2012 – Victory for Big Cats
Leopards picked up their first win of the season on Saturday evening as they came from behind to defeat Team USA Select 92-88. Taner Adu led the scoring for the second night in succession, finishing with 26 point, while Greg Hernandez added 21 points, including nine in the final period as the big Cats finished strongly.
Having lost by five points in the previous night’s loss against the Select A team, Leopards had expected to face their B team at Crystal Palace, but the visitors chose to mix their two squads, giving the Big Cats a tough game .
Adu dropped nine points in the opening period as Select dominated from behind the three point lane, scoring all 27 of their points from downtown as they led by seven at the first break. Despite some good work inside from Hernandez, Leopards trailed 55-43 at half-time, and the USA side led by as many as 18 points in the third period before the Big Cats fought back to tie the game at 63.
USA scored eight of the final 11 points in the third period to lead 71-66 at the final break before Leopards stepped up the pressure in the last quarter, and Adu wrapped up the win from the foul line.
2018 – Essex Classic day one round-up
London Lions go into day two of the Essex Classic top of the table after a pair of comfortable wins at the Brentwood Centre, on Saturday.Vince Macauley’s side steamrollered their way through Team USA Select and hosts Essex Leopards, and barring a mathematical miracle will compete in Sunday’s final.
The Lions announced the return of Jonathan James on the morning of the tournament, and he made an instant impact in the tournament’s opening game with 13 points in a 69-29 blowout against Team USA.
London held the American scoreless from the field in the first seven minute period, and never looked back after leading 19-1 at the first break.
Captain for the day Andre Lockhart and Brandon Peel each finished with 12 points for Lions as they opened the Classic in style.
Game two proved to be a bit more competitive as Leopards started well against Libertyville Vipers before fading to lose 69-39. Lee Hodges (formerly Leigh Greenhan) led the Big Cats with 13 points with Dion Easton adding six on his Leopards debut. Devonte Coe and Jabari Alex finished with 13 apiece for the Vipers.
The third game proved to be comfortably the best of the day as the two American sides went head-to-head. Team USA Select as a big three from Taylor Thomas down the stretch set them up for a 62-60 win
It was nip and tuck throughout the game, with Vipers seeing their 14-12 first period lead halved to 30-29 lead at half-time.
Vipers led 47-44 at the final break, but it went down to the wire. Thomas’ trey was answered by an and-one from Alex, only for Thomas to hit a jumper to put his side ahead before Johnson wrapped things up at the line.
The day’s final game saw the young Leopards, missing three probably starters, over run by Lions at time as the BBL side ran out 72-39 winners. Peel was in imperious form with 18 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes of action as Lions again started well with a 27-6 first period lead.
Chuck Duru hit half of the Big Cats points in the first quarter with a triple, but Sam Newman and Tom Child also scored from the Land of Plenty as Leopards opened the second period with an 11-6 run.
A four-point play from Wes Moore – Leopards’ only returning player from last season – helped the hosts keep the scoreboard ticking over, but a pair of Jordan Spencer free-throws sent Lions into the half-time break with a 39-21 lead.
The third period proved to be evenly matched, with Hodges hitting six straight points for Leopards before Andre Lavinier cut the deficit to 52-33 at the final break.
That proved to be only a brief respite for the Big Cats as Lions stepped up a gear in the fourth period, scoring 20 straight points in the first five and a half minutes before scores from Dion Easton, Duru and Newman sparked a 6-0 run to wrap up the scoring for the day.
Hodges finished with 11 points for Leopards with Newman adding seven and Rory Winter six, while Robinson finished with 20 and Spencer added 13 for Lions.
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2007 – Leopards burned by Heat
The Leopards are expected to draught in several new players for Saturday’s visit by Milton Keynes Lions after a depleted side went down 135-70 at BBL League and Cup winners Guildford Heat on Saturday.
Despite the loss, coach Jon Burnell was pleased with the display from his depleted squad: “I couldn’t have asked for any more from them. We were under-man, under-sized and under-strength, but they all gave 100 percent. I had seven players, but three of them were point guards, so it was tough going. We looked good at the beginning, and it wasn’t until they brought their second unit in that they took control.”
Burnell was especially pleased with guard Gareth Laws who looks set to join the Big Cats having previously played at London Capital, London Towers, Plymouth Raiders and Sutton Pumas: “Gareth played really well. I had to use him at the power forward spot for a while, which is probably the first time he’s done that in his career, but he stepped up, and if he stays with us he’ll be a great asset.”
Laws led the Big Cats’ scoring with 21 points and six rebounding, while James Warwick added 15 and Sam Salter finished with 14 and nine rebounds.
All seven players got on the scoresheet in a game where they each logged at least 20 minutes action, with junior point guard Lucas Volkis finishing with 11 points and centre Nathan Wilson picking up four boards to go with his five points.
A good start saw the Big Cats level at 18-18 with two minutes of the first period remaining against a side who are favourites to retain their league title and are competing in Europe this season. However, the Heat introduced their second unit, and fought back to go into the first break 30-20 ahead.
The home side turned up the pressure in the second period, outscoring 42-21 to lead 72-41 at half-time, before 34-20 and 29-9 quarters wrapped up their win.
Despite the loss, coach Jon Burnell was pleased with the display from his depleted squad: “I couldn’t have asked for any more from them. We were under-man, under-sized and under-strength, but they all gave 100 percent. I had seven players, but three of them were point guards, so it was tough going. We looked good at the beginning, and it wasn’t until they brought their second unit in that they took control.”
Burnell was especially pleased with guard Gareth Laws who looks set to join the Big Cats having previously played at London Capital, London Towers, Plymouth Raiders and Sutton Pumas: “Gareth played really well. I had to use him at the power forward spot for a while, which is probably the first time he’s done that in his career, but he stepped up, and if he stays with us he’ll be a great asset.”
Laws led the Big Cats’ scoring with 21 points and six rebounding, while James Warwick added 15 and Sam Salter finished with 14 and nine rebounds.
All seven players got on the scoresheet in a game where they each logged at least 20 minutes action, with junior point guard Lucas Volkis finishing with 11 points and centre Nathan Wilson picking up four boards to go with his five points.
A good start saw the Big Cats level at 18-18 with two minutes of the first period remaining against a side who are favourites to retain their league title and are competing in Europe this season. However, the Heat introduced their second unit, and fought back to go into the first break 30-20 ahead.
The home side turned up the pressure in the second period, outscoring 42-21 to lead 72-41 at half-time, before 34-20 and 29-9 quarters wrapped up their win.
Leopards' history 