Surrey Scorchers were on the road against two big hitters at the weekend and returned home with two more positive performances against tough opposition.
Reports taken from bbl.org.uk.
Newcastle Eagles 97-66 Surrey Scorchers
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle cruised to a 97-66 victory over Surrey Scorchers to set the early pace in the BBL Championship, moving to 4-0, as Scott Martin notched a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds on his birthday. His tally was only bettered by Deondre Parks’ 17 points, as Eagles made it ten straight wins over Surrey dating back to April 2013.
Eagles had to dig themselves out of an early 9-2 hole against a visiting side that remains winless in the league this season, as Darius Defoe got them going with consecutive scores on the inside. A 15-2 first quarter run included a three-pointer from debutante Joe Hart as former Scorcher Christian Behrens gave Newcastle the lead, 23-18 after ten minutes.
That was followed by a 12-2 opening to the second stanza, sparked by a Drew Lasker triple and including five for Rahmon Fletcher, who also added nine assists on the night. And the lead hit 20 points in the third quarter when Eagles scored seven in a row, including three for Orlan Jackman, in what became a 20-6 surge and a 70-47 lead.
All ten Eagles were on the scoreboard by the fourth quarter, when Danny Horta-Darrington emerged from the bench to send the lead through 30, and Eagles have now averaged 95 points across their first four games.
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Leicester Riders 88-70 Surrey Scorchers
Leicester Riders maintained their unbeaten start to the season after defeating Surrey Scorchers88-70, on Sunday.
Rob Paternostro's side are now 4-0 in the league as they pulled away for a second win over Surrey in as many weeks, though were able to do so in regulation on this occasion.
Tyler Bernardini scored a game-high 19 points in a typically balanced team effort with Conner Washington providing a spark off the bench with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
The home side made an 8-0 start through back-to-back triples from Andy Thomson and Taylor King, but the Scorchers hit back and took their first lead at 16-17 after four straight from Jay Bowie.
Washington edged Riders ahead at the end of the first and they pulled further clear to lead by seven at the half-time interval.
Bernardini scored the final six points in a key 12-0 start to the second half and the Riders established a commanding lead to take into the fourth.
The damage was done, and despite a valiant fourth quarter effort from their opponents, the Riders wrapped up another league victory.
Bowie top scored for the Scorchers with 17 points, but they now drop to a 0-5 record in the league.