Crano Sports

Covering British Basketball at every level – from Super League Basketball to BUCS university competition. Crano Sports delivers match reports, analysis and features on the game's rising stars and defining moments.

Tag: Caledonia Gladiators

  • SLB Weekend Roundup: Lions Respond, Cheshire Roll, Newcastle Edge Surrey

    SLB Weekend Roundup: Lions Respond, Cheshire Roll, Newcastle Edge Surrey

    It was another busy weekend across Super League Basketball, with tight finishes, statement wins and a bounce-back performance from the London Lions. Here’s a look at the standout results from the latest round of action.

    Newcastle Eagles 92–89 Surrey 89ers

    Newcastle kicked off the weekend with a narrow 92–89 win over Surrey, holding off a late push from the visitors in a fast, back-and-forth contest at the Vertu Motors Arena.

    Deion Hammond led the way with 20 points, while Gus Okafor added 17 and Ray’Sean Taylor contributed 10 points and 9 rebounds. Surrey were powered by Ronald Polite III’s 20 points and 9 assists and a strong all-around performance from Isiah Small, but came up short in the final possessions. Newcastle’s composure at the line proved decisive as they closed out a valuable home win.

    Cheshire Phoenix 111–84 Bristol Flyers

    Cheshire produced one of the performances of the season, overpowering Bristol 111–84 in a dominant display at Cheshire Oaks Arena.

    Damiri Lindo erupted for 28 points on near-perfect shooting, including six threes, while Patrick Robinson added 16 points and 9 assists. The Phoenix shot 54% from the field and moved the ball freely, overwhelming a Bristol side that struggled to match their tempo or defensive intensity. Joseph Anderson’s 17 points led the Flyers, but Cheshire were in control from the opening minutes and never looked back.

    London Lions 95–82 Newcastle Eagles

    London bounced back at the Copper Box Arena, improving to 9–1 with a confident 95–82 win over Newcastle on Sunday evening.

    Amin Adamu delivered his best performance of the season, scoring 20 points on elite efficiency and drilling 80% of his threes. Joel Scott added 16 points, and London used a dominant first half to build a cushion that carried them through a more uneven second.
    Newcastle cut the gap to seven behind Taylor and Hammond, but late offensive rebounds from Deane Williams and Johnathan Williams III helped the Lions regain control and close out the win.

    Head coach Tautvydas Sabonis praised the response following their midweek defeat, highlighting the team’s improved physicality and focus.

  • London Lions Hold Off Caledonia to Stay Perfect

    Kam McGusty advances the ball for London Lions against Caledonia Gladiators
    London Lions Media


    The London Lions maintained their unbeaten start to the Super League Basketball season with an 81–73 win over the Caledonia Gladiators at New City College. It was another victory to extend their perfect record, but not without warning signs — the Gladiators pushed them all the way until the final minute.

    The Lions came into the game off the back of their dominant EuroCup showing against Trento and looked determined to carry that form forward. They opened the first quarter with purpose, attacking the paint and knocking down early threes. Ethan Price made an instant impact with a thunderous alley-oop that set the tone for the night.

    By the end of the opening period, Deane Williams had punished the Caledonia defense with back-to-back threes to give London a 21–15 lead.

    The second quarter saw the visitors find rhythm through Kevin Allen, who was near unstoppable inside and finished the first half with 20 points. London’s composure, however, held. Joel Scott controlled the glass at both ends, and Amin Adamu’s buzzer-beater sent the Lions into halftime up 45–38.

    Caledonia came out swinging after the break, trimming the deficit to just four points early in the third. Their defensive pressure intensified, forcing London into tougher possessions. But the Lions’ depth once again proved decisive — Jonathan Williams hit key shots at crucial moments, and Joel Scott continued to be a physical presence under the rim as London clung to a 64–59 lead heading into the final quarter.

    The Gladiators refused to fade. A 7–0 run midway through the fourth brought the game back to 69–68 as Allen continued to dominate the paint. But London found an answer through their bench leaders. Scott drilled a three from the top of the key, Adamu connected with Deane Williams for a vital layup, and in the closing seconds, a ferocious Scott dunk and a huge defensive block from Williams sealed the win.

    After the game, Williams credited the team’s ability to stay composed under pressure:

    “It’s just part of our game plan, taking the shots we’re given and staying aggressive,” he said. “We just focus on getting one stop at a time — not thinking too far ahead, not looking back. That’s what we’ve been working on in practice.”

    Head coach Tautvydas Sabonis wasn’t fully satisfied despite the result:

    “A win’s a win, but we can be better,” he said. “We’re far from our potential. These games have to be taken seriously — every one of them is a chance to improve.”

    The Lions now move to 5–0 in Super League Basketball, remaining the only undefeated team in the competition. They travel to Germany next for EuroCup action against Niners Chemnitz, before heading north to face Caledonia again in the return fixture on Sunday.