The penultimate week of SLB Championship action was littered with drama and edge-of-your-seat action.
Cheshire took control of the second spot in the standings with a pair of wins this week. Meanwhile, there were four instant classics on Friday, where all games were decided by three points.
London Lions 92-95 Cheshire Phoenix
Cheshire Phoenix survived a furious late run by the champions, London Lions, to take a 95-92 victory at the Copper Box Arena on Friday.
Pat Robinson was the hero with a game-high 28 points and five assists for the Phoenix, who looked like they were coasting to the finish line with under a minute to play, when the Lions made a desperate attempt to salvage something by going on an 8-0 run to leave the game on a cliffhanger ending.
But with London having the final possession off a miss by Robinson at the other end, the hosts had the chance to take the game to overtime, but Mo Soluade decided to pass instead, leaving Robinson with an easy steal as time expired.
Tarik Philip had 18 to lead the Lions.
Surrey 89ers 117-120 Caledonia Gladiators (AOT)
In their longest road trip of the season, the Caledonia Gladiators produced a miracle in Guildford to edge the Surrey 89ers 120-117 at Surrey Sports Park.
Kino Lily Jr. looked to have settled the game with two seconds left as he scored an open lay-up to give Surrey a 104-101 lead. But on the buzzer, Matthew Ragsdale heaved a near half-court heave, which insanely went in, taking the game to overtime to a stunned silence.
In a tense extra period, the Gladiators edged matters thanks to cool heads at the foul line, as Surrey looks back on this game as one that truly got away. For Caledonia, who have missed the playoffs, the focus is on finishing their campaign on a high note.
Ragsdale and Rian Holland had 21 points apiece for the winners, with Tyrin Lawrence being assist-shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists for the Niners.
Leicester Riders 98-101 Manchester Basketball
Manchester Basketball overcame a shorthanded Leicester Riders side 101-98 at the Mattoli Arena, as Jordan Johnson broke the hosts’ hearts with seconds remaining.
Johnson buried a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left to seal a hard-fought win for Manchester, who had squandered a 17-point lead to trail by one with 90 seconds left. But with second place at stake, they came good. Just.
Johnson would finish with 26 points and seven assists for Manchester. Flynn Boardman-Raffet had a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Riders.
Newcastle Eagles 82-85 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks relied on free throws to see them past the Newcastle Eagles 85-82 at the Vertu Motors Arena.
Dirk Williams iced the contest from the foul line to end with 18 points. Nick Kern Jr. led the way for the victors with 24.
For the Eagles, it was an opportunity that ultimately went begging, as they gave up an 18-point lead and, at times, looked comfortable before finishing too relaxed, allowing the Sharks to pounce.
Ray’Sean Taylor had 24 points and seven assists for the Eagles.
Manchester Basketball 86-91 London Lions
London Lions rebounded from their heartbreak to the Phoenix on Friday by downing Manchester Basketball 91-86 in front of a packed house at the NBPC.
Kam McGusty top-scored with 24 points and five assists for the Lions, who put a dent in Manchester’s hopes for second spot with a win, having come back from eight points down. Tarik Philip added 17.
Pat Smith Jr. amassed 22 points for the hosts.
Cheshire Phoenix 111-101 Caledonia Gladiators
Manchester’s loss on Sunday was Cheshire Phoenix’s gain as they ousted the Caledonia Gladiators 111-101 in Ellesmere Port to strengthen their grip on second.
The hosts had to come from behind to get the win, though, as they turned a 56-49 deficit at the half into an 81-75 lead heading into the final period, and they withstood early fourth quarter pressure to secure a priceless win.
New Zealander Tobias Cameron had 21 points for the Phoenix, helped by 20 from Michael Diggins. Matthew Ragsdale had a team-high 18 for Caledonia.
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 80-92 Leicester Riders
After heartbreak on Friday, the Leicester Riders pulled off an impressive 92-80 road victory over the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks at the Canon Medical Arena.
A 30-16 first quarter paved the way to a deserved win for the Riders as Tavis Evee led the way with 21 points, supported by Flynn Boardman-Raffet, who had 20.
Fahro Alihodzic paced Sheffield with 16 points, which was matched by Dirk Williams on a Sunday afternoon to forget for the Sharks.
Bristol Flyers 79-89 Surrey 89ers
Surrey 89ers also bounced back from a haunting loss on Friday to beat the stumbling Bristol Flyers 89-79 at the WISE Campus.
Kino Lily Jr. went for 32 points for the victors, who took advantage of a Bristol side out of form at the moment, having now lost four of their last five games.
Cameron Christon had 15 for the Flyers.