Leopards and Flyers make final
13th December 2011
BA London Leopards and Bristol Academy Flyers will contest the Men's National Cup final in January after both teams won their respective semi-finals on Sunday evening.
Leopards' Vernon Teel put up an amazing individual performance to lead his team to a 96-84 win against Tees Valley Mohawks. Teel scored 21 of Leopards' 25 points in the final quarter to finish with 49 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists.
Mohawks had started quickly, pouring in 33 points in the opening quarter and 25 in the second, but they were held to just 26 points in the third and fourth quarters combined to allow Leopards the opportunity to take control.
Tees Valley shot the three ball particularly well, going 17 of 39 from distance, but scored just 4 points in the final 4 minutes of the contest as Leopards pulled away thanks to Teel's rebounding and free throw shooting.
Meanwhile in the South West, Bristol Flyers defeated Newham Netpunes 76-60 behind double-doubles from Tyrone Treasure, Doug McLaughlin-Williams and Enrique Garcia.
After a close first quarter, Flyers won each of the middle two quarters 23-15 to move out to an unassailable lead and make their third consecutive cup final.
A 14-0 run at the start of the second quarter proved crucial as Flyers went from 17-15 up to 31-15 in the space of four minutes. Neptunes battled back to be down 10 at half-time, but Flyers pushed the lead out to 20 in the third quarter and the game was over from there.
Treasure finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds, McLaughlin-Williams had 16 points and 13 boards and Garcia chipped in with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Newham were led by 15 points apiece from Anthony Okereafor and Jeffery Danchie.