Monday, September 29, 2025

More Bulls woe

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THE FINAL CHAPTER might’ve just been written on the most storied run in Premier League basketball.
Clapham’s record 28-year stay in the top flight has all but reached its end, as ardent rivals Lumber Company Lakers placed Bulls firmly in the demotion spot following Thursday’s 86-56 blowout at the YMCA.
It was a rather unglamorous finish to the worst season ever for Clapham, who dropped to a 4-9 record following a listless season finale where the Bulls barely dressed five players in uniform.
The bottom-of-the-table Bulls could still avoid demotion, though, but just barely, if Warrens (5-7) have their controversial victory over Pinelands overturned and then go on to drop tonight’s fixture against Challengers.
But the situation looks all too dire for the former five-time league champions that have their place in Premier League history as the only club to have “three-peated” (1997-1999) during the longest stint in the top flight.
However, that stint almost came to an end with nary a bounce of the ball as Clapham nearly forfeited the contest after arriving 40 minutes late with just five players – including retired Premier League forward Andrew Ifill.
They might have turned up at the venue, but Bulls never really showed up for the game after falling behind by as many as 12 points in the first quarter while surrendering countless open looks to efficient jump shooters.
Clapham didn’t fare much better at the other end in converting just five field goals against a Lakers side determined to turn every defensive rebound and turnover into transition points.
Behind Mark Bridgeman’s foray off the bench, Lakers pushed the lead to 20 points (38-18) late in the second quarter before truly blowing open the contest in the third quarter on the back of a 26-12 run (66-39) capped by Jamar King’s buzzer-beating triple.
Adrian Allman had a game-high 24 points for Lakers, who improved to 9-3 to move to the top of the standings, while Keefe Birkett added 22 and Bridgeman 18.
Veteran centre Sydney Rowe led Clapham with 19 points and 15 boards, Ifill scored 13 and Kenny Matthews added 11 points.
In the nightcap, Selwyn Brooks blew a game-tying layup at the buzzer as Cougars’ wild fourth-quarter rally came up just short in a nerve-racking 75-73 loss to Warriors.
The heartbreaking result did nothing to hurt their play-off hopes, with Cougars locked firmly into a postseason berth with an 8-4 record.
The defeat did, however, increase their likelihood of an unwanted first-round matchup with perennial champions Lakers, as respective victories by Sonics (9-3) and Pinelands (8-4) over minnows Tridents and Challengers would all but cement that play-off series.
But the Hothersal side never seemed concerned with avoiding that matchup, not while falling behind by as many as 20 points (52-32) in the middle of the third quarter amidst a slew of injuries and listless play at both ends of the floor.
Warriors forward Nicholai Williams didn’t make it any easier for them either while dominating the paint to the tune of 20 points and ten rebounds through three quarters.
However, Williams managed just four points the rest of the way while Cougars closed the third on a 16-6 run before pulling within single digits (58-50) at the start of the fourth.
They seemed to have left the rally just short, though, as Warriors turned successive turnovers into transition layups before Kevin John hit a huge turnaround to put his side up 68-52.
Cougars weren’t done just yet, however, with Godfrey Leacock leading a slew of late-game triples, including a fade-away off the dribble over John to cut the deficit to two (75-73) with 18 seconds left. But he missed the potential go-ahead three-pointer just seconds later, only for Brooks to end up with the loose ball for an uncontested left-handed layup which he missed as time expired.
Williams led Warriors (6-6) with 24 points and 13 rebounds and Daniel Durant scored 23 points while Leacock top-scored for Cougars with 18 points.

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