Flyers cruise to Quarters, Phoenix come up clutch, Riders, Eagles and Lions experience mixed Championship week

Sheffield also edged victory over Surrey in a busy game week that saw some entertaining and highly competitive match-ups.

Newcastle Eagles 74 – 67 London Lions

As the game week tipped off, mid-table Newcastle welcomed league-leading London to the Vertu Motors Arena for Championship action.

The contest began with Ovie Soko getting the London Lions on the scoreboard with an open jump shot, setting the tone for an intense first quarter. However, Newcastle quickly responded as Trey Pulliam and Mike Okauru both made strong drives to the basket, each converting lay-ups to put the Eagles in the lead.

London then found their footing with Michael Brisker and Aaryn Rai leading the charge, using aggressive moves through the lane to regain the advantage. Jaiden Delaire’s impressive two-minute scoring run further extended the Lions’ lead, showcasing his offensive prowess and helping to maintain their momentum.

The next few minutes saw both teams struggle offensively, with a series of missed shots making for a forgettable stretch of play. As the quarter neared its end, Ciaran Sandy stepped up for the Lions, calmly sinking two crucial free throws to give them a four-point advantage heading into the break.

The London Lions carried strong momentum into the second quarter. Tanner Stuckman kept the hosts on top, scoring a pair of lay-ups early to extend their lead. However, Newcastle refused to back down, with Seneca Knight coming off the bench to provide a spark for the Eagles. Knight completed an and-1 play, cutting the Lions’ lead and giving his team a much-needed boost. London responded in kind, with Ovie Soko converting his own and-1 opportunity to maintain a small advantage and keep the Eagles at arm’s length.

As the quarter progressed, Christian James found his rhythm, knocking down a series of jump shots both inside the paint and beyond the arc. His scoring run brought Newcastle within striking distance, cutting the deficit to just two points. Yet, London showed resilience, as Aaryn Rai and Michael Brisker continued to score with ease in the paint, keeping the Lions’ lead intact. The back-and-forth action saw London heading into the halftime break with a narrow three-point advantage.

Newcastle returned to the court with newfound energy, determined to take control of the game. Seneca Knight quickly made an impact, hitting a pair of three-pointers in the opening minute to put the Eagles in front for the first time since the opening quarter. Knight wasn’t done there, as he continued to lead the charge for Newcastle with a series of contested threes and drives to the basket. His scoring surge helped propel the Eagles into a commanding position, with the team now firmly in control.

As the quarter neared its conclusion, Knight hit another three-pointer from beyond the arc, wrapping up a dominant period for the Eagles. They outscored the Lions by 14 points in the third and finished the period with a double-digit lead, a significant momentum shift heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions made a brief push back, thanks to a scorching stretch from Sean Flood. Flood scored nine unanswered points in just over a minute, pulling London within two and giving them a glimmer of hope. However, Newcastle wasn’t about to let their lead slip away. Mike Okauru stepped up with a series of dunks, lay-ups, and free throws, showing poise and leadership to help the Eagles maintain their supremacy.

As London struggled with turnovers and failed to capitalise on key opportunities, Newcastle tightened their grip on the game and held off the Lions down the stretch, eventually securing a 7-point victory.

With this win, Newcastle handed London their fourth loss of the season, putting a minor dent in their title aspirations as they look to bounce back in a couple of days.

Most Valuable Player: Seneca Knight made a huge impact from the second unit, providing Newcastle 22 points and three boards.  

Surrey 89ers 61 – 63 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks

One of the teams handed a glimmer of hope from the London loss is Sheffield, who travelled to the Surrey Sports Park on Friday to face Surrey, fresh from ending a three-game losing streak.

The game started at a fast pace, with Surrey quickly jumping out to a 5-0 lead within the first minute, as Josh Steel and Jalen Ray each connected on jump shots. However, Sheffield responded immediately, with Donovan Clay completing an and-1 play to open the scoring for the visitors. Clay then tied the game with a tough lay-up, setting the tone for an exciting back-and-forth.

Cameron Gooden put Surrey back on top with a three-pointer, but Sheffield answered right back with Prentiss Nixon hitting a three of his own, once again levelling the score. Clay and Jacob Groves then contributed with a pair of lay-ups to give Sheffield a slight advantage. A mid-range shot from Rodney Glasgow Jr. as the quarter ended pushed Sheffield ahead by six points, giving them an early lead heading into the second period.

Surrey kept fighting in the second quarter, with Dame Adelekun and Josh Steel scoring early to keep the deficit manageable. However, Sheffield started to pull away as Drake Jeffries went on a confident scoring run, finding success both inside and out.

Jeffries and Clay continued to impress, scoring from close range to extend Sheffield’s lead into double digits. Gooden refused to let Surrey fall too far behind, hitting a pair of free throws and then finishing a lay-up to reduce the gap slightly. Jamell Anderson came off the bench to hit a crucial three-pointer, and Nixon followed with a lay-up to secure a 12-point lead for Sheffield heading into the locker rooms, leaving Surrey with a tough challenge ahead.

The third quarter saw Surrey come out with renewed energy. Adelekun, Steel, and James combined for a scoring run that pulled the ‘Niners within eight points, showing signs of a potential comeback. However, Clay continued to carry the offensive load for Sheffield, keeping the Sharks’ lead intact.

Ray then put together a key sequence, hitting multiple jump shots before Steel knocked down a deep three to make it a two-point game. Anderson responded with a big jumper for Sheffield and Gooden hit one of his own to finish the quarter, leaving Surrey just two points behind as they headed into the final period with everything to play for.

In the fourth quarter, both teams traded baskets as Sheffield held onto a slim lead. Gooden hit a turn-around jumper to pull Surrey within one and Ray answered a minute later with a jumper of his own, keeping the pressure on Sheffield.

Jeffries drained a three-pointer with five minutes remaining, extending Sheffield’s lead. However, Ray kept Surrey afloat, making a pair of free throws and then sinking a three to give the home team a one-point advantage.

Ray made it a three-point game at the line, but with two minutes left, James hit a big shot to put Surrey ahead by four.

Jeffries responded for Sheffield, driving the lane to pull within two points, setting up a tense finish.

A crucial tip-in dunk from Jeffries tied the game with a minute remaining, and Surrey’s Josh Steel missed a critical three-pointer shortly after. Nixon capitalised on the missed opportunity, hitting a dramatic jumper to give Sheffield the lead.

Despite Surrey’s best efforts, they couldn’t respond, and when the final buzzer sounded, Sheffield had escaped with a two-point victory, keeping their title hopes alive.

Most Valuable Player: Donovan Clay contributed significantly for Sheffield, recording 15 points and 11 boards.

Leicester Riders 85 – 74 Caledonia Gladiators

Another title contender Leicester also played on Friday evening, facing bottom-placed Caledonia at the Mattioli Arena.

Leicester entered the game with a sense of optimism, buoyed by their position in the table, but it was Caledonia who made a strong start. Teddy Okereafor opened the scoring with a three-pointer in the opening seconds, signalling the Gladiators’ intent.

Riley Abercrombie quickly responded for Leicester, hitting a trio of free-throws and then slamming home a dunk to give the Riders a brief two-point advantage. Caledonia didn’t back down, with Princeton Onwas making a dunk of his own before Zach Jackson sank a three-pointer to put the Riders back on top.

Jackson and Charles Thompson then teamed up for an 8-2 run that stretched Leicester’s lead. As the quarter progressed, Rob Paternostro’s team continued to score steadily, led by Abercrombie’s hot hand.

Caledonia’s Trevond Barnes then exploded off the bench, scoring 11 points in just two minutes, ensuring the Gladiators stayed within striking distance. At the end of the quarter, Leicester held a narrow four-point lead.

The second quarter began with a strong response from Caledonia. Okereafor and Patrick Whelan each scored lay-ups to give the Gladiators a one-point lead, but the Riders quickly tied the game at the free-throw line.

Caledonia showed tremendous resilience, regaining the lead through Onwas, who scored from close range. The Gladiators then opened up a five-point advantage when Totonitoluwa Fagbenle delivered a thunderous dunk. Leicester responded through Ethan Wright, who drained a step-back three-pointer to narrow the gap, before Thompson and Abercrombie each scored easy looks to put the Riders back in front.

Whelan hit a pair of free throws, allowing Caledonia to reclaim the lead, but Okereafor re-established a five-point lead for the Gladiators. Leicester then went on a six-point run, swinging the momentum back in their favour. As the quarter came to a close, the Riders held a slim one-point lead heading into the break.

The third quarter saw the Riders quickly reassert themselves. Jackson drove to the basket within seconds of the restart, making it a three-point game. Whelan responded with a smooth three-pointer to level the score, but Spencer Johnson grabbed the lead back for Leicester.

Jackson then hit a contested three to push the Riders ahead by five. Caledonia’s Theodore Hughes tied the game again in under a minute, but Leicester’s offense then started to roll. Johnson hit a pair of threes and Thompson converted a lay-up, giving the Riders a nine-point lead by the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Barnes kept Caledonia in the contest with some crucial lay-ups early on. However, Leicester’s Abercrombie and Johnson combined for a string of baskets that pushed the Riders’ lead into double digits.

Barnes and Abercrombie then exchanged buckets for a few minutes, but despite the Gladiators’ best efforts, they couldn’t chip away at the deficit significantly. Leicester continued to execute their offense efficiently, with jump shots from Wright and Jaylin Hunter keeping the scoreboard ticking.

In the final minute, the Riders sealed their victory in style, as Thompson finished an alley-oop with conviction to put the cherry on top of their performance. When the final buzzer sounded, Leicester had secured an 11-point win, staying firmly in the Championship chase.

Most Valuable Player: Riley Abercrombie starred for Leicester, recording 27 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Bristol Flyers 71 – 58 Caledonia Gladiators

Caledonia didn’t have much time to regroup after their forgettable trip to Leicester, as they had to travel to Bristol’s SGS College Arena to take on the Flyers in the SLB Cup quarter final.

A tight contest was expected between two teams sitting close to each other in the Championship standings and the home crowd anticipated an exciting matchup. Bristol Flyers quickly asserted themselves, with Jared Sherfield hitting two quick three-pointers to give his team an early 6-0 lead. However, Caledonia’s Teddy Okereafor and Trevond Barnes responded swiftly, each scoring to offer early resistance for the Gladiators.

Sherfield and Demond Robinson then teamed up to hit a three-pointer each, extending the Flyers’ lead to seven points. Princeton Onwas and Patrick Whelan swiftly hit back for the visitors, both sinking three-pointers to keep Caledonia within striking distance. Onwas then coolly converted at the free-throw line, and Whelan followed with another triple to tie the game for the Gladiators.

As the first quarter neared its conclusion, Evan Walshe regained the Flyers’ advantage with a fast-break score. Leslee Smith and Owen McCormack also contributed with lay-ups, pushing Bristol to a four-point lead at the close of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Bristol extend their lead slightly, with Robinson pushing the advantage to five points within the first minute. Moments later, Caledonia’s Elijah Cain moved his team within three points, converting a pair at the line. Sherfield responded for Bristol, hitting another three-pointer to reassert the Flyers’ dominance.

Cain kept Caledonia close, scoring four consecutive points to inch them closer, but Bristol kept control. Near the end of the half, Keddy Johnson split a pair of free throws, and when the teams headed to the locker rooms, Bristol held a five-point advantage, looking poised to finish strong.

The third quarter began with Caledonia immediately narrowing the gap, as Onwas hit a three to make it a two-point game. Johnson responded with a contested three-pointer and added a free throw to extend Bristol’s lead. Robinson then added a hook shot, and Johnson finished a crafty euro-step lay-up, opening up an eight-point gap.

There was still some fight left in the visitors though; Caledonia came alive with a 10-0 run, as Okereafor and Hughes attacked the basket for lay-ups and Barnes threw down a powerful dunk to give the Gladiators a two-point lead out of nowhere.

The teams traded baskets for a minute, with Johnson and Barnes both scoring, but it was Bristol who had the final word. Johnson hit a slick lay-up in the dying seconds, giving the Flyers a one-point advantage as the quarter came to an end.

In the fourth quarter, Robinson started strong, driving through the lane, drawing a foul and converting both free throws to extend Bristol’s lead. Barnes responded with a lay-up to move Caledonia within a point but the Gladiators then went cold for three scoreless minutes, as Bristol regained the momentum. Kendall Lewis stepped up, making a pair of free throws to retain Bristol’s lead.

Despite Cain’s valiant effort to keep Caledonia in the game, the Flyers’ lead became insurmountable. Evan Walshe scored two quick buckets within 15 seconds, pushing the lead into double figures.

Johnson then sealed the win for Bristol with a step-back three-pointer, giving the Flyers a commanding finish to the game. With a 13-point victory, Bristol secured their spot in the semi-finals of the SLB Cup, where they will face the Sharks.

Most Valuable Player: Keddy Johnson put together a well-rounded performance for Bristol, recording 18 points, four boards and five dimes.

London Lions 91 – 71 Leicester Riders

Following their win just two games prior, the Riders travelled to the Copper Box Arena to take on the Lions, who looked to react to Friday’s loss and remain atop the table.

Leicester hoped to set the tone early in their pursuit of the top spot in the league, but things didn’t quite go according to plan. Charles Thompson opened the scoring for the Riders with a free throw, but London quickly responded, as Aaryn Rai hit a lay-up and followed it up with a pair of free throws to give the Lions an early lead.

Ovie Soko then took control for London, slamming home a dunk and hitting a mid-range jumper to extend their advantage. Michael Brisker also added to the scoring with a jumper of his own, keeping the hosts firmly in the lead.

However, Leicester fought back, with Spencer Johnson converting a lay-up and Ethan Wright hitting a three-pointer to swing the momentum in favour of the Riders. Jaylin Hunter and Duke Shelton then scored to push Leicester ahead by three points, but Sean Flood answered back, converting at the free-throw line and hitting a floater to regain the lead for the Lions.

Johnson’s lay-up briefly put Leicester back in front, but it would be their final moment of supremacy, as Soko once again forced his way to the line, helping the Lions close the first quarter with a narrow one-point lead.

The second quarter proved to be a turning point, as Leicester struggled to find their rhythm. The Riders endured a four-minute scoring drought while London went on a 10-0 run, fueled by Soko and Flood.

When Leicester finally scored through Wright, Lions duo Brisker and Tanner Stuckman took over, hitting jump shots with ease and pushing the lead into double digits. Leicester’s defence struggled to contain London, who had found their offensive flow and couldn’t be stopped.

Rai added a pair of jumpers late in the period, extending the Lions’ lead to 19 points as the quarter came to a close. By halftime, Leicester found themselves trailing by 16, with a tough task ahead if they were to mount a comeback.

The third quarter saw Leicester come out with renewed energy, determined to make a game of it. Riley Abercrombie immediately completed a four-point play, and Thompson followed up with an and-1 to bring Leicester back within single digits.

Soko and Brisker scored for London, but Leicester had found their rhythm, with Thompson and Abercrombie leading the charge to cut the deficit to just six points. Zach Jackson then hit a pair of free throws to make it a four-point game, but London did just enough to stay ahead, maintaining a slight advantage throughout the quarter. Duke Shelton split a pair of free throws, leaving Leicester six points behind as the game entered the final period.

In the fourth quarter, London showed why they were the league leaders. Ciaran Sandy, alongside Flood, made a series of impressive jump shots to push the lead back into double digits.

Wright and Abercrombie responded with key scores for Leicester, but London took control and never looked back. Down the stretch, Sandy and Tyler Peterson hit crucial three-pointers to widen the gap and effectively seal the victory for the Lions.

Rai also added several key buckets in the final minutes, and when the final buzzer sounded, London had secured a dominant 20-point win, further solidifying their position at the top of the league.

Most Valuable Player: In an impressive team display, Aaryn Rai led scoring with 17. He also pulled down 10 boards and dished out three assists.

Cheshire Phoenix 106 – 103 Newcastle Eagles

Over at the Cheshire Oaks Arena, the Eagles arrived to take on the Phoenix in a Sunday evening contest. Newcastle hoped to carry over the momentum of their Friday night victory over London, while Cheshire entered the game on a three-game winning streak.

The game got off to a predictably competitive start, with both teams exchanging early blows. Larry Austin Jr. and Bobby Planutis hit early shots for Cheshire, while Trey Pulliam responded for Newcastle with a combination of inside and outside scoring to level the game.

Skyler White then made a momentum-shifting three-pointer for the Phoenix, giving them a brief advantage. Nick Timberlake followed up with a mid-range jumper to extend Cheshire’s lead. Newcastle quickly answered, as Christian James hit a lay-up and jumper combination to pull his team within two points. A minute later, Mike Okauru hit a mid-range shot to put the Eagles a point ahead.

Timberlake responded for Cheshire, sinking a contested three-pointer to temporarily regain the lead, but Okauru hit another lay-up to tie it up. The teams then traded baskets for a few minutes until Okauru completed a four-point play, opening a gap for the visiting Eagles.

Seneca Knight came off the bench and hit a three-pointer, helping Newcastle maintain the lead, and despite an easy score from Tyreek Scott-Grayson for Cheshire, the Phoenix trailed by four at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Okauru continued his stellar play, completing an and-1 to push the Eagles’ lead to seven points. He and Knight then teamed up, launching Newcastle to a nine-point advantage midway through the period.

Just when it seemed like Cheshire was falling behind, Timberlake stepped up again, sinking free throws and hitting a big-time three-pointer to bring the Phoenix back within striking distance. Scott-Grayson then tied the game with an aggressive driving lay-up and the teams went blow-for-blow for a couple of minutes.

However, Knight took control, hitting a string of jumpers and free throws to re-open a Newcastle lead. Planutis chipped away for Cheshire at the end of the half, hitting free throws and driving for a buzzer-beating lay-up, reducing the deficit to just two points as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

The third quarter saw Timberlake strike quickly, converting an and-1 to help Cheshire stave off a surging Newcastle offence. Knight hit back with a dunk and a trip to the line, earning the Eagles another lead. As the quarter developed, the lead bounced back and forth like a game of Pong. Austin earned multiple trips to the free-throw line, keeping Cheshire in the contest and exchanging leads with the determined Eagles.

Scott-Grayson hit a three-pointer, only for Knight to respond with a deep bomb of his own. Another Knight three-pointer later in the period helped Newcastle open up a six-point lead. Austin Jr. split a pair of free throws, leaving Cheshire trailing by five as the game entered the final period.

As the fourth quarter began, things started to look bleak for Cheshire. Okauru hit a three-pointer to extend Newcastle’s lead to eight points. White answered with another timely three for Cheshire, keeping the deficit within reach. Timberlake and De’Sean Allen-Eikens traded three-pointers, but Newcastle maintained their advantage.

Cameron Holden injected some urgency into Cheshire’s performance with a put-back dunk, closing the gap to just four points. Timberlake then drove aggressively to the basket, scoring a lay-up to bring Cheshire within two points.

Despite shots from Knight and Pulliam to keep the Eagles ahead, Cheshire continued to push. Timberlake and Holden relentlessly attacked the basket, cutting the deficit to just three points midway through the period.

Knight hit another three-pointer to maintain the Eagles’ lead, but Timberlake wasn’t done yet. With three minutes left on the clock, he hit another long three to pull Cheshire within a single point.

Okauru then hit three free throws to push Newcastle’s lead back to four, while Knight extended it to five with a free throw of his own with exactly one minute left. However, Timberlake answered with both another clutch three-pointer and followed it up with a tough interior make in the space of seven seconds to tie the game.

With the score tied and 33 seconds left, the ball found Knight’s hands and he forced his way to the line, smoothly converting to regain a two-point advantage for the Eagles.

When called upon, Timberlake once again delivered, completing a successful trip to the charity stripe to tie the game with 33 seconds left. With the game on the line, Newcastle committed a costly 24-second violation turnover, giving Cheshire a platform to pull off a dramatic win.

When the teams re-emerged from a timeout, the ball found who else but Timberlake, who drove the home crowd into a frenzy with a game-winning three, sending Newcastle home with nothing.

Most Valuable Player: Unfortunately for the equally impressive Seneca Knight, Nick Timberlake led his team to victory with an incredible performance. The American guard recorded 37 points, five boards and four assists in an awesome display.

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