Everton Tigers secured fifth place in the final British Basketball League standings after two victories at the weekend.
The team signed off in style as they convincingly beat Glasgow Rocks in the final home game at Greenbank before seeing off league newcomers Essex Pirates on Saturday.
Four wins out of four to complete regular league programme has set up a mouth-watering all North West affair away to Cheshire Jets next Sunday in the playoff quarter-final draw.
The Tigers started the game against Glasgow the stronger, leading 24-9 early in the first period. The Rocks trimmed the deficit to five points to end the first period at 28-23, before tying the game at half time at 49 points apiece.
But the home side kept up the pressure, with a 17-8 tear in the third period and a 15-2 run in the final quarter closing out the game comfortably. Trey Moore led all scorers in the game with an impressive 32 point haul for the Tigers, while the Rocks were led by Murray with 16 points.
On Saturday, the Tigers were in sparkling form, beating Essex Pirates in Southend by 22 points. Olu Babalola led the scoring with 21, while Kevin Bell continued his comeback with 19 points and Andy Thomson weighed in with 16.
The match was tight throughout the first half as Pirates led at the first quarter 29-28 before the Tigers narrowly went ahead at half time, 53-54. In second half, the Tigers opened up a 14 point gap, before the Pirates pegged them back to a six point lead. Everton’s experience told in the final quarter as they reached the century and a comfortable margin of victory to set up the playoff derby against the Jets.
Friday 16th April
Everton Tigers 97 (28,49,72) (Moore 32, Bell 23, Babalola 18)
Glasgow Rocks 78 (23,49,63) (Murray 17, Yanders 16, Parillon 16)
Saturday 17th April
Essex Pirates 86 (29,53,72) (Adu 22, George 20, Knight 11)
Everton Tigers 108 (28,54,78) (Babalola 21, Bell 19, Thomson 16)
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