In a weekend full of big wins, the closest game was down in Guildford where Surrey Scorchers hung on for a 91-86 victory over Plymouth Raiders.
New Raiders’ player-coach Daryl Corletto, who led his side with 21 points to come close to getting a victory at the first attempt, but despite his team leading for most of the game, the home side came good in the fourth quarter.
That was largely thanks to a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds from DJ Felder and a strong defensive effort late the game.
“Yes, defensively we really picked it up in the fourth,” said Scorchers’ Elvisi Dusha, back at Surrey after a short stint abroad.
“I felt that was key for us as we got quite a few points off it and I felt we did a better job of defending the ball.”
The return of Dusha was timely for Surrey who lost guard Henry Wilkins early on after a collision which necessitated a trip to hospital.
“We went out there and won it for Henry,” he said.
“It was great to be back; I love playing here and I will always love playing here.”
Plymouth remain the only team without a win after Sheffield Sharks recorded their first victory in emphatic style with a 90-62 triumph at Glasgow Rocks.
TJ Robinson had a monster double-double of 23 points and 19 rebounds as the Sharks took control of the game from the second quarter onwards.
Jerrold Brooks chipped in with 20 points, while captain Mike Tuck finished with nine points and 12 rebounds.
It marked a brighter conclusion to the weekend for the Sharks, having lost 96-77 at home to Leicester Riders on Friday, with TrayVonn Wright leading the Riders with 22 points.
The win kept the Riders in second place, just ahead of Worcester Wolves who defeated Leeds Force, 92-65. Jay Couisnard led the Wolves with 22 points, but the performance of the game was 25-point, 11-rebound effort from Leeds’ Rob Marsden.
Marsden added 12 points and eight rebounds on Sunday, but Leeds found themselves on the end of a 78-52 defeat at league-leading Newcastle Eagles.
Bristol Flyers’ 99-90 victory over Manchester Giants on Friday not only resulted in their first home success of the season, but also saw the Flyers record their highest score since joining the BBL.
Cardell McFarland led the Flyers with 20 points and 10 assists, but the big moment of the game was from Doug McLaughin-Williams who ended the first half with three three-pointers inside a minute to put a little daylight between the teams.
The Giants did get to within two points late on thanks to a combined 52 points from Stefan Gill and Ingus Bankevics, but the Flyers were able to hold on.
“We needed it, it was a long time coming,” said Flyers’ captain Greg Streete.
“We have been trying to get a home win for our supporters for a long time and we definitely needed this.”
He added, “Defensively we’re starting to come together now, we are starting to gel better offensively and we are definitely starting to find some rhythm – Doug’s three-pointers definitely helped.”
While the Flyers have finally won a game at home, the Cheshire Phoenix are still chasing that elusive first home victory after their 87-72 defeat against London Lions on Sunday as Jaron Lane led the visitors with 19 points.
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