SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks 79 (14,38,64) (Yanders 20, Davis 15, Hampton 12)
PAWS London Capital             78 (21,36,58) (Bradley 29, Mbeye 15, Ataha 10)

The first ever BBL Championship clash between the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks and the PAWS London Capital finished with a comprehensive 79-78 victory for the Rocks at the Braehead Arena.  It was their sixth consecutive win in all competitions, fifth straight win in the league, and drew the Rocks level with the Kularoos Plymouth Raiders in fourth place in the BBL Championship table.

The home side almost saw their good run ended as, with 12 seconds remaining, they trailed 74-78.  From there Gareth Murray hit a three-pointer to narrow the gap to a single point before, with 10 seconds left, Santa Ataha was sent to the free-throw line.  The London guard missed both free-throws in-front of a raucous crowd, and the Rocks found Rob Yanders on the outlet, who was fouled himself with 6 seconds to go.  The BBL All-Star made both of his free-throws to give the Rocks the lead 79-78.  In the dying seconds Ataha drove against Yanders and looked to score with a lay-up, only to have his shot blocked by Sterling Davis.  The Capital inbounded the ball with 1.9 seconds remaining but Sam Bradley could not connect on the three-pointer under masses of defensive pressure.

It was Yanders who led the Rocks with 20 points, supported by 15 from player/coach Davis.  Sam Bradley led all scorers with 29 points in vain for the Capital.

The Rocks had also come from behind early on after the visitors started the game the better with 7 points from Mansour Mbeye and 6 from Lijah Perkins giving them a 14-21 first quarter lead.

The Rocks overturned that early in the second as an 8-0 burst, including 6 for Davis, made it 25-23.  That lead didn't expand until the third period as Murray hit two triples to help the Rocks edge out to 64-58, but 12 points in the quarter from Bradley kept the visitors in touch.

That amazing finale was set up as London chipped away at the lead early in the fourth before Bradley connected from long range to tie the game at 72.  Capital went ahead at 76-74 on a Tayo Ogedengbe score and made it 78-74 after a pair of Bradley free-throws, before the final 12 seconds ensued.

27-01-08

Guildford Heat                         82 (20,41,60) (Gilbert 28, Harrison 13, Martin 11)
SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks 88 (20,56,67) (Davis 24, Wohlers 21, Hampton 15)

SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks secured a vital road win at Guildford Heat to move right back into title contention.

Rocks 82-88 victory sees them close to within two points of Heat in third, four points of Marshall MK Lions in second and six points behind top placed Newcastle Eagles.

Heat began the match with an 11-3 run but a 12-5 burst by Rocks ensured the sides were level 20-20 at the end of the first quarter.

The teams were level at 27-27 before Rocks rattled off a 20-5 run to take control of the first half. By the interval the visitors led 41-56. Guildford closed the gap in the third quarter as runs of 8-0 and 6-1 made the score 60-67 heading into the final stanza.

The comeback was complete when a 12-5 Heat burst levelled the match at 72-72. However, it was Rocks who finished the stronger as four Rob Yanders points sparked an 11-2 run to put the match beyond reach.

Kularoos Plymouth Raiders 95 (26,47,68) (Lasker 25, Beasley 18, Moore 14)
Worcester Wolves                 77 (16,36,53) (Paez 22, Life 15, Harker 14)

Kularoos Plymouth Raiders drew level on points with third placed Guildford Heat after a 95-77 win over in form Worcester Wolves.

Raiders had a 16-0 first quarter run to thank for their 26-16 advantage after 10 minutes. It was a margin that they extend by one during the second period as they went in at half time 47-36 up.

The third quarter saw the home side again add to their lead to keep Worcester at arm's length. The 68-53 lead at the end of the third period proved to be insurmountable for the visitors in the final stanza as the Raiders completed an excellent night's work.

26-01-08

PAWS London Capital 101 (30,49,68,92) (Mbye 29, Bradley 21, Perkins 14)
Everton Tigers            111 (26,47,68,92) (Midgley 37, Miller 19, Davis 18)
(After overtime. Tied at 92-92 at end of regulation)

Everton Tigers went level with the Sheffield Sharks for sixth position in the Championship table thanks to a 101-111 overtime victory over the PAWS London Capital at the Capital City Academy on Saturday evening.

With the game tied at 68-68 going into the final stanza, it was the home side who made the first break with an 8-2 start to the period to take the score out to 76-70, but the Tigers responded immediately with a 7-2 burst of their own to get back to within a point at 78-77.

The Capital continued to keep their noses in front down the stretch, but a Tony Miller three- pointer, and two free throws from Calvin Davis in the final seconds drew the sides level at 92-92 sending the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Tigers broke the game open with a 13-3 tear to take the score out to 97-105, and ultimately hold on for the all important victory.

Richard Midgley led all scorers in the game netting an impressive 37 points for the Tigers, while the Capital scoring was led by Jo Mbye with 29 points.

25-01-08

Everton Tigers 87 (24,42,57) (Robertson 21, Aliu 15, Haslam 13)
Sheffield Sharks 93 (24,46,69) (Graham 25, Chaney 19, White 16)

Sheffield Sharks leapfrogged over the Everton Tigers into sixth position in the BBL Championship after defeated the Tigers 87-93 at the Greenbank Academy on Friday evening.

After a tight opening half, which saw the Sharks holding a slender four-point lead at 42-46, the Sharks broke the game open with a 14-6 burst towards the end of the third period. The visitors held onto a twelve point advantage at 57-69 going into the final stanza.

 In the final period, the Tigers got themselves back into the game, and a 9-4 tear bought the home side to within three points at 82-85 with 1:10 remaining, but they could get no closer as the Sharks secured the victory from the foul-line.

Justice Graham led all scorers in the game with 25 points for the Sharks, while Tony Robertson led the Tigers scoring with 21.

19-01-08

Team Birmingham Panthers 79 (27,42,57,66) (L Williams 19, Paternostro 14, Sandell 13)

PAWS London Capital           71 (17,28,44,66) (Perkins 19, Bradley 19, Ogedengbe 13)

(after overtime)

Team Birmingham Panthers came out on top in the battle of the BBL basement with a thrilling 79-71 overtime victory against PAWS London Capital.

The Panthers had looked like they were cruising to victory until Capital rallied during a frantic final quarter to force an extra period. Indeed the visitors could have won the match in regular time if Tayo Ogedengbe had hit either of his two free throws with four seconds remaining.

Earlier Birmingham had raced out to leads of 27-17, 42-28 and 57-44 at the end of the first three quarters thanks to some excellent team play. However, a 20-6 run by Capital during the final stanza handed them their first meaningful lead of the match before Panthers tied the score at 66-66.

In overtime a decisive 8-0 burst by Panthers closed out the match to leave Nigel Lloyd's team celebrating their first win since November 10 last year.

12-01-08

Poujoulat Heat Guildford 89 (29,50,75) (Gilbert 17, Dorsey 15, Jones 15, Harrison 15)
Kularoos Plymouth Raiders 72 (13,28,42) (Beasley 20, Knowle 19, Martin 10)

Third placed Poujoulat Heat Guildford proved far too powerful for fourth placed Kularoos Plymouth Raiders with an 89-72 victory at the Spectrum.

Heat were quickest to find their rhythm with runs of 12- 2 and 10-2 helping them to a 22-6 lead. A further 7-2 burst put the home side well in charge at the end of the first quarter 29-13.

There was more to come after the break as a 17-2 run, including three threes from James Jones helped them to a 48-20. By half time the Heat were well in command at 50-28.

Raiders hit back with a 9-0 run of their own early in the third but Heat responded with a 22-5 run to take them 75-52 in front heading into the final stanza.

Guildford coach Paul James played his in the fourth quarter allowing Raiders to make the score more respectable with tears of 9-1 and 14-1.

Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 67 (16,35,48) (Burns 15, Woodyard 12, Janiska 11)
SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks 101 (27,53,72) (Hampton 26, Joseph 19, Yanders 18)

SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks kept up their challenge for the title with a comfortable 67-101 road win at Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders.

In an even first quarter, which was tied at 16-16 in the last minute, the Rocks suddenly exploded into life with an 11-0 burst during the final 60 seconds to lead 16- 27.

It was an advantage that they would build on with a three-pointer to open the second quarter and consolidate to half time as the teams went in at the interval 35-53.

An 8-0 start to the third further emphasised the Rocks superiority as they went 35-61 in front. There was no way back for Leicester from there as the teams traded baskets to give the Rocks a valuable away win.

11-01-08

Newcastle Eagles                                   87 (9,39,64) (Smith 20, Defares/Babalola 15)
Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 57 (8,17,32) (McKnight 10, Lamble/Janiska 9)

Newcastle Eagles got the perfect result in their last game before the BBL Cup Final on Sunday with an 87- 57 victory over the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders at the Metro Radio Arena on Friday evening.

The result keeps them at the summit of the BBL Championship table. After a tight opening period, the home side enjoyed a 14-2 start to the second quarter to take the score out to 23-10.

They continued their onslaught, and another 6-0 tear took the lead out to twenty points at 35-15.

The second half saw the Eagles continue to open out their lead, and enjoyed their biggest lead of the game at thirty-seven points with the score at 75-38 midway through the third period.

The Riders tried to get themselves back into the game in the final quarter, but the Eagles were able to hold on for the comfortable victory.

Charles Smith led all scorers in the game with 20 points for the Eagles, while Chad McKnight led the Riders scoring with 10 points personal.

 Sheffield Sharks                  79 (15,37,59) (Graham/Virgil 17, George 16)
BiG Storage Cheshire Jets 95 (26,49,74) (Myers 33, Obazuaye 22, Hamilton/Otten 17)

The BiG Storage Cheshire Jets picked up an important victory over one of their play-off rivals as they defeated the Sheffield Sharks 79-95 at the EIS, Sheffield on Friday evening.

The Jets opened with the first ten points of the game to take an early lead. A further 12-5 tear for the Jets took the score out to 29- 42, and held onto a 37-49 lead going in at the half.

The second half saw the Sharks close the gap to seven points at 55-62 off the back of an 11-2 run midway through the third quarter.

The Jets broke the game open with a 19-4 burst across the third/fourth quarter break to lead 59-81 midway through the final stanza. The Sharks attempted to get themselves back in the game with a 9-0 burst to trim the score back to 68-81, but an immediate 7-2 Jets response took the score out to 70-88, and sealed the eventual victory for the visitors.

Shawn Myers led all scorers in the game with 33 points for the Jets, while a combination of Justice Graham and Alto Virgil led the Sharks scoring with 17 points a-piece for the home side.

05-01-08

Worcester Wolves 100 (18,43,73) (Life 36, Paez 23, Evans 19)
Newcastle Eagles   94 (25,45,70) (Smith 27, Bridge 22, Babalola 17)

Worcester Wolves turned in one of their most impressive performances since joining the BBL to beat league leaders Newcastle Eagles 100-94 at Worcester University.

The win moves the Wolves within two-points of a play- off position; Newcastle remain top despite the defeat.

Wolves came out well with a 7-0 start before Newcastle hit back to go 13-23 in front before closing the first quarter 18-25 up. Worcester rallied in the second to trail by just two (43-45) at half time.

The home side began to dominate in the third as a James Life three gave them a 59-54 lead. Eagles again responded to level at 62-62 before the teams headed into the final stanza with Wolves 73-70 in front.

In an exciting fourth quarter Newcastle led 76-78 before a four-point play from Life and then a two by the same player put the Wolves on top for good. Life led all-scorers with 36-points, while Charles Smith paced Newcastle with 27.

04-01-08

Everton Tigers     123 (15,48,87) (Midgley 27, Aliu 25, Robertson 20)
Worcester Wolves 90 (32,51,72) (Life 25, Gayle 15, Durant/Paez 12)

The Everton Tigers strengthened their position in the playoff places as they beat the Worcester Wolves by 123-90 at the Greenbank Academy; this was Everton's fourth win in their last five games in the league and saw them draw level with the Sheffield Sharks in sixth place.

In an amazing game, it was the Wolves who established a comprehensive early lead. Anthony Paez scored 6 quick points to help them out to 3-11, and with James Life netting 17 first quarter points they led 15-32 after the first ten minutes.

The Tigers responded immediately from the start of the second stanza with a 10-4 opening, which was swiftly followed by an 11-3 burst that narrowed the gap to 36-39, and that became 48-51 at the half.

Everton dominated the third quarter and scored an amazing 39 points in that ten-minute period. It started as they snatched the lead with the first 7 points, before they extended that run to 20-5 and never looked back.

The Guildford Heat made it four wins in a row in the BBL Championship, and moved up to third place in the process, as they overcame the Sheffield Sharks 68-81 at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. It was the Sharks' sixth defeat in seven games in all competitions.

Tony Dorsey (22 points & 10 rebounds) and Mike Martin (15 points & 11 rebounds) each had a double-double for the Heat. Justice Graham led all scorers with 24 points for the Sharks, whilst Shelby Chaney had 20 points and 15 boards.

The Heat led from the early stages as a 16-5 first quarter burst made the score 12-24, before the Sharks hit the last 5 points of the first stanza to narrow the gap to 17-24.

The visitors turned up the heat in the second as they stretched the lead to its largest margin at 25-49 on the back of a 25-8 surge. Again the Sharks left it late in the quarter to make their move: they closed out the half with a 9-3 run to stay in touch at 34-52.

Sheffield chipped away at the lead in the third period and a 9-2 run brought them back into it at 50-59. Justice Graham kept them close as the third quarter came to an end by scoring their last 8 points as the teams went into the final stanza at 56-65.

A James Jones triple restored the double-digit lead for the Heat at 61-71, but 5 straight points from the hosts got them as close as they would get at 66-71. EJ Harrison sealed the game as he made a free-throw before the Heat grabbed the rebound from the missed second free-throw and Harrison subsequently made a three-pointer. That sparked a 10-0 burst and settled the game.