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BBL TROPHY FINAL 2018 www.bbl.org.uk

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Contents

SCHEDULE ………………………… PAGE 3 THE COMPETITION ………………………… PAGE 4, 5 HISTORY OF THE FINAL ………………………… PAGE 6 THE ROAD TO THE FINAL ………………………… PAGE 7 GAME RECORDS ………………………… PAGE 8 INDIVIDUAL RECORDS ………………………… PAGE 9 ROSTER ………………………… PAGE 10 ROSTER ………………………… PAGE 11 TEAM STATISTICS ………………………… PAGE 12, 13 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS ………………………… PAGE 14 CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS ………………………… PAGE 15 CLUB HISTORY: LEICESTER ………………………… PAGE 16 CLUB HISTORY: SHEFFIELD ………………………… PAGE 17 LEICESTER FIXTURES ………………………… PAGE 18 SHEFFIELD FIXTURES ………………………… PAGE 19 HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS ………………………… PAGE 20 PAST MEETINGS ………………………… PAGE 21, 22, 23

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SCHEDULE

10:45AM: DOORS OPEN

12:45PM: EXHIBITION GAME: National Team V Rocks Select

3:40PM BBL TROPHY FINAL V DBL Sharks Sheffield

5:30PM (approx.): POST-GAME PRESENTATIONS

5:45PM (approx.): POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

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The competition

The BBL Trophy has been contested every year since the inception of the British League in 1987. Today’s game is the 31st BBL Trophy Final.

The BBL Trophy is a 16-team knockout tournament, made up of the 12 British Basketball League teams and 4 non-BBL teams. The four non-BBL teams invited into the tournament this year were Loughborough Student Riders, Team Northumbria, , and Sony Centre Fury.

The BBL Trophy has been won by 13 different clubs over its 31-year history. Esh Group Eagles Newcastle currently lead with the most victories with 6 whilst and Thames Valley Tigers tie each other with 4 victories apiece. and Heat also tie, with 3 victories each, and today’s finalists Leicester Riders and DBL Sharks Sheffield tie with 2 wins. Guildford Heat, Livingston, , Mersey Tigers, Raiders and all share one victory each.

Today’s game is taking place at the near 7,000 seat Emirates Arena, Glasgow, which also serves as the home venue for . Today’s final is the sixth time the BBL Trophy Final has been held at this arena.

Leicester Riders have won the last two Trophy Finals, defeating in 2017 and Esh Group Eagles Newcastle in 2016. Up until 2016’s victory, the BBL Trophy was the only piece of silverware Leicester had not yet won.

This is the fourth straight BBL Trophy Final that Leicester have made, winning two of them (2017 and 2016).

This is the first final in 22 months that Sheffield have made. The last final they made was the 2016 Molten Play-Off Finals in which they beat today’s opponents Leicester Riders.

In the last two major finals that Leicester Riders and DBL Sharks Sheffield have met, Sheffield have emerged victorious. They met in the 2013 BBL Trophy Final where Sheffield ended Leicester’s chances of a clean sweep of domestic honours with a 71-69 victory. It was three years later when they would then meet again in a final, this time at the Molten Play-Off Finals 2016, with Sheffield defeating Leicester 84-77.

Last year Leicester set the record for the biggest win margin in BBL Trophy Final history when they defeated Plymouth by a whopping 33 points (91-58).

DBL Sharks Sheffield began their journey to today’s final by defeating non-BBL side Manchester Magic 89-62. In the Quarter-Finals they met Esh Group Eagles Newcastle and earned a comfortable 81-76 victory advancing them to the Semi-Finals where they met 2018 Cup Finalists Worcester Wolves. The first leg ended in a thrilling 86-86 draw before Sheffield booked their Final with a second leg 75-66 win (161-152 on aggregate). 4

Leicester Riders began their journey to today’s final with an emphatic 104-59 win over . They met Plymouth Raiders in the Quarter-Finals and emerged with an 83-90 victory, moving on to face London Lions in the Semi-Finals. In the first leg, Leicester secured a comfortable 9-point lead heading into the second leg with a 90-81 victory. With the advantage of a home crowd, Leicester secured their fourth consecutive Trophy Final with a 92-65 win (182- 146 on aggregate).

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HISTORY OF THE FINAL

SEASON WINNERS RUNNERS-UP RESULT 2016-17 Leicester Plymouth 91-58 2015-16 Leicester Newcastle 85-77 2014-15 Newcastle Leicester 96-90 2013-14 Worcester Glasgow 83-76 2012-13 Sheffield Leicester 71-69 2011-12 Newcastle Plymouth 184-177* 2010-11 Mersey Guildford 84-66 2009-10 Newcastle Cheshire 111-95 2008-09 Newcastle Guildford 83-71 2007-08 Guildford Newcastle 86-79 2006-07 Plymouth Newcastle 74-65 2005-06 Newcastle Leicester 71-50 2004-05 Newcastle Brighton 85-60 2003-04 Cheshire Brighton 68-66 2002-03 Cheshire London Towers 84-82 2001-02 Cheshire Milton Keynes 90-89 2000-01 Cheshire Newcastle 92-81 1999-00 London Towers Manchester 74-73 1998-99 Manchester Derby 90-69 1997-98 Sheffield London Towers 82-79 1996-97 London Towers Cheshire 67-59 1995-96 London Towers Worthing 90-84 1994-95 Thames Valley Sheffield 74-69 1993-94 Thames Valley Manchester 79-73 1992-93 Thames Valley Guildford Kings 91-84 1991-92 Kingston Leicester 71-68 1990-91 Kingston Manchester 69-59 1989-90 Kingston Manchester 86-77 1988-89 Bracknell Livingston 89-81 1987-88 Livingston Portsmouth 96-91

*Aggregate result; final player over 2 legs

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ROAD TO THE FINAL

FIRST ROUND Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 87 – 76 Scorchers Plymouth Raiders 84 – 80 Team Northumbria 63 – 93 Worcester Wolves DBL Sharks Sheffield 89 – 62 Manchester Magic Leeds Force 59 – 104 Leicester Riders Manchester Giants 73 – 105 London Lions Cheshire Phoenix 79 – 75 Glasgow Rocks Sony Centre Fury 54 – 83 Loughborough Student Riders QUARTER-FINALS Plymouth Raiders 83 – 90 Leicester Riders Cheshire Phoenix 90 – 97 Worcester Wolves Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 76 – 81 DBL Sharks Sheffield London Lions 81 – 73 Loughborough Student Riders SEMI-FINALS Worcester Wolves 86 – 86 DBL Sharks Sheffield DBL Sharks Sheffield 75 – 66 Worcester Wolves (DBL Sharks Sheffield 161 – 152 on aggregate) London Lions 81 – 90 Leicester Riders Leicester Riders 92 – 65 London Lions (Leicester Riders win 182 – 146 on aggregate) FINAL Leicester Riders v DBL Sharks Sheffield

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GAME RECORDS

The most points scored in a BBL Trophy Final is as follows: By a winning side 111 Newcastle vs. Cheshire 2010 By a losing side 95 Cheshire v Newcastle 2010

The least points scored in a BBL Trophy Final is as follows: By a winning side 67 London v Cheshire 1997 By a losing side 50 Leicester v Newcastle 2006

The most/least points scored in a Final (combined) is as follows: Most - 206 Newcastle v Cheshire 2010 Least - 121 Newcastle v Leicester 2006

The most/least points scored in a half is as follows: Most points in a 1st half 64 Newcastle v Cheshire 2010 Least points in a 1st half 27 Chester v London 1997 Most points in a 2nd half 53 Cheshire v Newcastle 2010 Least points in a 2nd half 20 Leicester v Newcastle 2006

The largest/smallest winning margin in a Final is as follows: Largest 33pt Leicester 91-58 Plymouth 2017 25pt Newcastle 85-60 Brighton 2005 Smallest 1pt Chester 90-89 Milton Keynes 2002 1pt London 74-73 Manchester 2000

The 2012 final is not included in these statistics as it was played over two legs.

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individual RECORDS

Most Appearances in a Final 9 Newcastle (9) Andrew Bridge 8 Newcastle (7) / Sheffield (1)

Most Appearances in a Final (Coach) Fabulous Flournoy 9 Newcastle (9)

Most Wins Andrew Bridge 8 Newcastle (7) / Sheffield (1) Fabulous Flournoy 6 Newcastle (6)

Most Wins (Coach) Fabulous Flournoy 6 Newcastle (6) Kevin Cadle 5 Newcastle (5)

Most Points in a Game 40 Sheffield v London 1998

Most F/G in a Game Alan Cunningham 14 (23) Portsmouth v Livingston 1988 John Thomas 14 (24) Chester v Milton Keynes 2002

Most F/G – No misses Danny Craven 3/3 Manchester v Thames Valley 1994 Kabir Abu 3/3 Guildford v Newcastle 2009 Reggie Jackson 3/3 Newcastle v Cheshire 2010

Most F/T in a Game John Amaechi 14 (14) Sheffield v London 1998

Most F/T – No misses John Amaechi 14 (14) Sheffield v London 1998

Most 3pt F/G in a Game Lewis Young 5 Livingston v Portsmouth 1988 Ronnie Baker 5 Manchester v Derby 1999 BJ Holmes 5 Sheffield v Leicester 2013 Charles Smith 5 Newcastle v Leicester 2015

Most Rebounds Tony Holley 19 (7/12) Leicester v Newcastle 2006

Most Assists Neil Watson 13 Newcastle v Leicester 2015 Alton Byrd 11 Kingston v Leicester 1992 Vic Flemming 11 Livingston v Portsmouth 1988

* Kevin Cadle coached Guildford in 1992-93 but did not coach the final and this is not included in his six appearances. 2012 final not included in individual game/total points statistics as it was played over 2 legs. For these purposes 1 win and/or appearance is credited to any player who appeared in either leg.

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Leicester roster

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Sheffield roster

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TEAM statistics

The following is a statistical comparison between the Finalists (highlighted in blue), based on their performances in the BBL Championship this season:

Scoring Avg Bench Scoring Avg Conceded Avg 93.65 Leicester Riders 31.09 Leeds Force 103.50 Glasgow Rocks 90.30 Worcester Wolves 25.81 Manchester Giants 96.10 Worcester Wolves 88.24 Glasgow Rocks 24.52 Plymouth Raiders 86.05 Leicester Riders 86.77 23.67 Surrey Scorchers 85.33 Surrey Scorchers 86.71 Newcastle Eagles 23.30 Cheshire Phoenix 83.79 85.15 Plymouth Raiders 22.91 Worcester Wolves 82.29 Cheshire Phoenix 84.89 Bristol Flyers 22.71 Glasgow Rocks 81.52 London Lions 82.26 Leeds Force 22.68 Sheffield Sharks 80.75 Plymouth Raiders 80.18 Sheffield Sharks 22.45 Newcastle Eagles 80.35 Bristol Flyers 79.67 London Lions 21.84 Bristol Flyers 80.24 Manchester Giants 78.76 Manchester Giants 19.81 London Lions 76.42 Leeds Force 74.73 Cheshire Phoenix 13.63 Leicester Riders 73.50

Field Goal % % Field Goals Avg 3 Point % % 3 Point Goals Avg Leicester Riders 54.42 Sheffield Sharks 26.75 London Lions 38.25 Leeds Force 10.68 Glasgow Rocks 53.74 Newcastle Eagles 26.30 Glasgow Rocks 36.21 Worcester Wolves 9.90 Surrey Scorchers 52.87 Manchester Giants 26.24 Surrey Scorchers 35.90 Leicester Riders 9.23 Worcester Wolves 52.08 Bristol Flyers 25.43 Worcester Wolves 35.74 Plymouth Raiders 9.05 London Lions 51.04 Glasgow Rocks 24.39 Newcastle Eagles 35.11 Newcastle Eagles 8.90 Cheshire Phoenix 50.44 Cheshire Phoenix 24.26 Leicester Riders 34.23 London Lions 8.74 Manchester Giants 50.09 Leicester Riders 22.68 Leeds Force 33.24 Glasgow Rocks 8.57 Bristol Flyers 49.54 Surrey Scorchers 22.67 Sheffield Sharks 33.08 Surrey Scorchers 8.54 Newcastle Eagles 49.16 London Lions 22.05 Plymouth Raiders 32.89 Cheshire Phoenix 7.37 Sheffield Sharks 48.68 Worcester Wolves 21.48 Cheshire Phoenix 31.18 Sheffield Sharks 6.60 Plymouth Raiders 47.27 Plymouth Raiders 20.82 Bristol Flyers 29.93 Bristol Flyers 6.00 Leeds Force 46.28 Leeds Force 16.14 Manchester Giants 27.59 Manchester Giants 5.19

Offensive Defensive Free Throw % % Free Throws Avg Rebounds Avg Rebounds Avg Worcester Wolves 76.76 Glasgow Rocks 15.83 Cheshire Phoenix 14.32 Glasgow Rocks 29.48 Glasgow Rocks 75.99 Surrey Scorchers 15.75 Newcastle Eagles 13.60 Sheffield Sharks 27.20 Newcastle Eagles 75.73 Worcester Wolves 15.57 Manchester Giants 11.86 Plymouth Raiders 26.86 Leicester Riders 75.31 Newcastle Eagles 14.35 Sheffield Sharks 11.30 Bristol Flyers 26.76 Leeds Force 74.84 Cheshire Phoenix 14.26 Bristol Flyers 11.19 Surrey Scorchers 26.71 Sheffield Sharks 74.76 Leicester Riders 13.73 Worcester Wolves 10.90 London Lions 26.68 Cheshire Phoenix 73.44 London Lions 11.95 Plymouth Raiders 9.86 Leicester Riders 26.55 Plymouth Raiders 72.97 Sheffield Sharks 11.85 Leicester Riders 8.68 Newcastle Eagles 26.30 London Lions 69.85 Plymouth Raiders 11.41 London Lions 8.42 Cheshire Phoenix 24.42 Surrey Scorchers 69.49 Bristol Flyers 10.81 Surrey Scorchers 8.42 Worcester Wolves 24.33 Manchester Giants 69.02 Manchester Giants 10.71 Leeds Force 8.32 Manchester Giants 23.71 Bristol Flyers 67.76 Leeds Force 10.41 Glasgow Rocks 8.17 Leeds Force 22.32

Total Rebounds Avg Assists Avg Steals Avg Blocks Avg Newcastle Eagles 39.90 Worcester Wolves 23.71 Newcastle Eagles 10.60 Newcastle Eagles 3.80 Cheshire Phoenix 38.74 Newcastle Eagles 23.15 Leicester Riders 8.45 Leeds Force 3.45 Sheffield Sharks 38.50 London Lions 22.42 London Lions 8.21 Leicester Riders 3.32 Bristol Flyers 37.95 Sheffield Sharks 21.65 Worcester Wolves 7.62 Bristol Flyers 2.81 Glasgow Rocks 37.65 Leicester Riders 21.27 Plymouth Raiders 7.55 Manchester Giants 2.71 Plymouth Raiders 36.73 Glasgow Rocks 21.26 Cheshire Phoenix 7.21 Plymouth Raiders 2.68 Manchester Giants 35.57 Plymouth Raiders 20.82 Surrey Scorchers 7.21 Glasgow Rocks 2.61 Worcester Wolves 35.24 Surrey Scorchers 20.54 Glasgow Rocks 7.09 Surrey Scorchers 2.46 Leicester Riders 35.23 Bristol Flyers 20.19 Sheffield Sharks 7.00 Sheffield Sharks 2.40 Surrey Scorchers 35.13 Cheshire Phoenix 19.53 Bristol Flyers 6.76 Worcester Wolves 2.29 London Lions 35.11 Leeds Force 17.68 Leeds Force 5.59 London Lions 1.95 Leeds Force 30.64 Manchester Giants 17.57 Manchester Giants 5.14 Cheshire Phoenix 1.79

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Turn Overs Avg Fouls Avg Leeds Force 16.68 Worcester Wolves 16.81 Surrey Scorchers 14.21 Leicester Riders 15.68 Glasgow Rocks 14.09 Newcastle Eagles 15.50 Manchester Giants 14.05 Glasgow Rocks 15.39 Plymouth Raiders 13.41 London Lions 15.37 London Lions 12.74 Manchester Giants 15.33 Worcester Wolves 12.57 Surrey Scorchers 14.92 Bristol Flyers 12.38 Sheffield Sharks 14.65 Sheffield Sharks 12.30 Bristol Flyers 14.05 Newcastle Eagles 11.85 Cheshire Phoenix 13.95 Cheshire Phoenix 11.21 Plymouth Raiders 13.59 Leicester Riders 10.77 Leeds Force 13.55

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individual statistics

The following is a statistical comparison between the Finalists, based on their performances in the BBL Championship this season:

Statistic Leicester Sheffield League Leader

Points JR Holder – 16.0 Christopher Alexander – 18.2 Jaysean Paige (Newcastle) – Per Game 24.0

Rebounds Pierre Hampton – 5.8 Tony Wroblicky – 8.6 Gazmend Sinani (Leeds) – Per Game 11.8

Assists Per Tyler Bernardini – 4.1 Edgar McKnight – 6.8 Neil Watson (Plymouth) – 7.2 Game

Blocks Per Pierre Hampton – 1.0 Dirk Williams - 1.0 Gazmend Sinani (Leeds) – 1.5 Game

Steals Per Tyler Bernardini – 1.8 Christopher Alexander - 1.3 Nate Britt (Glasgow) – 2.1 Game

Free Throw Andrew Thomson – 0.870 Dirk Williams – 0.810 Anastasios Traianos Percentage (Manchester) – 1.000

Three Point Pierre Hampton – 0.471 Dirk Williams – 0.430 Dallin Bachynski (Worcester) Percentage – 0.615

Two Point Pierre Hampton – 0.615 Tony Wroblicky – 0.600 Joseph Ikhinmwin (London) – Percentage 0.717

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championship statistics

Leicester Riders

Sheffield Sharks

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Club history: Leicester

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Club history: Sheffield

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Leicester fixtures 2017-18

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Sheffield fixtures 2017-18

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Head-to-head records

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Past meetings

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