SLB Round 25 (Regular Season): Manchester lose to Surrey

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Manchester (16-11) and sixth ranked Scorchers (12-15) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Manchester was defeated by Scorchers in Guildford 77-94. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Manchester. Surrey made 25-of-27 free shots (92.6 percent) during the game. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Ronald Polite (188-2002, college: UNCG) who helped to win the game recording 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. point guard Kino Lilly (183, college: Brown) contributed with 22 points and 6 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. Scorchers' coach Lloyd Gardner used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Max Jones (193-2002, college: Kansas St.) answered with 22 points for Manchester. Surrey moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Bristol Flyers. Manchester at the other side keeps the third position with 11 games lost. Surrey is looking forward to face Leicester R. (#7) on the road in the next round. Manchester will have a break next round.
An interesting game for Lions (21-5) which played road game in Chester against their biggest opponent Cheshire Phoenix (17-12). First ranked Lions had an easy win 99-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cheshire Phoenix. American-Guyanese Kameron McGusty (197-1997, college: Miami, FL) stepped up and scored 16 points for the winners and Tarik Phillip chipped in 16 points. Lions' coach Tautvydas Sabonis used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side American guard Jaxon Brenchley (196, college: Denver) responded with 20 points. Lions have an impressive series of six victories in a row. London maintains first place with 21-5 record. Cheshire P. at the other side keeps the second position with 12 games lost. London will play against Bristol Flyers (#5) on the road in the next round. Cheshire P. will play against Newcastle E. and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Leicester was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Flyers (12-15) played at the court of seventh ranked Leicester Riders (11-14). Leicester Riders managed to secure a 7-point victory 85-78 on Sunday. Kedrian Johnson nailed 24 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side. Zachary Anderson came up with 22 points and 7 rebounds for Bristol Flyers in the defeat. Flyers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains seventh place with 11-14 record. Bristol Flyers lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 15 games lost. They share it with Surrey. Leicester R. will meet at home higher ranked Surrey (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Bristol Flyers will play against the league's leader London having rather not much hope for a victory.

In the last two games of round 25 Leicester R. was smashed by Sheffield on the road 93-68. Caledonia was destroyed by Newcastle E. on its own court 67-96.



Sheffield S. - Leicester R. 93-68

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Sharks (14-12) crushed 7th ranked Leicester Riders (11-14) in Sheffield 93-68 on Friday. Sheffield looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Leicester R.'s players. American guard Nick Kern Jr (198, college: Penn State) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import guard Rodney Chatman (189-1998, college: Vanderbilt, agency: Slash Sports) accounted for 14 points and 6 assists. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. American forward Nate Martin (203, college: Marshall) came up with 15 points and 7 rebounds and naturalized French guard Flynn Boardman-Raffett (196-2002, college: Memorial) added 14 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Leicester R. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Sheffield maintains fourth place with 14-12 record. Leicester R. lost their fifth game in a row. Defending champion keeps the seventh position with 14 games lost. Sheffield will meet at home Caledonia (#9) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Leicester R. will play against Surrey and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Leicester R.: N.Martin 15+7reb+1ast, F.Boardman-Raffett 14+7reb+2ast, T.Sulaiman 11+8reb+2ast, K.Johnson 8+1reb+2ast, V.Ndoukou 5, M.Joiner 5+2reb+2ast
Sheffield S.: K.Nick 16+10reb+6ast, W.Dirk 16+2reb+3ast, F.Alihodzic 15+3reb+2ast, C.Rodney 14+3reb+6ast, N.Prentiss 10+2reb+4ast, D.Troy 9+5reb

Surrey - Manchester 94-77

The game between third ranked Manchester (16-11) and sixth ranked Scorchers (12-15) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Manchester was defeated by Scorchers in Guildford 77-94. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Manchester. Surrey made 25-of-27 free shots (92.6 percent) during the game. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Ronald Polite (188-2002, college: UNCG) who helped to win the game recording 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. point guard Kino Lilly (183, college: Brown) contributed with 22 points and 6 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. Four Scorchers players scored in double figures. Scorchers' coach Lloyd Gardner used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Guard Max Jones (193-2002, college: Kansas St.) answered with 22 points and guard Jordan Johnson (185, college: New Orleans) added 13 points and 4 assists in the effort for Manchester. Surrey moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Bristol Flyers. Manchester at the other side keeps the third position with 11 games lost. Surrey is looking forward to face Leicester R. (#7) on the road in the next round. Manchester will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Manchester: M.Jones 22+3reb+1ast, J.Johnson 13+4reb+4ast, Z.Irvin 13+5reb, S.PJay 9+3reb+8ast, D.Shelton 6+8reb+1ast, T.Adetukasi 5+5reb
Surrey: P.Ronald 24+7reb+7ast, L.Kino 22+2reb+6ast, S.Isiah 19+9reb+1ast, L.Tyrin 15+2reb+1ast, G.Michael 6+14reb+1ast, O.Tayo 2+1reb

Leicester R. - Bristol Flyers 85-78

The game in Leicester was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Flyers (12-15) played at the court of seventh ranked Leicester Riders (11-14). Leicester Riders managed to secure a 7-point victory 85-78 on Sunday. American Kedrian Johnson (190-1999, college: WVU) nailed 24 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side and naturalized French guard Flynn Boardman-Raffett (196-2002, college: Memorial) accounted for 24 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Zachary Anderson (201-2002, college: GMU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) came up with 22 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import center Owen McCormack (203-2001, college: Lipscomb) added 13 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Bristol Flyers in the defeat. Four Bristol Flyers players scored in double figures. Flyers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains seventh place with 11-14 record. Bristol Flyers lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 15 games lost. They share it with Surrey. Leicester R. will meet at home higher ranked Surrey (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Bristol Flyers will play against the league's leader London having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Bristol Flyers: Z.Anderson 22+7reb+2ast, O.McCormack 13+7reb+2ast, W.Yoakum 13+4reb+1ast, C.Christon 11+1reb+1ast, C.Holden 10+5reb+6ast, J.Anderson 6+3reb+6ast
Leicester R.: J.Kedrian 24+6reb+7ast, B.Flynn 24+6reb+3ast, E.Travis 10+3reb+3ast, S.Tomiwa 8+6reb+2ast, M.Nate 8+7reb+3ast, M.Aaron 6+4reb

Caledonia G. - Newcastle E. 67-96

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 9th ranked Gladiators' (6-20) home loss to eighth ranked Newcastle Eagles (11-16) in Glasgow 67-96 on Sunday. Newcastle E. dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Gladiators's 34. Newcastle E. forced 21 Caledonia turnovers. American-Nigerian forward Gus Okafor (201-1999, college: Wichita St.) nailed 26 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Ray-Sean Taylor (185, college: SIUE) accounted for 20 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Four Newcastle Eagles players scored in double figures. American point guard Ria'N Holland (183-1994, college: Mercer) came up with 11 points and 8 rebounds and naturalized Scottish forward Fraser Malcolm (198-1996, college: BHSU) added 15 points respectively for Caledonia in the defeat. Gladiators' coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Newcastle E. maintains eighth place with 11-16 record. Loser Gladiators keeps the ninth position with 20 games lost. Newcastle E. will meet at home league's second-placed Cheshire P. in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Caledonia will play against Sheffield (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Caledonia G.: F.Malcolm 15+3reb, R.Holland 11+8reb+3ast, J.Speelman 9+4reb+2ast, M.Ragsdale 9+2reb+2ast, M.Delpeche 6+5reb, E.Wright 6+6reb+5ast
Newcastle E.: O.Gus 26+8reb+1ast, T.Ray-Sean 20+9reb+5ast, B.Terrell 13+1reb+5ast, C.Mitchell 11+3reb+1ast, W.Joshua 10+5reb, H.Deion 9+7reb+2ast

Cheshire P. - London L. 79-99

An interesting game for Lions (21-5) which played road game in Chester against their biggest opponent Cheshire Phoenix (17-12). First ranked Lions had an easy win 99-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cheshire Phoenix. Cheshire P. was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. American-Guyanese Kameron McGusty (197-1997, college: Miami, FL) stepped up and scored 16 points for the winners and the former international guard Tarik Phillip (191-1993, college: WVU) chipped in 16 points. Five Lions players scored in double figures. Lions' coach Tautvydas Sabonis used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. At the losing side American guard Jaxon Brenchley (196, college: Denver) responded with 20 points and the other American import forward Frankie Policelli (206-2000, college: Charleston) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lions have an impressive series of six victories in a row. London maintains first place with 21-5 record. Cheshire P. at the other side keeps the second position with 12 games lost. London will play against Bristol Flyers (#5) on the road in the next round. Cheshire P. will play against Newcastle E. and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Cheshire P.: J.Brenchley 20+4reb+2ast, F.Policelli 14+10reb+1ast, T.Cameron 13+7reb+2ast, S.White 7+7reb, M.Zona 6+3reb, D.Lindo 6+3reb
London L.: M.Kameron 16+3reb+1ast, P.Tarik 16+2reb+2ast, R.Shavar 14, R.Aaryn 12+4reb+3ast, S.Joel 10+6reb+1ast, S.Morayo 9+3reb+1ast