Ipswich Basketball eyeing 'miracle' cup final victory

The Ipswich side are looking to win the National Cup for the first since 2018.

A Suffolk basketball side are preparing for one of the biggest matches in their history.

Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Club's senior women face WNBL Division One rivals Thames Valley Cavaliers in the National Cup final on Sunday.

The Copleston-based team top the table, while their opponents sit in second.

Ipswich head coach Nick Drane, who enjoyed cup success with Ipswich in 2018 against higher level opposition, said he was hoping for a "miracle" win.

Head coach Nick Drane has brought through some big talents, including Esther Little, who has represented Great Britain at junior international

The Suffolk side have enjoyed a stellar season so far but Drane is playing down any "favourites" tag.

"If anyone is qualified to not underestimate an underdog, it is us. We were the greatest underdog story in history of the National Cup," he said.

"The win in 2018 really announced our arrival at senior level. We won that as huge underdogs against a very strong team from the league above. We've since won that league above twice, and are currently top of that league."

He added: "Its a cliche but there is an element of magic to the cup."

Christabel Osarobo is a guard, and was part of the Junior National cup-winning side from last year

Ipswich are known for bringing young talent through their ranks, two of whom are forward Louisa Gibbins and guard Christabel Osarobo.

Both have played a key role in the side this season.

Gibbins said: "Being top of the league at this point of the season, and being in a cup final, with a big chance to win too, is really good."

Eighteen-year-old Gibbins is part of a lethal attack, one of the highest scorers in the division

The side's cup run included wins over University of East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin, CoLA and Sheffield Hatters.

Drane described the semi-final bout with Sheffield "as impressive of a result since my time here".

Osarobo added: "They are an incredible team, have loads of experienced players. It was intense but we managed to win."

Ipswich's under-18s side won the junior final last year at the national basketball performance centre, which is the venue for Sunday's final

Osarobo and Gibbins, both 18, are regulars in the senior side, and won the under-18s cup final last year at the same venue.

Gibbins added: "It might help to settle some nerves, having played in front of that many people, on that court before."

Their opponents are currently National Cup holders, and have already lost to Drane's side once this season.

However, the Cavaliers beat Ipswich at Copleston only last week.

"They are perfectly capable of beating anyone in our league, including us," he said.

"We are not looking at ourselves as favourites and Thames Valley as underdogs.

"We are preparing as though we will be pulling off a miracle to win."

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