2019 – Comeback kids make it six win in eight games
Leopards completed the first half of the league season with a stunning 94-90 win at Nottingham Hoods to chalk up their sixth Division One in the last eight games.
There was little sign of the comeback that was to follow as the Big Cats for almost all of the first three period, going into the opening break 35-25 down and trailing 60-49 at half-time do herunterladen. But they chipped away at the deficit in third period before taking control in the fourth to collect the victory.
A pair of Lee Hodges free-throws levelled the score after Welle had given the hosts the lead, but that was the only time they were on level terms until the fourth period.
The home side rush into a 10-2 lead, and although triples from Hodges and Sam Newman made it a two point game, the hosts continued to pour in the points on their way to a ten point lead at the first break.
Hodges cut the lead to eight with the opening score of the second quarter but five straight points from Wells made it a 19 point game before a trey from his compatriot Sandiford cut Leopards’ deficit to 11 going into the locker room.
Newman kept his side in the game with seven early points in the third period before Sandiford hit five straight to make it a seven point game midway through the quarter. That deficit was cut to four as Findlay Wood drained from the Land of Plenty but, although the hosts again took a double-digit lead, back-to-back Luke Mascall-Wright scores followed up by a Rory Winter triple sent Leopards into the final break trailing 79-75.
Captain Newman hit a triple to open the fourth period before Lee Hodges’ dunk gave his side their first lead of the night with nine minutes remaining. With the momentum now in Leopards’ favour, scores from Mascall-Wright and Sandiford completed a 12-0 run to give the visitors a five point lead.
A pair of scores from Delaney Powell helped Hoods regain the lead but a pair of driving lay-ups from Sandiford put Leopards into a lead they would never lose.Mascall-Wright made it a three point game with two minutes on the clock and and Newman effectively iced the win with a trey 57 seconds from time.
Sandiford finished with a team-high 28 points and five assists, with Newman adding 20 points and four assists. Hodges had 18 points while Luke Mascall-Wright added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Welle led the hosts with a 31 point, 11 rebound double-double, with Powell adding 19 points and eight assists.
2014 – Eagles too strong for Big Cats
Leopards found the most successful club in British basketball too tough as Newcastle Eagles left the Brentwood Centre with a 101-73 BBL Trophy victory on Sunday.
Howard Crawford was in scintillating form for the Big Cats with 31 points and 18 rebounds, while Taner Adu marked his return to the club with 11 points and Kris Clark had nine points, seven assists and five rebounds .
The Big Cats matched the four times Trophy winners on the boards, the sides sharing 90 rebounds, but shot poorly as Eagles wrapped up a home quarter-final against either London Lions or Worcester Wolves .
Crawford opened the scoring before Charles Smith hit a three, but Adu replied to make it 4-3 in the home side’s favour. Former GB big man Darius Defoe – who finished with a 26 point, ten rebound double-double – opened his account to give his side a lead they would never lose with two minutes gone, and although Clark scored the final points of the quarter, Eagles led 29-16 at the first break. .
Malik Cook – who led Eagles with 28 points – hit a trey to open the second half and the Eagles lead grew to as many as 26 points before Crawford hi two baskets and Courtney Van Beest drained a jumper as Leopards went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead 56-36 going into the locker room at half-time
Defoe opened the second half scoring and Eagles’ third lead peaked at 33 before Clark beat the buzzer to make it 80-50 at the final break. Eagles led by as many as many as 34 in the final period but the Big Cats rallied to win the fourth quarter 23-21 with Ish Fontaine and Clark draining three-pointers to wrap things up.
2000 – Johnson injury hurts Leopards
Thames Valley Tigers 83 (24,47,66)
Meldrum 25, Arena 18, Siemon 11
adidas London Leopards 75 (15,38,62)
Kimbrough 21, Brantley 17, Capers 13
Dairylea Dunkers Championship @ Bracknell Leisure Centre
Greg Meldrum was the star of Thames Valley’s show, leading all scorers with 25 points as his side secured a crucial win in this all-southern conference clash.
Eight of Meldrum’s points came down the stretch, as Thames Valley stretched away from level at 70-70 to secure their win – a period of play that saw the Tigers slot eight of the game’s last nine points.
Leopards’ cause wasn’t helped by an ankle injury to guard Rashod Johnson – he limped out in the last minute of the first half and took no further part in the game.
Leopards' history 