Leeds Force picked up their first win of the BBL season by downing Surrey United 73-61 in Yorkshire as for the first time in three seasons, all teams registered at least one victory.
Mersey Tigers (12-13) and Birmingham Knights (13-14) both finished with winless records in their respective seasons and Leeds needed just seven games to avoid being the third team.
And it was comfortable for the Force as they zoomed clear after the first ten minutes, leading 26-7 and never looked back.
James McCann finished with a 10-point, 11-assist double-double while Will Hall top scored with 23 points for the BBL newcomers. Elvisi Dusha had 15 for Surrey.
With that win, Leeds’ confidence skyrocketed and they very nearly caused a major shock on the road 48 hours later, but in the end ran out of steam in the final quarter as they were ousted 71-62 by the Leicester Riders.
Neil Watson led the Riders with 21 points as they remain in second spot in the league.
EAGLES STAY TOP
BBL champions, Newcastle Eagles stayed on top of the summit, after an impressive 95-75 win away at the Sheffield Sharks.
Andre Jones led Newcastle with 20 points as they led from start to finish against a top BBL side in Sheffield.
ZAIRE TAYLOR’S RETURN ENDS IN DEFEAT
London Lions’ Zaire Taylor returned to Worcester but came away empty-handed as the Wolves handed London an 83-78 loss.
The BBL Playoff winners came from behind to put in a strong third quarter performance and see the game out from there.
Robert Thurman continues to impress in his first BBL season by leading all scorers with 23 points. Taylor paced Lions with 19 as they slumped to their second loss of the season.
ELSEWHERE
Sheffield Sharks’ miserable weekend was made worse when they lost 73-72 to BBL new boys Bristol Flyers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Doug Herring Jr. and Greg Streete both had 23 for the Flyers.
Bristol then made the 728 mile-round trip to Glasgow and lost 107-82 to the Rocks as a fatigued Bristol side were no match for a fresh Glasgow unit.
Manchester Giants showed no mercy at home to Plymouth Raiders, recording a 102-77 win, as they raced to a 31-15 lead after the first and never looked back.
Cheshire Phoenix nearly let a comfortable double-digit lead slip but in the end, got an 83-79 win over Durham Wildcats in Chester.
