Week Six of the Super League Basketball Championship delivered a five-game haul, giving fans plenty to get excited about.
Surrey 89ers 78-80 Leicester Riders
RaeQuan Battle delivered an outstanding performance as he led the Leicester Riders to a narrow 80-78 victory over the Surrey 89ers at the Surrey Sports Park.
Rob Paternostro’s team made it two wins in a row, claiming their second victory of the season. However, the Niners put up a strong fight in front of their fans in a fiercely contested, back-and-forth battle between two determined sides, with the outcome decided only in the final moments of the game.
Battle, who led all scorers, scored 11 of his 27 points in the final six minutes of the contest, helping his side get over the line with two incredibly clutch three-pointers to seal the win for the Riders.
Meanwhile, Spencer Johnson and Tomiwa Sulaiman contributed for 12 points and 10 points respectively, both with seven rebounds off the bench, in the win.
Player of the game: Raequan Battle (Leicester Riders)
Bristol Flyers 86-95 Cheshire Phoenix
In a battle between two sides unbeaten in their last three outings, the Cheshire Phoenix took down the Bristol Flyers 96-86 on the road at the SGS College Arena to make it four wins on the bounce.
Frankie Policelli had a terrific game, recording a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench and adding four steals to his tally, while Patrick Robinson led all scorers off the bench with 20 points and seven rebounds in the win.
After a strong start in the opening quarter, the Nix took a commanding 14-point lead behind a solid collective effort on both ends of the court. However, the Flyers kept battling and chipped away at the Phoenix’s lead, entering the fourth quarter with a single-digit deficit.
With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the hosts managed to cut the deficit to just two points on the back of a strong 10-2 run. However, the Nix responded with an 11-0 run of their own, taking a decisive lead with just 1:22 remaining to secure their fourth win of the season.
Player of the game: Frankie Policelli (Cheshire Phoenix)
Manchester Basketball 90-95 Surrey 89ers
After a heartbreaking defeat on Friday, the Surrey 89ers bounced back with a 95-90 victory over Manchester Basketball on the road at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
Despite Max Jones’ stellar 30-point performance, Manchester’s unbeaten home run came to an end. Meanwhile, Isiah Small led the Niners with a highly efficient 23-point, 13-rebound, five-assist double-double, shooting 8-for-11 from the field (72%), while Kino Lily Jr. added 16 points.
The game started with high intensity from both sides in an end-to-end contest as both teams ran smooth offensive sets. However, it was Manchester who pulled ahead after the opening 10 minutes, led by Max Jones’ 11 points. The Niners came back strong in the second quarter and took the lead thanks to a great collective effort.
Entering the fourth quarter trailing by six, Manchester delivered an outstanding performance to take a six-point lead with 1:40 left in the game. However, the Niners showed an incredible resilience, inflicting an 11-0 run to the host to claim their second win of the season.
Player of the Game: Isiah Small (Surrey 89ers)
Caledonia Gladiators 51-96 London Lions
The London Lions kept their unbeaten start going with a dominant 96-51 away win over the Caledonia Gladiators at the Playsport Arena, making it six consecutive win.
Ethan Price delivered a great all-round performance, recording 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Amin Adamu scored a team-high 20 point in the victory. Meanwhile, Kevin Allen dropped another top performance with 23 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
The Lions, who never trailed in this game, started strong, opening the contest with a 11-0 run thanks to a solid defensive setup, while their offence ran smoothly. By halftime, the result of the game was already clear, as the Lions led by 34 and held their opponents to under 10 points in each of the first two quarters.
Despite their comfortable advantage, the Lions didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half and kept pushing, extending their lead to as much as 48 points. Nonetheless, the Gladiators kept fighting, while London ultimately cruised to victory.
Player of the Game: Ethan Price (London Lions)
Cheshire Phoenix 114-95 B.Braun Sheffield Sharks
The Cheshire Phoenix claimed an incredible 114-95 comeback victory against the B.Braun Sheffield Sharks at the Cheshire Oaks Arena making it five wins on the bounce.
Patrick Robinson had a stellar performance off the bench for the Nix, tallying 31 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while shooting 6-for-8 from the field. Skyler White played a crucial part in the clutch contributing 24 points and eight rebounds in the win.
In a tight contest between two in-form sides, the Sharks pulled ahead after the opening 10 minutes of the clash. By halftime, they managed to hang onto their narrow lead while the Nix battled to stay in the game. However, Sheffield put in an outstanding collective performance to start the third quarter with a 16-2 run, extending their lead to 16 points behind Dirk Williams’ impressive three-point efficiency.
But in front of their home crowd, the Nix fought their way back into the game and tied the contest just before the end of the period. Early in the fourth quarter, the hosts took control of the game and never looked back, combining strong defensive stretches with their well-run offense to claim an important win.
Player of the Game: Patrick Robinson (Cheshire Phoenix)
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