The Super League Basketball Trophy Semi-Finals highlighted a five-game weekend of action as the road to Utilita Arena Birmingham nears its final destination.
There were also two Championship games to bring an exciting weekend to a close.
Flyers book ticket into Trophy Final
Bristol Flyers are SLB Trophy Final-bound as they defeated the Cheshire Phoenix 200-185 across two legs.
Leading 92-83 from the first leg, Bristol’s intensity and focus from Friday’s opening tie never changed as they stunned the sell-out crowd at Ellesmere Port with a 108-102 win in the second leg.
Bristol found joy in the first leg, securing a deserved 92-83 win over Cheshire in a game played at a frantic pace throughout, with the Flyers taking command after the third quarter with a 69-53 lead.
But the Phoenix would not lie down. Knowing that the tie was slipping away even before the second leg, they would chip away at the deficit and reduce it to as little as 90-83 in the dying seconds with a three from RJ Eytle-Rock.
Raphell Thomas-Edwards had the last laugh for the hosts, as he scored with the last play of the game for a nine-point lead.
Keddy Johnson led the Flyers with 28 points, with Cameron Christon amassing 19 for Cheshire.
Johnson would again star in the second leg, but he supported Jared Sherfield, who exploded for 36 points, going a blistering 6/12 from deep. Johnson added 27, with his mid-range game unstoppable.
Cameron Holden heroically played all 40 minutes for the Phoenix for 28 points and 10 assists, but it was in vain as the Flyers celebrated 20 years of basketball in their extraordinary era with a place in the first Final of British basketball’s new era.
MVPs: Keddy Johnson – Bristol Flyers (first leg); Jared Sherfield – Bristol Flyers (second leg).
Newcastle Eagles 95-91 Leicester Riders (SLB Trophy, Semi-Final, first leg)
Newcastle Eagles protected home court, beating Leicester Riders 95-91 at the Vertu Motors Arena in the first leg of their SLB Trophy Semi-Final, but the tie is far from over.
The Riders head home to the Mattoli Arena on December 22 with a slim four-point deficit to overcome, having recovered from being 17-points down.
A three from Jaylin Hunter with 2:32 remaining did trim Newcastle’s lead from 71-55 with 4:41 left in the third to 90-89. Despite the intense pressure, the hosts somehow held their lead and saw the game out.
It was a different story in the first half, as Newcastle’s offence was relentless. Their solid execution was evident in the second quarter as they outscored Leicester 38-19 to zoom into a 59-42 lead at the break.
The Riders recovered, leaving the Semi-Final nicely balanced.
Seneca Knight led the Eagles with 23 points, shooting 53% from the floor, as the hosts made it rain from deep, hitting 11 triples on the night.
Zach Jackson had a game-high 24 for the Riders.
MVP: Seneca Knight (Newcastle Eagles)
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 86-71 Caledonia Gladiators
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks convincingly dismissed a new-look Caledonia Gladiators side 86-71 in South Yorkshire, handing Robbie Peers a loss in his first game in charge.
Handing out debuts to three players, finding the right chemistry was always going to be hard for Caledonia against a Sharks team that had won three of their last four games.
And Sheffield took advantage of Caledonia’s new-look squad, holding them to just 35% from the field as Donovan Clay had 23 points on 8/16 shooting, guiding the Sharks to a routine win.
Princeton Onwas had 18 points and seven rebounds for Caledonia.
MVP: Donovan Clay (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks)
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 93-85 Surrey 89ers
The Sharks made it a double-winning week as Prentiss Nixon starred in the 93-85 victory over the Surrey 89ers on Sunday.
An explosive first half saw Sheffield race to a 54-46 lead, en route to the win, where they hit 13 three-pointers, shooting 50% from the field.
Nixon impressed with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Mervin James paced Surrey with 17, supported by Cameron Gooden’s 16 points and nine assists.
MVP: Prentiss Nixon (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks)
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