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19 February 2012
Stunning comeback by Leopards
Leopards 76 (22,43,59)
Leeds Carnegie 72 (15,30,60)
A stunning comeback saw Leopards continue their march up the EBL
Division One table with a 76-72 victory against Leeds Carnegie, on
Sunday.
In front of a big crowd at Basildon Sporting Village, the Big Cats
trailed by five points with three and half minutes remaining but
score 11 of the final 14 points to move up to sixth spot and have
lost only one league game in the last three months.
Vernon Teel was once again the Leopards’ hero, scoring the final six
points and coming up with a big steal down the stretch on the way to
36 points, eight steals, seven rebounds and five assists.
Ousman Krubally finished wit another double-double, adding 15
rebounds to his 20 points, while Zak Wells also have a good night on
the boards with ten rebounds and six points.
It was an injury-hit Leopards team missing John Lister, Joe Lockwood
and Lukas Volskis that took to the court and coach Dejan Mihevc
drafted in Marlan Henry for his first game since mid-October, and he
finished with four points, three rebounds and two assists in 19
minute of action.
Mihevc was – understandably – a relieved man after the victory:
“Behind us is a very difficult game, where both team played hard and
were fighting for every ball. We didn’t play our best game, but in
the end we showed some character and won, and I am happy for that.”
Teel opened the scoring, but the visitors led for most of the
opening minutes before back-to-back Krubally baskets put Leopards
13-10 ahead with three minutes of the first period remaining.
Teel added to the lead and David Buchberger put the hosts up by as
many as nine before former Barking Abbey player David Ajumobi cut
the Leopards’ lead to 22-15 at the first break.
A 12-4 run to open the second period saw Carnegie wipe out that lead
before Krubally put Leopards back up by one off Henry’s assist.
But that only sparked a 10-2 run from the visitors capped by a pair
of free-throws from Jesus Guerrero put Carnegie up by seven with
3:15 in the half remaining.
However, in a glimpse of what was to follow in the fourth period,
Leopards finished the half strongly. Mantas Adomaitis sparked the
13-2 run that closed out the period with a three off Buchberger’s
assists and Teel hit six points as Leopards went into the locker
room with a 43-39 lead.
Teel hit the first five points of the second half, and Leopards were
up by eight points with two and half minutes remaining in the third
period, but an 11-2 run saw Carnegie drag themselves back into the
game.
Henry broke the tear but Leeds continued to control the game, and an
and-one from Armand Anebo plus a Sean Clifford basket sent the
visitors into the final break 60-59 ahead.
A single free-throw from Teel saw Leopards lead 64-63 with 6:21 on
the clock, but Carnegie coach Matt Newby called a timeout and the
move clearly worked as a 6-0 run put the visitors in charge.
Anebo – who led the visitors with 14 points and 11 rebounds – put
Carnegie 69-64 ahead with 3:35 on the clock but Krubally started the
comeback with a pair of free-throws.
Teel came up with a steal and a basket before Dominic Norton also
stole the ball and fed Krubally to put Leopards up by a point with
2:53 on the clock.
Teel made it a three point game, but that lead was trimmed by a
Anebo free throw as David Buchberger fouled out, but Teel put the
Big Cats 74-70 up going into the final 90 seconds.
Krubally joined Buchberger on the bench with five fouls and Ajumobi
halved that lead at the foul line with 38 seconds on the clock.
Teel missed a shot with 12 seconds remaining, but redeemed himself
as he stole the ball off John Houghton and buried a jump shot to
seal the victory.
Leopards: V
Teel (36), O Krubally (20), Z Wells (6), D Buchberger (5), M Henry
(4), M Adomaitis (3), D Norton (2), S Bublys, J Steel, Robertin, E
Unuabona (DNP)
12 February 2012
Leopards in seventh heaven
Leopards 70 (21,31,54)
Leicester Warriors 58 (12,20,38)
AN excellent defensive effort saw Leopards chalk up their seventh
straight league victory at a packed Brentwood Centre on Sunday.
The third placed Warriors were held to just 20 points in the first
half as Leopards led for virtually all of the game.
Vernon Teel missed out on a triple-double by a single assist,
finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Ousman Krubally had
a massive 23 rebounds to go with his 17 points. David Buchberger
also had a double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds.
Dominic Norton scored the first two Leopards’ baskets, split by a
Eugene Pettway and when Norton’s second basket went in with 8:31 on
the clock, the Leopards led for the rest of the game.
A Teel trey with 1:42 in the first period gave Leopards and 11 point
lead, and they went into the second quarter 21-12 ahead.
Mansour Mbye opened the second period scoring to cut the lead to
seven but Buchberger replied with a score from the Land of Plenty
off of Lister’s assist, and the closest Warriors came in the rest of
the half was six points as the Lister sent the home side into the
locker room with 31-20 half-time lead.
Despite an audible tongue lashing from Warriors’ coach Karl Brown in
the half-time break, the visitors continued to struggle as Krubally
opened the second half scoring off Norton’s assist, and the Big Cats
never saw their lead dip into single figure during the rest of the
period.
Krubally took the margin to 22 with two minutes remaining in the
quarter, and Teel’s basket ensured that the Big Cats went into the
final break with a 54-38 lead.
Pettaway – who led the Warriors with 17 points – opened the fourth
period scoring, and a 10-2 start to the final quarter saw Warriors
get the lead down to eight with 7:14 remaining, but that was as
close as they came.
Buchberger broke the run from downtown, and he hit another big three
with just four minutes remaining to make it a 12 point game, and
Leopards hung on to jump two places in the table to seventh with at
least four games in hand over all of the sides above them.
The only disappointment for the Big Cats was an ankle injury to
Lister which saw him limp out of the action early in the second
half, with Joe Lockwood sitting out with a knee injury and Lukas
Volskis still missing.
Leopards: V
Teel (24), O Krubally (17), D Buchberger (15), D Norton (8), J
Lister (2), Z Wells (2), S Bublys (2), J Steel, R Addison, J
Lockwood (DNP), J Cabey (DNP), L Robertin (DNP)
11 February 2012
Flyers dash Trophy dreams
Bristol Academy Flyers 69
(24,39,52) Leopards 62 (12,30,39)
LEOPARDS saw their National Trophy dreams ended by a 69-62 loss
against in Bristol on Saturday evening.
Dejan Mihevc’s team never recovered from a poor start at Bristol as
the home team gained revenge for their National Cup final defeat.
After Vernon Teel had opened the scoring, Leopards never led again,
and apart from a rally in the fourth period never looked like
progressing to their second final of the season.
Teel led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds, with David
Buchberger adding 14 points. Ousman Krubally had a difficult night
shooting but added 13 rebounds to his nine points.
With Lukas Volskis injured, Jehryl Cabey made his first start for
the Big Cats, but it was a sloppy start to the game as Bristol
rushed into a 13-4 lead after five minutes, and they trailed 24-12
going into the first break despite Tee’s buzzer-beating trey.
Baskets from Dominic Norton and Zak Wells and a John Lister
three-pointer kept Leopards in touch before Buchberger made it a
seven point game with a long range effort, but the Flyers scored the
final basket of the half to lead 39-30 going into the locker room.
With Lister and Buchberger starting the second half in place of
Norton and Cabey, Leopards chipped away at the lead and Buchberger
made it a four point game with six third period minutes remaining
after some great hustle from Krubally.
Lister was forced to sit down after collecting his fourth foul, and
a surprising travel call on Teel saw Enrique Garcia sink a
buzzer-beating three to put Bristol back in charge with a 52-39 lead
at the final break.
Teel sat down for much of the fourth period, and the Flyers saw
their lead grow to as many as 17 before Buchberger hit back-to-back
baskets to make it a nine point game with 4:32 on the clock.
Krubally fouled out with 3:30 remaining and the Big Cats down by 11
but Lister kept them in touch with another three-pointer before
Norton also left the game on five fouls.
Leopards still trailed by seven heading into the final two minutes,
but Davis Bowne beat the shot clock wit a big three to effectively
kill the game, and Lister fouled out as the Big Cats’ eight game
winning streak came to an end.
Flyers were led by 20 points and 15 rebounds from Bowne, with fellow
American Doug McLaughlin-Williams adding 15 points.
Leopards: V
Teel (23), D Buchberger (14), O Krubally (9), J Lister (8), Z Wells
(4), D Norton (2), S Bublys (2), J Lockwood, J Cabey, R Addison.
5 February 2012
Just gr-eight for Leopards
Leopards 78 (19,27,51)
Brixton Topcats 66 (20,33,50)
LEOPARDS made the perfect start to life at their new Basildon
Sporting Village home with their eighth straight win as Brixton
Topcats were beaten 78-66 on Sunday.
David Buchberger led the scoring for the first time in his Leopards
career as the Big Cats overcame a poor start to gain revenge for
November’s loss at Brixton.
The American-British dual national finished with 18 points, six
assists and four rebounds in 33 minutes as a half-time change of
tactics from coach Dejan Mihevc proved key.
With point guard Vernon Teel receiving little protection from the
refs as he appeared to be repeatedly fouled while dribbling the ball
down the court, Buchberger was switched to his spot, and the move
paid off as the home side outscored Brixton 51-33 in the second
half.
Ousman Krubally posted another double-double, finishing with 16
points and 14 rebounds, with John Lister (13) and Lukas Volskis (10)
also finishing in double figures as Teel was limited to eight points
and as many rebounds – adding five steals and four assists.
Coach Dejan Mihevc gave 15-year-old Josh Steel his first start as a
Leopard, and he opened the scoring with a three for the Leopards to
cancel out Nathan Ashley’s score from downtown.
Five straight Volskis points, followed by scores from Teel and Zak
Wells saw Leopards rush into a 12-4 lead, but that proved to be as
good as it got for the Big Cats in the first half, and Tom Adoiran
tied things at 14 with four minutes of the opening quarter
remaining.
Both coach Mihevc and Volskis picked up technical fouls as Topcats’
physical play helped them go on a 9-2 run, and despite the home side
scoring the final five points of the period – including a Wells dunk
– they still trailed 20-19 at the first break.
Neither side could buy a basket in the first four and half minutes
of the second quarter, before Andrius Vaiteikus broke the deadlock.
Buchberger’s three-pointer levelled things at 22, but Brixton
replied with a 9-0 run capped by two Papa Demba-Kasse baskets to
lead 31-22 with three minutes in the half remaining to force a
Leopards time-out.
The move worked to an extent, with Buchberger doubling his tally
with another three and both Wells and Dominic Norton hitting a
free-throw, but it was the visitors who went into the locker room at
half-time with a 33-27 lead.
The third period saw Leopards fight their way back into the game,
with Krubally opening the scoring and Buchberger cutting the margin
to a single point at the five minute mark.
Ashley answered from downtown, but Krubally tied things at 47 going
into the final two minutes of the period and Lister hit a long two
to put Leopards 51-50 ahead at the final break.
A strong start to the fourth quarter saw Buchberger hit the first
five points, and a massive Krubally dunk made it a six point game
with just over two minutes gone.
The 14-4 Leopards’ run was capped when Buchberger grabbed Teel’s
miss to score from close range as the home side went into the final
five minutes with a 65-54 lead.
Sam Toluwase, who top scored for Brixton with 24, made it a nine
point game, but that was as close as the visitors came, with
Leopards ensuring that they took the head-to-head decider as Bradley
Wilkinson scored off of Joe Lockwood’s assist, and Lockwood then
stealing the ball to seal the double digit win.
Leopards: D
Buchberger (18), O Krubally (16), J Lister (13), L Volskis (10), V
Teel (8), Z Wells (7), J Steel (3), B Wilkinson (2), D Norton (1), J
Lockwood, R Addison (DNP), S Bublys (DNP)
29 January 2012
Leopards win Cup
Leopards 64 (10,26,38) Bristol Academy Flyers 63 (24,38,50)
A stunning final five minutes saw
Leopards come from behind to the win 2012 National Cup final with a
64-63 victory against Bristol Academy Flyers.
In front of a packed house at Ponds
Forge in Sheffield, the Big Cats recovered from a poor first half to
lift the oldest piece of silverware in English basketball.
Vernon Teel picked up the Most
Valuable Player award as he finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds and
six assists. Ousman Krubally came up with another big double-double,
finishing with 15 points and as many boards, while five of David
Buchberger’s 11 points came in the final 80 seconds as the Big Cats
finished strongly. Dejan Mihevc’s team couldn’t buy a basket in the
first period as Enrique Garcia opened the scoring for the Flyers,
and they hit the first eight points before Teel finally broke the
duck with 200 seconds gone.
Zak Wells doubled the Big Cats’
total to leave them trailing by nine, but they missed four of their
six foul shots in what proved to be a prelude to a woeful display at
the foul line as they scored just seven of their 21 attempts.
Douglas McLaughlin-Williams sent
the West Country side into the first break with a 24-10 lead and
another shot from downtown by the same player saw Bristol’s lead
grow to 17 at the start of the second period.
Krubally and Lukas Volskis added to
Leopards’ score, but they still trailed 30-14 before Buchberger made
it a 30-16 game at the five minute mark.
The closest Leopards came in the
rest of the first half was when Volskis made it a ten point game
heading into the final minute, but Davis Bowne grabbed his own
rebound and scored to put Bristol 38-26 ahead going into the locker
room.
Leopards started the second half
brightly, and Wells – who did an excellent defensive job despite
picking up four first half fouls - made it a six point game with
4:17 remaining in the third period, but Bristol replied with a 6-0
run to keep their 12 point lead alive going into the final period.
The fourth period finally saw
Leopards spark into life. All 26 points were scored by Teel,
Krubally and Buchberger, but there was some excellent defensive work
from Dominic Norton and the Big Cats noticeably wore the Flyers
down.
Teel started and finished a 10-2
run to open the fourth period and make it a four point game with
three minutes gone.
Garcia broke the tear, but Krubally
responded immediately before Teel tied the score at 54with 4:34
remaining n the game.
Greg Streete restored Bristol’s
lead and , but it wasn’t until the 3:30 mark that Leopards took
their first lead of the game when Krubally scored off Volskis’
assist.
McLaughlin-Williams – who led
Flyers with 21 points – put the West Country side back up by one
with three minutes remaining, and after Leopards had forced a shot
clock violation, Buchberger scored off Teel’s assist with 80 seconds
left on the clock to level the score at 59.
Greete missed a two pointer and
Buchberger saw a trey rim out before the latter sunk what proved to
be the biggest shot of the game as three sweetly dropped to put
Leopards 62-59 ahead with 48 seconds remaining.
Flyers called a timeout, and
Buchberger sent Streete to the line where he hit one of two foul
shots to make it a three point game.
Teel was then fouled, and scored
the first before missing the second but Tyrone Treasure’s shot
rimmed out and led to a jump ball.
The possession arrow was in
Bristol’s favour, but McLaughlin-Williams saw his three-pointer
miss, and Krubally grabbed the rebound before being sent to the line
by Garcia.
The Leopards captain hit the first
foul shot but missed the second, and although Treasure hit a three
that just beat the buzzer it was too late to prevent the Leopards’
celebrations starting in earnest.
Leopards: V
Teel (23), O Krubally (15), D Buchberger (11), L Volskis (6), Z
Wells (6), J Lister (3), D Norton, J Lockwood, B Wilkinson, S Bublys
(DNP), J Steel (DNP), R Addison (DNP).
22 January 2012
Perfect Cup warm-up for Big Cats
Leopards 103 (29,44,83) Tees Valley Mohawks 70 (11,26,44)
JOHN Lister led the way with a
season-high 31 points as Leopards had the perfect warm-up for the
National Cup final with a comfortable victory against Tees Valley
Mohawks.
Another large crowd at Brentwood
saw a game that was effectively over by the end of the first period
as Leopards closed it out on a 15-4 run to lead 29-11.
Coach Dejan Mihevc was able to run
his bench from the start of the second quarter, giving ten of his 12
players double-digit court time, with those ten all getting on the
scoresheet.
Shooting guard Lister was in
scintillating form, hitting seven three points and finishing with
12/14 shooting in just 18 minutes.
Zak Wells added a 14 point and 11
rebound double-double in a team-high 24 minutes, with David
Buchberger completing a good weekend with 13 points.
Ousman Krubally and Vernon Teel
each finished with 10 points in under 17 minutes, with the former
adding nine rebounds and the latter an incredible 11 assists.
Mohawks were led by 25 points
American guard Demarcus Berry, JeanLois Bomolo finishing with a 14
point, 12 rebound double.
Teel opened the scoring and
Krubally kept the Big Cats ahead after Acho Anyigbo had levelled the
score.
Mohawks player-coach Steve Butler
put Mohawks into a brief lead from the foul line, but Dominic Norton
replied at the other end to put Leopards 6-5 ahead and they never
trailed again.
Norton hit back-to-back treys to
break the game open before Lister joined in the fun, and it was
15-year-old Josh Steel who wrapped up a 29-11 first period with a
lay-up off Joe Lockwood’s assist.
Lister scored from Land of Plenty
to open the second period, and the first half lead peaked at 27
three minutes into the quarter as the Australian/Brit dual national
again scored from downtown.
Wells wrapped up the first half
score off Legend Robertin’s assist and although Copeland hit a trey
for Mohawks, it was the Big Cats who took a commanding 44-26 lead
into the locker room.
Lister scored the first seven
Leopards points of the second half, with all three scores coming off
Teel assists before the Leopards point guard mixed things up by
providing the help for Lockwood to make it a 25 point game with two
minutes gone.
Teel continued to dish out the
assists as Krubally spectacularly dunked and Lister scored downtown
as the lead grew to 30 points, and Buchberger’s three points sent
the Big Cats into the final break with an 83-44 lead.
The lead peaked at 41 as Wells
opened the final period by stealing the ball and providing the
assist for Buchberger to score, and although Mohawks refused to give
us, coach Mihevc was able to give the youngsters plenty of court
time as the Big Cats moved into the play-off positions for the first
time this season.
Leopards: J
Lister (31), Z Wells (14), D Buchberger (13), O Krubally (10), V
Teel (10), J Lockwood (8), D Norton (8), J Steel (4),R Addison (3),
L Volskis (2), B Wilkinson, L Robertin.
21 January 2012
Leopards hammer Thunder
Worthing Thunder 52 (13,28,41) Leopards 89 (19,38,63)
STUNNING performance saw Leopards
record their first ever road victory against Worthing Thunder on
Saturday as the second placed hosts were hammered by 37 points.
Vernon Teel put the Leopards 4-3
ahead with just over three minutes gone at Worthing, and they never
trailed again, but it was a 12-2 run at the start of the second half
which did most of the damage for Leopards as they recorded their
first ever away with against the Thunder.
The Big Cats had lost their
previous eight road games against Thunder, only once keeping the
margin down to single digits, but he high-flying Worthing side had
no answer as the Big Cats produced a dominant second half
performance.
Dave Buchberger had his best game
as a Leopard, scoring four three-pointers on the way to a 19 point,
eight rebound double-double. Bradley Wilkinson also put on his best
display since returning to the club with ten points and seven boards
in just 11 minutes of action.
Teel again led the Big Cats’
scoring with 21 points and nine board, with Ousman Krubally adding a
15 point, ten rebound double-double.
Hank Rivers opened the scoring for
Thunder, but Lukas Volskis replied, and by the five minute mark
Leopards were 10-5 ahead after a Krubally shot.
Rivers pulled Thunder within a
point, but 6-0 run capped by a Zak Wells basket made it a seven
point game, and John Lister’s trey sent Leopards into the first
break with a six point lead.
Buchberger drained his first trey
to open the second period, and Krubally also got into the act as he
hit a pair from downtown to give the Big Cats a 30-13 lead after two
minutes of the quarter.
A pair of Buchberger free-throws
saw Leopards lead by 20 with 5:40 in the half remaining, but the
home side chipped away at the deficit as they went on a 12-4 run and
a needless Teel foul saw Francesco Amato cut the Leopards’ lead to
ten going into the locker room at half-time.
Whatever coach Dejan Mihevc said at
half-time had the desired effect as both Buchberger and Lister
scored from downtown as Leopards opened strongly to restore the 20
point margin with three minutes of the half gone and Buchberger
again drained from downtown to make it a 24 point game with 4:28
remaining in the third period.
The lead peaked at 25 in the
quarter following a Teel free-throw, and the Big Cats went into the
final break with an almost unassailable 63-41 lead.
Courtney Small cut that lead to 20
with the first score of the fourth period but Joe Lockwood and Teel
kept the scoreboard ticking over, and an and-one followed by a jump
shot from Teel took the lead out to 29 with 7:30 on the clock and
ended any chance of a comeback.
Wilkinson put his name on the
scoresheet as the lead continued to grow and Ryan Addison ensured
that all ten Leopards were on the scoresheet by buying a trey to
wrap up the Big Cats’ biggest win of the season.
Small led Worthing with 13 points,
though he needed 15 shots and turned the ball over six times, with
youngster Jack Sunderland impressing with 11 points.
Leopards: V
Teel (21), D Buchberger (19), O Krubally (15), B Wilkinson (10), J
Lister (6), Z Wells (6), L Volskis (5), R Addison (3), J Lockwood
(2), D Norton (2)
15 January 2012
Leopards quieten Thunder
Leopards 84 (24,41,66)
Worthing Thunder 74 (14,29,55)
LEOPARDS will travel to Bristol Academy Flyers in the semi-final of
the National Trophy after a comfortable win against Worthing Thunder
on Sunday afternoon.
In front of another big crowd at Brentwood, Dejan Mihevc’s team
picked up their sixth win in seven games to reach the semi-final for
the second straight year and the third time in four seasons.
Vernon Teel was again on form as he collected his fourth
triple-double of the season with 24 points, 12 assists and 11
rebounds in 32 minutes. Fellow American Ousman Krubally added a 22
point, 15 rebound double-double, also in 32 minutes as the side
occupying second spot in Division One were beaten.
Hank Rivers scored one of two free-throws to open the scoring for
Thunder, but Teel grabbed the rebound off his own miss and scored
with a minute gone – and the Big Cats led for the remaining 39
minutes.
Lukas Volskis hi his first of three three-pointers off Krubally’s
assist to cap a 7-0 run in the first period, and the young guard
finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three steals.
David Buchberger also scored from downtown to put the hosts 24-10 up
with just over two minutes remaining in the period, and although
they failed to trouble the scorers again in the first period, the
home side still led 24-14 at the first break.
Buchberger opened the second period scoring ,and a three point play
from Teel put Leopards up by 15 with three second period minutes
remaining.
Krubally and Teel kept the score ticking over and the Big Cats went
into the locker room with a 41-29 lead.
The lead peaked at 20 midway through the third period as John Lister
hit a trey. But Leopards noticeably relaxed, and allowed Worthing to
pull it back to 66-55 at the final break.
The malaise continued as the visitors opened the fourth period with
a 10-4 run capped by Rivers to make it a five point game with seven
minutes remaining.
That was as close as the visitors came as Lister - who finished with
11 points - hit another three-pointer and the lead never dipped into
single figures again during the last five minutes as Leopards closed
out the win.
Buchberger was the fifth Leopard to finish in double figures, with
Marcus Tullis leading the visitors with 25 points, and Rivers
grabbing a 21 point, 11 rebound double-double.
Coach Mihevc was pleased with Sunday’s result: “It was expected to
be a hard game, but with right attitude and maximum effort we
controlled the game from the beginning and all players deserve
congratulations. I would also like to thank to all fans that come to
watch and support us in a very decent number and I hope that they
enjoyed the game.”
The date for semi-final will be announced this week.
Leopards: V
Teel (24), O Krubally (22), L Volskis (11), J Lister (11), D
Buchberger (10),Z Wells (4), D Norton (2), J Lockwood, B Wilkinson,
R Addison, J Steele (DNP).
6 January 2012
Leopards hammer Capital
Leopards 85 (17,46,72)
PAWS London Capital 50 (9,22,37)
LEOPARDS continued their march up the EBL Division One table with a
third straight league victory, on Friday evening.
In front of another large crowd, the Big Cats led for 38 of the 40
minutes and never looked in trouble as coach Dejan Mihevc was able
to run his bench for much of the second half.
Ousman Krubally led the way with a 22 point, 12 rebound
double-double, in just 24 minutes, while Vernon Teel finished with
21 points, eight assists and five boards in 25 minutes.
John Lister had four three-pointers on his way to a 16 point night,
while Lukas Volskis added eight points and four assists. Ibrahim
Gariba was the only Capital player in double figures with a 21
point, 12 rebound double-double.
In Leopards’ biggest ever home Division One win, Teel opened the
scoring with a pair at the foul line. Although Gariba levelled
things, Teel gave the Big Cats a lead they would never lose with
three minutes gone.
Bradley Wilkinson sent the home side into the first break with a
17-9 lead, and a Krubally dunk sparked an 11-0 run to open the
second quarter.
Wilkinson capped the run with a free-throw to put the Big Cats 29-8
up 12 minutes into the game – effectively ending it as a contest.
David Buchberger hit a three-pointer off Joe Lockwood’s assist as
Leopards went into the locker room with a 46-22 half-time lead.
Teel opened the second scoring from the charity stripe, and the lead
hit the 30 point mark with two third period minutes when Wilkinson
converted Buchberger’s assist.
Lister wrapped up the third period scoring from downtown as Leopards
went into the final break 72-37 ahead and the lead peaked at 37 when
Zak Wells grabbed Buchberger’s miss and converted from close range.
All of the Leopards’ players managed at least five minutes court
time as the Big Cats moved up to ninth in the Division One table
ahead of Sunday’s visit from Worthing Thunder in the National Trophy
quarter-final.
Leopards: O
Krubally (22), V Teel (21), J Lister (16), L Volskis (8), Z Wells
(6), D Buchberger (5), B Wilkinson (5), J Cabey (2), D Norton, S
Bublys, J Lockwood, M Adomaitis.
11 December 2011
Leopards through to final
Tees Valley Mohawks 84
(33,58,72) Leopards 96 (29,50,71)
VERNON Teel led Leopards to their second ever National Cup final as
the Big Cats fought back from 13 points down to win 96-84 at Tees
Valley Mohawks on Sunday.
Teel scored 21 of Leopards' 25 points in the final quarter to finish
with 49 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists to set up a meeting
with Bristol Academy Flyers in January.
The Big Cats had to withstand an awesome three point shooting
performance from the home side in the first half as they hit 72
percent of their shots from downtown to lead 58-50 going into the
locker room at half-time.
It ended a run of five straight semi-final defeats for the Big Cats
as they set up a final date at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on January
29.
Ousman Krubally added 16 points and eight rebounds despite again
suffering with foul trouble , with David Buchberger finishing with
14 points, three assists and three steals.
Krubally opened the scoring off of Zak Wells’ assist, but a curious
offensive foul call on Dominic Norton saw Mohawks take a lead they
held until the fourth quarter.
The home side seemed to be able to score from anywhere outside the
arc as they hit Leopards with a barrage of treys, and the Big Cats
trailed 31-18 with 90 seconds remaining in the period after a
DeMarcus Berry trey.
But Well scored off a Teel assist, and with Buchberger hitting five
points, Leopards went on an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 33-29 at
the first break.
Krubally made it a four point game with the first score of the
second period, but an 8-0 run saw Mohawks regain the initiative and
they went into the locker room 58-50 ahead after David Glavan
wrapped up the first half scoring with yet another three-pointer.
Well scored off Lister’s assist to open the second half, and
although the Mohawks’ lead hovered around the six mark for mot of
the period, Leopards tightened up their defence and stopped the
seemingly endless threes from the hosts before Krubally and Teel
both scored to cut the deficit to 72-71, at the final break.
Bradley Wilkinson hit a pair at the foul line to open the fourth
period, and Leopards never trailed again.
The Big Cats outscored the hosts 14-3 in the first five minutes of
the period with Teel seemingly everywhere, and although Ike Attah
made it a three point game with 4:14 on the clock, Teel replied with
a three and a two to make it 88-80 with 3:20 remaining.
Ousman Krubally fouled out with three minutes remaining having
picked up a strange offensive foul for his fourth and Jean-Louis
Bomolo cut the visitors’ lead to 88-82 with three minutes remaining.
Seven straight Teel points in the final minute ended the game as a
contest and Leopards were left to make the long trip home knowing
they are one win away from lifting the oldest piece of silverware in
English basketball.
Leopards: V
Teel (49), O Krubally (16), D Buchberger (14), B Wilkinson (8), Z
Wells (6), L Volskis (3), J Lister, J Lockwood, D Norton, S Bublys.
9 December 2011
Leopards outlast Warriors
Leopards 78 (14,33,46,67)
Westminster Warriors 76 (14,25,46,67)
THEY did it the hard way again, but Leopards maintained their good
form with a 78-76 overtime victory against Westminster Warriors on
Friday.
Dejan Mihevc’s team let a 16 point lead slip as the visitors forced
them into the extra period before John Lister hit the winning shot
seven seconds from time.
Vernon Teel finished with his third triple-double of the season,
adding 15 points and ten assists to his 28 points as he played all
45 minutes. Lister added 22 points and Krubally finished with 16
points and 18 boards despite fouling out after picking up three
offensive fouls.
Teel opened the scoring, but it was the visitors who controlled the
opening stages as Yannick Bulambwe made it a six point game with six
minutes gone, and Zak Wells picked his third foul in under five
minutes.
A pair of Teel free-throws cut the deficit but Bulambwe sunk a trey
to put his side 12-5 up before scores from Lister and Krubally
sparked a 9-2 finish to the quarter, with Lister sending the hosts
in to the first break tied at 14 with a three-pointer.
Former Leopard Kenroy Wood hit a three to open the second period
scoring, but baskets from Teel and David Buchberger gave the Big
Cats a lead they never lost in the half, and Krubally wrapped up the
scoring when he grabbed Teel’s miss to send Leopards into the locker
room 33-25 ahead.
Lister kept Leopards ahead with their first two baskets of the
second half, and a Bradley Wilkinson basket following an offensive
rebound saw that lead grow to 16 midway through the third quarter.
However, in common with the previous home win against Bristol,
Leopards relaxed after that and Laken Popoola launched a 19-run 3 in
the final four minutes of the period to send the teams into the
fourth quarter tied at 46.
Jon Johnson hit a trey to put Warriors ahead at the start of the
fourth period, and Leopards trailed until the 5:43 mark when Teel
hit a pair at the foul line to give them a 53-52 lead.
Another Lister trey saw Leopards 60-56 up with 2:15 remaining, and
they were up by four heading into the final 30 seconds, but they
failed to stop Popoola’s repeated drives to the basket as Warriors
sent into overtime.
Teel opened the extra period scoring before providing the assist for
Wilkinson to make it a four point game but a pair of Bulambwe
free-throws saw the teams still tied going into the final minute.
A Teel steal and score saw Leopards up by two with 33 seconds on the
clock only to see Johnson level things with 14 seconds remaining
before Teel set Lister up for a perfect winner.
Leopards: V
Teel (28), J Lister (22), O Krubally (16), B Wilkinson (7), D
Buchberger (4), Z Wells (1), L Volskis, J Lockwood, D Norton, S
Bublys, M Adomaitis (DNP), J Cabey (DNP)
3 December 2011
Leopards crash to Crusaders
Medway
Park Crusaders 93 (15,35,59) Leopards 83 (20,39,60)
LEOPARDS’ poor away league form continued as they crashed to a 93-83
defeat at Medway Park Crusaders, on Saturday.
With forward Ousman Krubally missing, the Big Cats struggled against
the size of the Kent side, but really should have close out the game
after leading by as many as ten in the first half.
Leopards controlled the first half, leading 20-15 after the opening
period and were up by ten going into the final two minutes of the
second quarter before Crusaders rattled off a 7-0 run to cut the
margin to 39-35 at half-time.
With former BBL guard Steve Vear controlling the play on his return
to Crusaders, the home side started the second half strongly and
took their first lead of the game at 41-39.
Despite struggling to stop Canadian big man Joe Schow in the paint,
Leopards stayed in touch, and David Buchberger capped a 7-2 run by
draining a pair of free-throws after being fouled on the buzzer to
send the visitors into the final break with a 60-59 lead.
The teams were level midway through the final period, but Leopards’
offence dried up down the stretch as they slipped to their fourth
straight away league loss.
Vernon Teel led the scoring for the Big Cats with 22 points, eight
rebounds and seven assists with Buchberger adding 19 points, four
boards and three assists. Lister chipped in with four three pointers
on the way to 14 points and three blocks while acting captain Lukas
Volskis added nine points.
Coach Dejan Mihevc was naturally disappointed with the loss: “I
would like to congratulate to Medway Park’s players for a deserved
win. They showed more desire and were more focused specially in the
last part of the game.
“Their new point guard [Steve] Vear was really a true leader on the
floor and he showed that he is exactly what they needed. We started
the game well and even if we were struggling under the basket we
were controlling the game.
“Unfortunately in the second half we didn't play smart and strong
enough as a team and Medway took their chance to get a deserved win.
Now we must look forward and get ready for our next, this season
only second home game where hopefully we will be in full squad.”
Leopards: V
Teel (22), D Buchberger (19), J Lister (14), L Volskis (9), J
Lockwood (6), B Wilkinson (4), Z Wells (4), D Norton (3), S Bublys (DNP),
R Alexis (DN), M Adomaitis (DNP).
27 November 2011
Leopards down Flyers
Leopards 91 (26,51,69)
Bristol Academy Flyers 87 (23,42,60)
LEOPARDS ended Division One champions Bristol Academy Flyers’
unbeaten start to the league season with a 91-87 victory in front of
a large crowd at Brentwood on Sunday.
The Big Cats did it the hard way, though, letting a 20 point lead
with five minutes remaining slip before Ousman Krubally sealed the
win.
Krubally finished with a 25 point, 11 rebound double-double, while
Vernon Teel also had 25 points, adding 11 assists and seven boards.
John Lister had his best game since joining the Big Cats as he hit
his first nine shots on the way to a 21 point night, while
16-year-old Joe Lockwood had an impressive nine points and six
rebounds in 16 minutes of action.
Krubally scored the first six points of the game for the Leopards,
but Dejan Mihevc’s team started slowly, with Davis Bown’s
three-pointer giving Bristol a 15-8 lead with just over three first
period minutes remaining
However, as Lister found his range he scored eight points and David
Buchberger added to send Leopards into the first break with a 26-23
lead.
Teel opened the second period scoring, and with Lister and
Buchberger both scoring from three-point land, Leopards went on a
12-4 run to lead 40-27 at the midway stage of the quarter.
Flyers fought back, with Tyrone Treasure making it a three point
game with 2:34 on the clock, but Leopards finished the half strongly
as Lockwood capped a 7-0 run off Teel’s assist to send the hosts
into the locker room with a 51-42 lead.
Teel opened the second half scoring for the home side with a pair of
free-throws, before Lister hit another trey. He finally missed a
shot with five third period minutes gone, but Leopards stayed in
front with their lead fluctuating between five and ten points, and a
Teel drive to the basket sent them into the final break with a 69-60
lead.
Krubally scored off Teel’s assist to open the fourth period and a
rare three from the American forward capped a 17-6 Leopards’ run to
put them 86-66 ahead going into the final five minutes.
However, Flyers showed why they are top of the table as Greg Streete
launched an 11-0 run to get them back into the game and as Leopards
scored only two points in over four minutes, Roy Owen made it a two
point game when he drained a trey with 38 seconds on the clock.
Teel missed a jump shot and Krubally saw an effort blocked before
Teel was called for a foul with 13 seconds left to send Owen to the
line.
The former Worcester Wolves’ guard hit the first free-throw but
missed the second leaving Krubally to grab the rebound.
He was sent to the foul line by Bown, and also hit the first before
missing the second but grabbed the board and scored to seal the game
for Leopards.
Leopards: O
Krubally (25), V Teel (25), J Lister (21), J Lockwood (9), D
Buchberger (6), Z Wells (3), D Norton (2), L Volskis, J Johnson, B
Wilkinson, J Cabey (DNP), M Adomaitis (DNP).
20 November 2011
Leopards through to semi-finals
Bradford Dragons 66
(19,30,47) Leopards 86 (26,42,69)
LEOPARDS
bounced back after the previous
day’s mauling in Bradford to hammer the home and progress to the
National cup semi-final.
Vernon Teel finished with his second triple-double of the season
with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists – adding four steals and
two blocks for good measure, while Ousman Krubally led all scorers
with a 29 point, 11 rebound double-double.
With a much better all-round scoring effort than the previous day,
Lister added 17 – including five three-pointers – and Volskis ten,
while youngster Dominic Norton had two big three-point efforts at
key times.
The Big Cats led from tip to buzzer, building a 28 point lead at one
stage as they continued their fine record in the Cup and set up a
final four showdown at Tees Valley Mohawks.
Coach Dejan Mihevc was understandably delighted with the win:
“There’s no doubt that this was one of the hardest weekends for us.
It is never easy to travel a long way and play the game on the same
day, loose that game and then have a knock-out game in less then 24
hours against to the same team.
“It was hard, but the guys came up strong, took some pride and
really played as a team. Our defensive attitude on Sunday was very
good and watching them how they were sharing the ball in offence was
a pleasure. Vernon and Ous did a tremendous job by leading the team
after a hard loss to one of the best if not the best performance of
the season until now.
Krubally scored six of the first eight points as Leopards raced into
a six-point lead before Norton drained from downtown to put the big
Cats 15-4 up after six minutes.
A 9-0 run saw Dragons pull within two points, but that proved to be
the closest they came in the game, and both Volskis and Teel buried
treys to send Leopards into the first break 26-19 ahead.
Krubally hit three of four foul shots to open the second period, and
Leopards were up by nine wit four minutes in the stanza left when
Bradford called a timeout but it made little different as Norton
again scored from the Land of Plenty to send the Big Cats into the
locker room with a 42-30 lead.
The second half scoring was again opened by Krubally who twice
converted Teel assists before Lister hit a trey and Volskis score a
jump shot to put the visitors up by 21.
The 9-0 run was broken by Bobby Edmunds, but a a long range Lister
trey followed by an absolutely massive ally-oop which saw him rise
about two Dragons’ players saw Leopards go into the final break
69-47 ahead.
After three-point plays from John Lister and Vernon Teel had given
them a 28 point lead at the start of the fourth period, the visitors
had to withstand an 11-0 Bradford run, but Krubally ended the run at
the foul line and a trey from Volskis broke the Dragons’ resolve as
the Big Cats wrapped up their place in the semi-final.
Leopards: O Krubally (29), V Teel (18), J Lister (17), L Volskis
(10), D Norton (6), Z Wells (4), B Wilkinson (2), J Johnson, J
Lockwood, S Bublys, J Cabey (DNP).
19 November 2011
Big Cats hammered in Bradford
Bradford Dragons 110
(24,52,82) Leopards 77 (20,40,56)
LEOPARDS crashed to their third straight league defeat as a turgid
performance saw them hammered in Yorkshire, on Saturday.
The Big Cats allowed Dragons to score 60 percent of their field goal
attempts as poor transition defence saw Bradford repeatedly score on
the break, and the hosts ran away to a comfortable victory with a
58-37 second half performance.
Vernon Teel finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Ousman
Krubally had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, but the
American pair were given little support by the rest of their
team-mates.
There was no clue to the heavy defeat that was to follow as Leopards
raced out of the blocks, as Teel drained a pair of threes to put
Leopards 6-0 up, and American guard scored the visitors’ first 11
points before Krubally got off the mark to put Leopards 13-5 ahead
with just under three minutes gone.
That proved to Leopards’ biggest lead of the game, and Bradford
replied with an 11-2 run to take a one point lead with 3:39 on the
clock, and scored the final eight points of the quarter to lead
24-20 at the first break.
Dragons extended that run to 15-0 as Vance Silcott capped the run to
put his side 31-20 ahead, and the closest Leopards came in the
second period was four points with 4:05 on the clock when Teel hit a
pair at the foul line, before Bradford scored the last seven points
of the half to lead 52-40 going into the locker room.
The lead never dropped below that in the third period, with Michal
Ciesla’s basket putting them up 31 with 2:35 on the clock, and Bobby
Edmunds beat the buzzer to send Bradford into the final break 82-56
ahead.
The closest Leopards came in the fourth quarter was 20 points with
7:43 on the clock as Teel hit seven straight points, but coach Dejan
Mihevc used the final minutes to give the youngster on the visitors’
bench some court time as the starters sat down with the following
day’s Cup game in mind.
Leopards: V
Teel (30), O Krubally (27), J Lister (7), J Johnson (6), Volskis
(5), Z Wells (2), D Norton, J Cabey, J Lockwood, B Wilkinson, S
Bublys (DNP).
12 November 2011
Leopards
lose in Leicester
Leicester Warriors 92
(18,41,63) Leopards 89 (23,47,68)
LEOPARDS saw their hopes of picking up their first Division One win
of the season end as Elliot Sentence hit a three pointer in the
dying seconds, on Saturday.
Dejan Mihevc’s side looked noticeably tired after their BBL Trophy
game , but even without Ousman Krubally and David Buchberger due to
knee injuries, they controlled much of the game without ever being
able to pull away and wrap things up.
They led 23-18 at the first break and stretched that by a point to
47-41 going into the locker room at half-time.
That lead grew to as many as 11 points midway through the third
period, but Warriors fought back to close the gap to 68-63 at the
final break.
Leopards were still up by two with eight minutes remaining when a
clash between Zak Wells and a home player saw both players ejected
from the game.
The loss of the seven foot centre clearly hurt an already
under-sized Leopards team, but they were still level going into the
final 20 seconds when England junior international Elliot Sentence
hit a three pointer to seal the win for the hosts.
Teel finished with a game-high 36 points, out-shooting Leicester’s
debut making American Eugene Pettway who finished with 31. Lukas
Volskis added 12 and Josh Johnson nine.
11 November 2011
Riders
too strong for Big Cats
Leopards 58 (15,29,40)
Leicester Riders 96 (32,52,76)
INJURY-hit Leopards found high-flyers Leicester Riders too tough as
their BBL Trophy adventure ended with a heavy defeat.
Coach Dejan Mihevc was without both American forward Ousman Krubally
and shooting guard David Buchberger as both players sat out with
knee injuries, and the loss of two of their senior players clearly
hurt the Big Cats.
It was men against boys for much of Friday’s game against Riders as
Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan stole the show with 18 points in
22 minutes.
Vernon Teel kept Leopards in touch in the early stages, but a 14-2
run in the opening period saw Riders lead 32-15 at the first break.
They extended that lead to 52-29 at half-time and 76-40 at the final
break as the Riders’ lead peaked at 42 before the Big Cats managed
slow the scoring down in the fourth period.
Teel continued his fine season with 21 points, with John Lister and
Lukas Volskis each adding seven.
While clearly over-matched, Leopards weren’t helped by an uneven
foul count. At half-time they had been called 17 fouls, while Riders
had (apparently) committed just three, and early in the second half
Lister had been called for more fouls than the entire Leicester
team. It finished with a 27-7 foul count.
6 November 2011
Disappointment for Leopards
Brixton Topcats 84
(18,37,58) Leopards 75 (15,26,56)
A strong fourth period comeback couldn’t prevent Leopards slipping
to defeat in their opening Division One game of the season, on
Sunday.
With Ousman Krubally missing, the Big Cats struggled inside, and
looked tired after the previous night’s overtime classic against
Reading Rockets.
They weren’t helped by some curious refereeing decisions, but didn’t
help themselves with missed lay-ups and poor shot selection.
Facing a Brixton side who hadn’t played on Saturday, the Big Cats
opened the scoring through David Buchberger, and seven straight
Vernon Teel points kept them ahead before a strong finish to the
first period saw Brixton lead 18-15 at the first break.
Teel briefly restored Leopards’ lead with a jump shot three minutes
into the second period, but a 9-2 Brixton run capped by three
straight Arturo Noha free-throws saw the hosts open a 35-25 lead,
and they went into the locker room with a 37-26 lead.
Scores from John Lister and Teel saw Leopards open the second half
strongly, but they struggled for long spells against their London
rivals, and trailed 58-46 going into the final break.
Back-to-back threes from Mantis Adomantis saw Leopards open the
fourth period with an 8-0 run, and they grabbed the lead for the
first time since the opening stages with seven minutes remaining
when Teel completed a streak of 13 straight points.
A John Lockwood free-throw saw Leopards only trailing by a single
point going into the final minute, but a curious offensive foul call
on Josh Johnson saw both coach Mihevc and Lukas Volskis pick up
technical fouls, and Topcats wrapped up the win for the line.
Teel finished with a game-high 37 points, with Lister again adding
14 and Buchberger scoring seven. Noha led the home team with 26
points.
5 November 2011
Lister shoots Leopards into quarter-finals
Leopards 81 (20,27,43,67)
Reading Rockets 79 (15,32,51,67)
John Lister celebrated his 28th birthday by sinking a three-pointer
with just 0.7 seconds remaining as Leopards sealed second place in
the National Trophy Pool Two.
Harrison Gamble looked to have sealed the win – and home court
advantage against Worthing Thunder in the quarter-finals – when he
scored with seven seconds remaining before Lister’s heroics gave
Leopards the victory.
Verno Teel again led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds and
seven assists, with Lister and David Buchberger each adding 14
points. Buchberger adding seven rebounds and three assists, with
Lukas Volskis chipping in with ten points and three steals, and Josh
Johnson having five assists to go with his seven points and as many
rebounds.
Rockets controlled the early play, leading 7-2 after three and half
minutes, but Teel got Leopards going with a trey and Dominic Norton
gave them their first lead of the game at 14-13 with 2:04 left in
the first period.
A strong finish to the quarter saw Johnson and Joe Lockwood on the
scoresheet as they led 20-15 at the first break.
With
Leopards missing star forward Ousman Krubally due to an ankle
injury, they struggled in the second quarter and failed to score a
single field goal as Lewis Champion hit a jump shot to send Reading
into the locker room with a 32-27 lead.
Although Teel hit a free-throw early in the second half, that
drought from the field lasted until the 5:27 mark in the third
period when Zak Wells converted a hook shot to leave Leopards 37-30
down.
Volskis drained a three off Teel’s assist to keep Leopards within
five, but the Big Cats trailed 51-43 at the end of the third period
and that deficit went up to 11 as Gamble hit a trey to open the
fourth quarter.
The Reading lead peaked at 13 with a little over seven minutes
remaining when Ryan Lohfink hit a shot, but Teel started the
comeback before Johnson drained a three to cut the visitors’ lead to
eight.
Five straight Buchberger points followed by a Johnson score saw that
lead down to one, but a Jon May and-one saw Reading 67-62 ahead
going into the final two minutes.
Johnson forced a Gamble turnover, leaving Lister to drain a three,
and it was American guard Teel who sent the game into an extra
period when he grabbed Lister’s miss shot and scored with four
seconds remaining.
Robbie Parker scored the first points of overtime for Reading, but
Leopards led by as many as five in overtime when Wells scored off
Teel’s assist with 2:49 on the clock.
To their credit, Reading would not quit and answered with a 9-3 run
to lead going into the final seconds before Lister stepped up to
give himself the perfect birthday present.
Teenager Gamble led Rockets with 27 points (including 4 from 4
behind the arc) and 7 rebounds, Lohfink added a double-double of 15
points and 13 boards.
Leopards: V Teel (.22), J Lister (14), D Buchberger (14), L
Volskis (10), J Johnson (7), Z Wells (7), D Norton (5), J Lockwood
(2), M Adomaitis, R Mentor (DNP), J Steel (DNP), S Bublys (DNP).
30 October 2011
MK win the battle of the big cats
Leopards 65 (26,40,56) MK Lions 93 (25,45,68)
LEOPARDS gave full-time side MK Lions a Halloween fright before
going down by 28 points in their latest BBL Trophy game on Sunday.
The scoreline flattered the visitors who trailed 26-25 at the first
break before edging ahead to lead 45-40 at half-time.
Will Ohuaregbo bounced back from an ankle injury suffered the
previous days to lead the hosts with a 15 point, ten rebound
double-double, while Vernon Teel added 14 points and five assists
despite a tough shooting performance. Ousman Krubally and John
Lister each finished with 12 points, with the former adding eight
boards.
Howard Crawford and Demarius Bolds gave MK an early 5-0 lead, but a
5-0 run capped by a Lukas Volskis basket levelled things at 7-7.
A Krubally dunk gave Leopards their first lead of the game at 16-15
with 7:14 gone, and Lister sent them into the first break with a
single point lead as he sunk a trey.
Bolds hit a three to open the second period as MK took a lead they
would never lose, but a three-point play from Ohuaregbo kept
Leopards in touch and with Lister hitting five straight points to
close out the half, the Big Cats only trailed by five going into the
locker room.
An 8-0 run from the visitors put them firmly in charge at the start
of the second half before Volskis drained from downtown and the Big
Cats remained in touch in the third period, with Ohuaregbo cutting
the deficit to 68-56 at the final break.
The hosts noticeably before they ran out of steam in the fourth
period as Lions did a good job of closing down Lister and Krubally
and closed out the win which put them in the semi-final.
Leopards: W
Ohuaregbo 15, V Teel 14, O Krubally 12, J Lister 12, D Buchberger 5,
L Volskis 5, Z Wells 2, R Alexis, D Norton, J Johnson, M Adomantis,
J Lockkwood.
29 October 2011
Leopards into quarter-finals
Leopards 96 (23,48,78) Westminster Warriors 86 (18,36,59)
LEOPARDS continued their good form against EBL opposition as they
reached the National Cup quarter-final with a 96-86 victory against
Westminster Warriors on Saturday evening.
Vernon Teel led the way with a triple-double, finishing with 32
points 12 assists and ten rebounds as the Big Cats set up a trip to
Bradford Dragons in the last eight.
John Lister added 18 points, while new signing David Buchberger –
who joined the club from BBL champions Mersey Tigers on Thursday –
added 17 and five points on his debut.
Ousman Krubally had yet another double-double with 15 points and 13
rebounds for a Leopards side who lost centre Will Ohuaregbo after
just two minutes of action with an ankle injury.
The visitors started strongly as Laken Popoola and John Johnstone
gave them a 4-0 lead before Lukas Volskis opened the scoring for
Leopards.
A Zac Wells dunk put the Big Cats ahead with 7:11 on the clock, and
the hosts never trailed again as Buchberger’s trey sent them into
the first break 23-18 ahead.
Popoola again opened the scoring at the start of the second half,
and the home side were pegged back to 32-32 with four and a half
minutes gone. But a pair of David Buchberger free-throws launched a
16-4 run capped by John Lockwood’s dunk to send the home side into
the locker room with a 48-36 lead.
Teel extended that lead before Johnstone opened the second half
scoring for Westminster, and the visitors got as close as six points
when Y Bulambwe converted an and-one with 7:42 on the clock.
But a 19-2 run started by Tell and capped by Lister’s three-pointer
off Teel’s assist helped Leopards into a comfortable 78-59 lead at
the final break.
That lead was still at 19 points with three fourth period minutes
gone, but for the second week in succession the Big Cats relaxed,
and a 15-2 run from the visitors saw them make it a seven point game
heading into the final three minutes.
Teel broke the run with back-to-back baskets and Buchberger made it
a double digit lead again going into the last minute as Leopards
wrapped up their fifth successive quarter-final place from the foul
line.
Leopards: V Teel 32, J Lister 18, D Buchberger 17, O Krubally 15,
Z Wells 6, L Volskis 2, D Norton 2, J Lockwood 2, J Johnson 2, W
Ohuaregbo, R Alexis, M Adomantis.
23 October 2011
Leopards look to slay Dragons
LEOPARDS return to EBL action on Sunday afternoon when Bradford
Dragons are the visitor to the Brentwood Centre in the National
Trophy.
Both sides have already wrapped up a place in the quarter-final, but
a top two finish would ensure them a home game in the quarter-final.
Leopards sit third in the table with two wins from three games,
having won on the road at both Capital and Medway Park Crusaders but
losing an overtime thriller against Derby Trailblazers at Barking
Abbey. Meanwhile Bradford have split their first four games with
wins against Crusaders and Capital, but losses against Trailblazers
and Rockets.
The Yorkshire side have also progressed to the last 16 of the
National Cup with big wins against Burnley College Blaze and Sefton
Stars. They host Leeds Carnegie in the last 16, with Leopards and
Dragons scheduled to meet in the quarter-final if both are
successful last weekend.
It will be the first meeting between the two clubs, with Leopards
expecting a tough game against a side packed with American and
European players.
The Big Cats two American players will go into the game on a high
after becoming the first EBL players to be named in the BBL team of
the week. Vernon Teel poured in 67 points combined in the two losses
against Riders and Lions last weekend, and although he missed the
Lions’ game due to injury, Ousman Krubally’s 24 points and 17 boards
against Leicester were enough for him to join his team-mate on the
bench for the team. Only players who are on winning sides get named
in the starting five of the team, otherwise both could have
realistically looked at a starting place.
16 October 2011
Lions win battle of the cats
Milton Keynes Lions 113
(28,56,95) Leopards 72(14,38,60)
LEOPARDS found high-flying MK Lions too tough as their weekend
action in the BBL Trophy ended with a heavy defeat.
With Ousman Krubally missing due to an ankle injury, Leopards had no
answer against a side who had been without a game the previous day.
Vernon Teel completed a massive weekend against two of the country’s
top sides by pouring in 43 points, but tiredness clearly showed for
the Big Cats, with only Lister joining him in double figures with
11.
Daniel Northern opened the scoring for the Lions before Howard
Crawford had three scores in a row as the Lions leapt out of the
blocks. Teel was the only scorer for the Leopards in the early
stages with seven points in as many minutes, but the closing stages
of the period saw Lister add five points as Leopards went into the
first break trailing 28-14.
Teel hit an incredible 19 points in the second quarter as Leopars
had their best spell of the game, forcing two timeouts from the home
side before they went into the locker room with Lions winning 56-28.
A high-scoring third period saw Lions put the game beyond doubt as
they went into the final break 95-60 ahead and although the Big Cats
continued to fight until the end, the home side ran out comfortabl
winners.
Demarius Bolds led the hosts with 36, with Howard Crawford adding 19
and Lister’s former team-mate in Australia Adrien Sturt chipping in
with 15.
Lions’ coach Mike New had praise for the Leopards: ““I went to see
Leopards on Saturday night and I was really impressed against them.
They came out with a lot of energy and they are really well coached.
They have two super players in Teel and Krubally, but they found it
hard going when it got physical in the second half which is probably
why Krubally didn’t play against us.
“I wanted my guys to come out and set the tone with our speed,
athleticism and effort. We did that, and I was really pleased with
how we played.”
15 October 2011
Sulli praises Leopards
GREAT Britain captain Drew Sullivan had praise for Leopards after he
proved to the catalyst in Jelson Homes DU Leicester Riders’ 104-78
BBL Trophy victory against the Big Cats on Saturday evening.
The GB skipper hit five of six shots both inside and outside the
three point line on the way to a 30-point, eight rebound night but
was impressed by Dejan Mihevc’s team: “They’re a tough group of
kids. I don’t really know much about the EBL, but I’m sure they’re
one of the top teams. It was always going to be tough for them
playing against us, and I think they blew their gasket a bit in the
first quarter. They had to put a lot of work in during the first
period and I think it showed later in the game, but they played hard
and did well for themselves as far as I’m concerned.”
Leopards’ Americans Ousman Krubally and Vernon Teel each finished
with 24 points, with the former adding a massive 17 point.
Both players were victims of some harsh calls in the first period as
they each picked up three fouls, and it was while they sat on the
bench at the start of the second quarter that Riders took control,
going on a 21-1 run to blow open a tied game.
Leopards continue their travels with a BBL Trophy game at Prestige
Home MK Lions on Sunday evening.
9 October 2011
Leopards survive to progress in Cup
IT went down to the last shot,
but Leopards reached the last 16 of the National Cup with a
thrilling win against London Westside on Sunday evening.
The visiting side had a shot to win the game, but came up empty as
Leopards marked their debut at Shenfield School with a win.
Leopards were forced to leave Vernon Teel out of their line-up for
the game as the competition rules only allow one American against
lower division opposition, and they were made to fight all the way
by Westside.
Ousman Krubally finished with 27 points, John Lister adding 17
before fouling out and Josh Johnson 16 for a Leopards side who will
now host fellow Division One side Westminster Warriors at the
Brentwood Centre in the last 16 on Saturday October 29.
Playing on their third home court of the season, Dejan Mihevc’s side
controlled the first half with putting enough distance between them
and the Division Two team, and they led 36-28 going into the locker
room at half-time.
Krubally opened the scoring with a dunk, and Leopards led by as many
as nine in the first period as Lister hit a three off a Ryan Alexis
assist.
Johnson’s basket with nine seconds left in the period sent Leopards
into the first break with an 18-10 lead, and he made it a ten point
lead with the opening score of the second quarter
Ola Ogidan cut that advantage to five after two minutes of the
period, but a Krubally and-one made it a 14 point game before a
Volskis free-throw sent the Big Cats into the locker room with a
36-28 half-time lead.
But the hosts managed only two points in the first five and half
minutes of the second half, allowing Westside to grab their first
lead of the game with 4:02 on the clock through a Dian Ivanov trey.
The visitors’ lead grew to as many as eight after a Jon Haymon hook
shot, and despite a Krubally free-throw, the visitors went into the
final break with a 57-50 advantage.
Johnson opened the fourth period scoring, and Krubally made it a
three point game after a Lister steal before Johnson and Lister both
scored to put Leopards up by one.
The 12-1 run was capped by a Lister threes off Volskis’ assist as
the Big Cats looked to be back in charge with a 62-58 lead and 7:30
remaining.
But Lister fouled out with 6:36 on the clock and Westside refused to
quit and they held Leopards scoreless for three minutes, pouring in
13 points to lead by nine with just over four minutes remaining.
The game swung the other way as four Krubally points and five from
Josh Johnson saw the game level again, and a pair of Krubally
free-throws made it a one point game in Leopards’ favour heading
into the final 80 seconds.
Krubally hit another pair at the line as he was fouled for the 13th
time in the game to put Leopards up by three heading into the last
minute.
Lucian Calin brought his side within a point, but a poor offence saw
Johnson miss a shot with 17 seconds remaining – giving Westside the
ball and the chance to win the game with the final shot.
The visitors ran the clock down before Ben Clarke got the ball just
three feet from the basket and a seemingly wide open shot. He
somehow missed, leaving Krubally to grab his 23rd rebound of the
game and seal the win in dramatic fashion.
Leopards: O Krubally (29), J Lister (17), J Johnson (16), L
Volskis (8), M Henry (5), R Alexis (5), D Norton, J Lockwood, M
Adomaitis, J Davis (DNP), S Bublys (DNP), L Steel (DNP).
8 October 2011
Leopards reach Trophy quarter-final
LEOPARDS overcame a furious fight-back against Medway Park Crusaders
on Saturday to wrap up a place in the National Trophy
quarter-finals.
Vernon Teel put them 93-73 up with three minutes remaining to
seemingly seal the game, only for Sam Betts to sink a three and
start a 13-0 run to reduce Leopards’ lead to 93-86 with 90 seconds
remaining.
Teel, who finished with a game-high 40 points along with eight
rebounds, and Lukas Volskis stopped the rot as the Big Cats closed
out the win.
There is a still home court advantage to play for as Leopards will
look for a top two finish in the group, with home games against
Bradford Dragons and Reading Rockets to come.
Ousman Krubally finished with a 27 point, ten rebound double-double
in just under 29 minutes of action before fouling out, with John
Lister adding 20 points for the Big Cats.
17-year-old Barking Abbey prospect Joe Lockwood made his first start
for the Leopards as they looked to counter Crusaders’ size, and he
pulled down seven rebounds to go with his here points in an
encouraging 20 minute debut.
Joseph Schow opened the scoring for the home side, and although Teel
levelled with a jump shot, the Big Cats struggled in the first
quarter before a Lockwood free-throw cut the deficit to 19-16 at the
first break.
The hosts’ continued to control the game in the first five minuets
of the second period as a pair of Tom Raymen three-pointers saw
their lead grow to 35-29.
A Teel trey launched a 6-0 run to level the score heading into the
final three minutes of the half, only to see former Leopard Gareth
Laws put his side ahead with a jump shot. But Teel hit three points
to restored Leopards’ lead and they closed out the half with an 8-2
run to lead 46-42 going into the locker room.
A pair of Krubally baskets split by a Teel free-throw saw Leopards
open the second half brightly, and Lister made it a ten point game
when he sunk from downtown.
An Adrian Fenyn dunk cut the lead, but Leopards’ lead never dropped
below seven, and a Teel score four seconds from the end of the
period sent them into the final break with a 70-62 lead.
Marlan Henry opened the fourth quarter scoring for Leopards and it
was still a ten point game after four minutes of action before
Leopards launched what proved to be the key run.
Lister hit a long two off Josh Johnson’s assist and also scored a
three before Henry hit a trey Teel scored the back-to-back baskets
that put Leopards up by 20.
They noticeably took their foot off the gas, and with Krubally
leaving the game there were a nervous few minutes before Teel and
Volskis remained calm to seal the win.
1 October 2011
Americans' big night can't prevent loss
Leopards 91 (32,47,60,79)
Derby Trailblazers 97 (19,41,61,79)
AN awesome night from Leopards’ two American players couldn’t
prevent an overtime defeat in the National Trophy, on Sunday.
Debutant Vernon Teel and Ousman Krubally combined for 74 points and
30 rebounds as the Big Cats and Trailblazers went to overtime for a
third straight game.
Teel made light of jet lag to pour in 38 points, ten rebounds and
four assists, while Krubally finished with a massive 36 point, 20
rebound double-double, adding three assists and two steals in 34
minutes
But the two Americans received little support from the rest of the
team, with Lukas Volskis the next highest scorer with four points to
go with his six assists.
The Big Cats were 32-19 up at the first break, but let the lead
slip, and with Ousman Krubally and Zak Wells fouling out, the home
side were unable to cope with the inside presence of Mark Woodhouse
and another American debutant Troy Whittington.
Whittington finished with 28 points and 14 boards, with Woodhouse
adding 19 points and eight rebounds, but it was Rishi Kakad’s 31
points which led the way for Derby.
It took Teel just six seconds to open his Leopards’ account after
Wells had won the tip, and Leopards led throughout the first period
before closing out the quarter on a 16-3 run to go into the first
break 32-19 ahead.
Derby scored the first seven points of the second quarter, capped by
an and-one from Matthew Ward-Hibbert, before Teel broke the run.
Krubally made it a 12 point game with just under four minutes of the
half remaining, but Derby closed out the period with an 8-2 run to
cut Leopards’ advantage to 47-41 going into the half-time break.
Teel split a pair of free-throws to open the second half, but with
Volskis being the victim of a surprising intentional foul call,
Derby stayed in touch.
Dominic Norton provided the assist for a Krubally and-one to put
Leopards 54-50 ahead with 5:36 on the clock, but six unanswered
point capped by Woodhouse’s basket gave Derby their first lead of
the game with 4:24 on the clock.
Mantas Adomaitis converted Tee’s assist to restore Leopards’ lead
but Kakad sent the visitors into the fourth quarter with a 61-60
lead.
Krubally gave Leopards the lead off Marlan Henry’s assist with 7:24
in regulation time remaining, and a trey from Krubally put the hosts
up by four.
But they wasted a chance to extend that lead when Teel missed both
free-throws after a technical foul on Derby coach Jamie Maudsley,
and Henry missed a three-point attempt from the inbound.
Krubally picked up his fifth foul of the game – a strange offensive
call - with three minutes remaining, but a pair of Teel free-throws
with 65 seconds remaining saw Leopards open a 77-73 lead.
Woodhouse halved that advantage with a pair at the charity stripe
before Whittington levelled things by grabbing Rema Lascelles’
missed free-throw and converting with 13 seconds on the clock.
Teel fouled his compatriot in the process, and the American big man
sunk the free-throw to give his side the lead.
Volskis looked to have won the game when he drove to the basket with
5.3 seconds remaining, scoring and being fouled by Whittington.
But he missed the free-throw, and Norton was called for a foul on
Whittington to send the big man to the line with the chance to win
the game.
He hit the first but missed the second, and despite Teel appearing
to be clattered in the final second, the game went to an extra
period.
Teel opened the overtime scoring, and it was only a one point game
in Derby’s favour going into the final two minutes following a Kakad
jump shot, but Leopards’ lack of height was shown pup down the
stretch and Whittington took control to seal the win.
Leopards: V Teel (38), O Krubally (36), L Volskis (4), Z Wells
(3), M Henry (3), D Norton (3), R Alexis (2), M Adomaitis (2), J
Lister (1), S Bublys, J Johnson (DNP), J Cabey (DNP)
18 September 2011
Leopards extinguish fire
London Leopards 80 Brentwood Fire 62
LEOPARDS set themselves up for a home National Cup second round tie
with London Westside as neighbours Brentwood Fire were comfortably
beaten 80-62 on Sunday afternoon.
In front of a big crowd at the Brentwood Centre, Ousman Krubally hit
six points as Leopards scored the first eight of the game and never
looked back.
Krubally finished with 26 points in as many minutes, adding 18
rebounds for a huge double-double, while Sumskis added 16 points and
eight boards.
Ryan Alexis had 11 points, while Zac Wells had eight points and nine
boards, and Volskis added nine assists to his six points.
Former Leopards Chris Michaelides and Nick Wookey led the visitors
with 19 and 13 points respectively.
With Sumskis also getting on the scoresheet in the first two
minutes, it was clear that Leopards’ height was going to be an
advantage, and they went on to out-rebound the visitors 52-28.
Wookey got Fire off the mark, but the closest they came in the first
period was four points, and with Alexis hitting a trey and Krubally
capping six straight personal points with a dunk, Leopards went into
the first break 28-18 ahead.
Mantas Adomantis kept the Big Cats’ lead at nine with five second
period minutes gone before a Volskis trey launched a 15-2 run which
saw Leopards go into the locker room with a comfortable 52-30
half-time lead.
Michaelides opened the second half scoring with a single free-throw,
but two Krubally baskets – both off Volskis assists – helped
Leopards open a 27 point lead, and a 10-3 start to the third period
saw the home side lead 62-33 after five minutes of action.
Jheryl Cabey sent Leopards into the final break with a 66-41 lead,
but it was the visitors who scored the first nine points of the
fourth period forcing coach Dejan Mihevc to bring Krubally, Volskis
and Sumskis back into the game.
The move worked as Sumskis hit a pair of shots split by Alexis’
three-pointer, and both Krubally and Josh Johnson also drained from
the Land of Plenty as Leopards wrapped up the game with a 13-1 run
to 79-51 with four minutes remaining.
Leopards: O Krubally (26), V Sumskis (16), R Alexis (11), Z Wells
(8), L Volskis (6), J Johnson (6), J Cabey (4), M Admonantis (2), M
Henry (1), R Mentor, J Steel
17 September 2011
Leopards make winning start
PAWS London Capital 62 London Leopards 72
LEOPARDS coach Dejan Mihevc was a happy man after his side opened
the new season with a pair of wins over the weekend.
The Big Cats defeated Division One rivals London Capital 72-62 in
overtime on Saturday to open the National Trophy campaign before
progressing to the second round of the National Cup with a
comfortable 80-62 win against Brentwood Fire.
“Our team is basically new and very young, so it was really hard to
predict how our guys would react when the competitive games started”
said Mihevc after the win at Capital.
“It was a little nervous beginning, but we were playing better and
better every minute and got totally relaxed in overtime when we
started to play how we practice and in the end won the game.
“That is for us right now very important because we are still not at
the level we want to be in a couple of weeks. So wining games like
this will also give us more confidence and more motivation to work
even harder.
“I am really happy that we already made a progress from that game
and we started really strong and confident against Fire, playing
hard in defence and sharing the ball well in offence, specifically
in first half.
“I enjoy it when I see that players are working for one goal and it
doesn't matter if this is a first division or four division team.
“I am also very pleased that young Josh Steel, who is only 14, and
got his chance for today's game, showed that he can play with older
guys and that he really is an England prospect.“
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