Gabe Haskins proved he is clutch when it counts as he nailed a vital game-winning shot for the Cheshire Phoenix with just six seconds remaining.
Captain Chez Marks began the move when he seized a rebound off a missed three-pointer from London Lions’ Adrien Sturt.
Trailing by a point and aware this could be the final meaningful possession of the game having launched a fourth quarter comeback on the road at the Lions, the Phoenix worked the ball up to the other end where Haskins was given the open look to knock down a two-pointer.
The Lions were unable to hit back and the Phoenix strengthened their grip on a play-off place in the BBL Championship.
Haskins wasn’t the only player to step up for Cheshire. Centre Alif Bland led the team in scoring with 22 points.
Jerome Gumbs also demonstrated a return to form with 20 points and eight rebounds and Chez Marks put up 18 points.
Despite these scoring performances the Phoenix were not in control for the entire game.
A four-point first-quarter lead for the visitors to Crystal Palace Sports Centre had gone by half time as the Phoenix trailed 45-40.
With no place for Richard Scantlebury on the Lions bench, Shawn Myers reasserted his status as the leader of the pack pulling down 11 rebounds which proved key to the Phoenix pulling themselves back into the game.
By the end of the third it was 64-58 to the Lions but the Phoenix was rising once more and a 9-1 run in the fourth broke the game open for the visitors before Sturt’s costly decision to shoot the three rather than protect the ball allowed the Phoenix to steal the win.
