Essex Leopards continue to push for runners up spot (From Echo)

Essex Leopards continue to push for runners up spot

1:00pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport By Chris Phillips

ESSEX Leopards will continue their push for the runners-up spot in EBL Division One when Worthing Thunder visit the Brentwood Centre on Sunday.

An 81-71 victory at Westminster Warriors saw Robert Youngblood’s team pick up their eighth win in 10 games last weekend and kept alive their hopes of home-court advantage in the play-offs.

The game against Worthing will be the second half of a weekend double for the Big Cats as they also travel to Bristol on Saturday for another key game against the Flyers.

The two sides are locked in fifth place with 13-8 records and a victory on Saturday would give the Big Cats the head-to-head decider if the teams finish level.

The sides met in Southend a month ago and a thrilling game saw two late free-throws from Greg Hernandez seal a 68-65 victory for the Leopards.

After several recent comeback victories, Leopards nearly had the tables turned on them at Westminster on Sunday as they let a big lead slip before eventually winning their fourth straight game.

The Big Cats led by 15 midway through the third period but saw their lead cut to one with three minutes remaining before wrapping the game up with a 9-0 run.

Carl Josey led the visitors with 23 points, with Simon Cummings adding 21 and Hernandez 15.