BCB TROPHY PREVIEW: HEMEL AND MK MEET FOR MIDLANDS SUPREMACY AS GROUP PHASE ENDS

It’s crunch time in the BCB Trophy, as the final group games begin before the quarter-final stage.

With final positions still undecided, a straight shootout will decide the top spot this weekend, highlighted by Hemel Storm’s clash with the Milton Keynes Breakers.

Trophy summary

• Hemel and Milton Keynes clash for top spot in the Midlands
• North and South 2 could see three-way ties for qualification

Preview

A battle of the unbeaten sides comes to a head in the Midlands group on Saturday as the Hemel Storm host the Milton Keynes Breakers in their final pool game, with the winner finishing top.

Both the Storm and Breakers are on 3-0 records, and Hemel will look to their presence in the frontcourt with Ty Nsangu (19.3ppg, 17.3rpg) shining in his Storm infancy; meanwhile, Milton Keynes will be looking to their early stat stuffer, Nickolas Woodard (22ppg), to heat up early and look to impose his dominance on proceedings.

With Loughborough Riders ending their Trophy phase on a 1-3 mark, the Oaklands Wolves and City of Birmingham Rockets meet in St Albans, in the other Midlands group game, with the Wolves looking for their second win of the Trophy, while the Rockets aim to end on a positive note, with three straight losses, but their last two coming by just one field goal.

In the North, an intriguing picture has emerged. All five teams are still in the running to advance to the last eight. For Newcastle Knights, a win against the Derby Trailblazers would see them stamp their ticket to the quarter-finals, along with the Yorkshire Dragons, who have already qualified with a 3-1 record.

Luke House has been a sniper for the Knights thus far, averaging 24 points and hitting five three-pointers per game, but will come up against an experienced Derby defensive line who have their own agenda, as a win for them could see a tie for second form alongside Newcastle and either Signs Express Falkirk Fury or Nottingham Hoods – who meet in the other game in the pool.

Both Fury and Hoods are locked at 1-2, with the loser of that contest eliminated from contention. In the event of a two-way tie, the positions are determined by their result against each other.

In a three-way tie, positions are based on results against each other and who has the better head-to-head record. If there is still a standoff, then it will be a mini table to see who has the best record. If no clear leader emerges, then it will be determined by who has the better points difference.

 In the two South groups, the picture is a little clearer but the teams are still eager to compete ahead of the new league season. In South 2, much remains to be decided.

Aldermore Reading Rockets travel to the Essex Rebels, with Reading aiming to finish top of the group but will need to stop the most recent Player of the Week, Tre Baumgardner, from getting going early.

Baumgardner erupted for 31 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals in last week’s 95-74 triumph over the London Cavaliers and would love nothing more than to top that against the Rockets. A win for the Rebels would see them, along with Reading and Worthing, in a three-way tie for top spot.

Portsmouth Force and London Cavaliers know their fate, but will battle it out at Uxbridge College to finish on a positive note and secure their first wins of the Trophy.

 In South 1, Bristol Hurricanes and NBL Division 1 side Gloucester City Kings have already booked their spot in the next round. The Hurricanes hit the road to take on the Plymouth Raiders, while the Bristol Flyers II face the Cardiff Met Archers in the Welsh capital.