Week four of the Super League Basketball Championship presented three enthralling fixtures, with six teams taking to the court.
Cheshire Phoenix snatched a stunning last-gasp triumph over the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks. The Caledonia Gladiators and London Lions also chalked up victories, with the former picking up their first win of the campaign.
Newcastle Eagles 77-82 London Lions
Ray’Sean Taylor turned in a remarkable 32-point performance, despite Newcastle falling to a 77-82 defeat against the undefeated London Lions in the Friday evening fixture.
London showed no signs of a EuroCup hangover as they started the game in a relentless mood, scoring 10 unanswered points to start the game and utilising quick ball-movement, which Newcastle struggled to defend.
However, adjustments in the second quarter saw Taylor spark an Eagles comeback as he tallied up 10 points and three assists, bringing the Eagles within three points of their opponents at the halftime interval (41-44).
The second half continued similar fashion as both sides exchanged blows to keep the tie excruciatingly tight heading into the final quarter, as London’s Kameron McGusty (five) and Newcastle’s Taylor (nine) put points on the board for their respective team.
Nevertheless, a highlight play from McGusty helped the Lions secure the win. The American guard showed his impressive iso ability and finished under pressure at the rim with around 46 seconds left on the clock.
Player of the Game: Joel Scott, London Lions
Surrey 89ers 85-100 Caledonia Gladiators
Another fine performance from the American center, Kevin Allen, propelled the Caledonia Gladiators to their first win of the campaign with an 85-100 victory over the Surrey 89ers.
A strong defensive performance from the Gladiators limited the 89ers to just 31 points in the opening two quarters of play, while recording 48 of their own.
Surrey’s tactical tweaks in the second half paid dividends as Ronald Polite III registered 16 third-quarter points – displaying his devastating ability to score from all three levels.
Despite a spirited performance from the 89ers, the Gladiators’ early dominance at the Surrey Sports Park prevented any threat of a comeback from the home team.
Allen finished the game with 21 points, which was supplemented by Ethan Price’s 17 points and 15 vital bench points from Matthew Ragsdale.
Player of the Game: Kevin Allen (Caledonia Gladiators)
Cheshire Phoenix 90-87 Sheffield Sharks
LaQuincy Rideau had a night to remember as he surpassed 500 career league points in the Cheshire Phoenix’s brilliant 90-87 triumph over the Sheffield Sharks.
It was a back-and-forth battle from tip-off as both sides refused to allow the opposition to gain an advantage during the tightly fought matchup, as Jaxon Brenchley (seven) and Prentiss Nixon (11) led the charge for their teams in the first half.
The chess match continued in the second half as neither team could take control of the fixture. The Sharks edged proceedings heading into the final quarter with a three point lead over the Phoenix (66-69).
However, it was the finale to this game that will live long in the memory of Cheshire Fans. With around 30 seconds on the clock, the Phoenix stole the ball and Tobias Cameron bullied his way to the rim to finish the crucial chance, drawing a foul in the process, which he also drained – levelling the scoreline (87-87).
Then came a resilient defensive effort from the home side, forcing Sheffield into a shot clock violation on their next possession, resulting in Cheshire’s head coach, Ben Thomas, swiftly calling a timeout with four seconds left on the clock.
Finally, the man of the moment, LaQuincy Rideau, sent the Cheshire Oaks Arena into a frenzy as he sank a sensational three-point buzzer beater to break the hearts of the travelling Sharks support.
Player of the Game: Jaxon Brenchley (Cheshire Phoenix)
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