Preview: Bristol Flyers v Leeds Force

All the key information on Saturday’s BBL opponents can be found below.

LEEDS FORCE
Originally established as Leeds Carnegie in 2006, the team rebranded as Leeds Force heading into their first season in the top-flight along with fellow BBL newcomers, Bristol Flyers. The Force have had a respectable first season in their inaugural BBL campaign, with a current record of 9-25* whilst coming up with big wins against London, Cheshire, and even taking newly crowned BBL Champions Newcastle Eagles into overtime last weekend. There’s no love lost between the Flyers and the Force, as they look to resume a long-term rivalry dating back to their time in EBL Division One.

COACH
Matt Newby – Newby is also Director of Basketball at Leeds University and has a strong focus on developing domestic talent. Like the Flyers, this is Newby’s first season as a BBL coach and he’ll be looking to finish the season on a high despite bowing out of the BBL Play-Off race last weekend.

STAR MAN
James McCann – At just 22 years of age, McCann signed for the Force in the summer, making his debut on September 28th 2014 in a 80-46 defeat to the Durham Wildcats. The University College of San Diego graduate is averaging 12.6 points per game and if Flyers can stop the American calling the shots, they’ll have a good chance of a of putting pressure on the Manchester Giants in the race for the play-offs.

LAST TIME OUT
Flyers picked up their largest win of the season, in a 71-47 victory over their former EBL Division One rivals.

TICKETS
Tickets for Saturday’s final game of the regular season have completely SOLD OUT. There will be no tickets available on the door.

OFFICIALS
Taking charge of Saturday’s game will be Darren Bolt, Piotr Florecki and Andy Thackray.

LAST SEASON
EBL Division 1: 6th
EBL Division 1 Play-Offs: WINNERS

DID YOU KNOW?
Flyers have claimed two of their biggest victories in the BBL against Leeds Force this season, winning by an aggregate of 39 points.

* Accurate of Thursday, 16th April