The Plymouth City Patriots finally returned home this weekend, for a double header of British Basketball League action.
The action tipped off Friday night, when the Newcastle Eagles came to town, on a two game winning streak. It would be the fourth time these teams have faced off this season, with the Eagles looking to sweep the Patriots, having won all previous encounters. However, it was the Patriots that stormed out of the gates, making a number of highflying plays, whilst causing the Eagles problems on the defensive end. The Eagles were dialed in as the game progressed, and showed just why they are one of the top teams in the BBL right now. They fought their way back into the lead, but thanks to the Patriots talisman TJ Atwood, the home side would go into the halftime interval trailing by just 2-points.
Both teams battled it out in the second half and as the game headed towards the business end, neither side able to wrestle control from the other. Such was the competitive nature of the game, that it was tied 65-65 as it headed into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Eagles hit their stride and despite the Pavilions faithful doing their best to urge the home side on, the Eagles managed to pull away, taking it 92-80.
Sunday would have a similar feeling to Friday night's game, as the Leicester Riders came to Plymouth, fresh from a 14-point win over Sheffield and the in-form favourites. The Patriots once again took the game to their opposition, who responded heading into halftime all square at 46-46 after a great deal of entertaining basketball.
The third quarter would be a similar affair, with both teams scoring at will, however, the Patriots would settle into their groove in the final quarter and against all odds pull away from their visitors, taking an impressive 109-93 win.
TJ Atwood once again showed his prowess in both games, finishing with two impressive stat lines as well as scoring 12-points in the third quarter alone on Sunday, contributing greatly to the win. The British Basketball League Player of the Game for Friday night however, went to the well deserving Tyrell Green who scored 33-points, including 8 from 10 three pointers, to help lead his team to the win.
“It feels amazing man...” started game MVP Tyell Green, after a monumental shooting performance. He continued ”... Just to come out here and play in front of these great fans every night... As players we just try to give back to them. We came up short Friday, but we knew we had to pick it up today and we were successful.”
It was the first time the Patriots had beaten the Leicester Riders in the short history of the club and twelve years since any team from Plymouth had managed it. Coach Paul James however, had other things on his mind saying “To be fair I wasn't thinking about the twelve years... It was about us putting a forty minute game together. We managed about thirty seven minutes on
Friday against Newcastle, but tonight we managed forty and played some really good basketball at both ends.”
It was Cameron Copeland's first experience of the home fans and post game he shared the experience, saying “I had heard great things about the Plymouth fans so I was really excited. I liked it! It was so loud and they really helped me play well.”
The Patriots are on the road again for the next few weeks, returning to Plymouth towards the end of March. You can get your tickets here
Watch all the key action again here
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