinson 17 points, 7 rebounds, an assist, 2 steals and a block and Irene Oboavwoduo 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Manchester Magic U16 88–55 Manchester Giants
Manchester Magic U16 advanced to the National Championship Final against Newham Youngbloods on Sunday after a win against Manchester Giants in the Play-off Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon, find out how they got on in the final below.
Magic U16 were led by Oluwademilade Babalola 12 points, 14 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 3 blocks, Nathan Brown 13 points, a rebound, 4 assists, a steal and a block, Sami Sidi-Boumedine 13 points, 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal, Jack Walton 10 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal and Henry Phillpotts 11 points, 2 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals.
Richmond Knights 53–50 Manchester Mystics U16
Manchester Mystics U16 advanced to the third-place game against CoLA Southwark Pride on Sunday after a loss against Richmond Knights in the Play-off Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon, find out how they got on below.
Mystics U16 were led by Irene Oboavwoduo 15 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 8 steals and 2 blocks, Mojan Malek 12 points, 5 rebounds, a steal and a block and Maisie Keyes 8 points 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block.
London Stars 1 54–73 Manchester Magic U14
Manchester Magic U14 advanced to the National Championship Final against London Elite on Sunday after a win against London Stars 1 in the Play-off Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon, find out how they got on in the final below.
Magic U14 were led by Camran Hanson 22 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block, David Akhidime 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals and Ege Cakmakkaya 12 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.
Manchester Mystics U14 89–64 Kingston Lions
Manchester Mystics U14 advanced to the National Championship Final against Milton Keynes Breakers on Sunday after a win against Kingston Lions in the Play-off Semi Finals on Saturday afternoon, find out how they got on in the final below.
Mystics U14 were led by Mojan Malak 31 points, 19 rebounds, 3 steals and a block, Anya Williams 16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal, Tiana Walker 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals and a block, Akeala Daniel 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
Sunday 5th May
Manchester Magic U18 44–69 Islington Panthers – 3rd/4th Place
Manchester Magic U18 finished in fourth place in the U18 Men’s National Play-offs after a loss against Islington Panthers in the third/fourth place game on Sunday afternoon.
Magic U18 were led by Osarumwense Iguma 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, Luca Lara-Sanchez 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals and Jake Smith 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.
Manchester Mystics U18 46–62 CoLA Southwark Pride – Play-off Final
Manchester Mystics U18 came up short at the final hurdle in the U18 Women’s National Play-off Final after a loss against CoLA Southwark Pride on Sunday afternoon.
Mystics U18 were led by Irene Oboavwoduo 15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, Isobel Robinson 9 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal and Success Odemwingie 8 points, 6 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals and a block.
Manchester Magic U16 90–73 Newham Youngbloods – Play-off Final
Manchester Magic U16 were crowned U16 Boys’ National Champions after a win against Newham Youngbloods in the Play-off Final on Sunday afternoon, to add to their National Cup win earlier in the season to make it the double.
Magic U16 were led by Oluwademilade Babalola 19 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 4 blocks and earning the MVP award, Jack Walton 17 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals, Rufus Everatt 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks and Tom Richardson 21 points, a rebound, an assist and 3 steals.
Manchester Mystics U16 59–30 CoLA Southwark Pride – 3rd/4th Place
Manchester Mystics U16 finished in third place in the U16 Girls’ National Play-offs after a win against CoLA Southwark Pride in the third/fourth place game on Sunday afternoon.
Mystics U16 were led by Maisie Keyes 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocks, Irene Oboavwoduo 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists and Anya Williams 12 points and an assist.
Manchester Magic U14 79–105 London Elite – Play-off Final
Manchester Magic U14 came up short at the final hurdle in the U14 Boys’ National Play-off Final after a loss against London Elite on Sunday afternoon.
Magic U14 were led by David Akhidime 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, Ege Cakmakkaya 14 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block and Camran Hanson 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal.
Manchester Mystics U14 78–69 Milton Keynes Breakers – Play-off Final
Manchester Mystics U14 were crowned U14 Girls’ National Champions after a win against Milton Keynes Breakers in the Play-off Final on Sunday afternoon.
Mystics U14 were led by Aleala Daniel 16 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and earning the MVP award, Mojan Malek 32 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks, Anya Williams 18 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, and nearly a triple-double from Tiana Walker 8 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 steals and 2 blocks.
That concludes the 2023-24 National Basketball League season, on top of the two National titles won this weekend, the two won last weekend in the North West Regional Finals and the Manchester Magic U16 won the National Cup in January, taking the season title total to five and the club’s historic total to 107 Titles since 2000.
We would like to take this moment to thank all the players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and parents for your dedication to our collective success this season, we hope to see you all again next season. And to those who are moving on to pastures new, we wish you all the best, stay in touch, once a Magic and Mystic, always a Magic and Mystic!
Image credits: Basketball England