QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“They are improving in every game they play and Paul Douglas is doing a fantastic job there.
“They are going to do everything they can to get that first win and you expect nothing less from a team coached by Paul.”

John LAVERY

PHOENIX HEAD COACH

London Lions continued their pursuit of the top four as they won their sixth consecutive game at the Copperbox, beating Glasgow Rocks 81-65. Rod Brown (pictured) led the Lions once more with 19 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds, with Chez Marks scoring 13. The Lions out-rebounded the Rocks 52-31 as they clamped down on defence and capitalised on lacklustre execution from the visitors.

That was the case from the outset, as Lions stormed into a 7-0 lead, with five for Marks, and the Rocks were scoreless for the opening three and a half minutes of the game, making only one of their first nine shots. But the Lions didn’t capitalise until an irrepressible 13-3 surge – for a 31-21 lead – in the second stanza as, again, it took the Rocks nearly four minutes to register.

Antonio DiMaria’s three-pointer got the visitors going, and sparked a flurry of triples to dig them out of a hole. Fran Urli and Sterling Davis, twice, connected from long range in a 10-2 run that made it a one possession game once more at 33-31. The Lions regained their balance and Rod Brown’s five points in the run up to half time helped them to a 42-37 edge. For the Lions, the back court pairing of Brown (13) and Marks (11) had scored more than half of the team’s points. The Rocks shot 25% (5/20) from the field but 47% (7/15) from beyond the arc in the first half.

The teams traded baskets in a cagey third quarter, before the Lions reasserted themselves in the decisive fourth quarter to win the game. Gareth Murray’s triple initially got them to within one shot at 55-52, but a 10-3 spell from the hosts sparked by Marks and capped by three points from Nick Freer gave the Lions a double-digit lead at 65-55 with six minutes to play, and they did not relinquish it.

Leicester Riders are top of the BBL Championship after a 75-69 double-overtime victory against One Health Sharks Sheffield. The teams were locked together at 60-60 and 66-66 all at the end of regulation and the first overtime period before Riders had the better of the final five minutes of play.

Cheshire Phoenix ensured Birmingham Knights remain winless with an 89-71 victory in the West Midlands. The Knights out-scored their visitors in the first and fourth quarters but such was Cheshire’s dominance in the second and third periods the win was relatively comfortable.

Plymouth University Raiders made it a long journey home for Glasgow Rocks with a 95-83 win in Devon. The match was tight through three quarters before the Raiders pulled away in the final stanza.

Worcester Wolves are back on top of the BBL Championship after Will Creekmore and Zaire Taylor combined for 49 points in their 95-80 victory at Manchester Giants. Creekmore (26 points) and Taylor (23 points and 11 assists) helped the Wolves overcome a slow start to pull away in the second half.

Cheshire Phoenix are one of the BBL’s most in form teams with the big three of Dominique Coleman, Reggie Middleton and Victor Moses combining to beat Plymouth University Raiders in Devon. Phoenix, who have won six in a row, had all of their starters hit double figures but Coleman (30 points), Middleton (28 points) and Moses (21 points) were the backbone of a 100-84 victory.

Surrey United are getting closer to their first BBL victory but were eventually beaten 79-69 at home by Durham Wildcats. Brandon McGill scored 20 points and United led at half time 38-30 but Danny Huffor’s game high 25 points helped the visitors come through in the second half.