Lions Claim Cup, Phoenix Continue Streak – BBL Round Up, Week 17

Image Credit: Mansoor Ahmed/ahmedphotos

It was a quieter week in the BBL with the first major piece of silverware up for grabs, as London Lions ended their drought to defeat Glasgow for the title at the Arena Birmingham.

Here’s a round up of all the other action:

Wednesday 23rd January

Manchester Giants 102-113 Cheshire Phoenix
BBL Championship
Cheshire Phoenix climbed the table after overcoming Manchester Giants 102-113 away from home, ending the Giants four game win streak.

Manchester battled back from an early 15-26, but having lost James Jones to injury early on, Willie Clayton and Danny Byrne both exited the game after picking up successive technicals. It wasn’t until the fourth where the visitors restored their double-digit advantage and closed out an important win.

The visitors had six players in double figures, led by Mocilo Latinovic’s 26 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, while CJ Gettys starred with an all-round display with 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting along with 10 rebounds and 6 assists in the win, and Louis Sayers added 17.

Callum Jones let Manchester with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, whilst Vlatko Granic and Mike McCall had 16 apiece, respectively, but the Giants dropped to 8-8.

Box score.

Friday 25th January

Radisson RED Glasgow Rocks 101-81 Leicester Riders
BBL Championship
Radisson RED Glasgow Rocks got a confidence-boosting 101-81 surprise win over Leicester Riders at the Emirates Arena, ahead of their Sunday Cup final.

The Rocks started with a 10-0 run and never trailed in the contest as they gradually strengthened their lead to overcome the Riders. The hosts repeated their 28-point opening quarter in the third to take their advantage past 21 and there was no way back for Leicester.

Ali Fraser top scored with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists with five players in total hitting double figures for the Rocks. Greg Pryor had 19 and Kieron Achara added 17.

DeAndre Burnett led Leicester with 23, whilst Pierre Hampton had 14 and Wayne Martin 12.

The Rocks move to 6-9 as they continue their push to challenge the top eight with Leicester missing the chance to climb into second spot as they drop to 10-4.

Box score.

DBL Sharks Sheffield 66-83 Plymouth Raiders
BBL Championship
Plymouth Raiders moved back into the top eight with an emphatic 66-83 win on the road against DBL Sharks Sheffield.

Sheffield made a solid start behind the hot hand of Dirk Williams, but the visitors finished the first quarter stronger to move ahead and went from strength to strength. Plymouth established a double-digit lead by half-time before putting up 30 points in a dominant third to all but seal the win.

Rashad Hassan top scored with 18 points and 11 rebounds with Donte Nicholas also adding a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards as well as 5 assists and 4 steals, and Josh Wilcher handing out 9 assists to go with 16 points.

Sharks were led by 22 from Dirk Williams and 10 apiece from Rob Marsden and Chris Alexander, the former adding 11 rebounds.

It is just a third win on the road for Paul James’ side as they move to 9-9, while the Sharks’ slump continues at 11-9, though they remain second.

Box score.

Saturday 26th January

Bristol Flyers 63-68 Cheshire Phoenix
BBL Championship
Cheshire Phoenix have made it four BBL Championship wins in a row, including the last three on the road, as they beat Bristol Flyers 68-63 to level the head-to-head.

It was a first league win in Bristol in five attempts, dating back to September 2015, and sees Phoenix move up to fifth in the table with a tenth win of the campaign.

Phoenix had led by as many as 12 after Jalen Hayes scored five points in an 8-2 burst to open the third quarter, and when Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan hit a triple on the buzzer to end the period. But they had to see off a late fightback as it was a one-possession game inside the final thirty seconds, before Daniel Norl and Allen-Jordan saw it out from the free-throw line.

Jalen Hayes led the scoring with 17 points, while Dii’Jon Allen-Jordan posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, to go with 2 assists and 3 steals.

Lewis Champion and Tevin Falzon led Briston with 13 apiece, and Jalan McCloud had 12.

Box score.

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