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1987–88 British Basketball League season

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(Redirected from 1987–88 Carlsberg Basketball League season) Sports season
1987–88 BBL season
LeagueBritish Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams15
Roll of Honour
BBL championsPortsmouth
Play-off's championsLivingston
National Cup championsKingston
BBL Trophy championsLivingston
British Basketball League seasons
← 1986–871988–89 →

The 1987–88 BBL season was the first season of the British Basketball League (known as the Carlsberg League for sponsorship reasons), a breakaway competition formed by teams from the English National League and the Scottish National League. The season featured a total of 15 teams, playing 28 games each.

Portsmouth, reigning champions of the English League claimed the regular season title with a dominating campaign led by the likes of Alan Cunningham and Colin Irish. They weren't able to repeat their success in the post-season play-off's as third-seed Livingston, the reigning Scottish champions, caused a huge upset with an 81–72 win over Portsmouth in the final. Kingston won their fourth consecutive National Cup and Livingston claimed the inaugural BBL Trophy.

In the National League (the tier below the Carlsberg League) the Worthing Bears won the league with a 100% (18–0) record and in the play-off semi-final Billy Hungrecker scored a record 73 points in a 119–110 overtime win over Plymouth Raiders, before defeating Brixton TopCats in the final.

Carlsberg League (Tier 1)

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W L % PF PA Pts
1 Portsmouth 28 26 2 0.928 2677 2189 52
2 Kingston 28 24 4 0.857 2931 2475 48
3 Livingston 28 22 6 0.785 2762 2299 44
4 Manchester United 28 21 7 0.750 2718 2345 42
5 Calderdale Explorers 28 20 8 0.714 2694 2256 40
6 Bracknell Tigers 28 17 11 0.607 2623 2435 34
7 Birmingham Bullets 28 14 14 0.500 2638 2757 28
8 Solent Stars 28 14 14 0.500 2638 2757 28
9 Leicester City Riders 28 14 14 0.500 2780 2678 28
10 Bolton & Bury Giants 28 12 16 0.428 2460 2485 24
11 Hemel & Watford Royals 28 9 19 0.321 2647 2893 18
12 Sunderland 76ers 28 8 20 0.285 2588 2905 16
13 Derby Rams 28 4 24 0.142 2062 2640 8
14 Oldham Celtics 28 3 25 0.107 2435 3040 6
15 Crystal Palace 28 2 26 0.071 2281 2981 4
= League winners
= Qualified for the play-offs

Carlsberg League playoffs

Playoffs

Quarter-finals

(1) Portsmouth vs. (8) Solent Stars

Portsmouth 115–86 Solent Stars
Solent Stars 103–113 Portsmouth
Portsmouth win series, 2–0

(2) Kingston vs. (7) Birmingham Bullets

Birmingham Bullets 102–117 Kingston
Kingston 114–102 Birmingham Bullets
Kingston win series, 2–0

(3) Livingston vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers

Bracknell Tigers 79–74 Livingston
Livingston 102–85 Bracknell Tigers
Livingston 92–67 Bracknell Tigers
Livingston win series, 2–1

(4) Manchester United vs. (5) Calderdale Explorers

Calderdale Explorers 77–79 Manchester United
Manchester United 83–73 Calderdale Explorers
Manchester win series, 2–0

Semi-finals

9 April 1988
Portsmouth 98–90 Manchester United
Wembley Arena, London
9 April 1988
Kingston 88–101 Livingston
Wembley Arena, London

Final

10 April 1988
Murray International Metals Livingston 81–72 Portsmouth
Pts: Graeme Hill (MVP) 23, Rolton Way 23, Tommy Collier 12, Lewis Young 11 Pts: Colin Irish 28, Alan Cunningham 18, Rich Strong 12
Wembley Arena
Attendance: ?
Livingston Coach Jody Gardner
Portsmouth Coach Dan Lloyd

National League (Tier 2)

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W L % Pts
1 Worthing Bears 18 18 0 1.000 36
2 Brixton Topcats 18 14 4 0.778 28
3 Tower Hamlets 18 12 6 0.667 24
4 Plymouth Raiders 18 12 6 0.667 24
5 Gateshead 18 11 7 0.611 22
6 Aberdare 18 9 9 0.500 18
7 Ellesmere Port Jets 18 7 11 0.389 14
8 Market Harborough 18 3 15 0.167 6
9 Cardiff 18 2 16 0.111 4
10 Stevenage 18 2 16 0.111 4
= League winners

Prudential National Cup

Second round

Loftys Travel Ellesmere Port 94–99 Sunderland 76ers
Leicester City Riders 105–73 IIIE Gateshead
Sharp Manchester United 114–72 BPCC Derby Rams
Drapers Tools Solent Stars 117–98 Brunel Crystal Palace London
Alphaprint H. Hempstead Watford Royals 106–79 JHB Oil Plymouth
Calderdale Explorers 95–78 Oldham Celtics
North London College 70–137 Polycell Kingston
Portsmouth 85–82 Bracknell Tigers

Quarter-finals

Polycell Kingston 108–100 Alphaprint H. Hempstead Watford Royals
Sharp Manchester United 83–80 Calderdale Explorers
Leicester City Riders 104–93 Drapers Tools Solent Stars
Portsmouth 98–88 Sunderlands 76ers

Semi-finals

Polycell Kingston 109–91 Leicester City Riders
Portsmouth 107–90 Sharp Manchester United

Final

14 December 1987
Kingston 90–84 Portsmouth
Pts: Martin Clark 31, Joel Moore 25, Danny Davis 11, Steve Bontrager 11 Pts: Alan Cunningham 32, Mike Spaid 14, Karl Tatham 11, Rich Strong 10, Marc Glass 10, Colin Irish 2
Royal Albert Hall, London
Attendance: 5,000
Kingston Coach Kevin Cadle
Portsmouth Coach Dan Lloyd

NatWest Trophy

Group stage

North Group 1

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Calderdale Explorers 10 6 5 1 0.833
2. Manchester United 10 6 5 1 0.833
3. Bolton & Bury Giants 4 6 2 4 0.333
4. Oldham Celtics 0 6 0 6 0.000

North Group 2

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Livingston 12 6 6 0 1.000
2. Leicester City Riders 6 6 3 3 0.500
3. Sunderland 76ers 6 6 3 3 0.500
4. Derby Rams 0 6 0 6 0.000

South Group 1

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Kingston 12 6 6 0 1.000
2. Hemel & Watford Royals 4 6 2 4 0.333
3. Crystal Palace 4 6 2 4 0.333
4. Birmingham Bullets 4 6 2 4 0.333

South Group 2

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Portsmouth 8 4 4 0 1.000
2. Bracknell Tigers 4 4 2 2 0.500
3. Solent Stars 0 4 0 4 0.000

Semi-finals

Calderdale Explorers vs. Livingston

Calderdale Explorers 75–68 Livingston
Livingston 90–67 Calderdale Explorers
Livingston win on aggregate, 158–142

Kingston vs. Portsmouth

Portsmouth 94–87 Kingston
Kingston 80–74 Portsmouth
Portsmouth win on aggregate, 168–167

Final

30 March 1988
20:00
Livingston 96–91 Portsmouth
Scoring by half: 46–56, 50–35
Pts: Ralton Way 33, Tommy Collier 19, Lewis Young 17 Pts: Alan Cunningham 33, Marc Glass 25, Colin Irish 24
Aston Villa Leisure Centre, Birmingham
Attendance: 2,000
Livingston Coach Jody Gardner
Portsmouth Coach Dan Lloyd

Seasonal awards

References

  1. BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 15
  2. "Nicholas Harling. "Gardner is off to the quiet life." Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1988". The Times.
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Kingston's cup with four in a row record." Times [London, England] 15 Dec. 1987". The Times.
Preceded by1986–1987 season BBL seasons
1987–88 		Succeeded by1988–89 season
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