In a riveting clash at the Copper Box Arena, the London Lions continued their undefeated streak by notching a resounding victory over the Surrey Scorchers, with a final score of 82-70.
London Lions starting five: Mo Soluade, Sam Dekker, Conor Morgan, Tarik Phillip, Ciaran Sandy.
Surrey Scorchers starting five: Abdul Mohamed, Cameron Gooden, Saiquan Jamison, Padiet Wang, Josh Steel.
First Half
It was a competitive start for both sides.
The reigning British Basketball League Champions played host to the Scorchers, who were coming off the back of their first win of the season.
The visitors made a forceful start, with Josh Steel nailing a pristine three-point shot from downtown, adding another shortly after.
Despite an injury concern, Surrey’s Padiet Wang displayed remarkable accuracy by sinking consecutive shots in the early minutes, unsettling the League leaders, whose undefeated status remained in jeopardy.
The London team remained composed under pressure, turning to their star player, Sam Dekker, for a crucial three-pointer.
Mo Soluade played a pivotal role by contributing five crucial points, putting the Lions back in the driver’s seat.
This set the stage for a captivating exchange of three-pointers, with London’s Donte Grantham overshadowing the Scorchers.
The first quarter concluded with a 25-20 lead for the capital city’s side.
Surrey, however, refused to back down.
Cameron Gooden delivered a spectacular second quarter, single-handedly amassing 10 points.
While Dekker endeavoured to match Gooden’s performance, it was the emerging talent of Bradley Kaboza that managed to break through the Scorchers’ impressive defence, earning several trips to the free-throw line.
In a captivating conclusion to the second quarter, Gooden’s deep three-pointer ensured that Surrey remained within striking distance, with the halftime score standing at 43-34 in favour of London.
Second Half
In the latter stages of the match-up, the Lions, uplifted by their 6-0 start, continued to assert their dominance on the hardwood.
However, an offensive blitz by Surrey, spearheaded by Justin Robinson’s solo jump shot and Abdul Mohamed’s saucy lay-up, caught the Lions off-guard.
London’s Kaboza and Surrey’s Quin Cooper showed off their respective deep-range shooting, converting a pair each.
Despite Surrey’s valiant efforts to keep pace, London maintained a commanding lead as the third quarter drew to a close, with a score of 61-49.
In the pivotal final period, Conor Morgan quietly took control, amassing nine major points and delivering an unwavering block.
Kaboza remained the youthful floor general for the Lions, securing crucial defensive rebounds and capitalising on the offensive end.
The Scorchers showed pure determination in narrowing the point deficit, with Gooden and Steel once again dazzling the crowd with their precision from beyond the arc.
Nevertheless, it was Morgan who clinched the triumph for the Lions, single-handedly notching all six of London’s final points in the contest, showcasing his clinical shooting abilities.
The final whistle blew, sealing a resounding 82-70 victory for the Lions in a compelling win that was no walk in the park.
Player of the Game
In a standout performance that electrified the court, Bradley Kaboza emerged as the undeniable Player of the Game. Coming off the bench, Kaboza made a substantial impact, contributing 15 crucial points to the team’s tally.
His remarkable offensive prowess was further complemented by his impressive versatility, as he hauled in seven crucial rebounds to provide the team with invaluable possession.
| Team | Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| London Lions | Bradley Kaboza | 15 | 7 | 2 |
| London Lions | Conor Morgan | 17 | 8 | 0 |
| Surrey Scorchers | Cameron Gooden | 15 | 4 | 3 |
| Surrey Scorchers | Quin Cooper | 12 | 1 | 0 |
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