Milton Keynes Lions

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Milton Keynes Lions

Main Sponsor

Marshall Amplification

League

British Basketball League

Established

1977

History

Hemel Hempstead Lakers
1977-1986
Hemel Royals
1986-1996
Hemel & Watford Royals
1996-1997
Watford Royals
1997-1998
Milton Keynes Lions
1998-present

Arena

Bletchley Centre
(Capacity: 907)

Location

Milton Keynes,
Buckinghamshire

Head Coach

Vince Macaulay-Razaq

Ownership

Vince Macaulay-Razaq

Colours

Black, Gold and White

Website

MKLions.com

Uniforms



Home



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The Milton Keynes Lions, officially called Marshall Milton Keynes Lions for sponsorship reasons, is a basketball team which represents Milton Keynes in the British Basketball League, the top level men's basketball league in the United Kingdom. The club is sponsored by Marshall Amplification.^[1]

1 Franchise history
- 1.1 2007-08 season
- 1.2 New arena
2 Home arenas
3 Season-by-season records
4 Trophies
5 Players
- 5.1 Current roster
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] Franchise history

[edit] 2007-08 season

It was announced on May 8, 2007 that coach Tom Hancock would not coach the Lions for the 2007-08 season, after just one term at the helm.^[2] On May 17, the club declared owner Vince Macaulay-Razaq, a former player and coach of the franchise, would be appointed head coach for the proceeding season.^[3] The signing of Yorick Williams during the pre-season was a massive coup, and for many fans signalled the dawning of a new era for the club. During this exciting time and in preparation for the move to the bran new arena, the club also undertook a rebranding initiative, redesigning the logo and changing the kit colours from the traditional purple and gold, to a more dynamic black, gold and white.

With Macaulay back controlling the club on court as well as off it, the team's standing in the league was immediately matched to his own ambition as the clubs' owner. The veteran team performed sensationally and by the Christmas break they were well in contetition for the league crown, resting in second place behind title-rivals Newcastle Eagles, who coincidently they beat in their first-ever BBL Cup Final appearance at the National Indoor Arena, on January 13, 2008, winning their first trophy in the process.

In the 2007/2008 playoffs, Lions were seeded 4th and faced a home quarter-final tie against Scottish Rocks, live in front of Setanta Sports TV viewers worldwide. Milton Keynes progressed to the Championship finals weekend at the National Indoor Arena, , Birmingham where they defeated league champions Newcastle Eagles on the way to the final where they eventually succombed to Guildford Heat, again live on Setanta Sports. Macaulay was named as BBL's Coach of the Year for the season and is yet to decide if he will return to the coaching role for the club's 2008/2009 campaign. Another highligh of the Lions' most successful season in history was the development of players on their Milton Keynes College Lions Basketball Academy (coached by center Mike New) with 18 year old Greg Harvey progressing onto the Marshall MK Lions roster in the latter months of the season.

[edit] New arena

As of 2008, Lions will be playing at the brand-new 4,500-seat capacity Arena:MK adjacent to the new stadium:mk in Denbigh, Milton Keynes (also home to Milton Keynes Dons F.C. football team). The move to their new home will see Lions play in one of the BBL's biggest, modern venues, rivalling the homes of Scottish Rocks and Newcastle Eagles.

[edit] Home arenas

Bletchley Centre (1998-present)

Arena:MK (From mid-2008)

[edit] Season-by-season records

Season	Div.	Pos.	Pld.	W	L	Pts.	Play Offs	Trophy	Cup
Hemel Royals
1987-1988	BBL	11th	28	9	19	18	DNQ	1st Round	Quarter-final
1988-1989	BBL	7th	20	9	11	18	Quarter-final	1st Round	Semi-final
1989-1990	NBL 1	4th	22	14	8	28	-	Semi-final	1st Round
1990-1991	BBL	8th	24	4	20	8	Quarter-final	1st Round	2nd Round
1991-1992	BBL	7th	30	13	17	26	Quarter-final	1st Round	3rd Round
1992-1993	BBL	12th	33	4	29	8	DNQ	1st Round	3rd Round
1993-1994	BBL	12th	36	3	33	6	DNQ	1st Round	3rd Round
1994-1995	BBL	10th	36	9	27	18	DNQ	1st Round	4th Round
1995-1996	BBL	13th	36	6	30	12	DNQ	1st Round	Quarter-final
Hemel & Watford Royals
1996-1997	BBL	13th	36	2	34	4	DNQ	1st Round	4th Round
Watford Royals
1997-1998	BBL	13th	36	3	33	6	DNQ	1st Round	4th Round
Milton Keynes Lions
1998-1999	BBL	10th	36	10	26	20	DNQ	1st Round	1st Round
1999-2000	BBL S	4th	34	15	19	30	Quarter-final	1st Round	Semi-final
2000-2001	BBL S	3rd	34	21	13	42	1st Round	Quarter-final	1st Round
2001-2002	BBL S	3rd	32	16	16	32	Quarter-final	Runner-up	Quarter-final
2002-2003	BBL	8th	40	12	28	24	Quarter-final	1st Round	1st Round
2003-2004	BBL	8th	36	13	23	26	Quarter-final	1st Round	Quarter-final
2004-2005	BBL	8th	40	15	25	30	Quarter-final	1st Round	Semi-final
2005-2006	BBL	10th	40	16	24	32	DNQ	1st Round	Quarter-final
2006-2007	BBL	6th	36	18	18	36	Quarter-final	1st Round	Quarter-final
2007-2008	BBL	4th	33	19	14	38	Finalists	1st Round	Winners

Notes:

From 1999-2002 the BBL operated a Conference system. Milton Keynes competed in the Southern Conference.
DNQ denotes Did Not Qualify.

[edit] Trophies

[edit] League

None

[edit] Playoffs

BBL Playoffs Finalists: 2007/08 1

[edit] Trophy

BBL Trophy Runners Up: 2001/02 1

[edit] Cup

BBL Cup Winners: 2007/08 1^[4]

[edit] Players

[edit] Current roster

The numbers are established according to the official websites of the team (www.mklions.com) and Britain's top professional league, the BBL (www.bbl.org.uk).

As of March 27, 2008

4	Ronnie Baker	Guard
5	Greg Harvey	Guard
6	Shawn Jamison	Centre
7	Kevin Griffin	Guard/Forward
8	Liam Court	Guard/Forward
9	Robert Youngblood	Forward/Centre
10	Terrell Brown	Guard
11	Dru Spinks	Guard/Forward
12	Yorick Williams	Guard
13	Peter Heizer	Forward
14	Tony Windless	Forward
15	Mike New	Centre
	Daniel Witczak	Guard