1994–95 British Basketball League season

The 1994–95 BBL season was known as the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The season featured a total of 13 teams, playing 36 games each. A major change saw the Guildford Kings franchise fold due to the club being unable to negotiate a viable contract with the owners of the Guildford Spectrum.[1] The league sold Kings' licence to a group headed by Robert Earl, Ed Simons and Harvey Goldsmith, who established the Leopards. Oldham Celtics dropped down a division to National League Division One.

1994–95 BBL season
LeagueBritish Basketball League
SportBasketball
Roll of Honour
BBL championsSheffield Sharks
Play Off's championsWorthing Bears
National Cup championsSheffield Sharks
BBL Trophy championsThames Valley Tigers

Newcomers Sheffield Sharks formerly Sheffield Forgers won the regular season and claimed the title in their rookie season in addition to becoming National Cup champions. Seventh-seed Worthing Bears caused a huge upset in the post-season Play-off to take the Championship crown with a memorable victory over Manchester Giants in the final.[2] The Thames Valley Tigers secured the BBL Trophy.

Budweiser League Championship (Tier 1)

Final standings
PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Sheffield Sharks 362970.80558
2Thames Valley Tigers 362880.77856
3London Towers 362880.77856
4Manchester Giants 3626100.72252
5Doncaster Panthers 3625110.69450
6Leopards 3623130.63846
7Worthing Bears 3620160.55540
8Birmingham Bullets 3618180.50036
9Derby Bucks 3610260.27820
10Hemel Royals 369270.25018
11Leicester City Riders 368280.22216
12Chester Jets 366300.16712
13Sunderland Scorpions 364320.1118
= League winners
= Qualified for the play-offs

Quarter-finals

(1) Sheffield Sharks vs. (8) Birmingham Bullets

Sheffield Sharks 71–67 Birmingham Bullets
Sheffield win series, 2–1

(2) Thames Valley Tigers vs. (7) Worthing Bears

Thames Valley Tigers 81–85 Worthing Bears
Worthing win series, 2–1

(3) London Towers vs. (6) Leopards

London Towers 91–73 Leopards
London win series, 2–1

(4) Manchester Giants vs. (5) Doncaster Panthers

Manchester Giants 82–74 Doncaster Panthers
Manchester win series, 2–0

Semi-finals
29 April 1995
Sheffield Sharks 72–84 Worthing Bears
29 April 1995
London Towers 102–109 (OT) Manchester Giants

Final
30 April 1995
Worthing Bears 77–73 Manchester Giants
Pts: Alan Cunningham 19, Colin Irish 19, Cleave Lewis 16, Herman Harried 16 Pts: Mark Robinson 28, Kevin St Kitts 20, Cam Johnson, Trevor Gordon
Wembley Arena, London
Attendance: ?
Worthing Coach Alan Cunningham
Manchester Coach Mike Hanks

National League Division 1 (Tier 2)

Final standings
PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Crystal Palace 222110.95542
2Coventry Crusaders 221840.81836
3Ware Rebels 221750.77334
4Oldham Celtics 221480.63628
5Brixton TopCats 221390.59126
6Stockton Mohawks 2210120.45520
7Bury Wildcats 229130.40918
8Nottingham Cobras 229130.40918
9Plymouth Raiders 227150.31814
10Solent Stars 227150.31814
11Slough Waterside 226160.27312
12Swindon Sonics 221210.0452
= League winners

National League Division 2 (Tier 3)

Final standings
PosTeamPldWL%Pts
1Cardiff Phoenix 201820.90036
2Mid Sussex Magic 201550.75030
3Worcester Chiefs 201280.60024
4Liverpool Atac 201280.60024
5Oxford Dons 201280.60024
6South Bank 2010100.50020
7Westminster 209110.45018
8Sheffield Forgers 208120.40016
9Northampton 89ers 207130.35014
10Stevenage Phoenix 205150.25010
11Greenwich Admirals 202180.1004
= League winners

National Cup

Fourth round
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Sheffield SharksDerby Bucks57-56
Hemel Hempstead RoyalsLeopards94-120
Sunderland ScorpionsDoncaster Panthers94-99
Ware RebelsBirmingham Bullets94-110
Chester JetsManchester Eagles78-76
Worthing BearsLondon Towers82-94
Crystal PalaceThames Valley Tigers60-74
Coventry CrusadersLeicester Riders79-83

Quarter-finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Doncaster PanthersThames Valley Tigers59-78
LeopardsLondon Towers76-75
Chester JetsSheffield Sharks73-75
Leicester City RidersBirmingham Bullets79-99

Semi-finals
Team 1 Team 2 1st Leg 2nd Leg
LeopardsThames Valley Tigers86-8083-99
Sheffield SharksBirmingham Bullets71-7273-68

Final
5 March 1995[3]
Sheffield Sharks 89–66 Thames Valley Tigers
Pts: Roger Huggins 29, Todd Cauthorn 21, Chris Finch 15 Pts: Steve Bucknall 24, Tony Holley 20, Peter Scantlebury 11
Sheffield Arena
Attendance: ?
Sheffield Coach Jim Brandon
Thames Valley Coach Mick Bett

7 Up Trophy

Group stage

North Group 1

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Doncaster Panthers 106510.833
2.Leicester City Riders 86420.667
3.Derby Bucks 46240.333
4.Sunderland Scorpions 26150.166

North Group 2

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Sheffield Sharks 64310.750
2.Manchester Giants 84310.750
3.Chester Jets 04040.000

South Group 1

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Thames Valley Tigers 64310.750
2.Birmingham Bullets 64310.750
3.Hemel Royals 04040.000

South Group 2

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1.Worthing Bears 64310.750
2.London Towers 44220.500
3.Leopards 24130.250

Sheffield finished ahead of Manchester by having the best head-to-head record between the teams. Thames Valley finished ahead of Birmingham by having the best head-to-head record between the teams.

Semi-finals

Doncaster Panthers vs. Sheffield Sharks

Sheffield Sharks 88–64 Doncaster Panthers
Sheffield win on aggregate, 163–133

Thames Valley Tigers vs. Worthing Bears

Thames Valley Tigers 105–91 Worthing Bears
Thames Valley win on aggregate, 192–182

Final
13 January 1995
Thames Valley Tigers 74–69 Sheffield Sharks
Pts: Peter Scantlebury 21, Steve Bucknall 15, Tony Holley 14, Neville Austin Pts: Garnet Gayle 23, Roger Huggins 13, Ploutos Vourliotis, Todd Cauthorn
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
Attendance: 4,000
Thames Valley Coach Mick Bett
Sheffield Coach Jim Brandon

Seasonal awards

References
  1. ""Leopards step in." Times [London, England] 12 Aug. 1994". The Times Digital Archive.
  2. BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 12
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Sharks seek the big fish in Europe." Times [London, England] 7 Mar. 1995". The Times Digital Archive.
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