A great deal of history has been built up in recent memory between Caledonia Gladiators and Cheshire Phoenix as they prepare to face off in back-to-back British Basketball League games this weekend.
The two will also meet in Ellesmere Port on Sunday.
Friday’s encounter at PlaySport will be the Phoenix’s first trip to the new venue, with 2023 being a mixed bag of emotions for them.
Back in March, in the now iconic British Basketball League Trophy Final, Caledonia claimed the title in dramatic circumstances 73-70.
With the game tied at 70-70 with seconds left, David Sloan got open in the corner and etched his name into British basketball folklore with a three-pointer on the buzzer to secure a first title in two decades for Caledonia, amidst a sea of Scottish delight.
For the hoards of Cheshire fans, it was disbelief and faces as long as the trip back to the North-West, but they were to have a measure of revenge precisely a month later.
Drawn again in the Play-Offs, the Phoenix battled to a 102-86 win at home in the first leg before returning to Glasgow and putting that Final loss firmly behind them with an 84-80 success to secure an aggregate victory and eliminate Caledonia.
Both teams have changed their rosters drastically since then, with Sloan having departed from the Gladiators, but one thing remains, and that is the two sides will renew their rivalry with two games over 48 hours.
Cheshire’s triple threat
The Cheshire Phoenix have made a solid start to the British Basketball League season and are currently unbeaten in November with four wins in a row.
They are third in the league in scoring, averaging 90.5 points a game shooting 45% from the floor.
That is largely down to their three stat-sheet stuffers, who have played an integral part in the Phoenix’s 9-4 record, good enough for second in the standings.
Guard Maceo Jack averages 18.2 points, with last season’s National Basketball League MVP Aaron Rai close behind on 18 points a game. They have formed an exciting duo that has thrilled the fiercely loyal supporters.
The two have been facilitated tremendously by Lquincy Rideau, who leads the British Basketball League in assists with 7.4 dishes a contest while ticking the scoring along with a shade under 10 points a game.
A balanced attack
Caledonia has played fewer games than any British Basketball League team so far this season and boasts a 7-4 mark.
They have four players who average double figures in scoring, led by Great Britain international Patrick Whelan’s 14.2 points, and without question, he will be the focal point of the Cheshire defence.
The Gladiators’ deep roster and role players will certainly look to play their part, too, with Mihailo Jovicic, Trent Buttrick and veteran Kyle Johnson capable of putting up big numbers.
To watch this game of the 2023/24 British Basketball League season, tune in to YouTube on Friday, November 24 at 7:45 pm BST.
With the new season here, you can still get your British Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube channel to relive all of the best moments from the current season.
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