British Basketball League – Results: Sunday 29 April 2018

Glasgow Rocks secured a top-four finish after overcoming Worcester Wolves in a battle for fourth place.

The Rocks will face Surrey Scorchers in the Quarter-Finals of the Play-Offs, while the Wolves will take on London Lions as they dropped to seventh. 

Leading scorers – Murray 24, Brown 17, Matrakov 11(Rocks) – Beamon 22, Gilchrist 21, Palmer 13 (Wolves)

Turning point – Glasgow doubled their first quarter tally to open up a double-digit lead at the break and despite the Wolves cutting their deficit in the fourth, they were unable to pull out the win on the road.

Key stat – The Rocks shot 53% from 3-point range in a clinical display and they held their opponents to below 40% shooting from the field.

Game hero(es) – Gareth Murray led the way for his side with 24 points, while Earl Brown weighed in with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds as well as a spectacular reverse dunk.

Box score

DBL Sharks Sheffield made it a double-winning final round as they finished strong to beat Plymouth Raiders on the road.

The Sharks confirmed their place in the Play-Offs with a home win on Thursday and they rounded out their league campaign to finish 18-15.

Leading scorers – Bowman 31, Jarvelainen 14, Matthew 11 (Raiders) – Williams 21, Gachette/Marsden 18 (Sharks)

Turning point – Plymouth trailed for the majority of the first three quarters, but managed to edge ahead at 69-67. However, a 17-0 start to the fourth proved pivotal as the Sharks took control and completed victory behind 31 points in the final period.

Key stat – Sheffield won the battle on the boards, 44-34, and scored 66 of their points in the paint as they asserted their authority inside.

Game hero(es) – Dirk Williams top scored with 21 points in the win, while Rob Marsden added a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds in a strong display.

Box score

Bristol Flyers have recorded their highest ever placing in the BBL Championship and a maiden top six place as they completed a comfortable success at Manchester Giants.

They will now face Esh Group Eagles Newcastle in the Play-Offs, while it was the end of the road for Giants who missed out on a top 8 spot.

Leading scorers – Banks 24, Jones 15, Bankevics 11 (Giants) Goodwin 27, Vigor 26, Boggs 13 (Flyers)

Turning point – A powerful 13-0 run that spanned the interval put Flyers on the road to success, as they coasted out of sight of the Giants.

Key stat – The Flyers shot 54% from the field and that was one of their best efforts of the entire season.

Game hero(es) – Rohndell Goodwin fired a massive 27 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while Mike Vigor came up with 26 points from a stellar 11 of 14 coming off the bench.

Box score

Surrey Scorchers made it 10 home wins in a row with a dramatic victory over Esh Group Eagles Newcastle on the final day of the regular season.

Creon Raftopoulos’ side continue their imperious form at Surrey Sports Park ahead of the Play-Offs having battled back from 13 points down.

Leading scorers – Hicks 24, Steel 13, Noel 12 (Scorchers) – Defoe 20, K Williams 16, Paige 14 (Eagles)

Turning point – Newcastle built their largest lead of the contest at 48-61 before Surrey put together a pivotal 17-2 close to the third period to take the lead. A tight fourth quarter went down to the wire with Tony Hicks scoring the final four points of the game.

Key stat – Despite giving up 20 turnovers in the contest, the Scorchers found a way back from their red-hot shooting from 3-point range.

Game hero – Tony Hicks starred once again for the Scorchers with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists including a crucial pair of free throws with 2.6 seconds left to give his side the lead. 

Box score

London Lions finished the regular season on a high as they head into the Play-Offs on the back of a double-winning weekend.

The Lions scored the final six points of the game to edge out Cheshire Phoenix and finish with a 23-10 record.

Leading scorers – Jackman/Gettys 23, May-Thompson 14 (Phoenix) – Robinson 25, Dixon 16, Guede 13 (Lions)

Turning point – Cheshire took the lead heading into the fourth after coming out strong to start the second half and the game went down to the wire. At 85-85, Paul Guede hit a big triple before adding three more points from the foul line to complete the victory.

Key stat – The home side shot 61% from inside the arc in an efficient display, but it was not enough as the Lions came out on top.

Game hero(es) – Justin Robinson finished a sparkling league campaign with a 25-point haul to lead the Lions with Cory Dixon adding 16 points and Paul Guede 13 including the final six points of the game.

Box score

Leicester Riders completed their league campaign with a 28-5 record after a convincing victory away at Leeds Force.

Rob Paternostro was able to rest the majority of his senior roster ahead of the Play-Offs as a number of young players stepped up and made the most of their opportunity.

Leading scorers – Kamarunas 19, Sinani 18, Brownell 17 (Force) – Ward-Hibbert 27, Roberts 16, Gamble 12 (Riders)

Turning point – Riders pulled clear after putting up 60 points in the middle periods to leave no way back for Leeds, despite a positive start to the contest.

Key stat – The visitors were clinical from 3-point range, shooting 16 of 31 from distance as they stretched away from their opponents.

Game hero(es) – Josh Ward-Hibbert netted a BBL career-high with a 27-point haul, while Alex Roberts added 16 points along with 5 assists.

Box score