Dave Ryan reports…

Levett Essex Leopards’ captain Dougie Bennett became the first player in club history to win a second Leopards Most Valuable Player award.

The trophy has been presented every season during the club’s 14 year history but Scottish international Bennett became the first player to lift the trophy for a second time as he retained the title.

The award is voted for by Leopards’ season ticket holders, and it was a third straight award for the Scottish international having won the club’s Most Improved Player trophy in 2016.

Having stepped up to become captain this season following the enforced departure of AJ Roberts, Bennett has regularly led the scoring and provided much needed on-court leadership. Shaq Lewis finished second in the voting while 2015 winner Will Ashby finished third having returned after a season away.

Lewis didn’t have to wait too long to collect a trophy, though, as he won the Most Improved Player trophy which is chosen by the club’s coaching team. In his second season with the Big Cats, the Luton based forward has had some high-scoring games as well as pulling down plenty of rebounds.

The third award was the Dicker’s Choice trophy which goes to one of the Leopards’ off-court team who ensure that the club runs smoothly, as this year saw Kev Cook rewarded for his work with setting up the court at Brentwood as well as helping with the kit washing and other non-glamorous roles.