2017 – RECORD BREAKING LEOPARDS PROGRESS IN CUP
Leopards’ National Cup continued in style as East London All-Stars were hammered 132-75 at Mark Hall, on Sunday .It was the first game the Big Cats had played at the Harlow venue but having produced a club record-equalling 73-point win in the previous round, they set new records for points in a half (73), points at the end of the third period (97) and points in a game .
John Shodipo added seven rebounds, six assists and five steals to his 29 points in just 16 minutes of action, while Will Ashby finished with 28 points and four boards, converting eight of his ten three-point attempts .
Shaq Lewis (16), Korry Callum (13), Jordan George (12) and Dougie Bennett (10) all finished in double figures as ten Leopards got on the scoreboard .
Kevin Moyo scored from downtown to open Leopards’ account but despite Ashby hitting eight straight points, the visitors matched the Big Cats early in the game and were leading 15-14 at five minute mark of the first quarter .
That proved to be as good at it got for the London side as seven Shodipo points in a 16-0 Leopards run put them in control .The home side led 30-24 at the first break but it was a dominant second period that effectively ended the game as a contest.
Ashby took his first half telly to 20 points and Callum hit a pair of triples as the London side were outscored 43-13 to give Leopards a 73-37 lead .
A Jamie Hayes trey launched a 9-2 run which took the margin about 40, and Callum hit his third trey of the game before George hit the third period’s final five points as the Big Cats went into the fourth quarter with a 97-52 lead .
Shodipo converted a three point play to take the score to the century mark with just 40 fourth period seconds gone and he added a further four points as Leopards continued to press, outscoring the visitors 24-10 in the first five minutes before Baker gave his bench players to chance to see the win out .
The Big Cats will now host Thames Valley Cavaliers in the last 16 but before then London Westside visit the Brentwood Centre on Sunday, tip-off 4pm, where the hosts will look for their fifth straight victory .
2014 – KENT GAME TO BE REPLAYED
Leopards will get another bite at the cherry after their 78-65 National Trophy loss at Kent Crusaders was declared null and void by Basketball England .The Big Cats were advised by the referee that the court at Northfleet Technical College had insufficient room between the sidelines and the surrounding wall, with the scorers table only 20cm from the court . Having measured the run-off after the game, Leopards discovered that gap was 1.36m rather than 2m.
With chairs being placed between the wall and the court it was clear that the conditions were far from ideal, and Leopards appealed the result .
The Basketball England Competitions Review Panel today ruled that the game should be replayed at a different venue on a date to be agreed.
This is the second time that Leopards have been granted a replay due to court problems in the National Trophy . The 2010/11 game at now defunct London Capital was declared void due to incorrect line markings, and the game was ordered to be replayed. The home side subsequently conceded the fixture . Ironically Leopards’ assistant coach that season was Lloyd Gardner who is now the Crusaders’ coach.
2016 – FOURTH PERIOD WOE FOR BIG CATS
Levett Essex Leopards slipped to their second league defeat of the season as they went down 59-52 against Loughborough Riders at Leisurezone, on Saturday evening .
David Ajumobi led a Leopards’ side who were without the injured Mike Martin, finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds . Brown added 12 boards and eight points.
Ajumobi opened the scoring for Big Cats but a Roberts three point shot gave Riders a 9-2 lead before treys from Dougie Bennett and Brown dragged the hosts back into the game, and a three from Dominic Scott-Robinson launched a 7-0 run to send the hosts into the first break with a 15-14 lead .
2011 – Sulli praises Leopards
GREAT Britain captain Drew Sullivan had praise for Leopards after he proved to the catalyst in Jelson Homes DU Leicester Riders’ 104-78 BBL Trophy victory against the Big Cats on Saturday evening.
The GB skipper hit five of six shots both inside and outside the three point line on the way to a 30-point, eight rebound night but was impressed by Dejan Mihevc’s team: “They’re a tough group of kids. I don’t really know much about the EBL, but I’m sure they’re one of the top teams. It was always going to be tough for them playing against us, and I think they blew their gasket a bit in the first quarter. They had to put a lot of work in during the first period and I think it showed later in the game, but they played hard and did well for themselves as far as I’m concerned.”
Leopards’ Americans Ousman Krubally and Vernon Teel each finished with 24 points, with the former adding a massive 17 rebounds. Both players were victims of some harsh calls in the first period as they each picked up three fouls, and it was while they sat on the bench at the start of the second quarter that Riders took control, going on a 21-1 run to blow open a tied game.
Leopards continue their travels with a BBL Trophy game at Prestige Home MK Lions on Sunday evening.
Leopards' history 