Cheshire Phoenix finish strong to see off understrength Surrey Scorchers.
Cheshire Phoenix produced a strong finish down the stretch as they defeated a depleted Surrey Scorchers side 81-74 in the BBL Championship.
Akeem Ellis top scored with 23 points with the home side going on a pivotal 17-2 run in the final quarter at the Cheshire Oaks Arena.
Cheshire were down by five early on, but a 10-0 run put them in control as they established a seven-point advantage by the end of the first.
However, Surrey went on a 15-2 run to open the second to build a seven point lead of their own. Quincy Taylor connected with back-to-back triples, while Ellis then followed suit to beat the buzzer from downtown, and tie the game at the half.
Ellis opened the third with another three, but Tayo Ogedengbe scored 10 of his team-high 18 points in a 14-2 burst from the visitors to open up a nine point gap. Cheshire hit back with an immediate 10-2 response and would have a slender advantage heading into the fourth
The Scorchers opened the final quarter with the first eight points, and led by as many as six at 62-68 before the tide turned once more.
Jeff Dirkin netted two triples to help his side storm back ahead and Taylor would cap a 17-2 spell with another score from downtown to put Cheshire up by nine with 1:10 remaining.
There was no way back, and the Scorchers fell to their second loss on the weekend with their play-off hopes taking a further dent.
The win leaves Nix in seventh position in the table and secured the season head-to-head tie-breaker over Surrey.