SATURDAY 3 MAY 2008
 Marshall
MK Lions and Guildford Heat will contest the BBL Championship
Play-off Final after winning their respective semi-finals
at the Basketball Finals Weekend at the National Indoor Arena
in Birmingham on Saturday.
Marshall MK Lions were first to book their place, courtesy
of a 72-63 victory over Newcastle Eagles. Terrell Brown (pictured)
top scored for the Lions on the way to victory.
Guildford Heat joined Lions in the Final on the back of their
81-66 success over Guildford Heat.
BBL Championship Play-off Semi Final
Newcastle Eagles 63 (12,31,51) (Levan 19, Stewart/Flournoy
14)
Marshall MK Lions 72 (18,33,53) (Brown 17,
Williams 13, New/Youngblood 12)
It was a tight opening to the game, with both teams struggling
to make their shots. However, Lions enjoyed more success and
led 11-4 early on. Eagles suffered an early scare as Lynard
Stewart fell awkwardly, seeming to land on his neck. After
a short delay for treatment Eagles resumed action and Stewart
would later rejoin his team-mates seemingly none the worse.
Eagles were re-energised and found some scoring accuracy to
reduce the arrears to three points, but Lions responded to
close out the quarter leading 12-18.
In the second stanza Eagles gradually narrowed the gap and
a Steve Levan three pointer, with 1.42 left on the clock,
made it a one-point game at 32-31 to Lions. Tony Windless
re-established a two-point advantage at the mid-way point
from the line, to leave the game neatly poised.
Lions came out fastest in the second half, hitting the first
seven points to lead 40-31, before two Levan foul shots broke
their run. Lions established a double-digit lead on the back
of shots from the charity stripe, including two Robert Youngblood
free throws, given following an unsportsmanlike foul given
against the Eagles.
With Lions 48-35 to the good Charles Smith hit a much-needed
three for Newcastle and Levan followed suit shortly after
to cut the gap to seven points at 48- 41. It was the start
of a 16-5 tear for Eagles and it could have been more had
their final shot not rimmed out.
An early three pointer got Lions back on track at the start
of the fourth quarter. Kevin Griffin and Yorick Williams showed
their long range shooting prowess and helped Milton Keynes
to a 65-55 lead. Eagles' player/coach led by example, scoring
six of the next eight points to bring Newcastle back to within
two points at 65-63. However, with 30 seconds to go Flournoy
fouled out and Babalola followed soon after. It was left to
the Lions to seal their success from the foul line and book
their first ever Play-off Final berth.
Terrell Brown led Lions scoring with 17 personal points,
ably assisted by Robert Youngblood's double double of 12 points
and 12 rebounds. Steve Levan led all scorers - he bagged 19
for the Eagles to no avail.
BBL Championship Play-off Semi Final
Guildford Heat 81 (21-42,62) (Harrison 21, Dorsey
13, Martin 12)
Kularoos Plymouth Raiders 66 (12,30,49) (Moore
25, Lasker 10, Durham 9)
As in the first semi-final, both teams started slowly, but
it was Guildford who took the early advantage. A James' Jones
three pointer saw the Heat take an 11-4 lead. He hit a second
three pointer later in the quarter, before Mike Martin established
a double digit lead at 18-8. Andrew Lasker kept the Raiders
in touch with six successful free throws, but EJ Harrison
stretched the lead still further with a late three to lead
21-12 at the end of the opening quarter..
Plymouth had the greater offensive threat early in the second
quarter and a James Noel bucket cut the gap to just two points
at 24-22 to Guildford. The teams traded baskets thereafter,
but the Heat's scoring came largely in the form of three pointers
from Daniel Wardrope and EJ Harrison, the latter bagging one
on the buzzer as Guildford led 42-30 at half- time.
Guildford's long range shooting continued to serve them well
in the third quarter - James Jones and Danny Gilbert getting
in on the act as the lead was extended to 51-34. But for Gaylon
Moore and Plymouth's deficit could have been greater.
Allister Gall gave the Raiders' faithful something to cheer
about with an excellent three pointer later in the third stanza,
but the Heat still led 60-49.
Guildford's domination continued in the fourth period and
they gradually extended their advantage to 19 points at 73-54
and though Plymouth's effort level never wavered, they could
find no way back.
Gaylon Moore led all scorers with 25 personal points for
Plytmouth, while EJ Harrison led the way for Guildford with
21 points.
Also in action on Saturday, there was an Under-16 Junior
International game between England and Ireland, which saw
England finish victorious by a score line of 72-44.
Under-16 Junior International
England U-16 72 (11,37,53) (Blandford 16, Colwell 13, Loftman
10)
Ireland U-16 44 (2,24,36) (Cairns 12, O'Hagan 6, Connolly
5)
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