Sports season
1987–88 BBL season |
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League | British Basketball League |
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Sport | Basketball |
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Number of teams | 15 |
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Roll of Honour |
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BBL champions | Portsmouth |
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Play-off's champions | Livingston |
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National Cup champions | Kingston |
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BBL Trophy champions | Livingston |
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British Basketball League seasons |
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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.[1] 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 F.C. | 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
(2) Kingston vs. (7) Birmingham Bullets
(3) Livingston vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers
(4) Manchester United vs. (5) Calderdale Explorers
Semi-finals
Portsmouth | 98–90 | Manchester United |
Kingston | 88–101 | Livingston |
Final
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 ArenaAttendance: ? Livingston Coach Jody Gardner Portsmouth Coach Dan Lloyd |
National League (Tier 2)
Final standings
Second round
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
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
Semi-finals
Calderdale Explorers vs. Livingston
Kingston vs. Portsmouth
Portsmouth | 94–87 | Kingston |
Kingston | 80–74 | Portsmouth |
Portsmouth win on aggregate, 168–167 |
Final
Livingston | 96–91 | Portsmouth |
Pts: Rolton Way 35, Tommy Collier 19, Lewis Young 17 | | Pts: Alan Cunningham 32, Marc Glass 25, Colin Irish 24 |
Seasonal awards
References
- ^ BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 15
- ^ "Nicholas Harling. "Gardner is off to the quiet life." Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1988". The Times.
- ^ "Nicholas Harling. "Kingston's cup with four in a row record." Times [London, England] 15 Dec. 1987". The Times.
British Basketball League
Teams | |
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Competitions | |
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Seasons (List) | |
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Awards | |
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Other | |
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