BUCS Final 8s - Day 2 Recap - Hoopsfix.com

BUCS Final 8s – Day 2 Recap

BUCS Basketball

It will be defending champions Worcester against Loughborough in the BUCS Championship Final on Wednesday 26th March at Surrey Sports Park after both teams won their respective finals on Sunday at UEL Sports Dock, in East London.

Game 1 (semi-final)
Worcester beat Durham 92-72
Worcester’s hopes for a four-peat remain on track as they defeated Durham, 92-72, in the first semi-final of the day.

Both teams were neck and neck going into the halftime break, but a dominant third period led by Daniel Belgrave who scored 14 of his 28 points in the quarter, saw Worcester run out to a 15 point lead heading into the final quarter.

An 8-0 run to open the fourth by Durham was their last signs of life, as Worcester put the nail in the coffin.

Will Creekmore added 25 points for the defending champs, whilst Durham were led by Devin Ginty’s 22 and Mike Allison’s 20.

Game 2 (semi-final)
Loughborough beat Leeds 66-53

Loughborough avenged last year’s semi-final loss at the hands of Leeds Met with a 66-53 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Carnegie looked done in the first half after Loughborough had jumped out to a 32-14 halftime lead, but a furious fourth quarter rally led by Rowell Graham and Jack Stannard reduced the deficit to single digits. It was too little, too late however, as Loughborough were able to hold on.

“I gotta give the guys credit because we struggled yesterday we gave ourselves the luxury to forget about it. we moved on right away,” said Loughborough Head Coach Mark Jarram.

“We had a tremendous chat late last night, we got after it this morning, rested really well, took care of business in the pre-game scout and guys did their job. They executed really well and I’m really proud.”

Stannard was hampered by foul trouble, being forced to sit the majority of the game, but his return in the final period, along with Rowell who opened up the period on an 8-2 run by himself, gave Carnegie a shot.

Conner Washington and Barry Lamble had 14 points a piece to lead Loughborough, and Jamell Anderson added 12.

Rowell Graham had ten of his 18 points in the final period to lead Carnegie, whilst Jack Stannard had 12 (8 in the fourth).

Notes

  • Regular season reversed: During the regular season Leeds Met had beaten Loughborough in both their match ups, whilst Durham had defeated Worcester in both of theirs.
  • Overall standard of the Final 8 definitely seemed to be down this year in comparison to previous years.
  • In the ‘points playoff’ games, Northumbria beat UCL and LSBU defeated Sheffield Hallam.
  • To be updated.

Thoughts?

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