Look who is in the house tonight

One team who could catapult back into the top eight is Bristol Flyers, who host fellow play-off chasers Plymouth University Raiders tomorrow evening before heading north to take on the Durham Wildcats on Sunday.

Andreas Kapoulas’ side have struggled lately but ended a four game-losing streak last weekend by beating Surrey United and now sit just outside the final playoff spot.

“We always knew that in our first year in the league we would have some challenges,” he said.

“We were not expecting injuries like the ones that Doug Herring and now Mathias Seilund have sustained, but we have dealt with them and I am very pleased with how our team is responding.

“We have a great opportunity to make the playoffs in our first year fighting for a spot against established BBL clubs such as Glasgow, Durham, Manchester and Plymouth.”

But if the Raiders are to get a win in Bristol tomorrow, perhaps the key man could be Ben Mockford.

The GB guard is coming off his best weekend of the season. He scored a total of 60 points in the Raiders’ two games, seven more points that he had scored in the previous six Championship games combined.

“Ben has reacted to my challenge fantastically,” said Raiders’ coach Jay Marriott.

“Mentally he was overthinking and trying to force his rhythm but last weekend he found a lovely flow. I know this is what he is capable of; it was just a matter of it coming to fruition.

“I was really pleased for him.”

Another battle between two playoff teams is this evening in Glasgow where in the BBL TV game, the Rocks take on Sheffield Sharks in a battle of sixth versus seventh.

It’s the first of two home games in a row for the Rocks who then take on Worcester Wolves on Sunday, hoping for a repeat of the last meeting, which the Rocks won with a last-second shot in overtime.

Elsewhere, Esh Group Eagles Newcastle look to continue their title charge tonight when they host the improving London Lions.

After beating the Leicester Riders last week, the Eagles are the favourites to win the Championship, but player-coach Fab Flournoy knows there is still a lot of work to be done.

“Beating Leicester gets us to the two-thirds point of the season with only two losses and any win against a fellow contender is obviously significant,” he said.

“However, this league is all about consistency and turning up to play every night, and that win ultimately will mean nothing if we don’t maintain our standards over the weeks to come.”

One team desperate to put some wins together is Surrey United, who host the Cheshire Phoenix this evening before heading up to London on Sunday to take on the Lions.

The side from Guildford has lost six in a row, but one coach who feels United will come good soon is Rob Paternostro.

“I think this team is unlucky to be where they are at,” said the Riders’ coach after seeing his team beat Surrey last Sunday.

“Anthony Downing, who I know so well, can really play and I thought he was sensational against us.
“With the addition of Dominique Coleman, they are a tough team.”

As for the Riders, they head up to Leeds Force this evening before returning home for the visit of Durham Wildcats tomorrow evening, while Leeds wrap up the weekend’s fixtures at Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday.