The 1997–98 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The league featured the same 13 teams as the previous year, playing 36 games each. The only change saw the Hemel Royals renamed the Watford Royals.
Greater London Leopards clinched their second successive Budweiser League title only by virtue of an overtime win in their final game of the season against Sheffield Sharks. Leopards' 102–106 victory in Sheffield meant they finished level on points with title-rivals Birmingham Bullets, but were crowned Champions due to a better head-to-head record over the Midlands team. Birmingham gained some consolation by taking their second Play-off Championship in three years at Wembley Arena, beating off a tough challenge from Thames Valley Tigers, winning 78–75. The Thames Valley Tigers won the National Cup and the Sheffield claimed their first uni-ball Trophy with an 82–79 win over London Towers at the National Exhibition Centre.
London Towers represented the Budweiser League in European competition, participating in the EuroCup.
Greater London Leopards won the League title in the final game of the season on April 5, 1998, with a 102–106 overtime victory at Sheffield Sharks. Regulation time ended on 90–90, but Leopards' Eric Burks sunk 9 of their 16 overtime points to win the title for the second successive season.[1]
Sheffield finished ahead of Chester and Derby by having the best record in matches between the three teams and qualify as fourth-placed finishers with the best record ahead of Watford on basket difference. London Towers received a bye into Quarter-finals.
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The 1997 98 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons The league featured the same 13 teams as the previous year playing 36 games each The only change saw the Hemel Royals renamed the Watford Royals 1997 98 BBL seasonLeagueBritish Basketball LeagueSportBasketballRoll of HonourBBL championsGreater London LeopardsPlay Off s championsBirmingham BulletsNational Cup championsThames Valley TigersBBL Trophy championsSheffield SharksBritish Basketball League seasons 1996 971998 99 Greater London Leopards clinched their second successive Budweiser League title only by virtue of an overtime win in their final game of the season against Sheffield Sharks Leopards 102 106 victory in Sheffield meant they finished level on points with title rivals Birmingham Bullets but were crowned Champions due to a better head to head record over the Midlands team Birmingham gained some consolation by taking their second Play off Championship in three years at Wembley Arena beating off a tough challenge from Thames Valley Tigers winning 78 75 The Thames Valley Tigers won the National Cup and the Sheffield claimed their first uni ball Trophy with an 82 79 win over London Towers at the National Exhibition Centre London Towers represented the Budweiser League in European competition participating in the EuroCup Contents 1 Notable occurrences 2 Budweiser League Championship Tier 1 2 1 Final standings 2 2 Playoffs 2 2 1 Quarter finals 2 2 2 Semi finals 2 2 3 Third place game 2 2 4 Final 3 National League Division 1 Tier 2 3 1 Final standings 3 2 Playoffs 4 National League Division 2 Tier 3 4 1 Final standings 4 2 Playoffs 5 Sainsbury s Classic Cola National Cup 5 1 Fourth round 5 2 Quarter finals 5 3 Semi finals 5 4 Final 6 uni ball Trophy 6 1 Group stage 6 2 Quarter finals 6 3 Semi finals 6 4 Final 7 Dairylea Dunkers All Star Game 8 Statistics leaders 9 Seasonal awards 10 ReferencesNotable occurrences editGreater London Leopards won the League title in the final game of the season on April 5 1998 with a 102 106 overtime victory at Sheffield Sharks Regulation time ended on 90 90 but Leopards Eric Burks sunk 9 of their 16 overtime points to win the title for the second successive season 1 Budweiser League Championship Tier 1 editFinal standings edit Pos Team Pld W L Pts1 Greater London Leopards 36 29 7 0 806 582 Birmingham Bullets 36 29 7 0 806 583 Newcastle Eagles 36 25 11 0 694 504 Sheffield Sharks 36 25 11 0 694 505 Thames Valley Tigers 36 24 12 0 667 486 London Towers 36 23 13 0 638 467 Derby Storm 36 16 20 0 444 328 Manchester Giants 36 15 21 0 416 309 Leicester Riders 36 15 21 0 416 3010 Chester Jets 36 15 21 0 416 3011 Crystal Palace 36 8 28 0 222 1612 Worthing Bears 36 7 29 0 194 1413 Watford Royals 36 3 33 0 083 6 League winners Qualified for the play offs Playoffs edit Quarter finals edit 1 Greater London Leopards vs 8 Manchester Giants April 14 1998Manchester Giants 86 93 Greater London Leopards April 16 1998Greater London Leopards 98 107 Manchester Giants April 19 1998Greater London Leopards 81 90 Manchester GiantsManchester wins series 2 1 2 Birmingham Bullets vs 7 Derby Storm April 11 1998Derby Storm 79 111 Birmingham Bullets April 14 1998Birmingham Bullets 84 86 OT Derby Storm April 19 1998Birmingham Bullets 96 81 Derby StormBirmingham wins series 2 1 3 Newcastle Eagles vs 6 London Towers April 12 1998London Towers 68 63 Newcastle Eagles April 14 1998Newcastle Eagles 73 50 London Towers April 19 1998Newcastle Eagles 85 87 London TowersLondon wins series 2 1 4 Sheffield Sharks vs 5 Thames Valley Tigers April 11 1998Thames Valley Tigers 84 83 Sheffield Sharks April 14 1998Sheffield Sharks 75 97 Thames Valley TigersThames Valley wins series 2 0 Semi finals edit May 2 1998Birmingham Bullets 90 80 Manchester GiantsWembley Arena London May 2 1998Thames Valley Tigers 78 71 London TowersWembley Arena London Third place game edit May 3 1998Manchester Giants 87 82 London TowersWembley Arena London Final edit May 3 1998ReportBirmingham Bullets 78 75 Thames Valley TigersPts Tony Dorsey MVP 28 Reggie Kirk 18 Nigel Lloyd 16 HL Coleman Fab FlournoyRebs Lloyd 9 Pts John McCord 24 Dameon Page 19 Tony Holley 13 Casey Arena Jason Siemon Adrian CummingsRebs Holley 13Wembley Arena LondonAttendance Bullets coach Mike Finger Tigers coach Paul JamesNational League Division 1 Tier 2 editFinal standings edit Pos Team Pld W L Pts1 Richmond Jaguars 22 20 2 0 958 402 Plymouth Raiders 22 19 3 0 864 383 Stevenage Rebels 22 16 6 0 727 324 Teesside Mohawks 22 14 8 0 636 285 Solihull Chiefs 22 13 9 0 592 266 Coventry Crusaders 22 13 9 0 592 267 Guildford Pumas 22 10 12 0 455 208 Oxford Devils 22 9 13 0 409 189 Westminster Warriors 22 6 16 0 273 1210 Cardiff Phoenix 22 4 18 0 182 811 Mid Sussex Magic 22 4 18 0 182 812 Brixton TopCats 22 4 18 0 182 8 League winners Qualified for the play offs Playoffs edit Semi finals Richmond Jaguars 208 195 agg Teesside Mohawks Plymouth Raiders 164 146 agg Stevenage Rebels Final Richmond Jaguars 82 67 Plymouth RaidersNational League Division 2 Tier 3 editFinal standings edit Pos Team Pld W L Pts1 Solent Stars 24 23 1 0 962 462 Cardiff Clippers 24 20 4 0 833 403 London Towers II 24 19 5 0 793 384 South Bank University Bulls 24 14 10 0 583 285 Bournemouth Dolphins 24 14 10 0 583 286 Wolverhampton 24 12 12 0 500 247 Flintshire Flyers 24 11 13 0 458 228 Northampton 89ers 24 10 14 0 417 209 Slough Chargers 24 9 15 0 375 1810 Liverpool Atac 24 9 15 0 375 1811 Swindon Sonics 24 9 15 0 375 1812 Chessington Wildcats 24 5 19 0 208 1013 Thames Valley Tigers II 24 1 23 0 042 2 League winners Qualified for the play offs Playoffs edit Semi finals Cardiff Clippers 171 175 agg London Towers II Solent Stars 202 185 agg South Bank University Bulls Final 9 May 1998Solent Stars 70 68 London Towers IINYNEX ArenaSainsbury s Classic Cola National Cup editFourth round edit Team 1 Team 2 ScoreWorthing Bears Crystal Palace 106 102Coventry Crusaders Thames Valley Tigers 67 91Stevenage Rebels Manchester Giants 60 93Leicester Riders Newcastle Eagles 94 76Leopards Derby Storm 99 90Sheffield Sharks Watford Royals 85 70Plymouth Raiders London Towers 77 99Chester Jets Birmingham BulletsQuarter finals edit Team 1 Team 2 ScoreSheffield Sharks Leicester Riders 66 69London Towers Manchester Giants 75 67Birmingham Bullets Worthing Bears 111 80Thames Valley Tigers Leopards 97 89Semi finals edit Team 1 Team 2 1st Leg 2nd LegThames Valley Tigers Birmingham Bullets 63 55 63 70London Towers Leicester Riders 76 74 84 90Final edit 17 January 1998 2 Thames Valley Tigers 82 78 Leicester RidersPts John McCord 27 Dameon Page 18 Casey Arena 14 Jason Siemon 14 Tony Holley Pts Billy Singleton 24 Gene Waldron 21 JaRon Boone 12 James Havrilla Geno FordSheffield ArenaAttendance Tigers coach Paul James Riders coach Bob Donewalduni ball Trophy editGroup stage edit Northern Group Team Pts Pld W L Percent1 Newcastle Eagles 6 5 3 2 0 6002 Leicester Riders 6 5 3 2 0 6003 Manchester Giants 6 5 3 2 0 6004 Sheffield Sharks 4 5 2 3 0 4005 Chester Jets 4 5 2 3 0 4006 Derby Storm 4 5 2 3 0 400 Southern Group Team Pts Pld W L Percent1 Gtr London Leopards 10 5 5 0 1 0002 Thames Valley Tigers 6 5 3 2 0 6003 Birmingham Bullets 6 5 3 2 0 6004 Watford Royals 4 5 2 3 0 4005 Crystal Palace 4 5 2 3 0 4006 Worthing Bears 0 5 0 5 0 000 Sheffield finished ahead of Chester and Derby by having the best record in matches between the three teams and qualify as fourth placed finishers with the best record ahead of Watford on basket difference London Towers received a bye into Quarter finals Quarter finals edit Greater London Leopards vs Thames Valley Tigers January 14 1998Greater London Leopards 83 79 Thames Valley Tigers January 21 1998Thames Valley Tigers 87 95 Greater London LeopardsGreater London wins on aggregate 178 166 London Towers vs Manchester Giants January 14 1998London Towers 90 69 Manchester Giants January 21 1998Manchester Giants 69 69 London TowersLondon wins on aggregate 159 138 Newcastle Eagles vs Birmingham Bullets January 13 1998Newcastle Eagles 70 66 Birmingham Bullets January 24 1998Birmingham Bullets 86 95 Newcastle EaglesNewcastle wins on aggregate 165 152 Sheffield Sharks vs Leicester Riders January 13 1998Sheffield Sharks 97 94 Leicester Riders January 21 1998Leicester Riders 83 99 Sheffield SharksSheffield wins on aggregate 196 177 Semi finals edit London Towers vs Newcastle Eagles February 3 1998London Towers 92 74 Newcastle Eagles February 13 1998Newcastle Eagles 89 89 London TowersLondon wins on aggregate 181 163 Sheffield Sharks vs Greater London Leopards February 4 1998Sheffield Sharks 103 85 Greater London Leopards February 12 1998Greater London Leopards 90 82 Sheffield SharksSheffield wins on aggregate 185 175 Final edit March 8 1998ReportSheffield Sharks 82 79 London TowersPts John Amaechi MVP 40 Terrell Myers Mark Robinson Wilbur JohnsonRebs John Amaechi 16 Pts Danny Lewis 23 Keith Robinson James Hamilton Neville Austin Marco Baldi Tamir BerkovitchRebs Keith Robinson 13National Exhibition Centre BirminghamAttendance Sharks coach Chris Finch Towers coach Kevin CadleDairylea Dunkers All Star Game editMarch 22 19987 05pm GMTReportNorthern All Stars 168 175 Southern All StarsPts Leon McGee 25 Pts John White 32Sheffield Arena Sheffield Northern All Stars Player Team nbsp John Amaechi Sheffield Sharks nbsp Billy Singleton Leicester Riders nbsp Robert Churchwell Manchester Giants nbsp JaRon Boone Leicester Riders nbsp Corey Jackson Chester Jets nbsp Ted Berry Derby Storm nbsp Mark Robinson Sheffield Sharks nbsp Leon McGee Newcastle Eagles nbsp Rob Phelps Newcastle Eagles nbsp Mark Boyd Newcastle Eagles nbsp Todd Cauthorn Sheffield Sharks nbsp nbsp James Havrilla Leicester RidersCoach nbsp Craig Lynch Newcastle Eagles Southern All Stars Player Team nbsp Tony Dorsey Birmingham Bullets nbsp Eric Burks Greater London Leopards nbsp John White Greater London Leopards nbsp John McCord Thames Valley Tigers nbsp Tony Holley Thames Valley Tigers nbsp Brad Wedel Crystal Palace nbsp Danny Lewis London Towers nbsp Greg Francis Worthing Bears nbsp Nigel Lloyd Birmingham Bullets nbsp Keith Robinson London Towers nbsp Robert Youngblood Greater London Leopards nbsp Alan Hopper Watford RoyalsCoach nbsp Billy Mims Greater London LeopardsStatistics leaders editCategory Player StatPoints per game nbsp Tony Dorsey Birmingham Bullets 26 09Rebounds per game nbsp Makeba Perry Greater London Leopards 11 81Assists per game nbsp Cleave Lewis Watford Royals 5 78Steals per game nbsp Casey Arena Thames Valley Tigers 3 11Blocks per game nbsp Brendan Graves Derby Storm 2 77Seasonal awards editMost Valuable Player Eric Burks Greater London Leopards Coach of the Year Billy Mimms Greater London Leopards All Star Team Eric Burks Greater London Leopards John Amaechi Sheffield Sharks Ted Berry Derby Storm Tony Dorsey Birmingham Bullets Tony Holley Thames Valley Tigers Danny Lewis London Towers Nigel Lloyd Birmingham Bullets John McCord Thames Valley Tigers Leon McGee Newcastle Eagles John White Greater London Leopards References edit Mark Woods 1998 Leopards are the Champions BritBall Retrieved 2012 12 07 For the Record Times London England 19 Jan 1998 The Times Digital Archive Preceded by1996 97 season BBL seasons1997 98 Succeeded by1998 99 season Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1997 98 British Basketball League season amp oldid 1189499768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
