Two clubs are through to the last four of the BBL Cup after victories for Marshall MK Lions and DMU Leicester Riders.
The Riders are celebrating their first visit to the BBL Cup last four after a late burst saw them past Worcester Wolves.
The Riders trailed by 18 in the third quarter but recovered to post a 13-0 run late in the final stanza, which broke the back of Worcester's resistance. Brad Wierzbicki was the hero for Leicester with 38 points, including the go-ahead three-point play.
Marshall MK Lions secured an excellent away win with 14 points in the fourth quarter from EJ Harrison to hold off Airwaves Plymouth Raiders 95-101 and move into the semi-finals of the BBL Cup.
In a game that either side at some stage looked to have taken control of it was the Lions who had a decisive 17-4 run in the final stanza to open up a 91- 97 lead. Three free throws from Michael New and one from Harrison sealed the win.
In the league Sheffield Sharks extended their lead at the top of the BBL Championship after beating second placed Newcastle Eagles 89-93 in the north east.
The Sharks were the dominant side throughout but allowed an 18-point second quarter lead to slip through their fingers before turning round a six-point deficit themselves to finally see off the reigning champions.
A 9-0 fourth quarter run by Sheffield gave the visitors the lead at 67-70. Eagles tied it at 70-70 and led for the last time at 78-77. From there it was all Sharks as a Todd Cauthorn three began a 10-2 run that gave Sheffield enough of a margin to take a priceless victory.
Airwaves Plymouth Raiders 95 – 101 Marshall MK Lions
Airwaves Plymouth Raiders 95 (19,51,75) (Hilleary 21/Martin 21, Horton/Valencia 18)
Marshall MK Lions 101 (26,53,76) (Harrison 25, Morris 24, New 21)
Marshall MK Lions secured an excellent away win with 14 points in the fourth quarter from EJ Harrison to hold off Airwaves Plymouth Raiders 95-101 and move into the semi-finals of the BBL Cup.
In a game that either side at some stage looked to have taken control of it was the Lions who had a decisive 17-4 run in the final stanza to open up a 91- 97 lead. Three free throws from Michael New and one from Harrison (pictured) sealed the win.
Raiders, looking to follow up their first league win of the season last weekend against Newcastle Eagles and book a semi-final spot, began brightly as Matthew Hilleary's three gave them an 11-6 lead.
Back came the Lions though as they took the lead on a Mike New bucket at 11-12 and finished the quarter with an 8-0 burst, began by New and finished by a Dawud Morris three, to move 19-26 ahead.
The second quarter saw both sides demonstrate their offensive prowess. Raiders in particularly looked good as the overturned a 27-34 deficit to lead 43-36. Anthony Martin scored 10 points in the 16-2 run.
Back, once again, came the Lions as Vince Macaulay's men gradually chipped away at Plymouth to tie the match at 45-45 before eventually ending the half with two Dru Spinks free throws to lead 51- 53.
Plymouth fought hard to stay in touch with Lions as they levelled the match at 62-62 after Milton Keynes had led by five points (53-58). And they almost repeated the trick at the end of the third quarter with a 5-0 run capped by Allister Gall's three making it a one point game at 75-76.
DMU Jelson Homes Leicester Riders 96 – 87 Worcester Wolves
DMU Jelson Homes Leicester Riders 96 (28,40,68) (Wierzbicki 38, Johnson 17, L Williams/Minor/Windless 9)
Worcester Wolves 87 (23,54,70) (Zabas 17, Disy 14, Nelijus 13)
DMU Jelson Homes Leicester Riders are celebrating their first visit to the BBL Cup last four after a late burst saw them past Worcester Wolves.
The Riders trailed by 18 in the third quarter but recovered to post a 13-0 run late in the final stanza, which broke the back of Worcester's resistance. Brad Wierzbicki (pictured) was the hero for Leicester with 38 points, including the go-ahead three-point play.
After a tight first quarter that Leicester edged 26-21 the Wolves seized control in the second period with a 14- 1 run to close the first half 40-54 in the visitor's favour.
Wolves advantage peaked in the third quarter at 46-64 with seven minutes remaining in the period before a 7- 0 run brought Riders back into it. From 54-67 Leicester went on a 14-3 tear to get within two (68-70) heading into the fourth quarter.
With 2.22 remaining Wolves led 83-85 but once Barry Lamble had tied the match with two free throws a Wierzbicki three-point play and another from LaTaryl Williams saw Riders into an unassailable position.
Tony Windless and Wierzbicki completed the job from the free throw line as Riders held Wolves scoreless for two minutes down the stretch.
Newcastle Eagles 89 – 93 Sheffield Sharks
Newcastle Eagles 89 (16,39,67) (Smith 17, Bridge/Chapman/Stewart 15)
Sheffield Sharks 93 (24,49,61) (Cook 36, Toney 19, Patton 17)
Sheffield Sharks extended their lead at the top of the BBL Championship after beating second placed Newcastle Eagles 89-93 in the north east.
The Sharks were the dominant side throughout but allowed an 18-point second quarter lead to slip through their fingers before turning round a six-point deficit themselves to finally see off the reigning champions.
Led once again by Mike Cook (pictured) on 36 points the Sharks began brightly and held a 14-24 lead before Eagles Aaron Nielsen cut the margin to 16-24 after ten minutes.
Sheffield turned on the style in the second quarter, putting together a 3-15 run to lead 23-41 midway through the period. Newcastle rallied to trail 39-49 at half time.
Newcastle dominated the third quarter with some excellent play. Sharks' lead quickly disappeared as Andrew Bridge, Charles Smith and Reggie Jackson all made three-pointers.
The match was tied at 51-51 before Joe Chapman and Jackson again connected from long range to send Eagles into the final stanza 67-61 on top.
A 9-0 run by Sheffield gave the visitors the lead back at 67-70. Eagles tied it at 70-70 and led for the last time at 78-77. From there it was all Sharks as a Todd Cauthorn three began a 10-2 run that gave Sheffield enough of a margin to take a priceless victory.
BBL Championship Table
P W L Pts
1 Sheffield Sharks 10 7 3 14
2=Marshall MK Lions 8 6 2 12
2=Newcastle Eagles 8 6 2 12
4=Cheshire Jets 8 5 3 10
4=Guildford Heat 8 5 3 10
6 Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 9 5 4 10
7 Glasgow Rocks 6 3 3 6
8 Everton Tigers 7 3 4 6
9 Worthing Thunder 9 3 6 6
10 Essex Pirates 6 2 4 4
11 Worcester Wolves 7 2 5 4
12 Airwaves Plymouth Raiders 5 1 4 2
13 PAWS London Capital 7 1 6 2
Source: www.bbl.org.uk
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