1995–96 British Basketball League season

1995–96 British Basketball League season
League British Basketball League
Sport Basketball
Roll of Honour
BBL champions London Towers
Playoffs champions Birmingham Bullets
National Cup champions London Towers
BBL Trophy champions London Towers

The 1995–1996 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league featured a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. The division retained the same thirteen teams as the previous year after the BBL rejected an application from Crystal Palace who had sealed the National League Division One (the second tier) title. The main change saw the Sunderland Scorpions renamed the Newcastle Comets due to a change of franchise and venue, their new home would be in Gateshead until the newly built Newcastle Arena opened on 18 November. The Manchester Eagles also had a new home at the Nynex Arena and the sport was boosted by the return of TV coverage by Sky Sports.[1]

London Towers clinched a treble, winning the National Cup, 7 Up Trophy and finishing top of the regular season standings. They were defeated in the Championship Play-off final by Birmingham Bullets.[2]

Budweiser League Championship (Tier 1)

Final standings

TeamPtsPldWLPercentage
1. London Towers 64363240.889
2. Sheffield Sharks 60363060.833
3. Birmingham Bullets 523626100.722
4. Leopards 463623130.638
5. Manchester Giants 423621150.583
6. Derby Storm 423621150.583
7. Worthing Bears 383619170.527
8. Thames Valley Tigers 323616200.444
9. Newcastle Comets 223611250.305
10. Leicester City Riders 223611250.305
11. Doncaster Panthers 203610260.277
12. Chester Jets 16368280.222
13. Hemel Royals 12366300.166
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs

The Play-offs

Quarter-finals

(1) London Towers vs. (8) Thames Valley Tigers

London Towers 94–81 Thames Valley Tigers
London win series, 2–0

(2) Sheffield Sharks vs. (7) Worthing Bears

Sheffield Sharks 79–60 Worthing Bears
Sheffield win series, 2–0

(3) Birmingham Bullets vs. (6) Derby Storm

Birmingham Bullets 96–88 Derby Storm
Birmingham win series, 2–0

(4) Leopards vs. (5) Manchester Giants

Manchester Giants 72–76 (OT) Leopards
Leopards 73–75 Manchester Giants
Manchester win series, 2–1

Semi-finals

Final

05 March 1995[3]
Birmingham Bullets 78–72 London Towers
Pts: Nigel Lloyd 23, Tony Dorsey 22, Emiko Etete, Trevor Gordon, Stedroy Baker Pts: Tony Windless 19, Steve Bucknall, Martin Atlan
Wembley Arena, London
Attendance: ?
Birmingham Coach Nick Nurse
London Coach Kevin Cadle

National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Final standings

TeamPtsPldWLPercentage
1. Crystal Palace 44222201.000
2. Coventry Crusaders 38221930.864
3. Ware Rebels * 33221750.773
4. Cardiff Phoenix 28221480.636
5. Bury Wildcats 262210120.455
6. Stockton Mohawks 202210120.455
7. Brixton TopCats 18229130.409
8. Mid-Sussex Magic 18229130.409
9. Nottingham Knights 14227150.318
10. Plymouth Raiders 14227150.318
11. Oldham Celtics 10225170.227
12. Solent Stars 6223190.136
= League winners

One point deducted *

Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup

Fourth Round

Team 1 Team 2 Score
Derby BucksLondon Towers65-82
Hemel Hempstead RoyalsCoventry Crusaders101-73
Sheffield SharksChester Jets71-40
Worthing BearsLeopards82-87
Newcastle CometsManchester Eagles107-121
Ware RebelsThames Valley Tigers71-103
Crystal PalaceDoncaster Panthers82-81
Birmingham BulletsLeicester Riders94-72

Quarter Finals

Team 1 Team 2 Score
Thames Valley TigersLondon Towers
Crystal PalaceLeopards80-75
Sheffield SharksManchester Eagles
Hemel RoyalsBirmingham Bullets72-84

Semi Finals

Team 1 Team 2 1st Leg 2nd Leg
Crystal PalaceSheffield Sharks63-7068-74
Birmingham BulletsLondon Towers79-7777-99

Final

03 March 1996[4]
London Towers 70–58 Sheffield Sharks
Pts: Martin Henlan (MVP), Neville Austin, Roger Dulhaney, Tony Windless, Danny Lewis, Steve Bucknall Pts: Roger Huggins, Todd Cauthorn
Sheffield Arena
Attendance: ?
London Coach Kevin Cadle
Sheffield Coach Jim Brandon

7 Up Trophy

Group stage

Northern Group

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Derby Storm 84401.000
2.Chester Jets 44220.500
3.Doncaster Panthers 44220.500
4.Leicester City Riders 24130.250
5.Newcastle Comets 24130.250

Southern Group

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Worthing Bears 63301.000
2.Birmingham Bullets 43210.667
3.Leopards 23120.333
4.Hemel Royals 03030.000

Chester finished ahead of Doncaster by having the best head-to-head record between the teams. London, Manchester, Sheffield and Thames Valley all received a bye into Quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

Chester Jets vs. Birmingham Bullets

Birmingham Bullets 92–89 Chester Jets
Birmingham win on aggregate, 200–178

Manchester Giants vs. Sheffield Sharks

Sheffield Sharks 77–66 Manchester Giants
Sheffield win on aggregate, 158–144

Thames Valley Tigers vs. London Towers

London Towers 85–66 Thames Valley Tigers
London win on aggregate, 174–148

Worthing Bears vs. Derby Storm

Derby Storm 93–99 Worthing Bears
Worthing win on aggregate, 185–181

Semi-finals

London Towers vs. Birmingham Bullets

Birmingham Bullets 75–92 London Towers
London win on aggregate, 156–137

Worthing Bears vs. Sheffield Sharks

Sheffield Sharks 69–72 Worthing Bears
Worthing win on aggregate, 158–156

Final

13 January 1996[5]
London Towers 90–84 Worthing Bears
Pts: Tony Windless (MVP), Steve Bucknall, Danny Lewis, Martin Henlan, Roger Duhaney Pts: Colin Irish
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Attendance: ?
London Coach Kevin Cadle
Worthing Coach Colin Irish

Seasonal awards

References

  1. ↑ "Nicholas Harling. "Basketball shooting high as TV returns." Times [London, England] 9 Sept. 1995". The Times Digital Archive.
  2. ↑ BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 11
  3. ↑ "Nicholas Harling. "Bullets triggered by Dorsey's power." Times [London, England] 6 May 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
  4. ↑ "Nicholas Harling. "Towers stay on track for a clean sweep." Times [London, England] 4 Mar. 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
  5. ↑ ""Towers leave it late to rise to the challenge." Times [London, England] 15 Jan. 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
Preceded by
1994–95 season		 BBL seasons
1995–96		 Succeeded by
1996–97 season
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