There is just one BBL Play-Off spot left up for grabs after Sheffield Sharks booked their place at the weekend, while extending their current winning streak to seven games.
The Sharks’ 91-61 victory over Bristol Flyers on Friday confirmed their qualification, keeping up a remarkable record which has seen the Sharks reach the Play-Offs every season since joining the BBL in 1994.
Mike Cook led the way with 19 points in the win over Bristol, while on Sunday it was Nick Lewis who provided the offensive spark, scoring 26 points in a come-from-behind 95-79 victory at Surrey United.
“It’s feels good that we’ve made the Play-Offs and we can only go up from here,” said Lewis.
“We had an ok start to the season and then we dipped down [the table] to where we shouldn’t be, but we’ve picked it up in recent games.
“Credit to the rest of the guys on the team as we’ve improved, and I really think we’re gelling now.”
He added, “Surrey came out playing like they had nothing to lose and they were hitting tough shots.
“We had to pick it up and match their intensity, and that’s what we did.”
It leaves three teams fighting for the eighth and final Play-Off place and Bristol still hold onto that last spot after Manchester Giants missed a chance to move level on points.
Despite a game-high 24 points from Ingus Bankevics, Giants lost 64-57 at home to Leeds Force on Sunday.
Plymouth Raiders are also still in the hunt after Friday’s 82-72 win at Glasgow Rocks, led by a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds from the in-form Pierre Hampton.
It was a crazy weekend for Newcastle Eagles, who lost for only the third time this season as they went down 88-81 at Worcester Wolves on Friday.
All three of the Eagles’ defeats have come at the hands of the Wolves, who were paced to victory by 25 points from Alex Owumi.
It wasn’t only the game the Eagles lost as injuries to Rahmon Fletcher, Andre Jones and Andrew Lasker meant the Eagles only had six players available the following evening at Plymouth.
But, as he has done so often throughout his career, Charles Smith had another of those memorable games for the Eagles, following up his 22-point haul in Worcester with a mammoth 38 points and 10 rebounds as the Eagles used an early surge to record a 101-90 win.
Smith was supported by a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds from Scott Martin, while Raiders’ key man was Hampton with 32 and 10.
The only team that can now challenge the Eagles for the title are Leicester Riders and they pulled to within eight points after victories over Cheshire Phoenix and Durham Wildcats.
Tyler Bernardini led Riders with 29 points in the 100-82 win over Cheshire on Sunday, while TrayVonn Wright grabbed the headlines after a sensational dunk off a Neil Watson pass.
Sunday was Conner Washington’s time to shine as he led the way with 22 points in a 101-67 victory at Durham, which officially ended the Wildcats’ hopes of reaching the Play-Offs.
Finally, fifth place is still up for grabs after Glasgow Rocks handed London Lions an 82-65 defeat, behind 17 points from Reggie Middleton.
