BBL 2017/18 Season - Weekend Thirteen (20th-22nd December)

(Worcester Wolves celebrate making the BBL Cup Final after downing Sheffield Sharks in their semi final tie, thanks to The Wolves for the photo)

Wednesday 20^th December

BBL Championship

Leicester Riders 90-78 Glasgow Rocks

BBL Cup Semi Final 2^nd Leg

Sheffield Sharks 65-71 Worcester Wolves (Worcester Wolves won 173-157 on aggregate)

BBL Trophy Round One

Falkirk Fury 54-83 Loughborough Student Riders

Friday 22^nd December

BBL Championship

London Lions 95-67 Plymouth Raiders

Surrey Scorchers 78-88 Leicester Riders

Latest BBL Championship Standings

1.       Leicester Riders Played 12 Won 11 Pct .917 Pts 22

2.       Newcastle Eagles Played 12 Won 9 Pct .750 Pts 18

3.       Sheffield Sharks Played 10 Won 7 Pct .700 Pts 14

4.       London Lions Played 11 Won 7 Pct .636 Pts 14

5.       Glasgow Rocks Played 13 Won 7 Pct .538 Pts 14

6.       Bristol Flyers Played 11 Won 6 Pct .545 Pts 12

7.       Surrey Scorchers Played 14 Won 6 Pct .429 Pts 12

8.       Cheshire Phoenix Played 9 Won 5 Pct .556 Pts 10

9.       Worcester Wolves Played 10 Won 5 Pct .500 Pts 10

10.   Plymouth Raiders Played 13 Won 4 Pct .364 Pts 8

11.   Manchester Giants Played 12 Won 2 Pct. 167 Pts 4

12.   Leeds Force Played 13 Won 1 Pct. 077 Pts 2

Leicester Riders are now in control of the BBL Championship after they scored a double this weekend, defeating both Glasgow Rocks and Surrey Scorchers to open up a four point gap at the top of the table.  Worcester Wolves made it through to the final of the BBL Cup after they defeated Sheffield Sharks 71-65 in their second leg semi final tie to win by sixteen points overall, meaning they set up a final against Cheshire Phoenix at Arena Birmingham on Sunday January 28^th at 3.30pm.  The final Round One tie in the BBL Trophy saw Loughborough Student Riders thrash Falkirk Fury, meaning the Midlands side set up a Quarter Final tie in London against The Lions.  The Lions themselves smashed Plymouth Raiders at home by 28 points on Friday evening and go fourth and behind The Sharks on a tiebreaker.  Six points currently separate 3^rd to 10^th, showing what a competitive league the BBL is.

Here are your weekend/new year fixtures

Thursday 28^th December

BBL Championship

Plymouth Raiders vs Worcester Wolves

Friday 29^th December

BBL Championship

Glasgow Rocks vs London Lions

Leicester Riders vs Leeds Force

Manchester Giants vs Cheshire Phoenix

Sheffield Sharks vs Newcastle Eagles

Worcester Wolves vs Surrey Scorchers

Monday 1^st January

Surrey Scorchers vs London Lions

BBL 2017/18 Season - Weekend Twelve (15th-17th December)

(action from the big top of the table clash between Newcastle Eagles and Leicester Riders on friday evening, thanks to the Eagles for the photo)

Friday 15th December
BBL Championship
Newcastle Eagles 77-79 Leicester Riders
Worcester Wolves 122-66 Leeds Force

BBL Trophy Round One
Sheffield Sharks 89-62 Manchester Magic

Sunday 17th December
Plymouth Raiders 71-88 Bristol Flyers

BBL Trophy Round One
Leeds Force 59-104 Leicester Riders
Manchester Giants 73-105 London Lions
Cheshire Phoenix 79-75 Glasgow Rocks

Latest BBL Championship Standings
1. Leicester Riders Played 10 Won 9 Pct 0.900 Pts 18
2. Newcastle Eagles Played 12 Won 9 Pct 0.750 Pts 18
3. Sheffield Sharks Played 10 Won 7 Pct 0.700 Pts 14
4. Glasgow Rocks Played 12 Won 7 Pct 0.583 Pts 14
5. London Lions Played 10 Won 6 Pct 0.600 Pts 12
6. Bristol Flyers Played 11 Won 6 Pct 0.545 Pts 12
7. Surrey Scorchers Played 13 Won 6 Pct 0.462 Pts 12
8. Cheshire Phoenix Played 9 Won 5 Pct 0.556 Pts 10
9. Worcester Wolves Played 10 Won 5 Pct 0.500 Pts 10
10. Plymouth Raiders Played 12 Won 4 Pct 0.333 Pts 8
11. Manchester Giants Played 12 Won 2 Pct 0.167 Pts 4
12. Leeds Force Played 13 Won 1 Pct 0.077 Pts 2

The top two produced a thriller in the north east and it was Leicester Riders who snatched a last gasp win over Newcastle Eagles to take top spot from the North East side. Leicester followed that up by crushing Leeds Force by 45 points on Sunday to reach the Last Eight of the BBL Trophy and complete a terrific weekend for the Midlands outfit. The Force had a weekend to forget as they were destroyed at Worcester Wolves by 56 points the day before and remain bottom of the BBL Championship standings. And in the only other league game of the weekend Bristol Flyers won on the road at local rivals Plymouth Raiders to make it six wins for the season as they climbed up into sixth spot. Other teams to reach the BBL Trophy Quarter Finals were Sheffield Sharks, London Lions and Cheshire Phoenix.

The draw has now been made for that round and here it is:-
Cheshire Phoenix Vs Worcester Wolves
Plymouth Raiders Vs Leicester Riders
Newcastle Eagles Vs Sheffield Sharks
London Lions Vs Falkirk Fury/Loughborough Student Riders

The final BBL Trophy Round One tie between Fury and Student Riders takes place in Falkirk on Wednesday evening, with the winners travelling to the Copperbox Arena to face The Lions.

Right here are next weeks fixtures
Wednesday 20th December
BBL Championship
Leicester Riders Vs Glasgow Rocks

BBL Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
Sheffield Sharks Vs Worcester Wolves (Wolves hold 102-92 lead from 1st Leg)

Friday 22nd December
Surrey Scorchers Vs Leicester Riders

I'll be back next weekend with a round up of the above games, until then it's goodbye. 

BBL 2017/18 Season - Weekend Eleven (8th-10th December)

(Action between Newcastle Eagles and Surrey Scorchers in their BBL Trophy Round One matchup, thanks to Newcastle Eagles for the photo)

Friday 8th December
BBL Championship
Leeds Force 98-116 Manchester Giants
Leicester Riders 78-77 London Lions

BBL Cup Semi Final 1st Leg
Worcester Wolves 102-92 Sheffield Sharks

BBL Trophy Round One
Newcastle Eagles 87-76 Surrey Scorchers

Sunday 10th December
BBL Championship
Surrey Scorchers 84-89 Sheffield Sharks

BBL Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
London Lions 67-83 Cheshire Phoenix (Cheshire Phoenix won 157-154 on aggregate)

BBL Trophy Round One
Plymouth Raiders 84-80 Bristol Flyers
Team Northumbria 63-93 Worcester Wolves

BBL Championship Standings
1. Newcastle Eagles Played 11 Won 9 Pct 0.818 Pts 18
2. Leicester Riders Played 9 Won 8 Pct 0.889 Pts 16
3. Glasgow Rocks Played 12 Won 7 Pct 0.583 Pts 14
4. Sheffield Sharks Played 10 Won 7 Pct 0.700 Pts 14
5. London Lions Played 10 Won 6 Pct 0.600 Pts 12
6. Surrey Scorchers Played 13 Won 6 Pct 0.462 Pts 12
7. Cheshire Phoenix Played 9 Won 5 Pct 0.556 Pts 10
8. Bristol Flyers Played 10 Won 5 Pct 0.500 Pts 10
9. Worcester Wolves Played 9 Won 4 Pct 0.444 Pts 8
10. Plymouth Raiders Played 11 Won 4 Pct 0.364 Pts 8
11. Manchester Giants Played 12 Won 2 Pct 0.167 Pts 4
12. Leeds Force Played 12 Won 1 Pct 0.083 Pts 2

Cheshire Phoenix overcame a 13 point first leg deficit to make it through to the BBL Cup Final with a 16 point win in London against the Lions. The London based side head an awful weekend after they lost by a point up in Leicester to the Riders on Friday night, that meant Riders are now just two points off leaders Newcastle Eagles with two games in hand. The Eagles were not in league action this weekend but did get through in the BBL Trophy, which began this weekend, by knocking out the Surrey Scorchers. The Scorchers themselves lost both games this weekend, going down to Sheffield Sharks in the Championship on Sunday, the Sharks themselves bouncing back from a ten point loss at Worcester Wolves in the other BBL Cup Semi Final, with the second leg in Sheffield in just over a weeks time. Plymouth Raiders saw off Bristol Flyers in another BBL Trophy Round One fixture, whilst Worcester Wolves completed a decent weekend by thrashing Team Northumbria by thirty points in the same competition. And finally in the battle at the bottom in Leeds, the Force were beaten by 18 points by the Manchester Giants, meaning the Yorkshire outfit go to the foot of the Championship Standings.

Here are next weekends fixtures
Friday 15th December
BBL Championship
Newcastle Eagles Vs Leicester Riders
Worcester Wolves Vs Leeds Force

BBL Trophy Round One
Sheffield Sharks Vs Manchester Magic

Sunday 17th December
BBL Championship
Plymouth Raiders Vs Bristol Flyers

BBL Trophy Round One
Leeds Force Vs Leicester Riders
Manchester Giants Vs London Lions
Cheshire Phoenix Vs Glasgow Rocks

Top two clash in the North East on Friday night, could see Riders go level with Eagles or the hosts could open up a four point gap, huge game!!! Back next week to see what happens!!! 

BBL 2017/18 Season - Weekend Ten (1st-3rd December)

(action from Sunday nights BBL Championship game between Plymouth Raiders & Surrey Scorchers, thanks to the Scorchers for the photo)

Friday 1st December
BBL Championship
Bristol Flyers 77-82 Leicester Riders
Glasgow Rocks 92-80 Newcastle Eagles
Leeds Force 59-87 Cheshire Phoenix
Worcester Wolves 97-90 Plymouth Raiders

Sunday 3rd December
BBL Championship
Glasgow Rocks 111-57 Leeds Force
Manchester Giants 81-98 Sheffield Sharks
Plymouth Raiders 80-85 Surrey Scorchers

BBL Cup Semi Final 1st Leg
Cheshire Phoenix 74-87 London Lions

Latest BBL Championship Standings
1. Newcastle Eagles Played 11 Won 9 Pct 0.818 Pts 18
2. Leicester Riders Played 8 Won 7 Pct 0.875 Pts 14
3. Glasgow Rocks Played 12 Won 7 Pct 0.583 Pts 14
4. London Lions Played 9 Won 6 Pct 0.667 Pts 12
5. Sheffield Sharks Played 9 Won 6 Pct 0.667 Pts 12
6. Surrey Scorchers Played 12 Won 6 Pct 0.500 Pts 12
7. Cheshire Phoenix Played 9 Won 5 Pct 0.556 Pts 10
8. Bristol Flyers Played 10 Won 5 Pct 0.500 Pts 10
9. Worcester Wolves Played 9 Won 4 Pct 0.444 Pts 8
10. Plymouth Raiders Played 11 Won 4 Pct 0.364 Pts 8
11. Manchester Giants Played 11 Won 1 Pct 0.091 Pts 2
12. Leeds Force Played 11 Won 1 Pct 0.091 Pts 2

Newcastle Eagles lead was cut to four points after they lost for the second time this season, beaten by the Glasgow Rocks who had a terrific weekend, following that up with a trouncing of Leeds Force on Sunday, seeing the Scottish side into third. Leicester Riders were the team to cut that gap at the top along with Rocks by winning at Bristol Flyers, the Midlands outfit now have seven wins from eight and have games in hand over the teams around them. Plymouth Raiders had a weekend forget, loosing to Worcester Wolves and then being beaten at home by Surrey Scorchers on Sunday. And the Sheffield Sharks kept pace with the teams in the pack just below the top three with victory at Manchester Giants on Sunday. And finally in the first BBL Cup Semi Final 1st Leg London Lions will take a thirteen point lead back to London next weekend after defeating Cheshire Phoenix 87-74 in the north-west, Phoenix did win at the weekend though, trashing Leeds Force in Yorkshire on Friday night to make it five wins from nine in the Championship.

Here are next weekends fixtures:-
BBL Championship
Friday 8th December
Leeds Force Vs Manchester Giants
Leicester Riders Vs London Lions

BBL Cup Semi Final 1st Leg
Worcester Wolves Vs Sheffield Sharks

BBL Trophy Round One
Newcastle Eagles Vs Surrey Scorchers

Sunday 10th December
Surrey Scorchers Vs Sheffield Sharks

BBL Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg
London Lions Vs Cheshire Phoenix

BBL Trophy Round One
Plymouth Raiders Vs Bristol Flyers
Team Northumbria Vs Worcester Wolves

I'll be back with next weekend's action in next Weeks blog.