Lions clinch Championship title, Leicester fall short and others fight for playoff position in pivotal game week

Leicester tasted title-deciding defeat to London, putting their hopes to bed before attention turned to the postseason.

Newcastle Eagles  84 – 55 Bristol Flyers (21/04/2025)

Mid-table Newcastle welcomed Bristol to the Vertu Motors Arena on Monday, with both teams fighting to reach the top half of the table. 

The Eagles soared to an early advantage, after Cole Long opened scoring. Mike Okauru and Josh Ward-Hibbert then combined to build on the advantage throughout the opening quarter, before Christian James entered from the bench to add a scoring punch that put the hosts up by double-digits. At the end of the first period, Newcastle led by 13. 

Bristol found some pushback from their second unit, when Ebuka Ekwegh stepped up to bring the visitors closer. However, Newcastle couldn’t be stopped on the other end; Trey Pulliam, James and Okauru let it fly from downtown, widening the gap to 22. Despite some slight Bristol resistance, they went into half-time behind by 20. 

The Eagles came out flying, as the second half commenced. Okauru and Pulliam couldn’t be stopped, then Ward-Hibbert earned the home team an enormous 29-point lead. With the chasm widening, Andreas Kapoulas looked for answers but couldn’t find any, at the close of the third, they trailed by 28. 

 Ekwegh and Kendall Lewis plugged away, but even the Flyers’ best quarter of the game couldn’t chip away at the deficit significantly. Okauru and James dominated on offence, scoring at will down the stretch. Pulliam and Long added insult to injury, then when the buzzer sounded, the hosts had secured the 29-point W. 

 Bristol committed 12 more turnovers than their opponents, who capitalised and created a four-point gap between the teams in the table.

Most Valuable Player: Headlining an excellent team performance, Mike Okauru recorded 19 points, four boards and six assists.

London Lions 97 – 80 Leicester Riders (23/04/2025)

Leicester arrived at the Copper Box on Wednesday with one objective – win to keep the title race alive. London knew that overcoming the Riders would secure Championship gold and position them perfectly for the playoffs. 

Rob Paternostro will have hoped for a strong start from the visitors and he would have been disappointed. The Riders found themselves down by double-digits in just three minutes. Aaryn Rai and Alen Hadzibegovic led the charge, as London dominated on both ends and scoring in a multitude of ways.

Leicester struggled mightily on offence throughout the opening quarter and when the period ended, they were down by 14, having scored just 11. 

With their title hopes on the line, Riders continued to waste chances in the second. London punished them significantly, with Terrell Holloway stepping up from the bench to score three consecutive triples and widen the gap. A few minutes later, Delaire made a difficult lay-up and earned the hosts a 30-point lead, their largest of the contest.

Zach Jackson and Charles Thompson plugged away for Leicester, but London had full control of the game. When the teams left for the locker rooms, the Lions led by 23. 

The Riders ramped up the effort in the third, with Duke Shelton making an impact from the bench and Riley Abercrombie heating up from downtown. However, Petar Bozic’s team wouldn’t relent. Delaire scored steadily, then Tanner Stuckman combined with Holloway to offer more bench scoring. It was a 20-point game heading into the final instalment. 

The Riders put in a valiant effort in the fourth, as they attempted to claw back into the contest. However, with Tyler Peterson stepping up alongside Delaire and Rai, London put on a highly professional display down the stretch, eventually resulting in a 17-point victory. 

Three-point shooting was a difference maker in this one, with London shooting 40% to Leicester’s paltry 5% from beyond the arc. London – who also dominated the glass – clinched a well-deserved win that allowed them to lift the first Championship trophy and primed them for playoff contention.

Most Valuable Player: In a dominant display, Jaiden Delaire stood out with 23 points, eight rebounds and a dish. 

Manchester Basketball 104 – 88 Surrey 89ers (23/04/2025)

Elsewhere at the National Basketball Performance Centre, Surrey and Manchester aimed to improve their seeding on Wednesday night. 

The game got off to a competitive start, with the teams trading leads five times in the opening five minutes. Zak Irvin and Donovan Mitchell led the way for Manchester, while Surrey it back largely through Cameron Gooden. Midway through the first quarter, the hosts scored by committee to build up a notable lead, holding onto it until the first break. 

It didn’t take long into the second for Surrey to push back though. Gooden and Mervin James to chip away at the deficit, before Jalen Ray scored twice to snatch the lead for the visitors. The ‘niners then built on their advantage and a minute later, led by seven. However, that would be as good as it got.

Marcus Delpeche made a difference, as Manchester attacked the rim to come back into the contest and when the teams split for half-time, they trailed by just three half way through the quarter. 

Manchester’s resistance continued to start the third, with Surrey holding on to the lead as tightly as they could. However, Ian Dubose eventually won Manchester the lead with a contested three and Mitchell extended the differential with multiple drives to the cup. 

Despite the efforts of Dame Adelekun, Surrey struggled to contain the home team but heading into the final quarter, it was still a three-point contest.

Irvin took the reins to start the fourth, keeping Manchester ahead. Cody John then added an extra punch off the bench, scoring a string of buckets to create a double-figure lead. A tiring Surrey side saw the contest slip out of reach over the next few minute, while Irvin and Mitchell put the contest beyond doubt. 

Despite a late Surrey surge, the buzzer sounded and Manchester completed an impressive 16-point victory, sparked by their dynamic display on the boards.

Most Valuable Player: Zak Irvin played a crucial role in Manchester’s W, adding six rebounds to a 24-point scoring display. 

Bristol Flyers 81 – 93 Cheshire Phoenix (25/04/2025)

In Bristol, Cheshire arrived at the SGS College Arena looking to move ahead of their hosts in the table. 

The Flyers raced out to the brighter start, creating a 7-0 lead to begin the game. Demond Robinson, Raphell Thomas-Edwards, and Alain Louis combined sharpshooting with vicious drives to the hole, putting their team firmly on the front foot. However, the seven-point lead was as good as it would get for Bristol. Nick Timberlake and Cameron Holden combined for a series of jumpers to tie the game in just a couple of minutes, before three consecutive buckets from Larry Austin JR propelled the Phoenix ahead.

A strong offensive run from Bristol tied the game yet again, but Bobby Planutis came off the bench to bolster the Cheshire offence, edging his team ahead by a point at the end of the first. 

Cheshire continued to lean on their bench as the second period began, as Tyreek Scott-Grayson added to the visitors’ lead by scoring inside and out. Evan Walshe provided Bristol with their own offensive punch however, coming from the second unit to tie the game with consecutive makes. 

Timberlake made a steady diet of shots throughout most of the second, while T] Atwood added a pair of lay-ups to keep Cheshire in front. Scott-Grayson earned multiple trips to the line and Planuts drained a three just before half-time, which saw Cheshire head to the locker rooms with a three-point lead. 

The away team took full control when the teams returned from the break, after Timberlake set the tone with a difficult three. He and Holden piled in the points to create a double-figure advantage, as the Phoenix put together a 9-0 run. Keddy Johnson and Kendall Lewis offered temporary resistance for the home side, but Cheshire couldn’t be stopped on the other side of the floor. Holden and Austin Jr drained shots and when the third quarter ended, they led by 15.

Lewis and Johnson came out swinging in the fourth, scoring multiple buckets to chip away and slim the margin to 12. It couldn’t last however, as Cheshire caught fire again. Scott-Grayson and Timberlake finished consistently down the stretch and when the buzzer sounded, the Phoenix has earned a 12-point win and strengthened their position above their opponents.

Most Valuable Player: Nick Timberlake led Cheshire in scoring, also adding three boards and an assist.

Caledonia Gladiators 83 – 87 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (25/04/2025)

At the Playsport Arena, lowly Caledonia welcomed Sheffield, fresh from their title hopes dissolving and preparing for the postseason.

The Sharks came out flying from tip, starting the game with an 8-0 run, led by Rodney Glasgow Jr’s consecutive triples. Devearl Ramsey hit back for the Gladiators, pulling closer with a pair of buckets to insert his team into the contest. Jeff Speelman and Fraser Malcolm then put together an offensive sequence, tying the game midway through the opening quarter.

Trevond Barnes then stepped up for the Glad’s, snatching the lead and growing the advantage. Fahro Alihodzic then entered from the bench, going on an interior scoring run to open the lead to double-digits. At the end of the first period, the Scottish outfit were 10 points ahead.

Sheffield hit back swiftly, with Jamell Anderson and Prentiss Nixon driving for close-range looks and tightening the gap. Looking to re-open the difference, Caledonia earned multiple trips to the line, Patrick Whelan and Ramsey converted, edging the hosts ahead. Heading into half-time, the Gladiators were on top by six.

Ramsey carried momentum into the second half, quickly nailing two mid-rangers to re-open a double-figure advantage for Caledonia. McGill answered with consecutive makes to keep Sheffield in the clash and as the period progressed, the teams went back and forth with the hosts staying in front. 

Glasgow Jr combined a floater with a three to give the visitors a fighting chance and heading into the fourth, the Sharks were circling their prey, down by just three.

As the final quarter began, Glasgow Jr combined with Jamell Anderson, who nailed from downtown, catapulting Sheffield on top. The teams then traded leads for a few minutes, with both teams refusing to let up. Groves and Ramsey went blow-for-blow with lay-ups, continuously leapfrogging each other on the scoreboard.

Nixon earned a trip to the line and cooly converted three shots, moving Sheffield ahead for the final time. Donovan Clay, McGill and Nixon found scoring opportunities down the stretch, so when time was up, the Atiba Lyons’ team had secured the four-point W.

Most Valuable Player: Rickey McGill made an impact for Sheffield, recording 15 points, two boards and five assists. 

Newcastle Eagles 91 – 106 Leicester Riders (25/04/2025)

Vertu Motors Arena was the backdrop on Friday night, when Leicester came to town. The mid table Eagles took on a Riders team, fresh from a title-deciding loss to London earlier in the week. 

If Rob Paternostro’s men had the wind taken out of them on Wednesday, it showed early on. They were on the wrong side of a 9-0 Newcastle lead to open the game, with Mike Okauru and Trey Pulliam leading the way on offence. Eventually, Riley Abercrombie and Spencer Johnson scored buckets to push back for Leicester, but Newcastle remained aggressive. Cole Long added to the Newcastle lead with a pair of buckets and the Eagles appeared to have full control.

Jaylin Hunter then caught fire for Leicester, scoring three field goals in a minute. His scoring burst tightened the gap from double-digits to just four in a flash. Christian James came off the bench for Newcastle, draining shots near the end of the quarter and earning a seven-point lead at the first break. 

Ward-Hibbert and Okauru got the second quarter going with easy looks, then Christian James re-opened the advantage to double-figures. Spencer Johnson then scored from inside and out to pull closer, keeping the Riders in the contest. Duke Shelton then added a scoring punch from the second unit, continuing the Leicester comeback and Hunter made it a two-point game with a crafty lay-up.

Pulliam and Johnson drove for quick baskets to pull away, but Abercrombie laid it in, heading into half-time trailing by just two. 

Cole Long got Newcastle going soon after the restart, the Riders were quick to reply. Hunter and Abercrombie joined forces for an offensive run that pulled them to within a single point. A minute later, Shelton tied the game at the charity stripe, before Johnson followed up with a lay-up, putting Leicester on top.

Victor Ndoukou joined the party to extend the Leicester advantage and within a matter of minutes, the visitors led by double-digits. Christian James scored when needed and heading into the final quarter, Newcastle trailed by six.

As the fourth began, Pulliam and James hit shots, attempting to claw Newcastle back into the game. Though Merc Steutel’s team moved to within a single point, Leicester packed quite the punch in response. The Midlanders went on a 12-0 run, tightening their grip on the contest. They grew the advantage down the stretch, scoring as a team to earn a 15-point win when the buzzer sounded. 

Most Valuable Player: Jaylin Hunter impressed, logging 23 points, five boards and eight assists.

Surrey 89ers 93  – 87 Manchester Basketball (26/04/2025)

Mid-table Manchester arrived at Surrey Sports Park on Saturday, with the hosts fighting for position at the bottom of the playoff spots.

Jalen Ray set the tone for Surrey early on, hitting a three to open scoring and creating the hosts’ first lead. Donovan Mitchell and Zak Irvin made buckets to push back for Manchester, but crafty lay-ups from Cameron Gooden and Mervin James edged the 89ers ahead.

Manchester tied the game half way through the first, before Makai Ashton-Langford snatched the lead from Surrey. Despite the efforts of Andrew Lawrence off the bench, Manchester remained in front for the rest of the opening period, heading into the first break with a two-point lead. 

Kyle Carey and Ian Dubose built on the road team’s advantage, creating a seven-point gap. That would be as good as it got for Manchester however, as Surrey came back swinging. James and Ray combined on an offensive run that tied the game, before an ‘and-1’ play from Dame Adelekun propelled the ‘niners ahead once again.

The teams swapped leads for the majority of the second period, going blow-for-blow until the last minute of the half. Veteran Tayo Ogedengbe finished a three-point play at the line to earn a Surrey lead, but back came Ashton-Langford with a long bomb to tie the game as the players left the floor for half-time.

Mitchell and Delpeche got Manchester going at the restart, putting them ahead with a pair of lay-ups. James and Adelekun hit back with game-tying makes from close range however, then a couple of minutes later, Lawrence nailed a three to put Surrey ahead. The teams traded buckets for a spell, but Ogedengbe converted cooly at the line, finishing the third with a three-point Surrey advantage. 

James and Adelekun hit from under the basket to open the fourth, widening the margin. Ray then scored consecutive buckets and Gooden let it fly from beyond the arc, earning a game-high 14-point 89ers lead. Ashton-Langford worked hard on the other end to chip away at the deficit, but Surrey did enough to stave off Manchester’s plucky comeback. 

When the buzzer sounded, Lloyd Gardner’s team had earned a six-point W.

Most Valuable Player: Jalen Ray put in a strong performance for Surrey, logging 25 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Bristol Flyers 87 – 86 Surrey 89ers (27/04/2025)

The following day, Surrey had the chance to complete a weekend double. To do that, they’d need to defeat a Bristol team that sat level with them on points, fighting for 7th seed. 

Though Demond Robinson opened scoring with a smooth hook shot for Bristol, Surrey pushed back quickly. Jalen Ray, Mervin James and Cameron Gooden combined for a string of jumpers to earn an early advantage.

Evan Walshe and Kendall Lewis got it going for the Flyers, pushing back for the hosts with a floater and dunk respectively. However, for the last few minutes of the quarter, Bristol went scoreless, as the 89ers built a double-digit lead. When the first period ended, the visitors were on top by 14.

The teams traded buckets as the second quarter progressed, with Surrey holding onto the lead steadily. However, midway through the quarter, Lewis was joined by Owen McCormack from the bench, as the pair put together an offensive sequence to pull back within single figures.

Ray hit back with a couple of ‘niners baskets and when the teams broke for half-time, they led by 11. 

As the second half began, Lewis came out flying with an ‘and-1’ play. Robinson then helped chip away at the deficit. However, Surrey continuously found an answer through James, who kept the road team beyond striking distance.

Nedas Cholevinskas and Gooden scored baskets near the end of the third, earning a 14-point differential heading into the fourth. 

Struggling to keep their foot on the gas, Surrey went scoreless for the first few minutes of the final quarter. McCormack nailed a pair from beyond the arc and Alain Louis drove aggressively, punishing Surrey on the other end and dragging Bristol back into the contest.

Walshe then took over, pulling the strings on offence, dominating the glass and scoring from range, as the hosts pulled closer. Couple of minutes later, Walshe drove for another lay-up and Robinson splashed home a three to complete the 17-point comeback and take a two-point lead with a minute left on the clock. 

Ray was fouled on a three-point shot attempt and when he made two of them, he tied the game, forcing overtime.

The teams traded blows, with Walshe going toe-to-toe with James. Both players drove relentlessly, earning trips to the line and finishing through contact. Walshe split a pair at the charity stripe and the teams still could not be separated. With the game level at 75, this one was heading into a second overtime. 

The 89ers appeared leggy in the second OT, as Walshe found his way to the line and Robinson finished difficult lay-ups to open up a Bristol advantage. Gooden and Ray pushed back with late threes, but McCormack hit a pair of free-throws to ensure that after 50 minutes of play, the Flyers had secured the one-point win to lock up 7th spot. 

Most Valuable Player: Evan Walshe put in a beastly performance, completing 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assist triple-double, in 45 minutes of playing time.

Leicester Riders 98 – 78 Caledonia Gladiators (27/04/2025)

Looking to lock up the second seed, Leicester played their third game of the week on Sunday. Caledonia came to the Mattioli, hoping to finish their underwhelming season on a positive note. 

The Riders came into the game as clear favourites and that was evident from the beginning. Spencer Johnson set the tone with a lay-up to open scoring, before recent call-up Victor Ndoukou hit a pair of lay-ups to widen the gap early. 

Jaylin Hunter and Charles Thompson then scored a string of buckets, opening up a double-figure lead after just three minutes. Former Riders Patrick Whelan hit back for the Gladiators, offering some momentary resistance, but the hosts only hit back harder. Ethan Wright came off the bench to rebuild the Leicester advantage and when the hit a triple, he finished the first quarter up by 14.

Wright continued his scoring tear, pulling up from midrange and attacking the cup for another scoring run to keep Rob Paternostro’s men comfortably ahead. Leicester continued to rely on their second unit, as Duke Shelton pounded inside for three consecutive makes.

Fahro Alihodzic fought inside to keep the Glad’s in the game, but when Riley Abercrombie sank two triples in the final minute, they went to the locker room trailing by 20. 

Leicester carried momentum into the second half, as they scored as a unit to move ahead by a game-high 24. In response, Whelan and Alihodzic chipped away at the deficit, before Devearl Ramsey scored consecutive baskets to move to within 11. The teams went back-and-forth for a couple of minutes, but at the end of the third, it was a 12-point game. 

Ramsey offered a glimmer of hope with an immediate three when the final period began, but Leicester were quick to quash their optimism. Wright, Shelton and Johnson combined to widen the margin yet again. 

Jett Speelman remained buoyant for Caledonia, plugging away on the offensive end. The Riders couldn’t be stopped though, Hunter re-established a 24-point advantage with three minutes remaining and the Glad’s saw their hopes diminish. 

The hosts cancelled their opposition out down the stretch and when the buzzer sounded the second-placed Riders earned a 20-point W and finished the season in style.

Most Valuable Player: With multiple standout performers, Ethan Wright led Leicester in scoring from the bench with 22, while also pulling down nine boards.

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 90 – 82 London Lions (27/04/2025)

Having secured the Championship title, London travelled to Sheffield in celebration mode. The hosting Sharks had a point to prove, after missing out on gold in the final weeks and hoping to create some pre-playoff momentum. 

Aaryn Rai opened scoring from downtown for London and Jaiden Delaire followed with a three of his own, as the visitors opened up their biggest lead of the game, moving four points ahead. Rodney Glasgow Jr soon tied the game with a pull-up jumper, before Jacob Groves made a hook-shot to take the lead for Sheffield.

Prentiss Nixon came off the bench for Sheffield and offered an extra dose of scoring, moving the hosts further ahead. Terrell Holloway offered some pushback for the Lions, but Jamell Anderson added to Sheffield’s bench contribution with a bucket to move ahead by double-digits. The British veteran hit a three at the end of the first, finishing the period ahead by 14.

Anderson made yet another three to open the second, then a minute later Rickey McGill created a game-high 18-point advantage for the Sharks. Rai and Alen Hadzibegovic hit back with a couple of London lay-ins, then Delaire split a pair of free-throws to move to single-figures.

Groves kept Sheffield ticking into half-time, having re-established a 14-point differential.

The teams went blow-for-blow to open up the third quarter, with the champs struggling to make any ground on Sheffield’s lead. Drake Jeffries and James Reese V widened the gap with looks from close-range, before Groves cooly converted at the line to finish the penultimate period still up by 14. 

After another back-and-forth run between the teams, London began to make in-roads into the contest, due to a Hadzibegovic dunk and Michael Brisker three, moving back to within seven. Groves and Clay scored lay-ups in response however, tightening Sheffields grip on the clash. 

Down the stretch, London leant on their bench to make a last-minute comeback effort, but they fell short. When the game came to an end, Sheffield had secured the eight-point victory and soured the Lions’ title party. 

Most Valuable Player: Donovan Clay contributed with 16 points, seven boards and three assists.

Cheshire Phoenix 99 – 89 Newcastle Eagles (27/04/2025)

Another pair of teams close in the Championship table matched up on Sunday, when Cheshire and Newcastle met at the Cheshire Oaks Arena. With both sides sitting in mid-table, the game would ultimately decide 5th and 6th position with Cheshire needing to win by 12 or more to leapfrog the visitors. 

Cameron Holden got Cheshire going as the game began, tipping off a tremendous individual display, before Nick Timberlake and Larry Austin Jr scored from inside and out to create an early advantage. 

TJ Atwood then finished a tough lay-up to add to the advantage and Holden added to Newcastle’s pain, moving ahead by nine. Trey Pulliam pushed back for Newcastle with smooth shooting, but Cheshire couldn’t be stopped, as Skyler White and Tyreek Scott-Grayson added to the shooting barrage to move ahead by double-figures. As the first period finished, the Phoenix led by 14. 

The Eagles needed a firm response and as the second period advanced, they found one. Sauveur Kande let it fly from downtown, while Mike Okauru scored from multiple spots on the floor to claw away at the deficit. 

Will Neighbour hit a pair of shots midway through the second, keep Newcastle in the contest. Pulliam then combined with Christian James for a string of baskets, move the visitors back to within just four points. 

Cheshire reignited their offence just before half-time and when the teams took a break, they led by nine. 

The opening minute of the third quarter saw the teams trading buckets, as Okauru hit three consecutive shots for Newcastle to continued the fight back. The Eagles remained in the contest throughout the third, but they couldn’t stop Cheshire’s dynamic offence. Austin Jr. and White shot with confidence, while Holden found his way to hole to edge them further ahead. 

Okauru plugged away to inspire his team, but heading into the final frame, the Phoenix were ahead by 10. 

Opening the fourth, Pulliam and Defoe joined forces for makes that drove Newcastle within five. Cheshire swiftly swung back and White hit from downtown to move back ahead by 10 in a matter of seconds.

Neighbour continued to help his team from the bench, but the Eagles simply didn’t have enough. Austin Jr scored at will, Timberlake drained impressive shots and when White hit his final three of the contest, the hosts had won by 10, but it wasn’t enough to finish ahead of their opponents in the table.

Most Valuable Player: Cameron Holden stood out, logging 23 points, 11 rebounds and seven dishes.

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