Phoenix Complete Cup SF Line-up – BBL Week 9 Recap

CHESHIRE PHOENIX/ADAM DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

The latest BBL round-up sees the top two stay unbeaten in the league, while the final quarter-final in the BBL Cup took place.

Cheshire Phoenix completed the semi-final line-up in the BBL Cup after defeating Bristol Flyers 72-60 for their first home win of the season. John Lavery’s side advance to set up a clash with Newcastle Eagles in the last four. Kinu Rochford top scored with 16 points, while Akeem Ellis added a further 15 points.

Nix had also snapped a five-game losing run in the league on Friday night when they claimed an impressive 76-94 win on the road at Worcester Wolves. Ellis got hot from downtown after netting seven triples in a 36-point performance to lead the visitors. Jordan Williams added 21 points and nine rebounds in the win, while the Wolves were led by Jay Couisnard’s 25 points as he gave the home side hope in a strong third quarter having been 21 points down at half-time.

Newcastle improved to 10-0 in the BBL Championship over the weekend after beating Sheffield Sharks and Manchester Giants.

On Friday night, Fab Flournoy’s side claimed an 87-78 win over the Sharks – their second of the season – as Scott Martin and Rahmon Fletcher led the way with 21 and 20 points respectively. The visitors led at one stage in the third, but the Eagles responded with a 14-1 run to take control and secure the win. TJ Robinson had 21 points and 10 boards for the Sharks, while Jerrold Brooks dished out 10 assists to go with his 10 points.

Two days later, and the Eagles made it ten straight after easing their way to an 81-119 victory away at Manchester. Stuart Thomson top scored with 21 from the bench as seven players hit double figures with a total of 51 points coming from the bench as the Eagles powered their way to a 38-point win. The home side were led by Ingus Bankevics’ 21 points.

The Giants were unable to replicate their win in the capital of a few weeks back as they fell to an 85-60 defeat away at London Lions on Friday night. Nick Lewis had 20 points to lead the Lions to victory, before they suffered an suffered an 87-80 loss away at Glasgow Rocks on Sunday. Kieron Achara and Warren Gillis leading the way with 18 points apiece, while Riley Grabau netted five triples in his 15 points, and Will Hall had 13 points and 15 boards.

Leicester Riders managed to continue their unbeaten start as they recorded a 68-76 victory at the Emirates Arena on Friday night. TrayVonn Wright kept up his fine scoring form with a 21-point haul, whilst adding 11 rebounds with Neil Watson and Drew Sullivan each adding 16 points. Achara had 17 and 10 for the Rocks as they were beaten by the Riders for the second time this season as they were undone by a 17-30 final period.

Also on Friday, Leeds Force consolidated their position in the top-four with their fifth league win as they saw off Surrey Scorchers 73-63. Rob Marsden played a starring role with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Kwan Waller dished out seven assists to go with his 16 points and D’Andre Bullard had 15 points. For the Scorchers, they squandered a third quarter lead to drop to 3-4 with the loss.

Worcester bounced back from their loss at home to Cheshire on Friday with an 81-90 win on the road at Plymouth Raiders the following day. Perris Blackwell produced another double-double for the visitors with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Josh Cameron (16) and Pavol Losonsky (13) combined for 29 points off the bench. Wolves conceded 31 points in the opening period, but steadied the ship and gradually moved further clear of their opponents.

Daryl Corletto led his side with 24 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes as Adrien Sturt and New Zealand international Duane Bailey made their debuts for the Raiders – who suffered their seventh league defeat.

Results: Friday- Newcastle Eagles 87-78 Sheffield Sharks, Glasgow Rocks 68-76 Leicester Riders, Worcester Wolves 76-94 Cheshire Phoenix, Leeds Force 73-63 Surrey Scorchers, London Lions 85-60 Manchester Giants; Saturday- Plymouth Raiders 81-90 Worcester Wolves; Sunday- Glasgow Rocks 87-80 London Lions, Cheshire Phoenix 72-60 Bristol Flyers (CUP), Manchester Giants 81-119 Newcastle Eagles.

Standings: Eagles 10-0; Riders 7-0; Wolves 7-2; Force 5-6; Lions 4-4; Rocks/Phoenix 4-6; Scorchers 3-4; Sharks 3-5; Flyers 3-6; Giants 3-8; Raiders 1-7.

Hoopsfix Star 5: Riley Grabau, Akeem Ellis, TrayVonn Wright, Perris Blackwell, Rob Marsden

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