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10 March 2026  4 min read

Elite Academy Leagues preview - Final Fours (11/03/26)

Barking's EABL title defence was ended in the quarter-finals by last season's beaten finalists Myerscough, with 'Sco now being joined in the running for this year's title by Itchen, CoLA and Manchester.

Copleston's WEABL title defence is still alive though, with a trip to North Conference winners Nottingham up next, whilst CoLA entertain South rivals Barking.

The winners will progress to the Playoff Finals on Thursday 26 March, avoiding a clash with BUCS Big Wednesday on 25 March.

Classification games are also continuing this week, with the aim of providing a full 1-12 ranking across both Academy Leagues.

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Wednesday 11 March

EABL

• #1 Manchester Magic vs #2 Itchen College - LIVE STATS
• #1 City of London Academy - Southwark vs #2 Myerscough College - LIVE STATS

WEABL

• #1 Nottingham Academy Wildcats vs #2 Copleston High School - LIVE STATS
• #1 City of London Academy - Southwark vs #3 Barking Abbey - LIVE STATS

5th-8th classifications

EABL

• Charnwood College Riders vs Oaklands College - LIVE STATS
• Barking Abbey 0-20 Derby Trailblazers

WEABL

• The Sheffield College vs Oaklands College (to be played 12/03/2026) - LIVE STATS
• Manchester Mystics vs Milton Keynes 5 Dimensions - The Hazeley Academy - LIVE STATS

9th-12th classifications

EABL

9th/10th game

• HHS Reading Rockets vs SGS College - LIVE STATS

11th/12th game

• BMet City of Birmingham Rockets vs Copleston High School (to be played 18/03/26)

WEABL

9th/10th game

• Itchen College vs HHS Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS

11th/12th game

• Charnwood College Riders vs BMet City of Birmingham Rockets - LIVE STATS

 

 

 

 

 

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EABL

The EABL serves up a pair of cross-Conference semi-finals, providing a new opponent and plenty of intrigue for all four programmes involves.

North winner and #1 seeds Manchester Magic face a visit from Itchen College, who knocked off Charnwood last weekend to reach this stage.

The Final Fours is further than either side progressed last season, with the duo being ousted in the Elite Eights, and now the pair are just one game away from the Championship game.

For Manchester, it would be a first Finals appearance since 2011/12, with Itchen potentially making their maiden trip to the big dance.

The other half of the draw contains South champs City of London Academy - Southwark as they aim to make a return to the Final for the first time since 2023/24.

Riding a 10-0 regular season plus last week's 82-41 win over Derby, CoLA will hope to carry their unbeaten streak all the way to what would be their first-ever EABL title, but 'Sco will be doing all they can to ensure that isn't the case.

Two-time winners themselves, Myerscough have momentum on their side after ending Barking's title defence last Wednesday, though a road trip to the Capital is a tough assignment for any programme.

WEABL

WEABL fans are treated to a rematch of the Sure Shot U18 Women's National Cup Final this week as Ipswich, now as Copleston High School, head to North Conference winners Nottingham Wildcats.

With similar, though not identical, rosters, a second meeting between these two sides should provide plenty of excitement after the Suffolk side were triumphant 75-56 back in January.

Winning would keep Copleston's title defence alive for another week, with Nottingham instead aiming for a return to the WEABL Final for the first time since 2021/22.

The second semi-final contains the WEABL's most successful programme, with CoLA now just two wins away from extending their dominance in this competition with a sixth title.

South rivals Barking stand in CoLA's way of booking a spot in this year's showpiece, a team that Coach Gibbons' side have dispatched twice already during the regular season, making BA's task that much harder on Wednesday afternoon.

Still, Barking have some momentum on their side after becoming the only lower seed side to spring an upset in the playoff's opening round, winning 50-43 in Manchester, to survive and advance.

Get your free finals tickets now

Visit the EABL Hub

Visit the WEABL Hub

Main image credit - Luke Simcock