The B. Braun Sheffield Sharks will end 2024 on top of the Super League Basketball Championship standings after a pair of wins to see out the year.
London Lions and Leicester Riders are hot on their tail though as the top three begin to create some space from the remaining six sides.
Newcastle Eagles 84-92 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks
Prentiss Nixon was unconscious from three-point land as he helped B. Braun Sheffield Sharks to a 92-84 road win over the Newcastle Eagles.
Nixon went 6/10 from deep and shot 50% from the floor for a 28-point haul, along with seven rebounds. Rodney Chatman III added 23 with five rebounds and eight assists thrown in as Sheffield bounced back to their loss to the London Lions.
Christian James led the Eagles with 21 points, shooting 5/7 from three-point land in a game where both teams connected on a combined 23 triples.
And it was a triple from Chatman with 3:49 to go in the first that gave the Sharks the lead for good at 15-13 as they built an advantage throughout, dropping Newcastle to a second straight loss.
MVP: Prentiss Nixon (B.Braun Sheffield Sharks)
Leicester Riders 83-74 Bristol Flyers
A strong first quarter proved to be the difference maker for the Leicester Riders as they saw-off the Bristol Flyers 83-74 at the Mattoli Arena.
Comfortably leading 28-13 after one and 41-22 midway through the second, Leicester were in firm control for the first 15 minutes until the Flyers started chipping away at the lead. However, the closest Bristol got was five points as they were convincingly beaten.
Zach Jackson led the winners with 20 points with Charles Thompson going a perfect 6/6 from the field for his 12 points and six rebounds.
Keddy Johnson paced the Flyers with 20 but were hampered by only shooting 45% from the field, shooting two more attempts than their counterparts, who went 53%.
MVP: Charles Thompson (Leicester Riders)
Caledonia Gladiators 85-91 Manchester Basketball
The resurgence of Manchester Basketball continues as they secured their second win of the season over the Caledonia Gladiators and third in a row.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 26 points, Nathan Cayo added 20 and Ian Dubose amassed 11 with six rebounds and eight assists as Manchester claimed a 91-85 win in Scotland.
The depleted Gladiators did keep the game competitive, only playing a six-man rotation with two players playing the full 40 minutes. Jared Wilson-Frame led the way with 19 points.
But Manchester’s strength in depth was key in helping them secure another victory, as they continue to climb up the SLB Championship table.
MVP: Donovan Mitchell (Manchester Basketball)
London Lions 94-76 Cheshire Phoenix
London Lions used Cheshire Phoenix’s unavoidable and horrendous journey to the capital to their advantage with a 94-76 win at the CopperBox.
The Lions held Phoenix to just 38% from the floor, while the hosts shot a superb 60%, leading by as many as 22 points in a game that had to be delayed by 20 minutes due to Cheshire running late because of heavy post-Christmas traffic around London.
Despite the delay, the Phoenix did come out the gate strong and even led 19-18 after the first ten minutes. But almost immediately into the second, London stamped their authority on matters and with tired legs noticeable from the visitors, the result was only heading one way.
Michael Brisker led four Lions players in double figures with 17 points. Ciaran Sandy and Jaiden Delaire both had 16 with the latter adding six rebounds and four steals to his tally.
Skyler White went 6/13 from three-point land for his game-high 20 for the Phoenix.
MVP: Jaiden Delaire (London Lions)
B. Braun Sheffield Sharks 82-77 Surrey 89ers
The B.Braun Sheffield Sharks overcame a torrid first half to secure a hard-fought 82-77 victory over the Surrey 89ers at the Canon Medical Arena.
The result was certainly a bitter blow for Surrey, who were by far the better team in the opening two periods of play but were unable to build on it, as they were held to just 10 points in the third quarter, losing their lead and never regaining it.
Donovan Clay shot 69% from the floor for his 19 points along with nine rebounds and two blocks for Sheffield. Prentiss Nixon added 17.
Mervin James provided Surrey’s spark with 19 points, as they squandered an 11-point lead in the first half to lose this encounter.
MVP: Donovan Clay (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks)
Cheshire Phoenix 87-69 Caledonia Gladiators
Nick Timberlake and Bobby Plantius quickly settled into their new surroundings as Cheshire Phoenix scored their first win in three games over the Caledonia Gladiators.
Timberlake hit three triples and went for 17 points and Planitus added 16 for the Phoenix as they overcame a poor first half to beat Caledonia 87-69 in Ellesmere Port.
Trailing 42-39 at the half, Cheshire recovered to out score their Scottish counterparts 48-27 in the third and fourth quarter, as Caledonia’s lack of depth showed and fatigue crept in.
Jared Wilson-Frame led all scorers with 24 points in vain for the Gladiators.
MVP: Bobby Plantius (Cheshire Phoenix)
Leicester Riders 84-75 London Lions
Leicester Riders saw out the year in style with an 84-75 victory over the London Lions at the Mattoli Arena.
A see-saw battle swung permanently in favour of the Riders at the midway point of the third quarter when a 9-0 run gave them the lead and despite a fightback from the Lions late on, Leicester were always in control as Rob Paternostro’s side strengthen their grip of third.
Ethan Wright led six Leicester players in double figures with 21 points, supported by a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds from Charles Thompson, who also swatted away six shots.
Jaiden Delaire paced London with 16 points and eight rebounds.
MVP: Charles Thompson (Leicester Riders)
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