Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks went top of the BBL Championship on Sunday whilst B. Braun Sheffield Sharks and Cheshire Phoenix both picked up home victories.
Following London Lions’ surprising loss to Surrey Scorchers on Saturday, the Rocks were able to capitalise on their opportunity to go top of the league, but it wasn’t an easy task as they were taken into overtime by Cup champions Worcester Wolves, eventually managing to defeat the Wolfpack, 91-86.
It was an evenly matched game as both teams kept the score level throughout the game. The Glaswegian side led by as many as nine points at one point but the visiting Wolfpack were quick to close the gap and bring the score level. With 30 seconds remaining, the Rocks were up by three but a three pointer from Cortez Edwards saw them into the extra period.
Double overtime looked inevitable as the two teams were once again tied, but Dante Thorpe managed to throw up a two pointer and draw the foul, to then convert the free throw to give Rocks a three point lead before Gareth Murray managed to sink two further free-throws to seal off the game with 16 seconds remaining.
Ali Fraser managed up double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, whilst Terrel Vinson came close to a double-double also with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, in another close game, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks managed to just edge Newcastle Eagles to pick up a home win by one point, 67-66.
Backed by a double-double from Bennett Koch, 10 points and 14 rebounds, as well as a combined 24-points from Nick Lewis and game MVP Mackey McKnight, and an additional 11-points from team captain Mike Tuck, Sheffield managed to just hold onto their lead, despite a last minute comeback attempt from Newcastle.
And it was Cheshire Phoenix who emerged victorious in the North-West derby with Manchester Giants, 99-88.
Player of the Month winner Parker Jackson-Cartwright continued to showcase his skills, picking up a double-double of 20 points and 13 assists, whilst his teammate Jalen Hayes also picked up a double-double for himself of 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Surrey Scorchers ended their recent slump of losses in the most emphatic way possible; toppling league leaders London Lions in a Saturday night thriller.
Things looked promising for the Lions at the beginning, as they exploded on a 20-4 run during the opening five minutes of the first quarter, and even lead by as many as 17-points at one point.
However the Scorchers began to slowly but surely commence a comeback and by the time the two teams headed into the locker room at half-time, the home side had just managed to edge the Lions, 52-49.
The two sides would continue to exchange leads throughout the third and fourth periods, and it wasn’t until the last minute of the final period when things really began to heat up.
With the Lions in front by three, Lovell Cook, a former Lions player, suddenly leaped to Surrey’s aid, knocking down a game tying three-pointer from the corner, and then doing it again from inside the arch after Ovie Soko put Lions back ahead.
Having tied the game for a second time, Cook them managed to knock down a free-throw and a two point jump shot to put Scorchers ahead by three and forcing the Lions into a timeout with 20 seconds left on the clock.
The rabid home fans clenched their teeth as Brandon Peel threw up a long three point shot but breathed a sigh of relief when it failed to drop, and the Scorchers countered with team captain Tayo Ogedengbe throwing down a two point dunk before Skyler White finished things off with a free throw to give Scorchers their biggest win of the season.
Friday Night saw B. Braun Sheffield Sharks and Bristol Flyers pick up home court wins whilst Worcester Wolves picked up a big away win up North.
Manchester Giants had come with hopes to pick up their first BBL Championship win this season when they arrived in Sheffield but sadly it wasn’t to be as it was the Sharks that triumphed, 92-80.
Having dominated throughout the Sharks were up by 14 points by half-time, then extending that lead to 18 by the end of the third quarter. They were lead by Nick lewis, Rob Marsden and Bennett Koch who combined for a whopping 64 points.
It was another close battle down in Bristol but the Flyers stuck with it and took a nail biting victory over the Leicester Riders, 73-69.
Leicester came out strong in the first half jumping out to a nine point lead at the half but Bristol weren’t shying away from the contest as they kept chipping away at the score led by Levi Bradley (19 points) and new signing Eric Lockett (16 points).
In the end, it was some key defensive possessions for the Flyers which saw took them to victory.
And Worcester Wolves took a dominant victory up North over Newcastle Eagles to bring their season record to 3-0 against the Eagles, 79-95.
Worcester distributed the scoring with six players all scoring in double figures with Jordan Williams leading the way with 19 points. It was a different story for the Eagles as they struggled to control the paint without their key big man CJ Gettys as they combined for a team total of 28 rebounds to Worcester’s 45.
Mike Morsell looked to be carrying the Eagles with 27 points, eight rebounds and a handful of assists but it wasn’t enough for the Eagles to take a Friday home win.
