Showstoppers Win BNBL Girls 18-and-Under Title on Buzzer Three in Overtime

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — The Boston Showstoppers won the girls 18-and-under BNBL Championship on a buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime, defeating the Bulldogs 40-37 at Moakley Park in South Boston. Jayla Barrows, named the Terrence Clark MVP, caught a pass from Hesia Allen-Paisley with four seconds remaining in the three-minute overtime period and knocked down the winner to extend the Showstoppers' championship streak to three titles dating to 2018. The Bulldogs, in their first-ever championship appearance under head coach Gene Lambert, led by as many as 10 points in the second half behind 25 points and 10 rebounds from Amelia Ogilvie before the Showstoppers rallied. Five consecutive points from Allen-Paisley, including a wing three and a basket-plus-foul, brought the Showstoppers to within two in the final 90 seconds, and back-to-back Bulldogs turnovers allowed Labunga to tie the game at 36 in the final seconds of regulation. Filling-in Showstoppers head coach Clinton Lassiter credited improved defense and self-belief: "They started getting a little bit more active — they started believing in themselves, believing one another."