BCB WEEK 11: NEWCASTLE END YEAR CLEAR AT THE TOP; READING CLOSE BEHIND

The BCB completed its first half of action, with Newcastle Knights and Aldermore Reading Rockets in the mix at the top of the table.

However, there was another setback for the BCB Trophy finalists, the Yorkshire Dragons, over the weekend.

Key Storylines

• Reading send Lewis Champion off into retirement with win over Bristol Hurricanes
• Newcastle Knights end year top; beat Nottingham
• Thriller on the coast as Worthing edge Hemel

Recap

A dominant second-half showing lifted the Aldermore Reading Rockets (8-1) to an 88-60 success over the Bristol Hurricanes (1-10) at Loddon Valley.

On an afternoon where the Rockets honoured the recently retired Lewis Champion, Reading started slow and eventually outscored Bristol 41-19 in the third and fourth quarters. Jax Bouknight was electric from the field, as he poured in 34 points and seven assists.

Daniel Edozie paced the short-handed Hurricanes with 13 points and six boards.

The Rockets are joined at the summit by the Newcastle Knights (10-1), as they toppled Nottingham Hoods (3-8) 95-82 in the north-east on Wednesday. Bradley Dean led the Knights’ charge with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Success for the Knights and the Rockets, but there was despair for the Yorkshire Dragons (7-4), who lost 94-75 to the London Cavaliers (7-4). Juan Manning had 27 points for the victors, who shot 52 percent from the field, while holding the Dragons to 38 percent.

The Dragons’ BCB Trophy final opponents, City of Birmingham Rockets (5-3), fared better as they beat the Loughborough Riders (3-8) 100-73. Ronald Blain was a rebound shy of a double-double, as he finished with 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting to go with nine boards and five steals in a polished showing.

Yorkshire are joined in the top four by the Milton Keynes Breakers (7-3), who came away with a 96-73 home win over the Derby Trailblazers (5-4). Chase Thompson led the way with 21 points for the Breakers.

There was a thriller on the south coast, as Worthing Thunder (8-3) came back from a 15-point deficit to squeak past Hemel Storm (3-7) 89-88.

Justin Hopkins led Thunder with 31 points, going 11-for-14 from the foul line, and it was his free throws that proved pivotal in the final ten seconds, despite Taylor Johnson hitting a last-gasp triple that ultimately proved to be not enough.

Essex Rebels (6-6) gave themselves a strong finish to the year after beating Bristol Flyers II (0-11) 78-60 in a physical battle. Miles Brown led the way with 25 points, 11 rebounds and six steals.