There were no easy wins this week, as Super League Basketball fans around the country witnessed close, tense clashes. The action included a high-stakes overtime win for Surrey, a narrow escape for Bristol, first losses for Sheffield, as well as mixed fortune for Manchester.
Caledonia Gladiators 87 – 79 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
The Caledonia Gladiators started their week at home, welcoming the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks to the Playsport Arena on Friday night. With the visitors entering the contest with a 2-0 record, it was a challenging proposition for the hosts.
Stepping up to that challenge, Jonny Bunyan’s men set the tone from the opening period, earning a double-digit lead and limiting the Sharks to just four points. Scoring as a unit, Caledonia built upon their advantage and when the teams split for half-time, Sheffield themselves behind by 26.
Al-Amir Dawes came off the bench to score in a variety of ways, tightening the home team’s grip on the game and creating the largest lead of 32.
Incredibly, Sheffield kicked into gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a 17-0 run to give themselves a slim chance of competing. However, it was too little, too late. Leading scorer Terry Roberts and star performer Isiah Small scored crucial buckets to put it beyond reach, securing the Gladiator W.
Player of the Game
Isiah Small was completely dominant and central to this highly-impressive win. Earning a PIR of 28, the American forward recorded 15 points, 17 rebounds and 3 assists.
Newcastle Eagles 76 – 81 Manchester Basketball
Elsewhere on Friday, Newcastle Eagles were paid a visit by Manchester Basketball, as both teams prepared for their first of two matches in three days.
The teams could not be separated as the game began, with each side trading blows and exchanging leads for the majority of the first half. However, a few minutes before half time, Manchester found an answer through Luke Nelson and Duke Shelton, who found easy looks to create some distance. At the break, led by six.
Antoine Broxsie’s men created a 14-point lead in the third period, but Newcastle came back swinging. Marc Steutel’s side hit big shots from range and forced their way to the line to trim the deficit to just six heading into the final frame.
Tavis Smith and Blondeau Tchoukuiegno led a comeback attempt for the host, making it a one-point game down the stretch. However, Chandler Pigge offered a steady hand at the line when it mattered and Manchester bagged the win.
Player of the Game
Luke Nelson impressed, adding eight assists and five boards to his 13-point scoring display. The strong outing earned him a team-leading PIR of 16.
Surrey 89ers 107 – 102 Leicester Riders
No other teams needed wins more than the Surrey 89ers and Leicester Riders this weekend. Rob Paternostro’s men travelled to the Surrey Sports Park without a victory to their name and they were met by an equally winless Niners team.
Leicester made a positive start, taking multiple leads throughout the first quarter, led by the deep shooting of Jaylon White. However, Surrey stepped it up a gear as the second period developed. Moments before half-time, two consecutive buckets from Marreon Jackson put Lloyd Gardner’s team ahead by four.
An offensive flurry from Addison Patterson widened the margin for the hosts in the third, but Leicester refused to lie down. The Midlands outfit chipped away and eventually earned a lead, which they grew to five points with just 18 seconds left on the clock.
Much to the frustration of Paternostro, Leicester then allowed a Jalen Graham lay-up to bring Surrey closer. A pair of missed free-throws from Taryn Todd then offered the road team a legitimate shot at contention with 12 seconds remaining. Marreon Jackson took that shot and drained it at the death of regular time. This one wasn’t done yet.
Overtime baskets from Caleb McGill and Addison Patterson created momentum for Surrey and Leicester did not have enough firepower to go the distance. When Cayden Charles hit both shots at the stripe, this one was done. When the buzzer sounded, Surrey had scrapped their way to a five-point win.
Player of the Game
As well as forcing overtime with a clutch triple, Marreon Jackson consistently impacted the contest. His PIR of 29 was earned through a 23-point and 11-assist double-double.
Bristol Flyers 90 – 89 Liverpool Basketball
Liverpool Basketball travelled to Bristol on Sunday, on the hunt for their third win in the team’s history. Less new to the scene, Bristol Flyers were hoping to earn a winning record, after starting the campaign 2-2.
Initially, Liverpool looked brighter, but their initial lead didn’t last long, with Davion Bailey scoring from inside to put Andreas Kapoulas’ team ahead. Not content with falling behind, the visitors pushed back through Olutomiwa Sulaiman’s outside shooting and tied the game. Despite Bristol’s best efforts to pull away, Roy Rogers’ men forced themselves back into contention. They even went into the break with a six-point advantage.
Zachary Anderson stepped up for the Flyers in the third, attacking the lane with conviction to snatch the lead back. Mattheus Case and Kasen Jennings built on that and heading into the fourth, Bristol were on top by seven.
The final quarter saw Bristol open up an 11-point lead, before a spirited offensive surge from Tevin Smith and Patrick Robinson inspired a 10-0 run that put Liverpool into pole position with just 33 seconds remaining.
Enter Davion Bailey, who made a crucial lay-up to earn the 1-point advantage, before Damiri Lindo wilted at the free-throw line, missing both shots and ensuring that Bristol secured the narrow W.
Player of the Game
Davion Bailey played the starring role for Bristol, leading the way with 17 points, while adding six assists, three steals and five rebounds for good measure.
Manchester Basketball 92 – 94 Caledonia Gladiators
Hoping their good form would carry over from Friday’s win, Manchester played host to the Gladiators on Sunday afternoon at the National Basketball Performance Centre.
Manchester’s starting line-up propelled them to a perfect start, going on a 13-0 run to begin the game, with every home player that started the game getting on the scoresheet.
The Glads eventually answered back through three consecutive Braxton Williams buckets, but still trailed. Near half-time, Al-Amir Dawes and Isiah Small combined to pull their team back into contention.
Both sides traded leads through the third period and going into the final instalment, the hosts were up by one. Manchester’s second unit widened the margin to seven, but Caledonia weren’t quite done. An 8-0 run saw Bunyan’s men edge ahead.
Keon Thompson Jr and Duke Shelton offered resistance for Manchester, but they ultimately fell short. When the action drew to a close, the visitors held on and left for Scotland with the two-point victory.
Player of the Game
For the second game in a row, Isiah Small was a force to be reckoned with. His 10 point and 12 rebound double-double was a difference maker. He also impressed defensively, recording two blocks and a steal.
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 81 – 87 Newcastle Eagles
Both teams aimed to bounce back from Friday losses when the Eagles travelled to the Canon Medical Arena to faces the Sharks on Sunday.
The Sheffield faithful saw an even match-up from opening tip, as both teams forced their way to the charity stripe with regularity. Through consistent offence from Lu’cye Patterson, the Sharks opened up a more comfortable advantage. However, Newcastle hit back with tough shots made from beyond the arc, meaning that at half-time, they trailed by just seven.
Cole Long stepped up in the third quarter, during which he scored 10 points that helped catapult the Eagles into a lead of their own. Just minutes into the final period, the visitors had opened up a double-digit lead and seemed to be in cruise control.
The Sharks still had some left in the tank, as they desperately attacked the bucket to capture a glimpse of hope. Atiba Lyons team even drew as close two points, but subsequent missed threes and steady free-throw shooting from Newcastle earned them the six-point win.
Player of the Game
Cole Long shone through in a strong team effort, leading his team with 20 points from a near-perfect 7-8 shooting display.
Cheshire Phoenix 83 – 87 London Lions
Fresh from their transatlantic travels, London returned to domestic action with a trip to Cheshire Oaks Arena on Sunday evening. Ben Thomas’ Cheshire Phoenix may have hoped for weary legs when they met the champs, who remain perfect for the campaign.
Though London took an early lead, Cheshire showed immediate fightback, edging ahead twice in the opening quarter. However, the firepower of Thomas Kennedy and Joel Scott proved tough for them to contain and when half-time came around, the Lions were up by 10.
The Nix leant on Skyler White and Nazir Williams to keep them in contention. The pair rewarded coach Thomas’ trust and chipped away at the differential. The final quarter was a game of cat and mouse, as London attempted to fully pull away, but Cheshire stubborn held on.
With two minutes remaining, Williams made it a one-point game, but it wasn’t to be. Kennedy and Scott converted clutch shots at the line, meaning that London’s unbeaten streak stretched to 6-0.
Player of the Game
Excelling from the bench, Landrius Horton played a major role in the Lions win, logging a PIR of 18 and leading scoring with 17.
Click here to watch Super League Basketball 2026/2027 season live on DAZN.