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EABL Playoffs 2021/22 – Final Four preview plus Elite Eight recap

The EABL playoffs are finally upon us, and they certainly lived up to the hype in the opening round this past week.

The field was narrowed from eight to four this past Wednesday, with the final fours scheduled for next week as the survivors battle for a spot in the EABL playoff final in Manchester.

We’ve got a preview of the semi-finals, with a pair of exciting match-ups on tap.

There’s also a recap of all the action from this past week, and each score is clickable to access the top scorers/box score where available.

Final Four Preview

The Final Fours are scheduled for Wednesday, 23 March. For both games, the higher seed will retain home court advantage.

With three teams from the North all progressing, we’re set for some great looking ties next week.

Barking and Charnwood will be penning another chapter in one of the most storied rivalries in the EABL, with the two sides unable to cross paths since the famous 2019 final.

The Riders denied BA a third-straight EABL title that day, and no doubt the East London programme would like a little bit of payback and the chance to reach another showpiece in the process.

Myerscough host Sheffield in the other tie, though no doubt the visitors will go into this one confident of getting a positive result.

2019/20 co-champions Myerscough only lost twice in the regular season, once to top seeds Charnwood but also away to Sheffield, going down 81-75 thanks to an 18 point, 18 rebound effort from Charles Okafor.

‘Sco did win the return leg in the North West, 86-66, setting the scene for what should be a brilliant third and final instalment of their season series.

The EABL playoff final is on Wednesday 30 March, at Manchester’s National Basketball Performance Centre.

Elite Eight recap

#1 Oaklands College 79-86 #4 The Sheffield College

#1 seeds from the Southern conference Oaklands College fell at the first hurdle of the post season as they lost 86-79 at home to Sheffield College.

28 points from Declan Kom led the way for the North’s #4 seeds, with 17 more from Mahamud Ibrahim and 16 from former Player of the Week Charles Okafor.

Oliver Wright’s game-high 30 points weren’t enough to stop Oaklands from going one and done after a 10-2 regular season.

Kane Daley added 19 for the hosts, with Seth Wylie scoring 12 more.

#1 Charnwood College Riders 104-72 John Madejski Academy

Charnwood moved on to the final fours after a comfortable 104-72 victory at home to John Madejski Academy.

The Northern conference winners converted 20 points from Dan Hadley and 15 more from Kanu Gudza into a spot in the next round, with 22 points from Isaac Round proving not enough for JMA.

The win sets up a mouth-watering tie between Charnwood and Barking, a repeat of the 2019 EABL final that produced one of the biggest comeback in the competition’s history.

#2 Barking Abbey 71-67 #3 Derby College Trailblazers

Barking survived a close call at home to Derby, eventually escaping with a 71-67 win.

After the visitors took the opening quarter 18-14, BA clicked into gear and used a 24-15 second to put themselves back in control.

18 points from eventual top scorer Joe Buchanan would be key to the East London programme sealing the W, with Cem Uner adding 14 more.

Simeon Perry was the standout for Derby, he had 18 points alongside Mandre Costa who closed with 17.

#2 Myerscough College 90-68 #3 Itchen College

25 points from Juelz Robinson allowed Myerscough to ease past Itchen College 90-68.

A 32-17 opening quarter put the South’s #3 seeds into a hole they’d never escape from, allowing ‘Sco to book a home tie with Sheffield in the final fours.

Denzel Dangana’s 18 points powered the visitors, with LA Casinillo (14pts) and Zak Missouri (9pts) also playing well.

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