2025/2026 Sussex Finals Recap

Success for Worthing D&D Basketball Club Juniors over the Sussex Basketball Association’s Finals Weekend for the 2025 / 2026 season with 6 teams appearing in 5 final games and claiming 3 county titles!

D&D teams made up 6 out of 12 teams in the county finals. The largest proportion of any club. The club made appearances in the under 11s, under 13s, under 14s, under 16s and under 18s Sussex county Basketball finals.

The club won 3/5 finals games, winning the U13s, U16s and U18s titles.

D&D entered 11 junior teams into competitions this season, split across every age group possible. Achieving such a high level of success in so many age groups, backs Worthing D&Ds unique community Basketball approach of “Basketball for All”.

Under 11s

Our U11s worked very hard this year in a competitive league, coached by Coach Cathal Malone. Finishing 2nd in the league. They entered the playoffs competitions against Brighton Phoenix U11s, winning 58 - 50 at home.

They then entered the finals against Brighton Cougars, after a tough fight they lost 73 - 59 to Brighton, coming runners up.

Under 13s

D&D had 3 U13 teams this season, the blacks coached by Ian Marshall and whites coached by Brendan Free who were equally split on ability and the u13 hustlers coached by Cathal Malone made up of strong u12s looking for a challenge.

All 3 teams performed well in the season with the blacks and whites team making the playoffs! The teams faced each-other in the playoffs with the Black team taking the win 81 - 64, advancing to the finals.

The U13 Black team faced Horsham Hawks in the finals for a tough and tight game that was tense all the way to the final buzzer where the D&D Black team won 60 - 58!

Under 14s

D&D had 2 U14 teams this season, the Blacks team coached by Coach Oli Wheatley and the Whites team coached by Coach Sean Wheatley. Both teams made the playoffs after an incredible effort in a very competitive league with the Blacks team finishing 2nd and the Whites team finishing 6th. The both teams won their first round playoff games with the whites beating Mid Sussex Chargers 67 - 60 and the Blacks beating Brighton 111 - 25.

The whites were knocked out in the 2nd round playoffs playing against Eastbourne but the Blacks won their 2nd round game against Eastbourne Neptunes 99 - 71, advancing to the finals.

In the finals, the D&D Blacks fought hard against their rivals Haywards Heath Eagles for the 2nd season in a row. The game was tight and tense throughout with Eagles taking the win 78 - 73.

MVP of the finals game was awarded to D&D #4 Max Williams-Walsh.

Under 16s

One of the club’s greatest achievements of the season was having a D&D vs D&D finals in the under 16s age group. The D&D White team made up of older U16 players in school year 11, coached by coach Tim Cutting and the D&D Black team made from younger year 10 players, Coached by coaches Josh & Roger Clarke, both made it into the playoffs in the 2nd and 4th positions respectively. The whites team comfortably beat Lancing Bears 90 - 82 at home to secure their spot in the finals while the Black team beat Horsham Hawks comfortably away 83 - 55.

The finals game was a riveting event with many players across the D&D age groups coming to watch the game. D&D enters 2-3 teams in the u16 age group every year however this is the first time in club history we have achieved an all-club final.

A minute of applause was held before the game in honour of late D&D Coach Sean Wheatley who had coached players across the 2 teams and had been involved in the club for over 15 years. Coach Sean Wheatley sadly passed away earlier in the year.

The teams battled it out with the D&D whites team taking the win 92 - 78.

Under 18s

The D&D U18s season was very successful, finishing 1st in their league, undefeated for the entire season. This was the team’s 2nd final in a row after reaching playoffs and finals in the 24/25 season. Led by coach Gary Nicholson and assisted by Coach Danny Williamson, the team showed a strong performance throughout their playoff and finals run. They entered playoffs in 1st place, winning their league and met Eastbourne Neptunes in the finals, winning 69 - 65.