BCB WEEK 14: LONDON SHAKE UP TITLE RACE AND READING GO LEVEL AT TOP

It was a chaotic weekend in the BCB as there is a minor change at the summit and unbeaten records ended after Week 14.

London Cavaliers were the leading team to shake up the standings, highlighting the latest round.

Key Storylines

• London Cavaliers continue good form by beating league leaders
• Aldermore Reading Rockets go joint top after double-winning weekend
• Nottingham Hoods make it three wins in a row on Friday night

Recap

London Cavaliers (9-5) breathed life into the BCB title race after they beat the league leaders Newcastle Knights (12-2) 98-74 to hand them their first loss since October.

Juan Manning was exceptional, leading the way with 26 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals to put the Knights to the sword and give them their fourth win in the last five games.

JaRon Thames paced Newcastle with 23 points and nine rebounds.

Newcastle’s loss was the Aldermore Reading Rockets’ (12-1) gain as they secured a pair of wins to put them joint top of the table.

Jax Bouknight starred as the Rockets dismissed the Hemel Storm (3-10) 105-77 on Saturday night. The American point guard had 22 points and 12 assists to lead six Reading players in double figures, three of them with double-doubles. Brayden Inger had 23 points for Hemel.

The Rockets then followed that up with a 103-82 win over Derby Trailblazers (7-6) on Sunday.

Victor Olarerin led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, connecting four three-pointers. Jai Pathmarajah had 28 for Derby.

 It ended a bad week for the Trailblazers, who also lost out to the rejuvenated Nottingham Hoods (6-8) 84-81 on Friday night.

Tyrone Williams enjoyed a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds, as he shot 57 percent from the floor for the Hoods, who have won their third game in a row.

Milton Keynes Breakers (10-4) had a mixed week as they split their double-header weekend. They beat the Loughborough Riders (3-11) 92-70, but narrowly lost out on the road to the City of Birmingham Rockets (8-4) 83-80.

For the Riders, it was the start of a bad weekend, as it was finished off with a 90-84 loss to the Worthing Thunder (9-5)

Bristol Hurricanes (2-11) grabbed their second win of the BCB season, as they beat the Yorkshire Dragons (7-7) 85-82.

Chris Taylor buried a three-pointer with less than a minute to play to ultimately seal the win for the Hurricanes. A desperately short-handed Yorkshire side had opportunities but failed to capitalise as they fell to their sixth consecutive loss.

Elvisi Dusha amassed 19 points and eight assists for the Hurricanes. Corey Johnson had a game-high 28 for the Dragons.

Joy for the Hurricanes, but for their neighbours across the road, the Bristol Flyers II (0-14) are still waiting for their first win, with City of Birmingham Rockets the latest team to get a win over Chris Bourne’s side.

Lucas McGregor led the Rockets with 18 points in an 87-66 victory in what was a double-winning weekend for the BCB Trophy finalists.