1995–96 British Basketball League season

The 1995–96 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league featured a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. The division retained the same thirteen teams as the previous year after the BBL rejected an application from Crystal Palace who had sealed the National League Division One (the second tier) title. The main change saw the Sunderland Scorpions renamed the Newcastle Comets due to a change of franchise and venue, their new home would be in Gateshead until the newly built Newcastle Arena opened on 18 November. The Manchester Giants also had a new home at the Nynex Arena and the sport was boosted by the return of TV coverage by Sky Sports.[1]

1995–96 BBL season
LeagueBritish Basketball League
SportBasketball
Roll of Honour
BBL championsLondon Towers
Playoffs championsBirmingham Bullets
National Cup championsLondon Towers
BBL Trophy championsLondon Towers

London Towers clinched a treble, winning the National Cup, 7 Up Trophy and finishing top of the regular season standings. They were defeated in the Championship Play-off final by Birmingham Bullets.[2]

Budweiser League Championship (Tier 1)

Final standings
PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1London Towers 363240.88964
2Sheffield Sharks 363060.83360
3Birmingham Bullets 3626100.72252
4Leopards 3623130.63846
5Manchester Giants 3621150.58342
6Derby Storm 3621150.58342
7Worthing Bears 3619170.52738
8Thames Valley Tigers 3616200.44432
9Newcastle Comets 3611250.30522
10Leicester City Riders 3611250.30522
11Doncaster Panthers 3610260.27820
12Chester Jets 368280.22216
13Hemel Royals 366300.16712
= League winners
= Qualified for the play-offs

Quarter-finals

(1) London Towers vs. (8) Thames Valley Tigers

London Towers 94–81 Thames Valley Tigers
London win series, 2–0

(2) Sheffield Sharks vs. (7) Worthing Bears

Sheffield Sharks 79–60 Worthing Bears
Sheffield win series, 2–0

(3) Birmingham Bullets vs. (6) Derby Storm

Birmingham Bullets 96–88 Derby Storm
Birmingham win series, 2–0

(4) Leopards vs. (5) Manchester Giants

Manchester Giants 72–76 (OT) Leopards
Leopards 73–75 Manchester Giants
Manchester win series, 2–1

Semi-finals

Final
5 March 1995[3]
Birmingham Bullets 78–72 London Towers
Pts: Nigel Lloyd 23, Tony Dorsey 22, Emiko Etete, Trevor Gordon, Stedroy Baker Pts: Tony Windless 19, Steve Bucknall, Martin Atlan
Wembley Arena, London
Attendance: ?
Birmingham Coach Nick Nurse
London Coach Kevin Cadle

National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Final standings
PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Crystal Palace 222201.00044
2Coventry Crusaders 221930.86438
3Ware Rebels * 221750.77333
4Cardiff Phoenix 221480.63628
5Bury Wildcats 2210120.45520
6Stockton Mohawks 2210120.45520
7Brixton TopCats 229130.40918
8Mid-Sussex Magic 229130.40918
9Nottingham Knights 227150.31814
10Plymouth Raiders 227150.31814
11Oldham Celtics 225170.22710
12Solent Stars 223190.1366
= League winners

One point deducted *

Sainsbury's Classic Cola National Cup

Fourth round
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Derby BucksLondon Towers65-82
Hemel Hempstead RoyalsCoventry Crusaders101-73
Sheffield SharksChester Jets71-40
Worthing BearsLeopards82-87
Newcastle CometsManchester Eagles107-121
Ware RebelsThames Valley Tigers71-103
Crystal PalaceDoncaster Panthers82-81
Birmingham BulletsLeicester Riders94-72

Quarter-finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Thames Valley TigersLondon Towers
Crystal PalaceLeopards80-75
Sheffield SharksManchester Eagles
Hemel RoyalsBirmingham Bullets72-84

Semi-finals
Team 1 Team 2 1st Leg 2nd Leg
Crystal PalaceSheffield Sharks63-7068-74
Birmingham BulletsLondon Towers79-7777-99

Final
3 March 1996[4]
London Towers 70–58 Sheffield Sharks
Pts: Martin Henlan (MVP), Neville Austin, Roger Dulhaney, Tony Windless, Danny Lewis, Steve Bucknall Pts: Roger Huggins, Todd Cauthorn
Sheffield Arena
Attendance: ?
London Coach Kevin Cadle
Sheffield Coach Jim Brandon

7 Up Trophy

Group stage

Northern Group

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Derby Storm 84401.000
2.Chester Jets 44220.500
3.Doncaster Panthers 44220.500
4.Leicester City Riders 24130.250
5.Newcastle Comets 24130.250

Southern Group

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Worthing Bears 63301.000
2.Birmingham Bullets 43210.667
3.Leopards 23120.333
4.Hemel Royals 03030.000

Chester finished ahead of Doncaster by having the best head-to-head record between the teams. London, Manchester, Sheffield and Thames Valley all received a bye into Quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals

Chester Jets vs. Birmingham Bullets

Birmingham Bullets 92–89 Chester Jets
Birmingham win on aggregate, 200–178

Manchester Giants vs. Sheffield Sharks

Sheffield Sharks 77–66 Manchester Giants
Sheffield win on aggregate, 158–144

Thames Valley Tigers vs. London Towers

London Towers 85–66 Thames Valley Tigers
London win on aggregate, 174–148

Worthing Bears vs. Derby Storm

Derby Storm 93–99 Worthing Bears
Worthing win on aggregate, 185–181

Semi-finals

London Towers vs. Birmingham Bullets

Birmingham Bullets 75–92 London Towers
London win on aggregate, 156–137

Worthing Bears vs. Sheffield Sharks

Sheffield Sharks 69–72 Worthing Bears
Worthing win on aggregate, 158–156

Final
13 January 1996[5]
London Towers 90–84 Worthing Bears
Pts: Tony Windless (MVP), Steve Bucknall, Danny Lewis, Martin Henlan, Roger Duhaney Pts: Colin Irish
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Attendance: ?
London Coach Kevin Cadle
Worthing Coach Colin Irish

Seasonal awards

References
  1. "Nicholas Harling. "Basketball shooting high as TV returns." Times [London, England] 9 Sept. 1995". The Times Digital Archive.
  2. BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 11
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Bullets triggered by Dorsey's power." Times [London, England] 6 May 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
  4. "Nicholas Harling. "Towers stay on track for a clean sweep." Times [London, England] 4 Mar. 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
  5. ""Towers leave it late to rise to the challenge." Times [London, England] 15 Jan. 1996". The Times Digital Archive.
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