BCB WEEK 26: BRISTOL END ON A FLYER; CHAMPIONS GIVEN SCARE BY BREAKERS
The final weekend of BCB league action saw the newly crowned winners, Aldermore Reading Rockets, get their hands on the trophy after going through an almighty scare, and the Bristol Flyers II ended their season on a memorable high.
The playoff seedings were also confirmed after Week 26 – the final week before the postseason commences.
Key Storylines
- Bristol Flyers II end season with first wins
- Reading lift title after being pushed to limit by the Breakers
- Reading-Derby, Newcastle-Yorkshire, Birmingham-London, MK-Nottingham in the playoffs
Recap
After losing their previous 24 games in the BCB – and 27 if you include the Trophy – the Bristol Flyers II ended the season on a deserved high. They began with a narrow 78-73 victory over neighbours the Bristol Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
Lanre Ayinla shot 6-for-11 from the floor for a team-high 15 points, helped by Nassim Ladjimi’s 14 in a tightly contested contest that the Flyers did well to claim down the stretch. Denzel Ubiaro led the Hurricanes with 20.
The Flyers followed that up with an 87-85 triumph over the Worthing Thunder at the Worthing Leisure Centre to end their season. Like their win on Wednesday, Bristol had to keep their cool down the stretch with Ladjimi again the lead instigator as he sank the game-winning free throw for the victory.
Ladjimi went off for 30 points, with seven three-pointers in his haul. Ayinla was also clinical, adding 25. Justin Hopkins had a game-high 36 points for the Thunder side, who, after topping the table with a 6-0 record in early November, missed out on the playoffs, finishing tenth.
The Flyers enjoyed the final weekend of the campaign, as did the Aldermore Reading Rockets, who were in party mood on Sunday, but the fourth-placed Milton Keynes Breakers nearly played the role of party crashers at Loddon Valley.
Leading for the majority of the game, Reading were still unable to shake off the stubborn Breakers, who took the game to the champions and, with less than a minute remaining, tied the game at 76-76 thanks to three calmly drained free throws from teenage prodigy Kalvin Oates.
However, the Rockets regrouped and saw the game out with buckets inside from Victor Olarerin and Yusef Salih to break Milton Keynes’ resistance to win 80-76 in an exciting encounter. Salih led the winners with 17 points, as they proudly lifted the BCB league title post-game. Kai Williams led MK with 18 on 87 percent shooting.
Reading’s win was the sole success of the top four, who all suffered losses on the final weekend. Newcastle Knights went down 106-101 to the Yorkshire Dragons in what was a preview of their upcoming playoff quarter-final clash.
City of Birmingham Rockets ended their league season on a sour note, as they went down 101-90 to the Nottingham Hoods at Harvey Hadden, the same venue they captured the BCB Trophy in late March. Abiodun Adedo had 27 points and 13 boards for the Hoods.
They then completed their campaign with a narrow 91-87 loss to the Loughborough Riders. Jalen Cook exploded for 41 points and nine rebounds.
Hemel Storm legend Jack Burnell ended his career on a positive note as his side overcame the Derby Trailblazers 107-83. Brayden Inger had 29 to lead the Storm. But Derby were to rebound quickly by beating the London Cavaliers 86-81. Mo Walker bagged a big double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds.
Before their win in Birmingham, the Loughborough Riders enjoyed a solid 78-70 home win over the Essex Rebels and despite losing 86-81 in Derby on Sunday, the London Cavaliers enjoyed success beforehand, by beating the Bristol Hurricanes 87-75.
