2018–19 British Basketball League season

2018–19 BBL season
2018–19 BBL season
League	British Basketball League
Season	2018–19
Games played	198
Teams	12
Regular season
League champions	London Lions (1st title)
BBL Cup	London Lions (2nd title)
BBL Trophy	London City Royals (1st title)
Season MVP	Justin Robinson (London Lions)
Playoffs
Champions	Leicester Riders (5th title)
Runners-up	London City Royals (1st title)
Finals MVP	Tim Williams (Leicester Riders)
Statistical leaders
Points
Points	Chris Alexander (Sharks); (626 points);
Rebounds	Willie Clayton (Giants); (481 rebounds);
Assists	Rahmon Fletcher (Eagles); (286 assists);
Records
Biggest home win	51 points; Riders 121–70 Wolves; (20 April 2019);
Biggest away win	29 points; Sharks 72–101 Giants; (30 December 2018); Sharks 56–85 Raiders; (5 April 2019);
Highest scoring	302 points; Wolves 152–150 Scorchers; (5 April 2019);
Winning streak	11 games; London Lions; (14 December 2018 – 22 March 2019);
Losing streak	18 games; Worcester Wolves; (23 September 2018 – 3 February 2019);
BBL seasons
	← 2017–18 2019–20 →

The 2018–19 BBL season was the 32nd campaign of the British Basketball League since the league's establishment in 1987. The season featured 12 teams from across England and Scotland.

Quick Facts League, Season ...

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The Leicester Riders were the three-time defending regular season champions, but were unable to defend that title as the London Lions achieved their first regular season title; a 99–80 victory at the Newcastle Eagles, on 26 April 2019,^[2] was enough for the Lions to have an unassailable lead ahead of the Riders. It was the Lions' second trophy of the season, after they defeated the Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Cup final.^[3]

The Lions were beaten in the playoff quarter-finals by the eighth-seeded Plymouth Raiders,^[4] who overturned a six-point deficit from the first leg into an eight-point aggregate victory. The Raiders were then beaten by the Riders in the semi-finals,^[5] before the Riders won their third consecutive playoff final with a 93–61 victory over the London City Royals,^[6] who in their first season in the league, had won the BBL Trophy in overtime against the Lions.^[7]

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Locations of the 2018–19 BBL teams

The newly formed London City Royals replaced Leeds Force.^[8]

Venues

More information Team, Location ...

Team	Location	Arena	Capacity
Bristol Flyers	Bristol	SGS WISE Arena	750
Cheshire Phoenix	Ellesmere Port	Cheshire Oaks Arena	1,400
Glasgow Rocks	Glasgow	Emirates Arena	1,650
Leicester Riders	Leicester	Morningside Arena	2,400
London City Royals	London	Crystal Palace NSC	1,500
London Lions	London	Copper Box	7,000
Manchester Giants	Manchester	Trafford Powerleague Arena George H. Carnall Centre	1,100 750
Newcastle Eagles	Newcastle upon Tyne	Sport Central Eagles Community Arena	3,000 3,000
Plymouth Raiders	Plymouth	Plymouth Pavilions	1,500
Sheffield Sharks	Sheffield	English Institute of Sport	1,000
Surrey Scorchers	Guildford	Surrey Sports Park	1,000
Worcester Wolves	Worcester	University of Worcester Arena	2,000

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Personnel and sponsoring

More information Team, Head coach ...

Team	Head coach	Captain	Main jersey sponsor
Bristol Flyers	Andreas Kapoulas	Michael Vigor	RSG Group
Cheshire Phoenix	Ben Thomas	Momcilo Latinovic	Hillyer McKeown
Glasgow Rocks	Vincent Lavandier	Kieron Achara	Radisson Red
Leicester Riders	Rob Paternostro	Andrew Thomson	Jelson Homes
London City Royals	Jay Williams	Orlan Jackman
London Lions	Vince Macaulay	Joe Ikhinmwin
Manchester Giants	Danny Byrne	Callum Jones	Space
Newcastle Eagles	Fabulous Flournoy	Darius Defoe	ESH Group
Plymouth Raiders	Paul James	Zak Wells	Plessey
Sheffield Sharks	Atiba Lyons	Mike Tuck	BBraun
Surrey Scorchers	Creon Raftopoulos	Tayo Ogedengbe	University of Surrey
Worcester Wolves	Tony Garbelotto	Adam Thoseby	University of Worcester

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Coaching changes

More information Team, Outgoing coach ...

Team	Outgoing coach	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Incoming coach	Date of appointment
Worcester Wolves	Paul James	Released	Off-season	Ty Shaw
Plymouth Raiders	Gavin Love	Released	Off-season	Paul James
Glasgow Rocks	Darryl Wood	Mutual consent	19 February 2019^[9]	Vincent Lavandier (interim)	28 February 2019^[10]
Worcester Wolves	Ty Shaw	Personal reasons	8 March 2019^[11]	Tony Garbelotto (interim)	8 March 2019^[11]^[b]

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The winners of the Regular season are considered as national champions. The London Lions achieved their first regular season title with a 99–80 victory over the Newcastle Eagles at the Eagles Community Arena on 26 April 2019.^[2]

Standings

More information Pos, Team ...

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	London Lions (C)	33	27	6	2879	2525	+354	54	Qualification to playoffs
2	Leicester Riders	33	24	9	2674	2517	+157	48
3	Newcastle Eagles	33	21	12	2930	2821	+109	42
4	London City Royals	33	18	15	2800	2800	0	36
5	Glasgow Rocks	33	18	15	2789	2716	+73	36
6	Sheffield Sharks	33	17	16	2580	2618	−38	34
7	Cheshire Phoenix	33	17	16	2862	2822	+40	34
8	Plymouth Raiders	33	16	17	2898	2878	+20	32
9	Manchester Giants	33	14	19	2842	2947	−105	28
10	Bristol Flyers	33	14	19	2613	2653	−40	28
11	Worcester Wolves	33	6	27	2744	3047	−303	12
12	Surrey Scorchers	33	6	27	2883	3150	−267	12

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Source: BBL
(C) Champions

Results

Double round-robin

More information Home \ Away, BRI ...

Home \ Away	BRI	CHE	GLA	LEI	LCI	LON	MAN	NEW	PLY	SHE	SUR	WOR
Bristol Flyers	—	63–68	85–83	52–68	73–78	80–64	89–92	86–73	80–70	92–60	83–89	82–79
Cheshire Phoenix	87–93	—	87–92	88–94	98–86	94–101	102–80	78–90	94–88	61–78	93–74	91–83
Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks	99–82	101–96	—	101–81	98–81	70–86	80–69	85–100	72–77	85–94	103–76	89–61
Leicester Riders	64–63	76–79	75–71	—	83–79	73–76	94–68	69–76	86–77	70–71	87–81	94–86
London City Royals	91–83	93–99	84–70	77–74	—	77–73	97–90	98–81	102–93	83–70	91–85	79–66
London Lions	81–68	87–81	100–66	63–65	80–63	—	115–91	96–78	99–92	92–82	93–79	82–65
Manchester Giants	79–69	99–91	76–83	75–73	86–92	83–86	—	76–75	89–99	93–65	93–109	124–123
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle	95–89	70–65	104–98	68–84	110–60	80–99	93–85	—	86–91	72–76	114–82	97–89
Plymouth Raiders	94–91	94–79	87–83	87–90	84–77	95–88	104–78	85–103	—	57–66	115–100	74–91
DBL Sharks Sheffield	86–66	84–66	99–87	69–90	88–93	73–80	87–92	86–74	66–83	—	99–90	114–76
Surrey Scorchers	90–76	94–116	92–94	79–84	93–91	83–96	78–105	89–93	98–112	83–93	—	99–86
Worcester Wolves	77–80	78–88	74–72	80–85	75–91	63–71	86–92	92–103	93–81	67–89	84–79	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

Single round-robin

More information Home \ Away, BRI ...

Home \ Away	BRI	CHE	GLA	LEI	LCI	LON	MAN	NEW	PLY	SHE	SUR	WOR
Bristol Flyers	—	—	—	83–90	83–84	—	74–64	—	95–79	62–61	80–73	—
Cheshire Phoenix	75–87	—	—	—	88–82	—	—	—	89–84	80–73	—	100–83
Radisson Red Glasgow Rocks	113–111	86–76	—	89–77	—	76–66	—	—	82–70	—	—	92–79
Leicester Riders	—	64–79	—	—	86–78	—	—	86–76	88–82	—	—	121–70
London City Royals	—	—	78–70	—	—	—	—	90–97	103–105	65–72	—	91–78
London Lions	77–57	84–88	—	89–69	102–89	—	—	101–81	—	89–73	—	—
Manchester Giants	—	102–113	73–86	66–73	94–83	75–83	—	—	—	—	91–84	—
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle	82–64	96–94	83–66	—	—	—	102–85	—	—	—	105–97	—
Plymouth Raiders	—	—	—	—	—	67–93	90–98	83–91	—	—	108–89	106–83
DBL Sharks Sheffield	—	—	65–63	69–77	—	—	72–101	104–86	56–85	—	—	—
Surrey Scorchers	—	83–89	72–84	80–84	73–94	70–93	—	—	—	90–69	—	—
Worcester Wolves	88–92	—	—	—	—	79–94	97–78	93–96	—	68–71	152–150	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.

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Bracket

Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Playoff Final

2	Leicester Riders	70	71	141

7	Cheshire Phoenix	62	68	130
					2	Leicester Riders	70	85	155

					8	Plymouth Raiders	68	73	141
1	London Lions	97	72	169

8	Plymouth Raiders	91	86	177
										2	Leicester Riders	93
(Pairings are reseeded after the first round)
										4	London City Royals	61
4	London City Royals	75	65	140

5	Glasgow Rocks	60	72	132
					4	London City Royals	63	91	154

					6	Sheffield Sharks	61	69	130
3	Newcastle Eagles	94	93	187

6	Sheffield Sharks	89	102	191

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinal matchups and tip-off times were confirmed by the league, on 28 April 2019.^[14]

(1) London Lions vs. (8) Plymouth Raiders

5 May 2019
15:00

Plymouth Raiders	91–97	London Lions
Scoring by quarter: 20–24, 25–19, 19–25, 27–29
Pts: Nicholas 22 Rebs: Nicholas 9 Asts: Nicholas, Wilcher 4		Pts: Peel 26 Rebs: Peel 11 Asts: Spencer 11

London Lions	72–86	Plymouth Raiders
Scoring by quarter: 26–23, 17–22, 17–19, 12–22
Pts: Peel 22 Rebs: Bristol 12 Asts: James, Robinson 3		Pts: Nicholas 24 Rebs: Nicholas 13 Asts: Wilcher 7
Plymouth win 177–169 on aggregate.

Cheshire Phoenix	62–70	Leicester Riders
Scoring by quarter: 17–21, 15–17, 17–12, 13–20
Pts: Gettys, Rolls-Tyson 13 Rebs: Gettys 8 Asts: Norl 3		Pts: Williams 20 Rebs: Holder, Washington 10 Asts: Holder 5

Leicester Riders	71–68	Cheshire Phoenix
Scoring by quarter: 18–17, 16–16, 11–20, 26–15
Pts: Williams 22 Rebs: Ward-Hibbert 10 Asts: Washington 6		Pts: Sayers 17 Rebs: Hayes 8 Asts: Norl 7
Leicester win 141–130 on aggregate.

Sheffield Sharks	89–94	Newcastle Eagles
Scoring by quarter: 25–21, 25–29, 16–18, 23–26
Pts: Alexander 23 Rebs: Marsden 10 Asts: Alexander, Martin 5		Pts: Moses 29 Rebs: Moses 10 Asts: Fletcher 10

Newcastle Eagles	93–102	Sheffield Sharks
Scoring by quarter: 18–25, 21–27, 23–27, 31–23
Pts: Fletcher 20 Rebs: Defoe 7 Asts: Fletcher 9		Pts: Alexander 28 Rebs: McKnight 10 Asts: McKnight 9
Sheffield win 191–187 on aggregate.

London City Royals	75–60	Glasgow Rocks
Scoring by quarter: 17–14, 15–9, 20–25, 23–12
Pts: Bryan-Amaning 24 Rebs: Hamilton 17 Asts: Dusha, Hamilton 4		Pts: Pryor 13 Rebs: Achara 10 Asts: Rinkūnas 5

Glasgow Rocks	72–65	London City Royals
Scoring by quarter: 11–26, 19–9, 21–13, 21–17
Pts: Fraser 28 Rebs: Achara 10 Asts: Achara, Murray 4		Pts: Hamilton 16 Rebs: Hamilton 11 Asts: Dang-Akodo, Jackman 3
Royals win 140–132 on aggregate.

Plymouth Raiders	68–70	Leicester Riders
Scoring by quarter: 18–13, 13–21, 22–18, 15–18
Pts: Hassan 18 Rebs: Nicholas 17 Asts: Nicholas 9		Pts: Williams 19 Rebs: Holder 7 Asts: Washington 7

Leicester Riders	85–73	Plymouth Raiders
Scoring by quarter: 23–23, 23–21, 18–16, 21–13
Pts: Williams 25 Rebs: Thomson 12 Asts: Hampton 5		Pts: Järveläinen 17 Rebs: Nicholas 9 Asts: Nicholas 8
Leicester win 155–141 on aggregate.

Sheffield Sharks	61–63	London City Royals
Scoring by quarter: 20–28, 10–7, 15–17, 16–11
Pts: Alexander 16 Rebs: Tuck 7 Asts: Martin 3		Pts: Hamilton 13 Rebs: Hamilton 11 Asts: Dang-Akodo 3

London City Royals	91–69	Sheffield Sharks
Scoring by quarter: 20–12, 28–15, 19–20, 24–22
Pts: Bryan-Amaning 27 Rebs: Hamilton 12 Asts: Dusha 8		Pts: Williams 30 Rebs: Marsden 7 Asts: McKnight 7
Royals win 154–130 on aggregate.

Leicester Riders	93–61	London City Royals
Scoring by quarter: 23–15, 21–21, 27–10, 22–15
Pts: Williams 20 Rebs: Williams 10 Asts: Washington 7		Pts: Bryan-Amaning 19 Rebs: Hamilton 11 Asts: Hamilton, Lucas 3

London Lions	68–54	Glasgow Rocks
Scoring by quarter: 15–10, 15–10, 24–21, 14–13
Pts: Peel 21 Rebs: Peel 14 Asts: Robinson 7		Pts: Carpenter 13 Rebs: Zeigler 10 Asts: Murray 6

London City Royals	90–82 (OT)	London Lions
Scoring by quarter: 11–15, 25–23, 20–15, 16–19, Overtime: 18–10
Pts: Bryan-Amaning 26 Rebs: Hamilton 14 Asts: Bryan-Amaning 7		Pts: Robinson 20 Rebs: Tabb 11 Asts: Spencer 6

Team	Competition	Progress
Leicester Riders	Champions League	First qualifying round
Leicester Riders	FIBA Europe Cup	Regular season