Sports season
The 1987–1988 BBL season was the first season of the British Basketball League (known as the Carlsberg League for sponsorship reasons), a breakaway competition formed by teams from the English National League and the Scottish National League . The season featured a total of 15 teams, playing 28 games each.
Portsmouth , reigning champions of the English League claimed the regular season title with a dominating campaign led by the likes of Alan Cunningham and . They weren't able to repeat their success in the post-season Play-off's as third-seed Livingston , the reigning Scottish champions, caused a huge upset with an 81–72 win over Portsmouth in the Final.[1] Kingston won their fourth consecutive National Cup and Livingston claimed the inaugural BBL Trophy.
In the National League (the tier below the Carlsberg League) the Worthing Bears won the league with a 100% (18–0) record and in the play-off semi-final Billy Hungrecker scored a record 73 points in a 119–110 overtime win over Plymouth Raiders , before defeating Brixton TopCats in the final.
Carlsberg League (Tier 1) [ ]
Final standings [ ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
L
%
PF
PA
Pts
1
Portsmouth F.C.
28
26
2
0.928
2677
2189
52
2
Kingston
28
24
4
0.857
2931
2475
48
3
Livingston
28
22
6
0.785
2762
2299
44
4
Manchester United
28
21
7
0.750
2718
2345
42
5
Calderdale Explorers
28
20
8
0.714
2694
2256
40
6
Bracknell Tigers
28
17
11
0.607
2623
2435
34
7
Birmingham Bullets
28
14
14
0.500
2638
2757
28
8
Solent Stars
28
14
14
0.500
2638
2757
28
9
Leicester City Riders
28
14
14
0.500
2780
2678
28
10
Bolton & Bury Giants
28
12
16
0.428
2460
2485
24
11
Hemel & Watford Royals
28
9
19
0.321
2647
2893
18
12
Sunderland 76ers
28
8
20
0.285
2588
2905
16
13
Derby Rams
28
4
24
0.142
2062
2640
8
14
28
3
25
0.107
2435
3040
6
15
Crystal Palace
28
2
26
0.071
2281
2981
4
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs
National League (Tier 2) [ ]
Final standings [ ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
L
%
Pts
1
Worthing Bears
18
18
0
1.000
36
2
Brixton Topcats
18
14
4
0.778
28
3
Tower Hamlets
18
12
6
0.667
24
4
Plymouth Raiders
18
12
6
0.667
24
5
Gateshead
18
11
7
0.611
22
6
Aberdare
18
9
9
0.500
18
7
Ellesmere Port Jets
18
7
11
0.389
14
8
Market Harborough
18
3
15
0.167
6
9
Cardiff
18
2
16
0.111
4
10
Stevenage
18
2
16
0.111
4
Carlsberg League Play-offs [ ]
Quarter-finals [ ]
(1) Portsmouth vs. (8) Solent Stars
(2) Kingston vs. (7) Birmingham Bullets
(3) Livingston vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers
Livingston
92 –67
Bracknell Tigers
Livingston win series, 2–1
(4) Manchester United vs. (5) Calderdale Explorers
Semi-finals [ ]
Final [ ]
Wembley Arena Attendance: ?
Livingston Coach
Jody Gardner Portsmouth Coach
Dan Lloyd
Second Round [ ]
Quarter Finals [ ]
Polycell Kingston
108–100
Alphaprint H. Hempstead Watford Royals
Sharp Manchester United
83–80
Calderdale Explorers
Leicester City Riders
104–93
Drapers Tools Solent Stars
Portsmouth
98–88
Sunderlands 76ers
Semi Finals [ ]
Polycell Kingston
109–91
Leicester City Riders
Portsmouth
107–90
Sharp Manchester United
Final [ ]
Kingston
90–84
Portsmouth
Pts : Martin Clark 31, Joel Moore 25, Danny Davis 11, Steve Bontrager 11
Pts: Alan Cunningham 32, Mike Spaid 14, Karl Tatham 11, Rich Strong 10, Marc Glass 10, Colin Irish 2
Royal Albert Hall , London
Attendance: 5,000
Kingston Coach
Kevin Cadle Portsmouth Coach
Dan Lloyd
NatWest Trophy [ ]
Group stage [ ]
North Group 2
Team
Pts
Pld
W
L
Percent
1. Livingston
12
6
6
0
1.000
2. Leicester City Riders
6
6
3
3
0.500
3. Sunderland 76ers
6
6
3
3
0.500
4. Derby Rams
0
6
0
6
0.000
South Group 2
Team
Pts
Pld
W
L
Percent
1. Portsmouth
8
4
4
0
1.000
2. Bracknell Tigers
4
4
2
2
0.500
3. Solent Stars
0
4
0
4
0.000
Semi-finals [ ]
Calderdale Explorers vs. Livingston
Kingston vs. Portsmouth
Kingston
80 –74
Portsmouth
Portsmouth win on aggregate, 168–167
Final [ ]
Livingston
96 –91
Portsmouth
Pts : Rolton Way 35, Tommy Collier 19, Lewis Young 17
Pts: Alan Cunningham 32, Marc Glass 25, Colin Irish 24
Aston Villa Leisure Centre ,
Birmingham Attendance: 2,000
Livingston Coach
Jody Gardner Portsmouth Coach
Dan Lloyd
Seasonal awards [ ]
References [ ]
Preceded by
BBL seasons 1987–88
Succeeded by
Teams Competitions Seasons Awards Other