5th April 2008 Birmingham Panthers 58 - 94 Guildford Heat

BBL Championship Match Preview

Game details:-

Venue: Uni of Wolverhampton, Walsall

Competition:- BBL Championship

Tip-off:- 7.00pm

Quarterscores:-  18-16, 34-36, 42-65

Overtime periods:-

Final result:- 58-94

Officials:- Neil Wilkonson, Paul Walton, Paul Unsworth

Top Scorers:

Panthers: Popoola 13, A. Williams 13, Sandell 11

Heat: Nottley 22, Gilbert 12, D. Williams 11

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The Guildford Heat are mathematically still in the BBL Championship title race after they beat the Birmingham Panthers by 58-94 in the West Midlands, setting up a huge game when they host the Newcastle Eagles on Sunday.

It was the Heat's fifth straight league win, and their third of the season over the Panthers.

Big John Nottley took advantage of the lack of size amongst the Panthers as he scored 22 points to lead all scorers, supported by 12 points from Danny Gilbert and 11 from Dean Williams. Former Heat guard Lekan Popoola led the Panthers with 13 points.

In an amazing first half, the BBL's basement side held the reigning league champions scoreless for 5:30 and moved into an 8-0 lead. At that point, Coach Paul James benched his entire starting five and that provided the spark for the Heat to get going.

The visitors were still trailing 18-16 after the first ten minutes, but edged a close first half as they eventually took the lead at 30-32, before leading 34-36 at the halfway point.

The Heat came out in the third quarter and immediately made the run that won the game as they went 24-5 for a 39-60 lead. Former Birmingham player Tony Dorsey had 6 points in that run, with Gilbert scoring 10 of those. From that point there was no way back into it for the hosts as the Heat eased to the victory.

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