Dave Ryan reports…

Levett Essex Leopards face a key weekend as they host two games at the Brentwood Centre.

Strugglers Team Birmingham Elite are the visitors on Saturday evening (6.30pm) before the Big Cats face Thames Valley Cavaliers on Sunday (4pm) in a game that is key to their promotion hopes.

Elite will arrive in Brentwood sitting second from bottom in the 12 team NBL Division Two with four wins from ten games, and are one of six teams battling to avoid the two relegation spots.

The sides met in the Midlands three weeks ago, and Leopards led from tip to buzzer, with their advantage peaking at 30 points, as they comfortably won 84-67.

While Thomas Baker’s side will be favourites to win Saturday’s game against Elite, Sunday’s opponents Cavaliers will prove a much tougher test.

An already experienced roster which includes high-scoring American forward Martelle McLemore and ex-Leopard Phil Perre was added to shortly before last week’s signing deadline with the addition of former Essex Pirate Sam Toulawse.

After losing their opening two league games, the Uxbridge side have reeled off 12 straight wins to move up to second place and recently ended leaders Nottingham Hoods’ perfect start to the league campaign.

One of those 12 victories came against the Big Cats as they finished strongly to win 93-79, and they also knocked Leopards out of the National Cup with a dominant 93-65 at Harlow Leisurezone.

Leopards are offering a combined ticket at a reduced rate, and are also staging their popular pre-game coaching session for juniors before Sunday’s game, see www.leopardsbasketball.co.uk for more details.

Leopards made it seven wins from their last eight games with an 88-76 victory against Sussex Bears at the Brentwood Centre on Sunday.

Captain Dougie Bennett decided to change his number to improve his luck, and the new number 41 led the way for his side with 26 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Baker’s team struggled in the early minutes, trailing 16-8 at the five minute mark, but Korey Callum’s three pointer launched a 7-0 run to drag them back into the game, and Bennett capped another 7-0 tear with a three pointer to give his side a 26-22 first period lead.

Jamie Hayes opened the second period with a lay-up and a Caleb Taberner jump shot put his side 33-22 ahead.

But the visitors refused to lie down, and made it a four point game before triples from Bennett and Callum helped the home side lead 46-39 going into the half-time break.

Scores from Will Ashby and Bennett saw Leopards’ lead grow to 11 and it only briefly dipped into single figures as they went into the final break with a 64-55 lead.

Bennett took the lead back into double digits with the first score of the fourth period, and Taberner brought the crowd to their feet with a trademark dunk as Leopards comfortably closed out the win.

Ashby finished with 16 points and five assists, with Taberner and Callum each adding 11 points.