Surry Scorchers 87 Leeds Force 80: Force lose out after two games in 24 hours

Coach Matt Newby’s men made the 200-mile trip south to take on the Scorchers after the tie was rescheduled.

If the Force had a full week’s rest behind them like their opponents you wonder if the scoreline may have been different.

Nevertheless Leeds grew into the game after finding themselves 10-3 down early on as Chaz Rollins scored the opening three baskets for the home side.

Leeds then hit their stride as they closed the game on Surrey and came within two points of levelling the game.

Tayo Ogedengbe slammed the ball home to open a four- point lead but the Force hit back and levelled the game at 16-16.

Only a Quincy Taylor basket in the last 30 seconds of the first gave the Scorchers the lead after the opening 10 minutes.

Both teams continued to hit baskets in the second as they went toe to toe but Surrey remained one point ahead of Leeds.

Jermaine Sanders then gave the Force the lead for the first time in the game as they opened a four-point lead over their hosts.

A late seven-point run gave Surrey a four-point lead at the break as Tayo sunk a buzzer- beater triple.

Surrey came out hard in the third as they went on a 11-4 run as they opened a 11-point lead as Leeds struggled to get going in the quarter.

Eddie Matthew started the comeback as the Force rallied and eventually levelled the game through a three-point play from Rob Marsden, above.

Surrey held a slender lead going into the final quarter which was wiped out immediately by Matthew at the start of the quarter.

But coach Matt Newby’s Leeds then understandably tired but kept pace closing an 11-point game to just seven but the Scorchers had just too much for the Force and took the all-important series and points.