BBL Cup semi-finals

Sheffield 90 (Reinking/Coleman 20)
London 81 (Sneed 22, Youngblood 18, Brown 13)

Westfield Sharks Sheffield controlled the boards and capitalised on London Towers inability to keep them at bay to move into the BBL Cup Final at the NIA, Birmingham in January, grabbing a 90-81 victory in the semi at Crystal Palace. 

Peter Scantlebury's side out-rebounded their hosts 46-21 and their extra chances made the difference, Nate Reinking and HL Coleman bagging 20 points piece as their side edged ahead on the first quarter before keeping the Towers at bay.

Sheffield ground out 21-16 lead at the end of the first period but Robbie Peers' men closed up to within three at half-time.

However the Sharks pulled 66-59 clear entering the final quarter and with Kitts and Robert Youngblood fouling out, the capital outfit crashed out despite a game-best 22 from Omar Sneed. 
 

Thames Valley 104 (James 34)
Scottish Rocks 105 OT (Arinze 36)

Scottish Rocks will take on Sheffield Sharks in the BBL Cup final on January 11 but the Braehead outfit had to battle to the last second last night before out-lasting Thames Valley Tigers 105-104 in a thrilling overtime contest at Crystal Palace.

The Scots had started in confident style, eventual hero Niki Arinze punishing the Tigers inside to help his team into a 22-10 lead within six minutes. Confident after a run of six straight victories, Steve Swanson’s side maintained their upbeat style, hitting their rivals on the break at every opportunity as a further seven points without reply early in the second period sent them 13 clear, the biggest cushion of the entire game.

Thames Valley, the league’s most consistent knock-out specialists in recent years, struggled to find a constant threat with only reserve Josiah James providing any genuine scoring menace. Coming off the bench to score 20 of his eventual 34 points in the first half, it was his efforts which ensured the Bracknell side trailed only 55-44 at half-time and still within touching distance.

Basketball is a game of runs, however, and it was inevitable that the Tigers would find their range at some point. With Rocks guard Terrance McGee sidelined by foul trouble, an 8-2 flurry for Paul James’ men midway through the third stanza trimmed the deficit and eleven further points without reply put them ahead for the first time.

Inspired by Quinton Bailey, they increased the pressure in the fourth quarter and although the Scots hit back, veteran Tony Holley looked to have secured a once unlikely win when he put the Tigers 93-90 up with 22 seconds left in regulation. However, Jerry Williams stole possession and fed Scotland international Roni Gordon who, with no other option, dramatically drained a three pointer to send the match into an extra period.

Having survived against the odds, the Rocks continued to struggle as Bailey edged his team in front and it was James’s foul shot which put Thames Valley 104-102 in front as the clock ticked down. However Arinze earned the plaudits, the last of his 36 points coming from the free throw line with 14 seconds left proving ultimately decisive as Holley's last gasp effort fell short.