QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Both teams will certainly recognise each other, it’s very rare that two teams are meeting each other for the fourth time and you are only in early December.

“When these two teams have got together they have played spirited games and I think there is mutual respect there. It’s a tough league this year, with a lot of tough games, and Glasgow is certainly one of those.”

ROB PATERNOSTRO

RIDERS’ HEAD COACH

Friday night in the BBL Championship saw one run continue and one come to an end as Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks won their respective local derbies.

League leaders Eagles brushed aside North East rivals Durham Wildcats 99-83 to stretch their unbeaten league sequence to 11 games and tighten their grip on top spot.

The reigning champions pulled away from their visitors in the third quarter as their balanced and efficient scoring proved too much for Wildcats, who slip to a 5-8 league record.

Six Eagles scored in double figures, Scott Martin leading them with 23 points, including five three-pointers, while Christopher Jones scored 20 in a losing effort for Durham.

Last season’s BBL Championship runners-up, Sharks, showed they were the best in Yorkshire on Friday, overcoming neighbours Leeds Force 71-52 to snap a four-game losing run in the league.

It was an important victory for Sharks, who suffered a demoralising defeat at Plymouth Raiders last time out, and they improve to 4-6 in league play as Force remain at the foot of the table.

Nick Lewis was the leading scoring in that game with 19 points. James McCann scored 23 for Force but was the only player from the Leeds club to reach double figures, although debutant Giordano Estrada chipped in with nine.
See Chris Midgley’s Photos HERE

Leicester Riders stormed back and erased a 13-point third-quarter deficit to snatch a late victory against Glasgow Rocks, while Bristol Flyers finally managed to put their four-game losing streak behind them with a win over Manchester Giants.

Neil Watson scored 25 points and Rashad Hassan chipped in with 18 points and 11 rebounds, as Riders defeated Glasgow Rocks 93-82 at the Sir David Wallace Sports Centre. Rocks led for most of the first half, but let their lead slip in the third period after a 27-6 stretch by Leicester.

Elsewhere, Flyers snapped their cold streak with a 72-67 win against Giants in a close game at the WISE Basketball Arena. Alif Bland led the winners with 20 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Ingus Bankevics and Ben Eaves collected 14 apiece for the visitors.

Cheshire Phoenix extended their winning streak to six games in the pick of Sunday’s BBL Championship performances.

Phoenix led from start to finish as they triumphed 80-61 to inflict Glasgow Rocks’ second defeat in as many nights and move level on 18 points with the BBL Championship’s third-placed club Leicester Riders.

Demond Watt once again produced some impressive numbers, finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds as Taylor King added 16 and Mike DiNunno dished out 10 assists. Paul Sturgess also made his long-awaited debut.

Worcester Wolves kept up the pressure on leaders Newcastle Eagles with a 95-88 away win at Plymouth Raiders.

Paul James’ side rose above their opponents in the final period to emerge victorious and remain within two points of Eagles, thanks in no small part to 27 points and 14 rebounds from Robert Thurman.

Durham Wildcats enjoyed a more comfortable road to victory as 51 points from their bench lifted them to a 101-57 success against Surrey United.

Panos Mayindombe and Sam Martin scored 19 points each for Lee Davie’s side as five of their players scored in double figures in a balanced scoring display.

Elsewhere, the resurgence of London Lions continued as Zaire Taylor scored 30 points to inspire them to a 87-79 victory at Manchester Giants, the capital club’s third win in a row.