Centurions Clinch Thriller in London: Foster's Late Heroics Sink Lions 112-109
Foster and Stone Lead Rome's Comeback Charge in Nail-Biter
By Mark Jenkins
LONDON – The Rome Centurions snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the road, stunning the London Lions 112-109 in a Pro League barnburner at the Copper Box Arena. The game was a back-and-forth affair from the tip, but clutch scoring from Elian Foster and a relentless second-half surge from Rome ultimately proved too much for the Lions, who faltered in the final minutes.
The Lions came out firing, building an early lead thanks to sharp shooting from Astrid Novak and Freya Lund. Cassia Aoki was a force on the glass, dominating the paint and keeping possessions alive for London. However, Rome chipped away, with Willow Stone and Elian Foster orchestrating their offense with precision.
The momentum began to shift in the third quarter. Rome’s defense tightened, forcing several key turnovers that led to fast breaks. Elian Foster ignited the Centurions, hitting a crucial three-pointer that cut the deficit and visibly energized his squad. By the start of the fourth, the game was tied.
The final period was a seesaw battle. Leo O’Connell provided defensive sparks for London with timely steals, but Rome’s free-throw shooting was impeccable. In the dying seconds, with the score knotted, Elian Foster drove to the basket and converted a tough layup, drawing a foul and then sinking the subsequent free throw to seal the dramatic victory for the Centurions.
“We knew this was going to be a tough test, but we never stopped believing,” said Elian Foster, who finished with a game-high 24 points. “Our team fought hard, and we executed when it mattered most.”
London Lions head coach, Sarah Davies, expressed disappointment. “It’s a tough one to swallow. We had our chances, but we couldn’t close it out. Credit to Rome, they played a great game. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Key Notes:
- Rome Centurions shot 80.0% from the free-throw line.
- Cassia Aoki grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for the London Lions.
- Elian Foster scored 24 points and dished out 5 assists for the Centurions.
- London Lions struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 52.9% (9/17).