Academy Leagues: Penultimate Wednesday of regular season - Week 17

Wednesday afternoon features the penultimate dose of EABL and WEABL action for the 2024/25 regular season.

Both leagues reach a conclusion on 26 February, with the 19th earmarked for half term. There's seven more games on tap for week 17 though, with the EABL North title set to be decided if things go Manchester's way.

We take a look at all the action below. 

EABL 

It's a big week for Manchester Magic (8-1) in the EABL North. Their away game against Charnwood College Riders (6-2) is undoubtedly a tough one, but the prize is significant if they can get themselves a win.

Victory would see the North West programme crowned as Conference champs, with a loss likely resulting in a still to be decided three-way tiebreaker between the two sides plus Myerscough, who are already done at 8-2.

That's assuming Charnwood win their final game of the season against Derby. If they don't, a straight tiebreaker between 'Sco and Magic goes the way of Myerscough.

SGS College (1-8) still have an outside shot of securing playoff basketball, but it's a slim one. They'll need to beat Derby Trailblazers (2-6) by 26 points or more, and then hope the Trailblazers don't win their last game of the season against Charnwood.

Fourth is still the best that either team can hope for though, with the North's top three now fighting their own battles higher up.

Barking and CoLA are locked in as the top two in the South Conference, but the scrap for third and fourth is still ongoing.

Itchen College (4-4) remain in the box seats for the #3 spot, and they take on Oaklands Wolves (1-7) tomorrow before Copleston on the final day of the regular season.

That means JMA Reading Rockets (3-4) will need some upsets to occur if they're to find a way out of their #4 slot, and that includes springing a surprise of their own on second place City of London Academy - Southwark (7-2) on Wednesday afternoon.

Live stats 

JMA Reading Rockets vs City of London Academy - Southwark

Oaklands Wolves vs Itchen College

Charnwood College Riders vs Manchester Magic

Derby Trailblazers vs SGS College

WEABL 

City of London Academy - Southwark (8-1) can close their regular-season schedule with a victory and force leaders Copleston to win their last game if they can overcome JMA Reading Rockets (0-8).

Regardless of what happens with top spot, the Londoners will no doubt want to maintain maximum momentum heading into the post season at JMA's expense.

The other clash in the South is part of an intriguing situation for the third and fourth seeds.

Oaklands Wolves (2-5) take on Itchen College (4-4) knowing a win by six points or more would boost their post season hopes dramatically. Given the South Coast programme end their season with a date against potential champs Copleston, and Oaklands do the same against winless JMA, tomorrow's clash could have huge post-season ramifications should both teams close with 4-6 records.

Add in that three win Barking have one game remaining against JMA as well, and it's possible there could the three 4-6 teams looking for the #3 and #4 spots, and three into two doesn't go.

The day's only other WEABL tie is in the North as Milton Keynes 5 Dimensions Breakers Academy (0-5) will try to get double success against The Sheffield College (1-5).

A victory would be hugely significant for MK5D as their first at this level, and should they be able to pull it off by 11 points or more, they'd also put themselves in a great spot for the #4 seed by claiming the head-to-head tiebreaker between the sides.

Sheffield would lock up a playoff spot of their own with a win however, providing plenty of motivation for the South Yorkshire programme.

Live stats 

JMA Reading Rockets vs City of London Academy - Southwark

Oaklands Wolves vs Itchen College

Milton Keynes 5 Dimensions Breakers Academy vs The Sheffield College

.

.

Main image credit - Kareem Lee