<\/p>\n
The latest BBL All-Star 5 is led by possibly the performance of the season so far from David Cohn as Newcastle Eagles maintained their good form, while other form teams are represented by VJ King of the Bristol Flyers and a pair from Cheshire Phoenix for the second week in a row.<\/p>\n
David Cohn \u2013 Newcastle Eagles<\/strong> VJ King \u2013 Bristol Flyers<\/strong> Larry Austin Jr. \u2013 Cheshire Phoenix<\/strong> Troy Simons \u2013 Plymouth City Patriots<\/strong> Tahjai Teague \u2013 Cheshire Phoenix<\/strong> Off the bench: Marc Loving (Leicester Riders), Dirk Williams (Manchester Giants), Shakem Johnson (Surrey Scorchers), Isa Brandon (Plymouth City Patriots), Zach Jackson (Leicester Riders), Anthony Roberson (Manchester Giants), Mike Miller (Bristol Flyers).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
With a fourth All-Star 5 appearance of the season, David Cohn moves joint-second in the overall chart after Newcastle Eagles made it three wins in four games with a key defeat of the only team below them, Surrey Scorchers, at the Vertu Motors Arena. The American point guard had one of the performances of the season as he scored 31 points on 10-13 (76%) shooting and 7-7 at the free-throw line, with seven assists, four steals and four rebounds, including 16 points and three assists in a sensational 30-4 nine-minute spell over the half time break that proved to be decisive.<\/p>\n
Flyers are second in the BBL Championship after a pair of big wins in a weekend double-header, led by VJ King in both as he gains weekly honours for the fourth time, also moving joint-second overall. In a road win at Manchester Giants on Sunday he poured in 27 points, including 9-12 (75%) free-throws, completing a double-double with 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals, with six points and two assists coming in the 25-7 surge over the third quarter break that settled the game. He\u2019d also scored 30 points two nights before at home against second-placed Leicester Riders.<\/p>\n
Cheshire Phoenix have recorded three wins in a row for the first time this season after beating Plymouth City Patriots at home on Sunday, leading to a second straight All-Star 5 showing for Larry Austin Jr., his third overall so far this campaign. Captain of his team, he led by example and did a bit of everything as he scored 20 points with seven rebounds, six assists and five steals, including four points, three assists and two steals in the opening exchanges of a game where the hosts started 14-1 and led from tip-to-buzzer.<\/p>\n
Plymouth City Patriots progressed to the quarter-finals of the BBL Trophy with Saturday\u2019s defeat of Scottish Basketball champions St. Mirren at Plymouth Pavilions, as Troy Simons features in the weekly team for the second time this season, but first for ten weeks. He scored 16 points in under 23 minutes, with eight rebounds, five assists and five steals, including five points, four assists, four steals and four rebounds in a 39-6 third quarter that broke a resolute first half performance from the visitors.<\/p>\n
Like his teammate, American forward Tahjai Teague makes his third All-Star 5 appearance of the season, but first for eight weeks, following a double-double in the win over Plymouth. He finished with 21 points on 9-13 (69%) interior shooting, with 10 rebounds, two steals and an assist, scoring nine points with four boards in the opening seven minutes as his three-pointer made the score 25-12, before opening the scoring in the second half to send the lead through twenty as the Nix ran away with it.<\/p>\n