All Star Five – Week 21
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The debutantes still keep on rolling and there are two more this week – including last season’s appearance leader!
Marek Klassen (Leeds Force)
It hasn’t taken long for Leeds’ mid-season capture to make an impact and he is our first debutante, having shone brightly in a terrific win against Glasgow Rocks. The guard led his team to victory in style with 18 points as he dropped scores either side of the three-point line. He also served up an excellent eight assists, but it was his defensive intensity and work ethic that stood out most, after he hauled down five rebounds and snapped up a superb seven steals. Joe Chapman (Esh Group Eagles Newcastle)
The former BBL MVP grabs his second starting berth of the season after helping his team torch Flyers on the road, as the defending champions blasted their way out of the starting blocks in Bristol. The shooting guard showcased his offensive armoury by sinking five buckets from downtown as he netted a fine 19 points. He also demonstrated his versatility and passing vision by handing out five assists and doing the hard work on the glass with seven rebounds. Andy Thomson (Esh Group Eagles Newcastle)
The Manchester-born forward was also on fire against Flyers and also secures his second appearance in our starting five after a dazzling inside-outside shooting effort. Thomson really did punish his opponents with some devastating work in the early stages, eventually harvesting 24 points – including a deadly four of five from behind the three-point line. He was also just one rebound shy of a double-double and dished up three assists. Demond Watt (London Lions)
Troubled by a serious injury for the first part of the campaign, our 2014-15 season leader finally makes a starting debut this time around. Watt really did light it up for London Lions as they halted the stunning winning streak of Sheffield Sharks, with the forward unstoppable under the basket. He went a scintillating seven of eight inside, en-route to 16 points. He also sealed a classy double-double with 11 rebounds and chipped in two assists and two blocks. Kieron Achara (Glasgow Rocks)
It’s the third appearance of the campaign in our starting five for the Great Britain star, who posted the best performance of the entire weekend. He was the difference-maker in a hard-fought home win at the Emirates Arena against Surrey Scorchers. Achara finished the contest with a brilliant 30-point haul, accumulated from a terrific 60% shooting performance. He also pulled down eight rebounds and swatted four shots. Off the bench – Trevor Gruis (Leicester Riders), Rob Marsden (Leeds Force), Javier Mugica (Worcester Wolves), Cory Dixon (Plymouth University Raiders), Callum Jones (Manchester Giants), Akeem Ellis (Cheshire Phoenix), Mike Tuck (Sheffield Sharks)
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