Leopards 86 (16,41,63)
Manchester Magic 102 (24,51,72)

Leopards saw their perfect start to the EBL Division One season come to an end with a defeat against a Manchester Magic side expected to challenge for honours this season.

Although the final scoreline was probably harsh on the Wodson Park side, they never looked likely to build on last week’s fine performance against Worthing Thunder.

Carl Latham-Henry and Stix Bright led the scoring with 22 points apiece, with Gareth Laws adding 16.

Ultimately, it was another slow start that cost Jon Burnell’s side, as Magic rushed into a 12-3 lead after five minutes play, with only a trey from Laws to show for the home side’s efforts.

Five points from captain Sam Salter and a two from Bright saw Leopards reduce the arrears to 12-10, and although former Leopards MVP Duncan Ogilvie broke the run for Magic, another Bright basket and a score from Laws capped a 11-2 tear from the home side which leveled the score at 14 going into the final two minutes of the first period.

That proved to be as good as it got for the hosts as Magic closed out the quarter with ten straight points – including treys from Andrew Mackay and Steven Gayle – to lead 24-14 at the first break.

A Steve Bonham three extended that lead to 13 at the start of the second period, and although Leopards replied through a single Lee McCarthy free-throw and a Fola Adeleke jump shot, the hosts were always chasing during the quarter.

Another Laws trey cut the deficit to seven after four minutes, but an Ogilvie score saw Magic’s advantage grow to 14 with two minutes of the half remaining before a late rally saw seven Latham-Henry points cut Magic’s lead to 51-41 going into the locker room.

Latham-Henry started the second half where he had left off by scoring Leopards first six points, but the teams exchanged baskets for most of third period before a Matt Eames jump shot sent the Big Cats into the final break trailing 72-63.

Adeleke opened the fourth period with a single free-throw, but seven unanswered points from Magic effectively sewed it up for the visitors.

Laws sunk two more three-pointers, but generally Leopards failed to contain Magic’s threat from long-range and struggled to cope with the visitors’ size.

A dunk from Ogilvie reminded the home fans of what they were missing from a player the Big Cats are still hopeful of re-signing next season, but it was Bright who wrapped up the scoring for the home side with their final five points.

Leopards: C Latham-Henry 22, S Bright 22, G Laws 16, S Salter 10, L McCarthy 6, F Adeleke 3, N Wilson 3, M Collins 2, M Eames 2, D Deng, L Volskis, B Warden (DNP)