The home team stood firm against a late comeback from Vince Macaulay’s team to secure their first win in the BBL Cup.
Scorchers raced out to an early lead as captain Tayo Ogedengbe scored nine points in a matter of minutes.
Lions couldn’t contain the Scorchers as they used their speed to out-score the visitors 26-18 in the first quarter.
The home team continued with the same intensity in the second quarter as Adrian Kuyinu scored eight points in four minutes to extend the lead to 20 points.
A tough defensive display stopped the Lions from clawing their way back into the game, as Scorchers went into the half leading 50-32.
The Lions came out fighting in the second half, as BBL MVP Justin Robinson and American import Brandon Peel joined forces to apply some pressure to the home team.
But Scorchers held their nerve and headed into the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead.
This gap proved to be pivotal as the Lions came racing out to a 21-5 run in the first quarter, with a Lockhart three giving the away team the lead.
A block followed by a three-pointer for Adrian Kuyinu re-gained Scorchers advantage.
Two big free-throws from Skyler White extended the Scorchers lead to three points with four seconds remaining, and a last-second shot from Justin Robinson was unsuccessful.
Adrian Kuyinu said: “It feels so good to be on the other side.
“We made that game a lot harder than what it needed to be, but we showed resilience and stuck together when it got tough for us, and we were able to pull it off.”
Scorchers are back in action next Saturday as they take on the Bristol Flyers back at the Sports Park – grab your tickets below.
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