Thunder make Capitals lower case

Thunder won 108-84 having lost 84-75 away. Capitals could reproduce their stinging first-leg defensive performance in the third quarter after Thunder had wiped out their nine-point deficit before the end of the first.

Ex-Thunder forward Damian Harris helped Capitals take a brief one-point lead overal in the tie during the second quarter but they spikily levelled the tie at various stages in the third quarter. Then they took a three-point overall lead several times in moving from the third into the fourth, with Harris striking his high-arching outside shots and centre Chi Lewis Parry adding significant rebound-scoring presence under the boards.

Ibrahim Gariba was back for Capitals after missing the first leg with a knee injury but his fire and athleticism led to his eventual fouling out with just over five minutes left of the match.

But by then, though, Thunder had shifted into a new gear and were producing some stunning moves to the basket, initiated at the start of the final period by Marcus Avant, and continued by almost every player. Capitals' grip over them in the first leg had been exorcised and a new confidence, even slight arrogance, pervaded Thunder's play.

It was a fitting end to the season at the Leisure Centre and the fans rejoiced as their team crackled with electricity. From 78-68 and a point ahead in the tie with eight minutes left, they stretched away and could even afford for Ryan Marrast, then Janis Ivanovskis, to go to the free throw line and collectively make none of four.

Zorba's Dance, the season's theme tune, began on the PA, Capitals coach Peter Deppisch looked resigned in the time out with 1min 11sec to go, and from 97-79 up, Thunder's free throw shooting glazed the juicy fruit pie, helped by an unsportsmanlike foul and a subsequent technical by Capitals' Polish guard, Jacek Jagodka. Alfredo Ott netted all four resultant free shots and eventually Avant hurled the ball ceilingwards in triumph with 0:03 on the clock.

After 14-14, Capitals never led on the night and after 76-68 no more in the tie.

A key to Thunder's success was the remarkable stifling of leading scorer Marlo Saunders by Thunder captain and guard, James Brame. Marlo had to make do with 12 points as well as six turnovers. His twin, Marcus top-scored with 15 after having to concentrate this time much more on containing the Thunder attack. Santa Ataha and Lewis Parry scored 12 apiece and Harris 11. Lewis Parry and Marcus Saunders had eight rebounds and six repectively while Ataha led their assists with five.

For Thunder, Ott's match-leading 31 points contained only one three-pointer, likewise Marcus Avant's 28 but his included nine of 11 free throws. Power forward Janis Ivanovskis freed himself from the Capitals home-court shackles and reached 27 points with 12 rebounds.

Centre Pat Bates, who did not start this time, had eight points and eight rebounds with a team-leading four assists and two blocks. Brame and Avant had six rebounds apiece as Thunder won the boards battle 43-36.

Guard Daniel Hildreth came off the bench with seven important points and Daniel Midgley beefed up Worthing's defending, although he fouled out on a futile unsportsmanlike foul on a Whalid Mumuni fast break in the last minute of the third quarter.

Thunder have now reachd four successive finals, including all three available to them this season. However, they will not be travelling north for their anticipated showdown with English League runners-up Reading Rockets.

The shock of the Play-offs Championship was Rockets' defeat in their second leg at home to Manchester which takes the Magic through for a repeat of the National Cup Final match-up they won over Thunder in January. Reading, who had concinvingly won the first leg at Manchester, defeated Worthing in the National Trophy Final in March.

Get the Herald for post-match quotes and Ian Muir's pictures. Stats later this week on this website.