The SLB Championship returned with a bang over the weekend as a six-game slate with four of those decided by two points or less.
The average winning margin of five points was the lowest in top-flight British basketball history. But one of the games, which was decided by two points or more, was in Guildford, as the Surrey 89ers kept their winning streak rolling with a statement victory over the newly minted SLB Trophy winners.
Surrey 89ers 89-80 London Lions
Surrey 89ers bagged their sixth win in the last seven games with an impressive 89-80 victory over the SLB Trophy winners London Lions in front of a sell-out crowd at Surrey Sports Park.
Trailing by five at the break, the Niners battled but were overpowered by the Lions, who were offensively solid and utilising their depth and overall talent on both ends of the floor.
But since the Christmas period, Surrey have been rejuvenated, producing impressive results, and they were not to be denied. The hosts chipped away in the third quarter and, midway through, took a 53-52 lead through a Kino Lily Jr. triple. Surrey managed to hold on to a 64-60 advantage after three.
And the Niners then went up a gear in the fourth and left the Lions trailing in their wake to pick up a monumental victory. Lily Jr. led the winners with 24 points, with fireball Tyrin Lawrence adding 22. Deane Williams, Shavar Reynolds and Chaundee Brown all had 14 points for London.
Cheshire Phoenix 98-99 Manchester Basketball
Max Jones splashed a game-winning three-pointer from the wing to give Manchester Basketball a 99-98 win over the Cheshire Phoenix in a dramatic finale in Ellesmere Port on Friday.
Pat Robinson looked to give the Phoenix the edge with 10 ticks left with a lay-up to give the hosts a 98-96 lead, forcing Manchester into a timeout. Then, out of the breather, Jones repped the city by hitting a dagger triple to silence the home fans and send Manchester into mass hysteria.
Jones would finish with a game-high 30 points, going 4/9 from three-point range, with Patrick Smith Jr. chipping in with 19.
Robinson led Cheshire with 25 points on 72% shooting.
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 77-75 Cheshire Phoenix
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks handed the Cheshire Phoenix their second dose of heartbreak as veteran Jordan Ratinho came up clutch in their 77-75 victory.
Leading by five with a minute to play, the Sharks stunned the Phoenix with an 8-0 finish, with Rodney Glasgow draining a three, which set the stage for Ratinho to hit a corner-pocket triple with 0.9 seconds left to seal the win.
Printiss Nixon and Melvin James had 15 points apiece for the Sharks in the win. Pat Robinson – who had a chance to take the game to overtime in the last second but fluffed his lines – had a game-high 17.
Manchester Basketball 83-84 Caledonia Gladiators
Caledonia Gladiators hung on to score an 84-83 win over Manchester Basketball at the NBPC in an exciting battle on Sunday.
A bucket from Daniel Carr gave the visitors an 83-78 lead as Caledonia looked set to bag the win, but Manchester went on a furious spurt to make the game interesting in the final minute, but they couldn’t quite get over the line, as the Gladiators settled matters at the line.
Jett Speelman led the victors with 17 points. Jordan Johnson amassed 24 points for the hosts.
Leicester Riders 102-100 Newcastle Eagles
Donald Carey sunk a game-winner to give the Leicester Riders a thrilling 102-100 win over the shocked Newcastle Eagles at the Mattoli Arena on Sunday.
The loss was harsh on the Eagles, who enjoyed a 10-point lead at one stage of the contest, but the Riders never threw in the towel and had the better of Newcastle in the final minute, as they held a 100-93 lead.
However, the visitors kicked it up a gear and went on a blistering 7-0 run, capped by a score by Ray’Sean Taylor with less than 10 seconds to play. That then set the scene for Carey to hit the game-winner.
Carey, along with Raequan Battle, both had 17 points to lead the Riders. Maceo Jack led all scorers in vain with 24 for Newcastle.
Bristol Flyers 77-67 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Bristol Flyers secured their second win in a row with a 77-67 success over the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks in the South-West on Friday.
After a closely-contested contest, the Flyers broke the game open in the final ten minutes to take a 67-57 lead, four minutes into the fourth to breeze clear against a subpar Sharks side who had matched Bristol blow for blow until that point.
Will Yoakum had 21 points and nine rebounds to lead the Flyers to the win, as former Phoenix Cam Christon enjoyed a successful debut for the hosts.