BBL Championship
Cheshire Phoenix 78-71 London Lions (17-22, 29-41, 46-58)
Cheshire Phoenix delighted fans at Cheshire Oaks Arena with an incredible 78-71 comeback victory to overcome London Lions.
Trailing for the majority of the contest, Cheshire found an extra gear in the final period; opening the fourth quarter with a sensational 20-6 run. The home side had been down by as many as 20 points but rallied late to seal an improbable victory. Malcolm Riley top scored for Cheshire with 24 points, while C.J. Gettys and Orlando Jackman contributed important double-doubles.
Leading Scorers – Riley 24, Gettys 20, Jackman 15 (Phoenix); Robinson 20, Flannigan 16, Latinovic 12 (Lions)
Turning Point – Seemingly out of the contest, Cheshire turned the game on its head in the fourth quarter. Phoenix exploded out of the gates to start the final period, seizing all the momentum, outscoring the visitors 32-13 over the final 10 minutes.
Key Stat – The home side only managed to net 46 points in the first three quarters combined, but Cheshire found their rhythm to pour in 32 points in the final period.
Game Hero(es) – C.J. Gettys’ 20 point, 12 rebound double-double provided the backbone to Phoenix’s victory. The centre scored his points efficiently, connecting on 9 of his 13 shots.