1987–88 British Basketball League 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.

1987–88 British Basketball League season
LeagueBritish Basketball League
SportBasketball
Number of teams15
Roll of Honour
BBL championsPortsmouth
Play Off's championsLivingston
National Cup championsKingston
BBL Trophy championsLivingston

Portsmouth, reigning champions of the English League claimed the regular season title with a dominating campaign led by the likes of Alan Cunningham and Colin Irish. 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
PosTeamPldWL%PFPAPts
1Portsmouth F.C. 282620.9282677218952
2Kingston 282440.8572931247548
3Livingston 282260.7852762229944
4Manchester United 282170.7502718234542
5Calderdale Explorers 282080.7142694225640
6Bracknell Tigers 2817110.6072623243534
7Birmingham Bullets 2814140.5002638275728
8Solent Stars 2814140.5002638275728
9Leicester City Riders 2814140.5002780267828
10Bolton & Bury Giants 2812160.4282460248524
11Hemel & Watford Royals 289190.3212647289318
12Sunderland 76ers 288200.2852588290516
13Derby Rams 284240.142206226408
14Oldham Celtics 283250.107243530406
15Crystal Palace 282260.071228129814
= League winners
= Qualified for the Play-offs

National League (Tier 2)

Aberdare, Brixton TopCats, Cardiff, Ellesmere Port, Gateshead, Market Harborough, Plymouth Raiders, Stevenage, Tower Hamlets, Worthing Bears

Carlsberg League Play-offs

Quarter-finals

(1) Portsmouth vs. (8) Solent Stars

Solent Stars 103–113 Portsmouth
Portsmouth win series, 2–0

(2) Kingston vs. (7) Birmingham Bullets

Kingston 114–102 Birmingham Bullets
Kingston win series, 2–0

(3) Livingston vs. (6) Bracknell Tigers

Livingston 92–67 Bracknell Tigers
Livingston win series, 2–1

(4) Manchester United vs. (5) Calderdale Explorers

Manchester United 83–73 Calderdale Explorers
Manchester win series, 2–0

Semi-finals
9 April 1988
Portsmouth 98–90 Manchester United
9 April 1988
Kingston 88–101 Livingston

Final
10 April 1988[2]
Murray International Metals Livingston 81–72 Portsmouth
Pts: Graeme Hill (MVP) 23, Rolton Way 23, Tommy Collier 12, Lewis Young 11 Pts: Colin Irish 28, Alan Cunningham 18, Rich Strong 12
Wembley Arena
Attendance: ?
Livingston Coach Jody Gardner
Portsmouth Coach Dan Lloyd

Prudential National Cup

Second Round
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Loftys Travel Ellesmere PortSunderland 76er's94-99
Leicester City RidersIIIE Gateshead105-73
Sharp Manchester UnitedBPCC Derby Rams114-72
Drapers Tools Solent StarsBrunel Crystal Palace London117-98
Alphaprint Hemel Hempstead Watford RoyalsJHB Oil Plymouth106-79
Calderdale ExplorersOldham Celtics95-78
North London CollegePolycell Kingston70-137
PortsmouthBracknell Tigers85-82

Quarter Finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Polycell KingstonAlphaprint Hemel Hempstead Watford Royals108-100
Sharp Manchester UnitedCalderdale Explorers83-80
Leicester City RidersSolent Stars104-93
PortsmouthSunderland 76er's98-88

Semi Finals
Team 1 Team 2 Score
Polycell KingstonLeicester City Riders109-91
PortsmouthSharp Manchester United107-90

Final
14 December 1987[3]
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 1

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Calderdale Explorers 106510.833
2. Manchester United 106510.833
3. Bolton & Bury Giants 46240.333
4. Oldham Celtics 06060.000

North Group 2

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Livingston 126601.000
2. Leicester City Riders 66330.500
3. Sunderland 76ers 66330.500
4. Derby Rams 06060.000

South Group 1

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Kingston 126601.000
2. Hemel & Watford Royals 46240.333
3. Crystal Palace 46240.333
4. Birmingham Bullets 46240.333

South Group 2

Team Pts Pld W L Percent
1. Portsmouth 84401.000
2. Bracknell Tigers 44220.500
3. Solent Stars 04040.000

Semi-finals

Calderdale Explorers vs. Livingston

Livingston 90–67 Calderdale Explorers
Livingston win on aggregate, 158–142

Kingston vs. Portsmouth

Kingston 80–74 Portsmouth
Portsmouth win on aggregate, 168–167

Final
30 March 1988
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
  1. BBL Media Guide 2003/04, page 15
  2. "Nicholas Harling. "Gardner is off to the quiet life." Times [London, England] 12 Apr. 1988". The Times Digital Archive.
  3. "Nicholas Harling. "Kingston's cup with four in a row record." Times [London, England] 15 Dec. 1987". The Times Digital Archive.
Preceded by
1986–1987 season		 BBL seasons
1987–88		 Succeeded by
1988–89 season
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