Essex Rebels: Underdogs ready to 'enjoy the moment' in first major final

Australian Darcy Rees joined the Rebels after four years with Washington Huskies in the USA

Essex Rebels hope it will be "history in the making" when they take on London Lions in their first major final.

They will meet in the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Sunday with the Women's Basketball League Trophy at stake.

The Rebels will be underdogs against opponents who have won the competition for the last three seasons.

"No one is unbeatable, we're all human, so you never know what can happen on the day," forward and captain Claire Paxton told BBC Look East.

"It's massive. We've been working all season towards reaching a final. It's really a big achievement for us. This is my third season and every year I feel like we've been progressing more and more.

"The growth the organisation has made in such a short time is really impressive and it's a testament to all the support we get from the university and all the people around the Rebels franchise.

"Obviously it's going to be a tough match, we're up against London who have huge funding and everything like that. We're just going to prepare our game as best we can and go out and enjoy the moment."

A crowd of 10,000 plus is expected to attend the final.

"It's a great advert for women's basketball - the quality of the players and the competition that there is. The stage that's been set for women's sport is really impressive," Paxton added.

The Rebels, who are based at the University of Essex, were only formed in 2018 but reached the final with an 80-70 victory over Manchester Giants.

Kat Tudor and Tyra Whitehead scored 21 and 19 points respectively.

"We were well prepared, we know what we need to do to win and hopefully we can continue that on Sunday and win the whole thing," guard Megan Haines told BBC Essex.

"Here at Essex we have never made it this far. If we come out the way we have been playing recently, prepare the way we know how to, I don't see why it couldn't go our way."

Essex Rebels were formed in 2014 and joined the WBBL in 2018-19

The Rebels have reached the final just eight months after Ashley Cookson was appointed as head coach, succeeding Tom Sadler, who left a year ago to work overseas.

"We knew from day one we have the talent in the building to make it to every game available to play in, so now we need to bring our A game on a national stage," said Cookson, who spent three years coaching and scouting with GB Basketball before a spell in Canada.

"London are the obvious favourite with investment made in their team and winning at the Eurocup level, but I'm a sucker for an underdog story and we will embrace the challenge on Sunday."

Several members of the team combine playing with studying at the university, but despite losing 101-73 to the Lions in their opening Championship game back in October, they are in positive mood after victories in their last four matches.

"It's just history in the making I think," 6ft 4ins centre Darcy Rees told BBC Look East.

"It's what everyone strives to do, to make a final, and to get there so young in the history of the club, and with this group, is so exciting."