1988–89 British Basketball League season

The 1988–1989 BBL season was the second season of the British Basketball League (known as the Carlsberg League for sponsorship reasons) since its establishment in 1987. The season featured a total of 11 teams, playing 20 games each. The league had suffered in the 1989 close season because Portsmouth was wound up followed by Calderdale Explorers and Birmingham Bullets both dropping out of the league. Bolton and Bury Giants became the Olympic City Giants and Kingston moved north of the border playing as Glasgow Rangers. The new season was supposed to feature 12 teams, however Oldham Celtics dropped out of the league and into the National League (Tier 2) after just one game, due to financial difficulties.

1988–89 British Basketball League season
LeagueBritish Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams11
Roll of Honour
BBL championsGlasgow Rangers
Play Off's championsGlasgow Rangers
National Cup championsBracknell Tigers
BBL Trophy championsBracknell Tigers

The season was dominated by the success of the league's two Scottish teams Glasgow Rangers and Livingston, who finished the regular season in first and second place respectively.[1] Glasgow's Kevin Cadle and Alan Cunningham were also named as the league's Coach and Player of the year, however the Scottish dominance was broken by Bracknell Tigers who were victorious in the League Trophy against Livingston in the Final.

Below the Carlsberg League in the National League Division 1, it came as no surprise that Oldham Celtics sealed the title bearing in mind that they had originally planned to play in the top tier.

Carlsberg League (Tier 1)

Final standings

PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Glasgow Rangers 201820.90036
2Livingston 201640.80032
3Bracknell Tigers 201550.75030
4Leicester City Riders 201460.70028
5Manchester Eagles 201370.65026
6Sunderland 76ers 201280.60024
7Hemel Royals 209110.45018
8Olympic City Giants 204160.2008
9Solent Stars 204160.2008
10Derby Rams 203170.1506
11Crystal Palace 202180.1004
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs

Play-offs

Quarter-finals

(1) Glasgow Rangers vs. (8) Olympic City Giants

Olympic City Giants 96117 Glasgow Rangers
Glasgow Rangers 12595 Olympic City Giants
Glasgow win series, 2–0

(2) Livingston vs. (7) Hemel Royals

Hemel Royals 7892 Livingston
Livingston 108105 Hemel Royals
Livingston win series, 2–0

(3) Sunderland 76ers vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers

Sunderland 76ers 8696 Bracknell Tigers
Bracknell Tigers 11096 Sunderland 76ers
Bracknell win series, 2–0

(4) Leicester City Riders vs. (5) Manchester Eagles

Manchester Eagles 8389 Leicester City Riders
Leicester City Riders 8074 Manchester Eagles
Leicester win series, 2–0

Semi-finals

15 April 1989
Glasgow Rangers 8767 Leicester City Riders
15 April 1989
Livingston 7263 Bracknell Tigers

Third place

16 April 1989
Bracknell Tigers 10689 Leicester City Riders

Final

16 April 1989[2]
Glasgow Rangers 8986 MIM Livingston
Pts: Butch Hayes 27, Joel Moore 22, Alan Cunningham 19, Jim Morrisson 13, Tony McDaid, Danny Davis, Alan Riddle, John Duncan, Terry Mangham, Martin Clark Pts: Vic Fleming 30, Ralton Way 19, Iain McLean 15, Tommy Collier 10, Lewis Young, Graeme Hill, Steve Hoffman, Alan Ryan, Derek Frame, Jason Fogarty
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Attendance: ?
Glasgow coach – Kevin Cadle
Livingston coach – Ian Gordon

National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Birmingham Bullets, Brixton TopCats, Cheshire Jets, Corby Flyers, Gateshead Vikings, Oldham Celtics, Oxford Park, Plymouth Raiders, Stockport Giants, Tower Hamlets, Worthing Bears

Coca-Cola National Cup

Second Round

Team 1 Team 2 Score
Cheshire JetsBirmingham Bullets67-91
Plymouth RaidersBracknell Tigers73-117
Derby RamsWalsall106-66
Oxford Parkbye
Olympic City GiantsLeicester City Riders
Crystal PalaceStevenage98-69
Hemel Hempstead Watford RoyalsWorthing Bears113-100
Oldham CelticsManchester Eagles89-100

Quarter Finals

Team 1 Team 2 Score
Birmingham BulletsOlympic City Giants77-80
Bracknell TigersCrystal Palace103-75
Derby RamsHemel Hempstead Watford Royals37-43 +
Manchester EaglesOxford Park123-59

+ Derby expelled after match was abandoned following a scuffle

Semi Finals

venue & date Team 1 Team 2 Score
London Arena, Mar 17Bracknell TigersOlympic City Giants80-75
London Arena, Mar 17Hemel Hempstead Watford RoyalsManchester Eagles77-79

Final

18 March 1989[3]
Bracknell Pirates 8775 Manchester Eagles
Pts: Brian Kellybrew (MVP) 24, Peter Scantlebury 11, Mike Hayles 10, Paul James 10, Dale Roberts Pts: Dave Gardner 21, Colin Irish 12, Lang 10
London Arena
Attendance: ?
Bracknell Coach Jim Guymon
Manchester Coach Jeff Jones

NatWest Trophy

Group stage

North Group

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Glasgow Rangers 20101001.000
2. Livingston 1610820.800
3. Manchester Eagles 1010550.500
4. Olympic City Giants 1010550.500
5. Sunderland 76ers 410280.200
6. Oldham Celtics 0100100.000

South Group

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Bracknell Tigers 1810910.900
2. Leicester City Riders 1410730.700
3. Solent Stars 1210640.600
4. Derby Rams 610370.300
5. Hemel Royals 610370.300
6. Crystal Palace 410280.200

Despite dropping out of the Carlsberg League and into the National League after just one game of the season, Oldham Celtics continued their schedule in the League Trophy.

Quarter-finals

Glasgow Rangers vs. Olympic City Giants

Olympic City Giants 84111 Glasgow Rangers
Glasgow Rangers 10770 Olympic City Giants
Glasgow win on aggregate, 218–154

Livingston vs. Manchester Eagles

Manchester Eagles 7472 Livingston
Livingston win on aggregate, 149–132

Bracknell Tigers vs. Derby Rams

Derby Rams 68107 Bracknell Tigers
Bracknell Tigers 11473 Derby Rams
Bracknell win on aggregate, 221–141

Leicester City Riders vs. Solent Stars

Solent Stars 7986 Leicester City Riders
Leicester City Riders 10883 Solent Stars
Leicester win on aggregate, 194–162

Semi-finals

Glasgow Rangers vs. Livingston

Livingston 9288 Glasgow Rangers
Glasgow Rangers 6362 Livingston
Livingston win on aggregate, 154–151

Bracknell Tigers vs. Leicester City Riders

Bracknell Tigers 9082 Leicester City Riders
Leicester City Riders 6777 Bracknell Tigers
Bracknell win on aggregate, 167–149

Final

25 February 1989[4]
Bracknell Tigers 8981 Livingston
Pts: Trevor Gordon 20, Dale Roberts 15, Peter Scantlebury 11, Brian Kellybrew 11 Pts: Tommy Collier 18, Iain McLean 16, Vic Fleming 16, Ralton Way 13
Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham
Attendance: ?
Bracknell coach – Brian Kellybrew
Livingston coach – Ian Gordon

Seasonal awards

References

Preceded by
1987–88 season
BBL seasons
1988–89
Succeeded by
1989–90 season
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