Top of the table: London Lions (8–0). Biggest climber: Bristol Flyers and Liverpool Basketball, up 2 places. Full table: https://www.thisisbasketball.eu/leagues/super-league-basketball?tab=standings
Blondeau Tchoukuiegno steered Newcastle Eagles to a hard-fought road win, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists in 36 minutes as they beat Caledonia Gladiators 99–92. The forward's all-round contribution proved decisive on a night when efficiency mattered. Tchoukuiegno shot 5 of 13 from the floor and made 5 of 6 free throws, converting his opportunities at the line whilst his rebounding work — 11 boards in a seven-point away win — kept Newcastle competitive on the glass and in transition. It was a contested, methodical contest rather than a runaway. Tchoukuiegno's ball-handling (6 assists) and ability to find space in the mid-range proved enough to nudge Newcastle over the line when the shot-making wasn't flowing freely. He did turn the ball over once in his 36 minutes, but limited fouls to two. Newcastle's next assignment comes against London Lions in the Super League — another test of their road credentials this term.
🏀 Final: Caledonia Gladiators 92–99 Newcastle Eagles. Top scorers: Caledonia Gladiators: Zac Gattorna & Al-Amir Dawes 22 PTS · Newcastle Eagles: Cole Long & Mitch Clarke 20 PTS.
Keon Thompson finished with 21 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists as Manchester Basketball's leading scorer, but it was not enough to prevent a 64–73 defeat at home to Liverpool Basketball in Super League Basketball. Thompson's efficiency — 9 of 16 from the field, including a perfect 2 for 2 at the free-throw line — kept Manchester in contention throughout, yet Liverpool's nine-point margin of victory reflected a familiar problem for the hosts: a supporting cast that could not quite sustain what Thompson delivered. His two steals and a three-pointer made offered glimpses of the kind of all-round contribution Manchester needed, but turnovers and foul trouble (3 TO, 2 PF in 34 minutes) illustrated the strain of carrying the offensive load in a losing effort. For Manchester, Thompson's night was a reminder of how individual performance and team result can diverge sharply in the regular season grind.
Liverpool held firm in a hard-fought contest to edge Manchester Basketball 73–64, snapping a two-game winning run for the hosts and moving to 3–4 in the Super League season. The game turned in the second quarter, where Liverpool ripped off an 11-0 run midway through to wrestle control. That momentum carried into the third, where they opened up a commanding 15-point lead at 39–54 with just under six minutes left in the period. Manchester clawed back in the fourth—winning that quarter 17–14—but couldn't bridge the gap. Five lead changes and three ties kept it competitive early, but Liverpool's poise down the stretch proved decisive. Keon Thompson led Manchester with 21 points on efficient shooting (9/16 FG, 1/1 3P, 2/2 FT), while Luke Nelson added 11 off the bench. The hosts' issue was breadth: only three players broke double figures. Liverpool spread the load. Brandon Tchouya finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds (7/13 FG, 4/9 3P), Patrick Robinson contributed 17 (5/11 FG, 6/10 FT), and Olutomiwa Sulaiman chipped in 13 with a game-high 6 boards. That balance proved the difference as Liverpool improved to 3–4. Manchester, now 4–4, travel to Cheshire Phoenix on Friday. Liverpool host Caledonia Gladiators on Sunday.
Patrick Robinson scored 31 points on near-perfect shooting as Liverpool Basketball fell short at home against Cheshire Phoenix, 108–117. The guard finished 12 of 15 from the field and 5 of 6 from three-point range in 27 minutes, a clinical performance that underlined what Liverpool can do offensively even in defeat. For all his efficiency — 2 of 4 from free throw — Robinson's brilliance could not mask the wider issue: a nine-point loss. He added four assists and two rebounds, though four turnovers suggested some pressure in the closing stages. The gap between individual excellence and collective result is sometimes the hardest lesson in basketball. Liverpool travel next having to find a way to convert that level of shooting threat into victories when it matters most.
Tavis Smith's 19 points steered Newcastle Eagles to a commanding 101–80 win over Leicester Riders, a 21-point margin that left little doubt about the gulf between the sides on the night. Smith's game extended beyond scoring. He finished with 4 assists and 5 steals across 27 minutes, his defensive work a particular bright spot in Newcastle's dominant showing away from home. His shooting was selective rather than prolific—8 of 15 from the field, though the three-ball eluded him (1 of 8)—but efficiency, not volume, defined the display. He turned the ball over three times against just one personal foul, a clean operation in the Eagles' control. Newcastle's 21-point cushion speaks to a performance that rarely wavered. For Leicester, the search for answers resumes; for Newcastle, the statement has been made.
Davion Bailey kept Bristol Flyers in it until the final buzzer. The guard posted 29 points from 11-of-20 shooting, including 5 three-pointers, while adding 5 assists and 2 steals across 34 minutes — yet Manchester Basketball escaped with a 78–74 win on the road at home. Bailey's efficiency from deep (5 of 10) steadied the hosts through stretches of uneven offensive rhythm, and his creation kept the ball moving when Bristol needed it most. Two free throws on a perfect record underlined clinical execution in the moments that mattered. Five turnovers and the missed opportunities elsewhere in the rotation, however, proved the difference in a margin that could have tilted either way. For Flyers, the loss stings as a chance gone. Bailey did everything a lead scorer could; the rest had to follow through. Manchester's away performance earned it, and Bristol will need to convert these half-chances into wins as the season deepens.
Devante Jones orchestrated London Lions' nine-point win over B. Braun Sheffield Sharks with a masterclass in ball distribution and perimeter defence. The point guard finished with 12 points, 8 assists and 4 steals across 24 minutes—a efficiency profile that reflected his control of the tempo rather than volume scoring. Jones's shooting night was modest: 2 of 5 from the field, 0 of 1 from deep. But he converted all eight free throws and, crucially, turned the ball over just three times. Those four steals proved the more telling metric, disrupting Sheffield's offensive rhythm when the Sharks mounted second-half pressure on a 76–85 deficit. The Lions held court at home to close out a nine-point victory. Next up: Sheffield will be keen to avenge the road result when the sides reconvene.
🏀 Final: Liverpool Basketball 108–117 Cheshire Phoenix. Top scorers: Liverpool Basketball: Patrick Robinson 31 PTS · Cheshire Phoenix: Jaylen Searles 19 PTS.
Newcastle Eagles cruised to a commanding 21-point victory, their second straight win keeping them firmly in contention at 5–3 in the Super League. Leicester Riders, winless through seven games, offered early resistance—the sides traded leads and remained tied four times in the opening half—but the Eagles' depth and discipline proved the decisive difference. Newcastle won the first quarter 26–17 and extended their lead to 10 by half-time (48–38). A third-quarter performance that yielded 23 points to Leicester's 20 stretched the margin to 13 entering the final period. From there, the Eagles simply pulled away. Leicester managed a 9–0 run midway through the fourth that cut it to 63–71, but Newcastle's responses came with authority; the Eagles' lead ballooned to 22 with under a minute left (99–77). Tavis Smith led Newcastle's charge with 19 points on efficient 8/15 shooting, adding 5 steals and 4 assists. Trevond Barnes was near-perfect from the field (7/8), finishing with 16 points, whilst Josh Ward Hibbert contributed 15 on 3/6 three-point shooting. For Leicester, Bernard Pelote posted 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Jaylon White added 13 with 7 assists, but the output proved insufficient against Newcastle's balanced attack. Leicester travel to London Lions on Friday 6 November. Newcastle head to Caledonia Gladiators on Sunday 1 November.
Manchester Basketball held off a late Bristol Flyers rally to win 78–74, a four-point margin that barely captured how close this one remained. Ten lead changes and eleven ties told the story of a game where neither side pulled away until the final stretch. The opening quarter set the tone — back and forth from the start, with Manchester Basketball edging it 24–23. Bristol Flyers levelled at half-time 35–35 after winning the second quarter 12–11. Manchester Basketball then seized control through the third, building a ten-point run mid-quarter (from 38–35 to 38–45) that helped them take that period 24–18 and open up a six-point lead at 59–53. But Bristol Flyers clawed back in the fourth, outscoring Manchester Basketball 21–19 to bring the margin down to one possession. At 67–56 with 1:55 left, Manchester Basketball's lead reached eleven—their largest of the night—yet Bristol Flyers kept fighting until the final buzzer. Davion Bailey carried Bristol Flyers' offence with 29 points on efficient 11/20 shooting, including 5 threes, to add 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Kasen Jennings chipped in 12 points. Luke Nelson orchestrated Manchester Basketball's win with a double-double of 19 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds, while Keon Thompson finished 17 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. The result moves Manchester Basketball to 4–3 in the Super League regular season. Bristol Flyers drop to 4–4. Manchester host Liverpool on Sunday; Bristol travel to Newcastle on Friday.
London Lions extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a hard-fought 85–76 victory over B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, holding firm despite a roaring comeback attempt in the final quarter. The Sharks dominated the opening period, establishing a 16-point lead by quarter's end (31–15), but London's response was swift and decisive. A 16-point swing in the second quarter saw the Lions claw level by half-time at 45–45. The third quarter proved a stalemate, both sides deadlocked again at 60–60 entering the final frame. The deciding run came midway through the fourth, when London strung together a 13-0 burst to forge a 65–60 advantage. Though Sheffield rallied, they could not find the finishing punch; the Lions pulled clear to a 13-point cushion with under a minute left before closing out the win. Maxwell Lewis III led London's scoring with 20 points on 7/10 shooting and 4/6 from three, while Devante Jones orchestrated the offence with 8 assists and 8 made free throws. For Sheffield, Lu'cye Patterson's 19 points and Adrian Delph's 15 could not quite tip the balance. The loss extends Sheffield's losing streak to three consecutive defeats. London Lions remain undefeated at 8–0 and host Leicester Riders on Friday 6 November. B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, now 2–3, face Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday 8 November.
With each team 4–7 games into the season, the top 5: 1. Lu'cye Patterson (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, 2-2) — 41.9 TIB EFF 2. Jalen Graham (Surrey 89ers, 2-3) — 40.8 TIB EFF 3. Nazir Williams (Cheshire Phoenix, 2-4) — 37.5 TIB EFF 4. Blondeau Tchoukuiegno (Newcastle Eagles, 4-3) — 34.0 TIB EFF 5. Daniel Gherezgher (B. Braun Sheffield Sharks, 2-2) — 31.0 TIB EFF For full transparency, this is our TIB Efficiency Rating — the same idea as the standard FIBA/NBA efficiency, with our own weightings and a competition-strength adjustment: ✅ Positive: (2×PTS)+(2×REB)+(3.5×AST)+(4×STL)+(5×BLK)+(3×2FGM)+(4×3FGM)+(2×FTM)+(5×WIN) ❎ Negative: (4×TO)+(3×PF)+(3×(2FGA−2FGM))+(2×(3FGA−3FGM))+(4×(FTA−FTM))+(5×LOSS) 👉 TIB EFF = (Positive − Negative) ÷ Games Played
Caleb McGill's 16 points from 6-of-8 shooting carried Surrey 89ers to a 107–91 victory away at Cheshire Phoenix, with the guard's 4-of-5 night from three defining a composed attacking display. McGill moved without turning the ball over across 31 minutes — a clean sheet in the turnover column alongside two steals — and his efficiency from distance proved the difference as Surrey dominated the second half. The margin of 16 points flattered neither side's defensive shape so much as it reflected Surrey's superior accuracy and ball movement. McGill's willingness to attack pull-up threes rather than freelance in transition kept Cheshire's defence honest, a discipline that opened space elsewhere on the floor. Surrey host their next fixture in the regular season; Cheshire will be keen to avoid a second consecutive heavy loss.
Surrey 89ers never trailed in a comfortable 16-point win over Cheshire Phoenix, extending their Super League credentials with a wire-to-wire display that underlined their defensive control late on. The visitors led 32–22 after the first quarter, but Cheshire responded decisively in the second, rattling off a 12-0 run midway through the period to level at 32–32. That momentum proved temporary. Surrey steadied, and by half-time the scoreboard read 58–57 in their favour—a single-point margin that masked Surrey's control of the tempo. The third quarter went much the same way: Surrey won it 20–17 to open a four-point cushion at 78–74, then put the match beyond doubt with a 12-point fourth quarter to seal it 107–91. Addison Patterson led Surrey's effort with 20 points on 5/10 from the floor and a perfect 6/6 from free throw, while Jalen Graham added 17 on efficient 7/11 shooting. For Cheshire, Jaylen Searles managed 15 points and four assists, but it was not enough to overcome the gap Surrey had built. The result lifts Surrey to 2–3 in the regular season, while Cheshire drop to 2–4. Cheshire visit Liverpool Basketball on Friday 30 October as they look to arrest a run of defeats.
James Okonkwo's perfect shooting night proved the difference as Liverpool Basketball edged Newcastle Eagles 77–74 at home, a three-point margin that hinged on the centre's clinical efficiency down the stretch. Okonkwo finished with 10 points from four attempts, a 100 per cent clip from the field, to go with eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks across 28 minutes. He managed all that while committing zero turnovers — a quiet dominance in the paint that asked little noise but delivered when the margin compressed. Two made free throws in crunch moments underlined his composure when the game tightened. Liverpool Basketball held their ground in what became a low-scoring contest against Newcastle, one where field-goal efficiency mattered more than volume. Okonkwo's presence — both as a scorer who didn't force it and as a rim protector — gave the hosts the margin they needed. Newcastle made them work for it, but neither team could break clear in what shaped up as a grinding affair.
Liverpool Basketball scraped past Newcastle Eagles 77–74 in a Super League contest that swung decisively in the final quarter, ending the visitors' two-game winning streak. Newcastle controlled the opening half. A 10-0 run in the first quarter gave them early momentum, and by late in the second they led by as many as 14 points at 25–39. Half-time arrived with the Eagles up 30–42, Liverpool trailing by 12. The third quarter proved the turning point: Liverpool outscored Newcastle 22–17 to cut the deficit to seven heading into the fourth. That's where Liverpool closed it out, winning the final quarter 25–15 and prevailing by three in what remained a one-possession game inside the final two minutes. Patrick Robinson led Liverpool with 21 points on 7/15 shooting, adding three steals, while Tevin Olison contributed 18 on 8/16 and Tevin Smith posted 13 points and four assists. For Newcastle, Trevond Barnes was the steadier scorer—21 points on sharp 7/10 shooting and 4/6 from three—but Tavis Smith's 19 came on a difficult 7/21 night, and their bench output couldn't sustain the first-half control. Liverpool move to 2–3 in the league; Newcastle slip to 4–3. Liverpool host Cheshire Phoenix on Friday 30 October.
Davion Bailey carried Bristol Flyers' attack in defeat at London Lions, posting 30 points across 32 minutes to lead the road loss. The guard was efficient from the free-throw line — 9 of 9 — but the overall shooting proved costly: 8 of 21 from the field and 5 of 15 from three left the Flyers just short in a 76–82 finish. Bailey's evening was defined by volume and self-creation. Three assists and five turnovers reflect a player shouldering heavy offensive responsibility, and while his 30 points kept Bristol competitive on the road, it proved insufficient to overtake a Lions side that managed to edge clear in the final stretch. The Flyers' 1 rebound total as a team speaks to a larger problem — control of the glass — that neutralised what was otherwise a spirited offensive showing. For Bristol, the question now shifts to whether the shot-making steadies on the road, and whether the rebounding imbalance can be corrected before the next fixture.
🏀 Final: London Lions 82–76 Bristol Flyers. Top scorers: London Lions: Deane Williams 17 PTS · Bristol Flyers: Davion Bailey 30 PTS.
