Lancashire will face the Derby Trailblazers at Noel-Baker School in the first-round of the National Basketball League playoffs on Saturday, tipoff scheduled for 7.15pm.
After finishing in a four-way tie with Northumbria, Essex and London, who all had a 16-10 record in league play, the Spinners (25-12) edged out Lituanica for the seventh-seed on points difference, and will avoid the regular season champions Manchester Magic.
The second-seed Derby (25-12, 19-7) defeated Lancashire 78-66 on Mar. 12, though the Bury-based squad holds a 2-1 record against its playoff opponent following National Trophy and a league win, which both came at Castle Leisure Centre.
“I think our win over Essex – which was the performance of the season – gives the guys a load of momentum heading into the playoffs,” said Lancashire general manager Ken Masser. “The players did great all season and are deservedly rewarded with a chance to claim that elusive trophy.”
The Spinners’ run in the National Cup was ended in the quarterfinals against Manchester whilst Reading knocked Lancashire out of the National Trophy in January.
Lancashire was 10-7 on the road this season, including the Mar. 22 forfeit at Magic. But it had a 0-4 record away from home against the top four teams in Division One.
Following their rebrand in 2014, the Spinners marched to the finals and won the 2015 Patrons Cup, which was the club’s first national title. They then finished as runners-up to Lituanica in the Division Two playoffs.
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