LANCASHIRE Spinners could not secure a second trophy in 2015, falling 98-64 to league rivals London Lituanica in the Division Two finals at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, writes Allen Gunn.

The Bury-based basketball club were led by Mark Rangeley who came off the bench to score a team-high 25 points, including eight-straight points to begin the second half but a 10-point burst saw Lituanica’s lead grow from eight to 18 over a two-minute span.

Top-seed Lodnon were lights out from beyond the arc, shooting 46.9 per cent while making 15-of-32 attempts – nine of which came in the second period. They shot 46.9 per cent from the field.

Lancashire ended the season with an overall league record of 21-4, with three of their four loses coming against Lituanica who finished as Division Two regular season and playoff champions, suffering only one defeat in the process.

Steven Vaughan knocked down the first shot of the game as the two-seed held a slight point advantage over the opening five minutes.

Unfortunately, London found a rhythm and outscored their opponent 11-7 over the second five minutes to lead 25-17 after the opening quarter.

Spinners limited the one-seed to just nine points on the break, which had proved fatal in the season finale, but Lituanica’s pass and move offence adapted to the half-court defence recording 25 assists.

But a team who had been accustomed to having at least three of their starters finish in double-figures in scoring only had one in the loss as player-coach Steven Gayle scored 19 points.

They were also held below 20 points in three out of the four quarters, including a 10 point fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, London were led by a balanced scoring attack where six players scored in double-figures and all but one player recorded at least a point.

Julius Visockas was named Most Valuable Player of the finals, recording a double-double of a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds – 21 of his points came via three-point baskets.

Tomas Skardzius and Ausridas Petraitis also added double-doubles while Povilas Rasamavicius went four-for-four from three-point range.