2011–12 British Basketball League season

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2011–2012 British Basketball League season
League British Basketball League
Sport Basketball
Roll of Honour
BBL champions Newcastle Eagles
Play Off's champions Newcastle Eagles
BBL Cup champions Newcastle Eagles
BBL Trophy champions Newcastle Eagles
British Basketball League seasons
← 2010-11
2012-13 →

The 2011–12 season was the 25th campaign of the British Basketball League since the league's establishment in 1987. The season featured 11 teams from across England and Scotland, with Durham Wildcats appearing in their first campaign after election from EBL Division 1.[1] The League did not feature two teams from the previous season; Worthing Thunder had stepped down to the EBL,[2] whilst Essex Pirates withdrew just two weeks prior to the season starting due to the loss of a major sponsor.[3] There was also uncertainty regarding the participation of reigning champions Mersey Tigers, who had to postpone their first game due to off-court problems and operational issues.[4][5]

Newcastle Eagles opened the season with an 85–63 victory over Northern rivals Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Cup, on September 30, 2011. The Championship regular season didn't commence until mid-October, whilst the initial stages of the Trophy and BBL Cup were played out prior to the Championship beginning. Newcastle were victorious in the BBL Cup and BBL Trophy after beating Plymouth Raiders in the Final's of both competitions. The Eagles also went on to clinch their 5th BBL Championship after Plymouth lost to Leicester Riders on April 11, setting a new record for the most Championships won in the history of the BBL. Eagles' 5th title beat the previous record of four Championship's held by Kingston Kings from the 1980s and 1990s. The season was wrapped up with Eagles stamping their dominance on the Play-off's, defeating Leicester in the Final on May 12, 2012, and going on to win all four titles for the 2011–12 campaign.

Following the season's climax the British Basketball League, along with several other basketball governing bodies, united to form the British Basketball Union, a new organisation created to promote the commercial development of basketball within Great Britain.[6]

Teams

Locations of the 2011–12 BBL teams
Team City/Area Arena Capacity Last season
Cheshire Jets Chester Northgate Arena 1,000 4th
Durham Wildcats Newton Aycliffe Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre 1,200 New
Glasgow Rocks Glasgow Kelvin Hall 1,200 6th
Guildford Heat Guildford Surrey Sports Park 1,000 7th
Leicester Riders Leicester John Sandford Centre 800 8th
Mersey Tigers Liverpool Knowsley Leisure & Culture Park 450 1st
Milton Keynes Lions Milton Keynes Prestige Homes Arena 1,400 10th
Newcastle Eagles Newcastle upon Tyne Sport Central 3,000 2nd
Plymouth Raiders Plymouth Plymouth Pavilions 1,480 5th
Sheffield Sharks Sheffield English Institute of Sport 1,200 3rd
Worcester Wolves Worcester University of Worcester 600 9th

Notable occurrences

  • Durham Wildcats were the newest additions to the BBL, having been elected to join from EBL Division 1.[1]
  • Pre-season transfer speculation centred around the possibility of Los Angeles Lakers star Ron Artest signing for Cheshire Jets during the NBA lockout, after announcing on his Twitter account that he was in discussions with the club,[7] who had reportedly offered him shares in the franchise.[8] Other reports also linked Artest to Glasgow Rocks.[9]
  • After ten years at Cheshire Jets, Paul Smith stepped down from his position as Head Coach prior to the season opening, leaving Assistant John Lavery to take the reins.[10]
  • The Mersey Tigers franchise changed ownership following Liverpool-based businessman Steve Brookfield's acquisition from former owner Gary Townsend, who set up the club in 2007.[11]
  • Essex Pirates officially withdrew from the BBL on September 16, just two weeks before the start of the season.[3] The loss of a major sponsor was a major factor, and it was revealed the owners even looked at relocating to Crystal Palace NSC Arena in London before the decision was made to disband.[12]
  • Mersey Tigers were forced to postpone their first game of the season amid fears of the franchise's imminent collapse.[13] Off-court problems and operational issues were later cited as the reason for postponement, but the franchise eventually fielded a team and resumed play the following week.[4][5]
  • A sell-out 1,200 crowd at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre saw Durham play host to their first BBL game, losing 66–88 to local rivals Newcastle Eagles.[14]
  • An incident between Guildford Heat's Martelle McLemore and Plymouth Raiders mascot Foxy during a game on October 22 was the subject of a League inquiry after the mascot entered the court and pulled McLemore's shorts down during a break in play.[15][16][17] Following the league's inquiry, Plymouth Raiders were given a "small fine" whilst McLemore was awarded with 5 penalty points for his involvement by pushing the Raiders mascot.[18][19]
  • Glasgow Rocks' veteran player-coach Sterling Davis reached two personal milestones in October, making his 1000th BBL Championship free-throw and 5000th point scored.[20]
  • After a 12-game losing streak, Guildford Heat finally recorded their first win of the season on December 16, with an 82–76 victory away to current Champions Mersey Tigers.[21]
  • Nathan Schall, of Milton Keynes Lions, was the winner of the Kickz.co.uk Slam Dunk Contest 2012 which took place on January 15, prior to the BBL Cup Final.
  • Newcastle Eagles collected their first piece of silverware for the season on January 15, 2012, with a 115–94 victory over Plymouth Raiders in the BBL Cup final at the National Indoor Arena. Newcastle's Charles Smith set a new BBL Cup Final record by posting a 39 points, whilst Newcastle also broke the previous record of 103 for points scored.[22]
  • Leicester Riders announced in January that their point guard Flinder Boyd had decided to leave the club with immediate effect "in order to pursue interests way from basketball."[23] It was reported in March that the Great Britain international has officially retired from playing, just months before Team GB's Olympic Games tournament.[24]
  • Newcastle Eagles scooped their second title of the season with another victory over Plymouth Raiders in the BBL Trophy final. The Eagles won the Trophy with a 184–177 aggregate victory in the two-game series, winning the second leg 96–80 at Sport Central on March 24.[25]
  • With title-challengers Plymouth Raiders losing 96–72 away to Leicester Riders on April 11, the Championship trophy returned to Newcastle Eagles, becoming the Northeastern club's third title of the season.[26] The trophy was presented to the Eagles at Sport Central on April 14 at their home game with Mersey Tigers, but celebrations were dampened as Eagles were unexpectedly defeated 74–82 by Mersey.[27]
  • Due to the unsuitability of the John Sandford Centre venue for television broadcasting,[28] Leicester Riders were forced to switch venues for their Play-off homes games from their usual home to their former home at the Sports Centre on the campus of Loughborough University.[29]
  • Newcastle Eagles completed a 'clean sweep' of titles by claiming the Play-off crown with a 71–62 victory over Leicester Riders in the Grand Final at the National Indoor Arena, on 12 May. Newcastle's Charles Smith was awarded the Final's MVP, scoring 21 points.[30]
  • Following the conclusion of the season, the BBL entered into a joint venture with other basketball governing bodies to establish the British Basketball Union (BBU), a new organisation created to promote the commercial development of basketball within Great Britain.[6]
  • After four seasons in charge of Mersey Tigers, Head Coach Tony Garbelotto left the club at the end of the season to coach German Pro A team Heidelberg.[31]

BBL Championship (Tier 1)

Final standings

Team Pts Pld W L Percentage
1. Newcastle Eagles 46 30 23 7 0.766
2. Leicester Riders 44 30 22 8 0.733
3. Worcester Wolves 44 30 22 8 0.733
4. Plymouth Raiders 42 30 21 9 0.700
5. Glasgow Rocks 32 30 16 14 0.533
6. Cheshire Jets 26 30 13 17 0.433
7. Sheffield Sharks 26 30 13 17 0.433
8. Guildford Heat 24 30 12 18 0.400
9. Milton Keynes Lions 20 30 10 20 0.333
10. Mersey Tigers 20 30 10 20 0.333
11. Durham Wildcats 6 30 3 27 0.100
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs

The Play-offs

  Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                             
 Newcastle Eagles 93 74 167  
 Guildford Heat 56 69 125  
   Newcastle Eagles 89 79 168  
   Cheshire Jets 99 64 163  
 Worcester Wolves 80 77 157
   Cheshire Jets 80 87 167  
     Newcastle Eagles  
   Leicester Riders  
   Leicester Riders 92 90 182  
 Sheffield Sharks 76 65 141  
   Leicester Riders 76 97 173
   Glasgow Rocks 77 72 149  
 Plymouth Raiders 84 60 144
   Glasgow Rocks 79 80 159  

Quarter-finals

(1) Newcastle Eagles vs. (8) Guildford Heat

April 27, 2012
Newcastle Eagles 93–56 Guildford Heat
April 29, 2012
Guildford Heat 69–74 Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle wins on aggregate, 167–125

(2) Leicester Riders vs. (7) Sheffield Sharks

April 27, 2012
Sheffield Sharks 76–92 Leicester Riders
April 29, 2012
Leicester Riders 90–65 Sheffield Sharks
Leicester wins on aggregate, 182–141

(3) Worcester Wolves vs. (6) Cheshire Jets

April 28, 2012
Worcester Wolves 80–80 Cheshire Jets
April 29, 2012
Cheshire Jets 87–77 Worcester Wolves
Cheshire wins on aggregate, 167–157

(4) Plymouth Raiders vs. (5) Glasgow Rocks

April 26, 2012
Plymouth Raiders 84–79 Glasgow Rocks
April 29, 2012
Glasgow Rocks 80–60 Plymouth Raiders
Glasgow wins on aggregate, 159–144
Kelvin Hall, Glasgow

Semi-finals

(1) Newcastle Eagles vs. (6) Cheshire Jets

May 4, 2012
Newcastle Eagles 89–99 Cheshire Jets
May 6, 2012
Cheshire Jets 64–79 Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle wins on aggregate, 168–163

(2) Leicester Riders vs. (5) Glasgow Rocks

May 4, 2012
Glasgow Rocks 77–76 Leicester Riders
Kelvin Hall, Glasgow
May 6, 2012
Leicester Riders 97–72 Glasgow Rocks
Leicester wins on aggregate, 173–149

Final

May 12, 2012
4.00pm GMT
Newcastle Eagles 71–62 Leicester Riders
Scoring by quarter: 12–21, 19–10, 25–18, 15–13
Pts: Charles Smith 21, Paul Gause 13, Darius Defoe 10, Joe Chapman 10. Andy Thomson 9, Fab Flournoy 8
Rebs: Fabulous Flournoy, 13
Asts: Charles Smith/Fabulous Flournoy, 4		 Pts: Andrew Sullivan 18, Ayron Hardy 12, Bradd Wierzbicki 11, Brett Royster 6, Cameron Rundles 4, Barry Lamble 4, Reece Haggith 3, Jamell Anderson 2, Yorick Williams 2
Rebs: Ayron Hardy, 12
Asts: Ayron Hardy, 7

EBL National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Final standings

Team Pts Pld W L
1. London Leopards 40 24 20 4
2. Bristol Academy Flyers 36 24 18 6
3. Derby Trailblazers 32 24 16 8
4. Worthing Thunder 32 24 16 8
5. Bradford Dragons 30 24 15 9
6. Leicester Warriors 30 24 15 9
7. Reading Rockets 28 24 14 10
8. Medway Park Crusaders 24 24 12 12
9. Brixton TopCats 22 24 11 13
10. Leeds Carnegie 20 24 10 14
11. Tees Valley Mohawks 8 24 4 20
12. Westminster Warriors 6 24 3 21
13. PAWS London Capital 4 24 2 22
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs


EBL National League Division 2 (Tier 3)

Final standings

Team Pts Pld W L
1. Team Northumbria 36 20 18 2
2. Hemel Storm 32 20 16 4
3. Glamorgan Gladiators 28 20 14 6
4. Birmingham Mets 24 20 12 8
5. Team Solent 22 20 11 9
6. Derbyshire Arrows 20 20 10 10
7. Eastside Eagles London 18 20 9 11
8. London Westside 18 20 9 111
9. Mansfield Giants 12 20 6 14
10. London United-Harefield Academy 6 20 3 17
11. Birmingham A's 4 20 2 18
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs


BBL Cup

1st round

October 29, 2011
Durham Wildcats 74–88 Plymouth Raiders
October 29, 2011
Worcester Wolves 88–77 Guildford Heat
October 29, 2011
Leicester Riders 102–67 Milton Keynes Lions
John Sandford Centre, Leicester
October 30, 2011
Glasgow Rocks 78–60 Edinburgh Kings
Kelvin Hall, Glasgow

Quarter-finals

November 4, 2011
Sheffield Sharks 83–85 Plymouth Raiders
November 11, 2011
Mersey Tigers 62–91 Worcester Wolves
Knowsley Leisure & Culture Park, Liverpool
November 11, 2011
Newcastle Eagles 78–75 Glasgow Rocks
November 13, 2011
Cheshire Jets 74–95 Leicester Riders

Semi-finals

Leicester Riders vs. Newcastle Eagles

November 26, 2011
Leicester Riders 90–90 Newcastle Eagles
John Sandford Centre, Leicester
December 2, 2011
Newcastle Eagles 71–63 Leicester Riders
Newcastle wins on aggregate, 161–153

Plymouth Raiders vs. Worcester Wolves

December 10, 2011
Worcester Wolves 83–111 Plymouth Raiders
December 11, 2011
Plymouth Raiders 82–89 Worcester Wolves
Plymouth wins on aggregate, 193–172

Final

January 15, 2012
3.45pm GMT
Newcastle Eagles 115–94 Plymouth Raiders
Scoring by quarter: 35–26, 28–26, 31–28, 21–20
Pts: Charles Smith 39, Paul Gause 24, Andrew Bridge 16, Joe Chapman 15, Andrew Thomson 13, Darius Defoe 4, Fabulous Flournoy 4
Rebs: Fabulous Flournoy/Andrew Thomson, 7
Asts: Fabulous Flournoy, 5		 Pts: Lehmon Colbert 25, Jeremy Bell 23, Anthony Rowe 20, Anthony Martin 13, Paul Williams 10, James Jones 3
Rebs: Lehmon Colbert/Anthony Rowe, 8
Asts: Anthony Martin, 6


BBL Trophy

Group Stage

Semi-finals

Newcastle Eagles vs. Sheffield Sharks

February 3, 2012
Sheffield Sharks 84–116 Newcastle Eagles
February 10, 2012
Newcastle Eagles 104–84 Sheffield Sharks
Newcastle wins on aggregate, 220–168

Milton Keynes Lions vs. Plymouth Raiders

February 3, 2012
Milton Keynes Lions 87–81 Plymouth Raiders
February 5, 2012
Plymouth Raiders 107–99 (OT) Milton Keynes Lions
Plymouth wins on aggregate, 188–186

Final

First Leg
March 18, 2012
3.45pm GMT
Plymouth Raiders 97–88 Newcastle Eagles
Scoring by quarter: 22–12, 19–12, 22–32, 34–20
Pts: Michael Ojo 22, Jeremy Bell 21, Paul Williams 14, James Jones 14, Lehmon Colbert 13, Anthony Rowe 8 Jamal Williams 3, Anthony Martin 2
Rebs: Paul Williams, 18		 Pts: Charles Smith 21, Andrew Thomson 16, Joe Chapman 14, Darius Defoe 12, Fab Flournoy 11, Paul Gause 10, Andrew Bridge 4
Rebs: Fabulous Flournoy, 8
Second Leg
March 23, 2012
7.30pm GMT
Newcastle Eagles 96–80 Plymouth Raiders
Scoring by quarter: 18–23, 37–23, 16–22, 25–17
Pts: Paul Gause 19, Andrew Thomson 17, Charles Smith 16, Joe Chapman 16, Darius Defoe 14, Fab Flournoy 8, Andrew Bridge 6
Rebs: Andrew Thomson, 11		 Pts: Jeremy Bell 29, Lehmon Colbert 13, Paul Williams 13, James Jones 11, Michael Ojo 7, Anthony Rowe 4, Jamal Williams 3
Rebs: Paul Williams, 15
Newcastle wins on aggregate, 184–177

Statistics leaders

Category Player Stat
Points per game United States Demarius Bolds (Milton Keynes Lions) 23.9
Rebounds per game United States Daniel Northern (Milton Keynes Lions) 12.3
Assists per game United States Adam Brown (Cheshire Jets) 5.0
Steals per game United States Demarius Bolds (Milton Keynes Lions) 2.8
Blocks per game United States Bill Cole (Cheshire Jets) 2.3

Monthly awards

Month Coach Player
October United States United Kingdom Fabulous Flournoy (Newcastle Eagles) United States Ayron Hardy (Leicester Riders)
November United States Italy Rob Paternostro (Leicester Riders) United States Mychal Green (Glasgow Rocks)
December United Kingdom Gavin Love (Plymouth Raiders) United States Richie Gordon (Worcester Wolves)
January United States United Kingdom Fabulous Flournoy (Newcastle Eagles) United States United Kingdom Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles)
February United States United Kingdom Fabulous Flournoy (Newcastle Eagles) United States Tommy Freeman (Worcester Wolves)
March United Kingdom Gavin Love (Plymouth Raiders) United States Ayron Hardy (Leicester Riders)
April United Kingdom John Lavery (Cheshire Jets) United States Ayron Hardy (Leicester Riders)

Seasonal awards

References

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  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Preceded by BBL seasons
2011–12		 Succeeded by
2012–13 season
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