London Leopards were one of five teams who recorded two victories in an action packed weekend in EBL Division One. The Leopards streak has extended to an incredible 16 games with successive road victories while Bristol and Worthing have both leapfrogged Derby after the Trailblazers suffered back-to-back defeats to end their hopes for the title.
Leopards defeated the Tees Valley Mohawks 71-58 on the Saturday before a resounding 91-66 at play-off hopefuls, Leeds Carnegie a day later. The game was level at 27 after the opening ten minutes before the league leaders streaked clear helped by Vernon Teel, who finished with 28 points. The Flyers recorded a vital 70-73 win away at Derby before moving further clear with an 80-60 win at home to Westminster. The Trailblazers then crashed to a third straight defeat in the league as the Medway Park Crusaders earned a vital 98-82 victory to boost their play-off hopes.
Worthing also capitalised on Derby’s defeats to move third, with an 100-89 victory at home to Leeds followed by an incredible 116-113 win at the Brixton Topcats in overtime. Marcus Tulis top scored for Thunder with 37 points, eclipsed by an incredible 46 point haul from Sam Toluwase. The former Essex Pirates captain took his weekend tally to a very impressive 77 points after adding 31 a day earlier in his side’s 94-88 defeat away to the Reading Rockets. Reading made it a successful weekend; adding to their success at home to Brixton as a strong final quarter paved the way for a crucial 74-78 win away to the Leicester.
The Warriors had comfortably defeated London Capitals 47-81 the previous day but now have Reading and Bradford on their tail. The Dragons vital double has moved them four points clear of the Crusaders as their play-off spot looks to be sealed. A 91-67 win on the road at Westminster was followed by a thumping 101-48 win at home to the Tees Valley Mohawks.
The Leopards can seal the title next weekend with a win. The play-off spots are all but secured now as Brixton compete with Medway Park for 8th position although Leeds have an outside chance of sneaking in. Brixton have two games in hand over the Crusaders and also have to play 12th placed, London Capitals twice. If they are to make the play-offs, one man will most probably have played a big part; the Star of the Weekend- Sam Toluwase. An honourable mention goes to Rihard Sulcs of the Bradford Dragons, who scored a combined 61 points for the weekend.
1st LEOPARDS (17-4) 34pts; 2nd BRISTOL (16-6) 32pts; 3rd WORTHING (15-7) 30pts; 4th DERBY (14-7) 28pts; 5th LEICESTER (14-8) 28pts; 6th READING (13-8) 26pts; 7th BRADFORD (13-9) 26 pts; 8th MEDWAY PARK (11-11) 22pts ; 9th BRIXTON (9-11) 18pts ; 10th LEEDS (8-12) 16pts; 11th TEES VALLEY (4-18) 8pts; 12th CAPITALS (2-17) 4pts; 13th WESTMINSTER (2-20) 4pts
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