1 July 2008
Leopards go West in Trophy
Leopards will be heading west when their National Trophy campaign commences in late September.
The competition is the league cup for England Basketball Division One sides, and the ten clubs have been divided into two five-team groups – with the sides playing each other on a home and away basis.
The Big Cats have been drawn in a group with holders Reading Rockets, Bristol Academy Flyers, Taunton Tigers and Cardiff Celts.
Jon Burnell’s team open the competition on Saturday September 27 at the Brentwood Centre when Taunton Tigers are the visitors, tip-off 7.30pm.
Leopards are also in action at Brentwood the following Sunday (October 5) when they will look for revenge for last season’s play-off defeat against Bristol Academy Flyers.
They then have three successive away games in the competition before the league campaign starts in November, and the Trophy starts again after Christmas with home games against Reading (January 10) and Division Two champions Cardiff (January 24) before they complete their Trophy games with a trip to Bristol on January 25.
“It’s a tough group” admitted general manager Dave Ryan, “Reading have won the competition in each of the last two seasons, Bristol gave us some really tough games last season and Cardiff looked a physical side when I saw them in the Division Two play-off final last season.”
The top two in each group qualify for the semi-finals, with the group winner having home advantage in the last four.
Before Leopards face Taunton on September 27, they host Kent Crusaders at Brentwood on Sunday September 21 in the first game back at their traditional home.
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