Report: Bristol Flyers 82-90 Cheshire Phoenix

Doug McLaughlin-Williams home return and Cardell McFarland's impressive 23-point performance were spoilt by an unforgivable 9 first half team turnovers. The Flyers freely gave the ball away throughout the game, handing Cheshire Phoenix the win 82-90.

The Flyers' hosted 6th placed Phoenix, in the second game of a back-to-back weekend after a disappointing loss in Worcester on Friday night.

Bristol gave away a fast break straight from the tip, but answered with McFarland’s 3 pointer and a huge Daniel Edozie dunk to ignite the home crowd. Bristol started the game aggressively, going straight at the Cheshire defence. A balanced attack saw The Flyers take an early lead, but Phoenix came straight back with Jordan Willaims scoring 8 straight first quarter points. As the quarter came to a close, McLaughlin-Williams scored his first points of the season at home with a 3 pointer of his own. Despite shooting a respectable 7 for 13, The Flyers were plagued by turnovers and were being beaten in transition. Bristol trailed 17 - 27 after the first.

The second quarter began in a similar vein with fatigue and a lack of concentration contributed to the Flyers failing to keep hold of the ball. Cheshire ran the break effectively off Bristol's turnovers and looked to put the game to bed early. ‘Nix had a quick 6 - 0 run, pushing their lead to 15. With only a single turnover, Cheshire's ball movement had precision and showed real purpose, Bristol meanwhile committed a crippling 9 first half turnovers, the ball seemed to rarely find it's mark.

In the waning moments of the second quarter, Bristol put together a late first-half charge capped by two straight 3 pointers by McLaughlin-Williams. Flyers got hot from outside, shooting just under 50% from the arc. But for every small Bristol run, Cheshire were able to maintain their double digit lead. At the half, Bristol trailed 38 - 49.

As the game entered the third quarter, Bristol took the game to Cheshire eating into the visitors' lead. Flyers went on an 11-0 run, fuelled by sharper ball movement, open looks and continued success with their outside shooting. Both teams traded baskets in a tightly contested third. Bristol's defence was tough, but they were guilty of some quick fouls, which put them in the penalty with just under half the quarter to go. Cheshire's Sadale Hanson - Young beat the buzzer with a long 3 pointer to give Phoenix the lead 65-66.

The fourth opened up and the home crowed were given something spectacular to cheer. Off a Mathias Seilund miss, Edozie scored a devastating two-hand put-back slam dunk. With such raw power and authority, the dunk moved the basket out of position, requiring an extended time-out to put the hoop back in position.

The fourth played out like the third, both teams exchanging the lead and firing from the 3 point line. In the final minute, Cheshire put the game out of reach with Akeem Ellis driving and scoring a floater in the lane. Flyers could not come back and their final possession told the story of their game, an errant pass and a final turnover seeing Phoenix run out 90-82 winners on the final buzzer.