The Super League Basketball Play-offs tipped off with an action-packed weekend, featuring an eight-game slate.
Manchester Basketball 98-95 Bristol Flyers
Manchester Basketball secured a hard-fought 98-95 home victory over the Bristol Flyers in Game 1, as Donovan Mitchell recorded an impressive performance with 20 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals.
After a tough start, the Flyers edged out Manchester by just three points at the break following a fast-paced first half. The visitors pounced on their opponents’ mistakes, pushing the tempo to rack up 14 fast-break points.
After the halftime interval, the hosts surged back as Max Jones scored seven points to give the lead to Manchester. Nonetheless, Bristol fought their way back into the game, trailing by just one points at the start of the fourth period. Manchester held onto their lead in the final quarter, with six points from Donovan Mitchell and eight points from Jordan Johnson, securing a three-point advantage heading into game two of the tie.
Johnson led all scorers with 22 points and five assists off the bench. Meanwhile, Max Jones posted 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a near double-double outing.
Cameron Christon led the Flyers ins coring with 20 points and six rebounds, while Zachary Anderson registered 18 points and seven rebounds.
Player of the game: Donovan Mitchell (Manchester Basketball).
Bristol Flyers 85-90 Manchester Basketball
Jordan Johnson came up in the clutch to help Manchester Basketball secure a hard-fought 90-85 victory over the Bristol Flyers in Game 2, as Max Jones contributed for 24 points.
Manchester held a narrow three-point lead at the start of Game 2, and a 9-0 run to close the first quarter gave them a solid 11-point advantage on the night. However, a devastating 19-2 run from the Flyers in the second quarter completely turned the tie, with Bristol controlling the game until the fourth quarter.
Manchester’s situation looked dire late on, but six straight points from Johnson with two minutes remaining put the visitors ahead, as they secured a hard-fought road win to reach the semi-finals.
Player of the game: Max Jones (Manchester Basketball).
Newcastle Eagles 72-90 London Lions
The London Lions dominated the Newcastle Eagles 90-72 in Game 1 at the Vertu Arena, as Eagles legend Darius Defoe played his final home game.
Both sides were evenly matched in the opening quarter, with the Lions edging ahead by just two points. However, a devastating 11-2 run at the start of the second gave the SLB Champions a commanding double-digit lead. With nine points in the quarter from Kameron McGusty, London extended their advantage to 18 by half-time.
Despite all their efforts, the Eagles could not dent London’s 18-point lead, as the Lions saw out the game, leaving Newcastle with a massive deficit to overcome ahead of the second leg.
McGusty led London with 18 points off the bench, while Chaundee Brown Jr. contributed 16, and Joel Scott added 13 points and six rebounds.
As for Newcastle, Mitch Clarke led all scorers with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Player of the game: Chaundee Brown Jr. (London Lions).
London Lions 88-69 Newcastle Eagles
The London Lions punched their tickets for the SLB Play-offs semi-finals after a comfortable 88-69 Game 2 victory against the depleted Newcastle Eagles at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.
Despite a depleted squad, the Eagles started strongly and took early control. However, the Lions found their rhythm late in the period to close the gap. London then dominated the second quarter, winning it by 15 points.
While Newcastle showed a lot of resilience, Tautvydas Sabonis’ men comfortably saw it out to book their place in the semi-finals.
Both Shavar Reynolds Jr. (10 points, 10 assists) and Aaryn Rai (10 points, 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles for the London Lions.
As for Newcastle, Emmanuel Kanwei led all scorers with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Player of the game: Aaryn Rai (London Lions).
Leicester Riders 78-81 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks clinched a hard-fought 81-78 victory over the Leicester Riders at the Mattioli Arena in Game 1, with Nick Kern Jr. contributing for 19 points and six rebounds.
The Sharks quickly took command of the game, fuelled by Nick Kern Jr.’s nine-point opening quarter. The Riders fought hard, but Sheffield remained in control, taking a 10-point lead into the half-time break.
However, Leicester surged back in the third with a 10-0 run, cutting the deficit to a single possession before taking the lead late in the period, while holding the Sharks to just 10 points. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with the game going down to the wire before Dirk Williams sealed Sheffield’s victory with 27 seconds remaining.
Fahro Alihodzic recorded 18 points and seven rebounds, while Rodney Chatman III scored 14 points off the bench for Sheffield.
For Leicester, Flynn Boardman-Raffet posted 16 points. Meanwhile, Kedrian Johnson and Travis Evee both scored 15 points.
Player of the game: Nick Kern Jr (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks).
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 87-97 Leicester Riders
Kedrian Johnson‘s 34 points lifted the Leicester Riders to a 97-87 Game 2 victory over the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks at Canon Medical Arena.
The Riders had a strong start and took control of the game early in the opening quarter as they look to overcome a three-point deficit from Game 1. By halftime, the visitors boasted a 12-point lead with Kedrian Johnson pouring 22 points at the break in a dominant collective performance.
Leicester did not let their foot off the gas at the start of the second half and quickly extended their lead to 20 points, seemingly putting the result of the game beyond doubts. However, the Sharks fought back in the last period, cutting the deficit down to 10. Nonetheless, the reigning Play-offs winners were able to see out the game, securing a 175-168 aggregate win.
Player of the game: Kedrian Johnson (Leicester Riders).
Surrey 89ers 96-128 Cheshire Phoenix
The Cheshire Phoenix dismantled the Surrey 89ers 128-96 in Game 1, as Laquincy Rideau recorded an impressive double-double of 16 points and 17 assists along with eight rebounds.
After an intense back-and-forth opening quarter, the 89ers pulled ahead by five points. However, the Nix erupted with 20-4 run to start the second, fuelled by their three-point shooting. Cheshire outscored Surrey by 20 in the period, with Skyler White scoring 14 of his 23 points.
Cheshire kept their foot on the gas in the second half, stretching their lead to 32 by the final buzzer and all but ending the 89ers’ hopes ahead of the second leg.
Patrick Robinson registered 22 points and seven assists off the bench, while Jaxon Brenchley added 17 points and nine rebounds.
For Surrey, Kino Lily Jr. delivered a stellar performance as he posted 33 points and eight assists in 40 minutes.
Player of the game: Laquincy Rideau (Cheshire Phoenix).
Cheshire Phoenix 100-95 Surrey 89ers
The Cheshire Phoenix defeated the Surrey 89ers 100-95 in Game 2 and secured their place in the semi-finals.
Facing a 32-point deficit, the 89ers needed a strong start to keep their hopes alive, and that is exactly what they produced, with Tyrin Lawrence scoring nine points in the opening quarter.
However, the Nix surged back in the second quarter, with Damiri Lindo scoring seven points as Cheshire edged ahead by one at the break. Surrey continued to battle in the second half, but Cheshire ultimately prevailed.
Patrick Robinson contributed for 20 points and five rebounds, while Laquincy Rideau registered another double-double with 18 points and 12 assists.
For Surrey, Tyrin Lawrence (27 points) and Nedas Cholevinskas (26 points, seven rebounds) combined for 53 points.
Player of the game: Laquincy Rideau (Cheshire Phoenix).
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