Riders win in 2OT thriller; Bristol clinch two victories

The Super League Basketball Championship concluded with an action-packed six-game slate as teams continued to fight for a higher seeding in the postseason.

Caledonia Gladiators 82-91 Bristol Flyers

The Bristol Flyers resumed their hunt for a fifth-place finish in the standings with a confident victory over the Caledonia Gladiators.

It was the home team who started the game brightest despite having nothing to play for. Caledonia stormed into an early eight-point lead, which was ignited by Dwaine Jones Jr., who chalked up six points — all of which came on the interior.

Bristol looked reenergized in the second quarter as Cameron Holden and Zachary Anderson scored six points apiece to turn the game on its head.

After the half-time interval, the Flyers continued to assert their dominance by extending their lead by six points. Holden persisted by leaving his fingerprints all over the match-up by accumulating seven points, two assists, two rebounds, and one steal in the third quarter alone.

Caledonia failed to reduce the deficit during the final quarter of play as the Bristol Flyers again outscored them by two points to clinch a vital victory on the road.

Player of the Game: Cameron Holden (Bristol Flyers)

Newcastle Eagles 86-94 Leicester Riders (2OT)

The Leicester Riders made it four wins in their last five games during a gruelling double-overtime victory over the Newcastle Eagles, as Travis Evee’s 24-point, 10-rebound performance inspired his team to victory.

This ding-dong battle began in favour of the home team, as Newcastle edged the first quarter by just one point. Gus Okafor led the way for the Eagles with seven points.

Leicester fought back in the second quarter through an aggressive Kedrian Johnson, who chalked up seven points and was a constant threat to the Newcastle defence.

Now, it was the Eagles’ turn to swing the momentum in their favour. Josh Ward-Hibbert showed he is primed for Newcastle’s postseason campaign with five points, allowing his team to renew their one-point lead.

Leicester stole a march on Newcastle before Ray’Sean Taylor tied the score up for the home team with just three seconds left on the clock to force overtime.

It took two periods of overtime for either side to assert its dominance. After a breathtaking end to the game, the Riders’ 8-2 run to start 2OT was enough to ensure they would return home with the win.

Player of the Game: Travis Evee (Leicester Riders)

Surrey 89ers 62-86 London Lions

Clinching their 26th win of the season, the London Lions defeated the Surrey 89ers in style as Ethan Price recorded an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Both sides were inseparable during the opening quarter of the game, with the score level at 16-16. However, seven early points for Tyin Lawrence had the Surrey Sports Park believing an upset could be on the cards for the home team.

Any hope of a shock result was squashed in the second quarter as the Lions began to flex their muscles. London outscored Surrey by ten points, six of which were contributed by the crafty Kameron McGusty.

It was much of the same in the second half as Chaundee Brown Jr. scored seven points to extend London’s lead to 25.

The Surrey 89ers were the better of the two teams in the final period of play; nevertheless, the London Lions had already created an insurmountable deficit, and they ended the regular season with a dominant victory.

Player of the Game: Ethan Price (London Lions)

Bristol Flyers 94-75 Newcastle Eagles

William Yoakum inspired the Bristol Flyers to a victory over the Newcastle Eagles at the SGS College Arena with a mammoth 25-point, 15-rebound performance.

Bristol were offensively brilliant in the opening quarter of play, scoring 32 points in comparison to Newcastle’s 21.

The Eagles fought back after the interval through Mitch Clarke, who chalked up eight points. However, the Flyers maintained a five-point lead heading into the half-time break.

Looking back to their best, Bristol stole the momentum once more as Cameron Christon and Jonathan Brown combined for 11 points.

Newcastle could not find a way to limit Bristol’s offensive production as the home team stretched their lead to 19 points to confirm a victory in their final game of the championship season.

Player of the Game: William Yoakum (Bristol Flyers)

Sheffield Sharks 74-82 Manchester Basketball

Manchester Basketball ended their championship campaign in style with an impressive victory over the Sheffield Sharks.

The away team’s defence was on top during the opening quarter, holding Sheffield to 12 points. Manchester drained four shots from deep to create an early eight-point lead.

Jordan Johnson scored five points to ensure Manchester maintained the momentum heading into the half-time break.

Sheffield’s Fahro Alihodzic created hopes of a comeback with nine points in the third quarter, allowing his team to cut the deficit to four.

Eight points from Max Jones ensured that Manchester Basketball would end the season with three wins in its final five regular-season games and head into the postseason in exciting form.

Player of the Game: Max Jones (Manchester Basketball)

Cheshire Phoenix 98-77 Leicester Riders

Skyler White turned in a huge two-way performance, recording 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks as the Cheshire Phoenix blew away the Leicester Riders.

White scored nine points and hit two big three-point attempts in the first quarter as Cheshire stole the early momentum.

The Riders attempted a comeback through Michael Joiner, who tallied up five points. However, the Phoenix held the lead heading into the halftime break.

Again, Leicester stayed aggressive as they looked to dent Cheshire’s confidence heading into the postseason. They outscored the home team by two to reduce the deficit to 11.

Laquincy Rider poured cold water on any hopes Leicester had of causing an upset — scoring seven points to extend Cheshire’s lead to 21.

Player of the Game: Skyler White (Cheshire Phoenix)

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