by Vlad Ionasc
Cheshire Phoenix will tip off 2022 with a BBL Trophy First Round clash against Scottish side Sony Centre Fury.
The Nix will look to bounce back from their North West Derby defeat against the Manchester Giants and progress through to the Quarter-Final stage of the competition, where they could face the Plymouth City Patriots or Basketball Wales.
In last year’s edition of the competition, Cheshire obtained a comfortable 14-point victory over NBL D1 side Hemel Storm before being eliminated by the Glasgow Rocks in the Quarter-Final.
GAME DETAILS
Date: Sunday 9th January, 2021
Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.
Competition: BBL Trophy First Round
Where: EPSV
How to watch: Tickets available on the door / BBL Player
FURY SCOUTING REPORT
John Bunyan’s team qualified for the BBL Trophy after being crowned champions of the 2019/20 Scottish Basketball Championship.
The Scottish side are currently sat in first place in the Scottish Basketball Championship.
Fury will come into the building in good form, having picked up consecutive wins in December vs. Dunfermline Reign and Glasgow University, however they will also be a little rusty, as they haven’t played a competitive game in almost a month.
Fury advanced through to the Quarter-Final of the Scottish Cup in November, thanks to a 73-51 win over West Lothian Wolves.
Bantu Burroughs, an American guard who suited up for Eastern Mennonite in NCAA D3, played in the BBL for the Glasgow Rocks from 2015 until 2018.
American guard Trey Whitley, who has NCAA D2 experience, is the focal point of Fury’s offense.
KEY PLAYERS
Sony Centre Fury: Trey Whitley — The American 6’1 guard spent his collegiate career at Black Hills State University in NCAA D2. Whitley scored a game-high 30 points in Fury’s win over Reign and followed up with another team-best 23 point performance in Fury’s victory over Glasgow University.
Cheshire Phoenix: Michael Ochereobia — Big Mike was Cheshire’s most efficient player against the Giants, as he tallied 16 points and eight rebounds (seven offensive) on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor. The British center is averaging 9.6 points and 8.4 rebounds after the first eight games in the BBL Championship.
COACH’S CORNER
Ben Thomas: “We’ve got a great opportunity to get our BBL Trophy campaign off to winning ways tonight.
Fury will come to the game ready to play and we have to make sure that we are prepared to outwork them first and foremost. If we do that we will give ourselves the best chance to advance to the next round!”
NEXT HOME GAME
The Nix are next in action at the EPSV against the Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Championship on the 9th of January. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.