Leicester stay alive, Manchester come back, Cheshire do the double over Surrey and Sheffield experience mixed results in exciting week of action

The Sharks struggled to fully capitalise on a double-game week, but pulled closer to league-leading Lions, alongside victorious Riders.

Cheshire Phoenix 112 – 78 Surrey 89ers

Mid-table Cheshire welcomed lowly Surrey to the Cheshire Oaks Arena on Friday night, tipping off a week of Championship action.

Nick Timberlake set the tone early, knocking down a three-pointer and following it up with a pair of free throws, giving Cheshire an early lead. Mervin James quickly responded for Surrey, scoring a lay-up and a free throw, while Cameron Gooden’s tough lay-up tied the game.

However, Cheshire soon regained control, as Tyreek Scott-Grayson, coming off the bench, combined with Timberlake to extend their lead. Jalen Ray tried to keep the 89ers in the contest, but Larry Austin Jr. pushed the Phoenix further ahead with a mid-range jumper. Skyler White also contributed, hitting a three-pointer as Cheshire ended the first quarter with a 13-point advantage.

Surrey’s Dame Adelekun and White exchanged baskets to start the second quarter, but it was Scott-Grayson who really ignited the Phoenix offence. He hit a pair of mid-range shots and kept the ball moving effectively, maintaining Cheshire’s lead. Timberlake added a three-pointer and hit a free throw to keep the Phoenix comfortably ahead by double digits.

Surrey continued to battle, with Ray and James trying to make a dent in the deficit, but Scott-Grayson’s impressive scoring continued as he knocked down a series of tough lay-ups. Timberlake’s close-range basket ensured Cheshire went into halftime with an 18-point lead.

The 89ers came out strong in the third quarter, with Ray hitting two quick three-pointers to cut the lead. However, Cheshire quickly answered back, as White continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc and Austin Jr. finished some difficult lay-ups.

Scott-Grayson then went on a personal scoring spree, draining a three-pointer, making a lay-up, and hitting an elbow jumper in a one-minute stretch, extending the lead to 24 points. Surrey’s Ray managed to hit a couple of free throws, but when Scott-Grayson added another three-pointer, Cheshire finished the third quarter with a commanding 25-point lead.

In the final quarter, the Phoenix turned to their bench, and Greg Wild repaid the trust, opening the period with a three-pointer to push the lead to 28 points. Wild then teamed up with Scott-Grayson, who delivered a dunk followed by another three-pointer, extending the lead to 30.

Surrey’s Ray and Adelekun fought hard to the end, but Cheshire had an answer for every point. Wild and Bobby Planutis kept the Phoenix ticking, and Scott-Grayson capped off the game with another dunk. By the final buzzer, Cheshire had secured a dominant 34-point victory.

Most Valuable Player: Tyreek Scott-Grayson made an enormous impact for Cheshire’s second unit, recording 30 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Bristol Flyers 76 – 62 Manchester Basketball

Two teams close in the Championship table also met on Friday, when Manchester arrived at SGS College Arena to take on Bristol.

Demond Robinson set the tone early by throwing down a dunk. His opening basket sparked the Flyers, giving them an early lead. However, Manchester quickly responded with a three-pointer from Donovan Mitchell, taking a brief advantage. Alain Louis earned an ‘and-1’ play to tie the game for the Flyers, and he continued his strong play by going back-and-forth with Elijah Ifejeh, as both players traded baskets throughout the first quarter.

Ian Dubose gave Manchester another boost, combining a three-pointer with a transition dunk to add some offensive punch. But Bristol responded with Kendall Lewis and Keddy Johnson, who helped reduce the deficit. Lewis finished a lay-up to tie the game at 17 points apiece as the first quarter came to a close, setting the stage for an intense contest.

The second quarter saw both teams continuing to exchange leads. Robinson put Bristol back in front early with another basket, but Mitchell once again answered with a deep jumper to give Manchester the lead. The teams swapped leads for a few minutes, before Bristol started to build momentum.

Johnson and Leslee Smith combined to put the Flyers ahead, and Evan Walshe added a transition basket to push the advantage further. Owen McCormack came off the bench with a big slam, and his energy fueled Bristol’s offence as they started to pull away. McCormack continued to impress, and by the time the teams headed into the locker rooms at halftime, Bristol had established a solid 14-point lead.

Coming out of the break, the Flyers continued to dominate. Louis and Robinson worked together for a pair of baskets from close range, expanding the lead to 20 points. Manchester tried to respond, with Jonas Zohore making a tough lay-up and hitting a free throw to keep the visitors in the game, but Bristol quickly answered. Johnson laid it in, and McCormack hit another three-pointer, extending the Flyers’ lead back to 15 points.

Manchester struggled as the quarter wore on, missing multiple shots, while Bristol’s Louis and Lewis continued to increase the gap. Mitchell’s late lay-up brought Manchester’s deficit to 17 points as the teams entered the final period.

The Flyers were determined to close out the game and not let Manchester mount a comeback. Walshe, who was playing against his former team, opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up to extend the lead. Manchester refused to go down without a fight, with Cody John driving for a score, Mitchell throwing down a dunk, and Nathan Cayo scoring from close range to trim the lead to 12 points. But Bristol answered back quickly, with Lewis making a free throw and then dunking the ball to squash any hopes of a Manchester rally.

Despite a few strong efforts from Dubose and Cayo, Manchester couldn’t stop Bristol’s offense. Down the stretch, Johnson and Lewis took over, securing the win for the Flyers. When the final buzzer sounded, Bristol had earned a convincing 14-point victory.

Most Valuable Player: Kendall Lewis stood out in an impressive team performance for Bristol, logging 21 points, six boards and an assist.

Caledonia Gladiators 66 – 88 Leicester Riders

Bottom-placed Gladiators welcomed the Riders to the Playsport Arena on Friday. With London pulling away from the pack in the Championship table, albeit with extra games under their belt, Leicester needed a win to keep their fading title hopes alive.  

The Gladiators made the stronger start, with Trevond Barnes opening the scoring with a smooth mid-range fadeaway. Leicester quickly responded through Zach Jackson, who drove aggressively to the basket, tying the game and kicking off an impressive individual performance. Riley Abercrombie briefly put the Riders ahead with a free throw, but Barnes answered back, levelling the score once again.

Caledonia then seized the momentum when Jett Speelman entered the game and immediately hit a three-pointer to give the Gladiators the lead. From there, Jonny Bunyan’s team continued to build on their advantage, with Fraser Malcolm and Devearl Ramsey adding baskets to push Caledonia further ahead.

Leicester struggled to score for a couple of minutes before Ethan Wright stepped up for the Riders’ second unit, finishing a tough lay-up to shrink the margin. Speelman responded by scoring again, but Leicester relied on their bench as Duke Shelton made an immediate impact, scoring a dunk, a mid-range jumper, and a lay-up in quick succession, cutting the lead to just four points.

Former Leicester guard Patrick Whelan then hit two quick shots for Caledonia, widening the gap once more. Spencer Johnson hit a three-pointer for Leicester shortly after, but by the end of the first quarter, the Gladiators held an eight-point lead.

Leicester came out with more urgency to start the second quarter. Wright opened the period with a three-pointer, giving the Riders a much-needed boost. Princeton Onwas responded for Caledonia with a lay-up, but Jackson followed with two free throws, bringing Leicester to within three points. Shelton and Jaylin Hunter both scored easy lay-ups to give Leicester a brief lead. However, Barnes hit a three and a hook shot in consecutive possessions to retake the advantage for Caledonia.

The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, with Shelton and Wright answering for Leicester and Barnes and Ramsey scoring for Caledonia. The Gladiators managed to keep Leicester at bay, and as the teams headed into the locker rooms, Caledonia maintained a slim three-point lead.

The third quarter saw Leicester come out strong. Spencer Johnson hit a three-pointer to tie the game, then followed it up with free throws to give the Riders the lead. Caledonia responded, with Whelan briefly tying the game before Abercrombie put Leicester back on top with a lay-up.

Jackson earned another trip to the free-throw line, extending Leicester’s lead. Speelman, however, had a strong offensive run for the Gladiators, hitting a floater and a jump shot to pull the game level again.

Jackson then took over for Leicester, knocking down two step-back three-pointers to give the Riders a six-point lead. He added a free throw, and by the end of the third quarter, Leicester were ahead by seven points.

In the final period, Caledonia seemed to tire, and Leicester took full advantage. Wright hit a three and a lay-up to stretch the lead to 12 points. The two teams then traded buckets for a while, with Speelman and Wright exchanging scores. Leicester then put together a scoring burst from multiple players, with Wright, Abercrombie, and Jackson all contributing to a growing lead.

Caledonia endured a rough scoreless spell, allowing Leicester to widen the gap dramatically. Wright’s lay-ups, Abercrombie’s three-pointers, and Jackson’s pull-up shots sealed the deal for the Riders. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Leicester had secured a dominant 22-point victory, keeping their title dreams alive.

Most Valuable Player: Zach Jackson played a major role for Leicester, adding 12 boards and two dishes to his 23-point scoring display.

Newcastle Eagles 80 – 67 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks

At the Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle played host to second-placed Sheffield, who also needed a win to chase London.

Sheffield’s Donovan Clay made a positive start, opening the scoring with a confident lay-up, but Newcastle quickly answered. Darius Defoe scored from close range and Mike Okauru hit a three-pointer to give the Eagles an early lead. Sheffield’s Prentiss Nixon responded, attempting to claw back the early deficit.

Seneca Knight then entered the game for Newcastle, hitting a mid-range step-back jumper to extend their lead. A few minutes later, Knight combined another close shot with a three-pointer, increasing the Eagles’ advantage to eight points. Sheffield’s Jacob Groves and James Reese V found some rhythm, hitting a pair of triples, but Cole Long provided a scoring punch off the bench for Newcastle, leaving them up by six at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Marc Steutel’s team come out strong again. Long, together with Christian James, contributed both inside and outside to widen the margin for Newcastle. The Eagles then went on a scoring run, hitting a mix of long-range shots and floaters, extending their lead to 14 points. Sheffield fought back, with Nixon combining a three-pointer with an easy basket to shrink the deficit to seven.

Rickey McGill then completed an ‘and-1’ play, bringing Sheffield to within two points. However, a Defoe jumper and a powerful dunk from Josh Ward-Hibbert restored Newcastle’s lead, and by halftime, they were ahead by six points.

After the break, Cole Long led Newcastle in a strong start to the third quarter, but Sheffield’s Knight responded in kind, hitting two deep three-pointers to extend the Eagles’ lead into double digits. De’sean Allen-Eikens made a lay-up and converted a free throw, briefly narrowing the gap, and Groves continued to contribute, hitting free throws to pull Sheffield closer. Nixon also made some key shots, both inside and from beyond the arc, helping Sheffield finish the third quarter trailing by four.

The fourth quarter began with Nixon hitting a floater to bring Sheffield within a single point. However, Allen-Eikens quickly answered with a floating jumper of his own, keeping the Sharks at bay. Okauru and Allen-Eikens then combined for an offensive surge, increasing Newcastle’s lead to eight points. Sheffield’s Clay scored six points in a minute, attempting to bring the Sharks back into the game.

Knight had the answer for the Eagles, scoring from beyond the arc and then driving through the lane for a dunk, pushing Newcastle’s lead back to nine points and putting Sheffield’s comeback hopes out of reach. In the final seconds, Long iced the game with free throws, sealing a 13-point victory for Newcastle and damaging Sheffield’s championship hopes.

Most Valuable Player: Seneca Knight stood out in a tremendous team performance, leading Newcastle with 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Surrey 89ers 71 – 94 Cheshire Phoenix

Surrey welcomed Cheshire to the Surrey Sports Park on Saturday evening for their second showdown of the week, with the hosts looking for their eighth win and visitors hoping to lock up fourth place.

The 89ers got off to a strong star, with Dame Adelekun opening the scoring with a lay-up. However, Cheshire quickly responded through Skyler White and Cameron Holden, who combined for six points in just 30 seconds, pushing the Phoenix ahead.

Surrey kept pace with a shootout, as Jalen Ray and Mervin James hit from beyond the arc, but a White three-pointer kept Cheshire in front. Ray’s successful free throws briefly put Surrey ahead, but Larry Austin Jr. stepped up for Cheshire, regaining the lead.

Surrey then went on an 11-0 run to close the first quarter, with lay-ups from Adelekun, Cameron Gooden, and a jumper from James, giving the 89ers a 10-point advantage heading into the second quarter.

The second period started with a dunk from Surrey’s Jordan Hunt, followed by a pushback from Cheshire’s TJ Atwood. Adelekun dunked for Surrey to maintain their double-digit lead, but Cheshire responded with threes from White and Nick Timberlake, pulling the Phoenix closer.

Holden’s basket made it a five-point game, but Surrey answered with a quick four points from James, stretching their lead back to nine. However, Cheshire then fired back with a 9-0 run, led by bench players Tyreek Scott-Grayson and Bobby Planutis. Despite quick scores from Gooden and De-Jani Parkinson, Surrey went into halftime with a narrow two-point lead.

Out of the break, Atwood tied the game with a lay-up, but James and Adelekun combined for a strong run, capped by a triple, to put Surrey up by five. Timberlake and Holden kept Cheshire in the game, and another strong run at the end of the third, led by White, Austin Jr., and Planutis, gave Cheshire a one-point lead heading into the final period.

In the fourth, Cheshire carried their momentum, with Scott-Grayson scoring twice and Holden adding a floater. Surrey struggled with turnovers – eventually finishing on 10 more than their opponents, allowing Cheshire to capitalise.

The Phoenix pulled away, stretching their lead to 19 points. Despite a late rally from Surrey, Cheshire held firm, and when White hit his final three-pointer, the Phoenix secured a commanding 23-point victory.

Most Valuable Player: Cameron Holden did it all, adding five boards and nine assists to his 18-point scoring performance.

B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 80 – 73 Newcastle Eagles

After experiencing something of an upset loss in Newcastle two days prior, the Sharks welcomed the Eagles to the Canon Medical Arena for a chance at revenge.

Sheffield made an explosive start to the game, with Donovan Clay leading the charge. He combined free throws and a smooth turnaround jumper, while Rickey McGill added a lay-up. Drake Jeffries and Prentiss Nixon both hit three-pointers, helping the Sharks open the game with a 16-0 run.

Despite going scoreless for the first five minutes, Trey Pulliam got Newcastle going, scoring from inside and out to stop the bleeding. The Eagles responded with a 10-0 run, capped off by a tough lay-up from Seneca Knight. However, Sheffield’s Jacob Groves came off the bench to hit a three-pointer and add a lay-up in the final minute, leaving the Sharks with an eight-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

McGill opened the second period with a quick score, but Newcastle fought back through Mike Okauru and Cole Long, who both found their scoring rhythm, pulling the Eagles closer. McGill earned multiple trips to the free-throw line, and Clay hit a mid-range shot, while Groves added an uncontested jumper to push Sheffield’s lead back into double digits.

As the quarter progressed, Knight continued to impress for Newcastle, scoring a turnaround jumper and an aggressive drive to the basket to bring the Eagles back within one point. The Sharks held a narrow two-point lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Clay and Nixon extended Sheffield’s lead early on, with both scoring inside. Long and Clay then exchanged buckets for several minutes, keeping Sheffield’s lead intact. Jeffries and Groves hit consecutive three-pointers to push the Sharks’ advantage to nine, and McGill continued to pile up the points with a lay-up and free throws, making it a 13-point game.

Newcastle responded with inside and outside scoring from Long and James, but Nixon and James Reese V combined for a scoring flurry that gave Sheffield a 13-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Newcastle came out strong in the fourth, with Long hitting a three-pointer and Josh Ward-Hibbert adding a lay-up to cut the deficit. A floater from McGill was answered by a lay-up from Ward-Hibbert, keeping the game tight.

Groves and Clay then responded with key baskets to stretch the lead back to 11, but Knight hit another three to keep Newcastle within striking distance at eight points. McGill continued to score consistently for Sheffield, maintaining control of the game.

With two minutes remaining, De’Sean Allen-Eikens provided a scoring burst for Newcastle, bringing the game to within four points. However, Nixon forced his way to the line and McGill split a pair of free throws, sealing the victory for Sheffield.

Most Valuable Player: Rickey McGill played a starring role for Sheffield, recording 19 points, four rebounds and eight assists.

Manchester Basketball 93 – 91 Caledonia Gladiators

In the final game of the week, Manchester welcomed Caledonia to the National Basketball Performance Centre, in Sunday night hoops.

Jett Speelman set the tone early, opening the scoring with a lay-up and awarding Jonny Bunyan for starting him, before Devearl Ramsey hit from mid-range to give Caledonia the early lead. Manchester quickly responded as Zak Irvin scored a couple of lay-ups, tying the game after just a few minutes.

Speelman and Irvin traded baskets as the teams went back and forth, with Trevond Barnes putting the Gladiators ahead midway through the period. Ian Dubose answered for Manchester with a mid-range jumper followed by a tough lay-up, regaining the lead for the hosts. Speelman then combined with Fahro Alihodzic for a scoring run, pushing Caledonia ahead once more. Despite a pair of successful attempts from Ramsey, Donovan Mitchell and Kyle Carey hit for Manchester, bringing the game to a single-point margin by the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with a three from Ramsey, which helped Caledonia regain the lead. Fraser Malcolm followed up with a close-range basket, putting the Gladiators ahead by four. Malcolm scored again a couple of minutes later, and Speelman contributed further, helping Caledonia push the advantage to nine.

Manchester fought back with lay-ups from Mitchell and Irvin, but Speelman and Ramsey responded with threes, increasing the gap to 13 points. As the half wound down, Marcus Delpeche made an impact off the bench for Manchester, combining a lay-up with a dunk to reduce the deficit to nine.

In the third quarter, Manchester’s Mitchell hit a three-pointer to start the period, but Patrick Whelan and Speelman responded with a triple and a dunk to extend the Gladiators’ lead back beyond double digits. Manchester continued to fight, as Irvin and Mitchell made jumpers to narrow the gap to six points.

Makai Ashton-Langford then converted a pair of free throws, followed by another Irvin jumper, bringing the game within four. The teams exchanged baskets for a few minutes, with Irvin hitting another three to pull the hosts to within a single point. Malcolm and Whelan found scoring opportunities for Caledonia, widening the gap back to six points. Mitchell responded with a jumper, and Manchester finished the third quarter trailing by four.

The final period saw Manchester come out strong, with Irvin hitting a lay-up to make it a two-point game. Ashton-Langford tied the game a minute into the quarter. The teams then played a tense back-and-forth, but Speelman stepped up, combining with Malcolm for a pair of threes to push the Gladiators’ lead to seven.

Mitchell and Dubose led a strong response for Manchester, and Irvin nailed a three-pointer to level the score with three minutes remaining. Malcolm hit another triple to move Caledonia ahead, but Delpeche and Mitchell combined to edge Manchester ahead by a point. With just a minute left, Barnes made a difficult lay-up, putting Caledonia back in front.

With 30 seconds remaining, Mitchell drove to the basket, earning a trip to the line. He split a pair of free throws to tie the game, then followed up with a clutch three-pointer to give Manchester a three-point lead. Malcolm missed a chance to tie the game with a three of his own, and Caledonia was forced to foul. Mitchell took care of business at the free-throw line, sealing the game for Manchester and completing a dramatic comeback victory. Despite a final three from Speelman, Manchester held on to win by two as the buzzer sounded.

Most Valuable Player: Donovan Mitchell – along with Zak Irvin – impressed enormously for Manchester. Mitchell recorded 30 points, four boards and six assists on his way to a comeback W.

You can watch all of the SLB action live and for free on DAZN and follow our social channels for all of the latest content by clicking this link.