2004–05 British Basketball League season

BBL seasons

2013–14 • 2012–13 • 2011–12

2010–11 • 2009–10 • 2008–09

2007–08 • 2006–07 • 2005–06

2004–05 • 2003–04 • 2002–03

2001–02 • 2000–01 • 1999–00

1998–99 • 1997–98 • 1996–97

1995–96 • 1994–95 • 1993–94

1992–93 • 1991–92 • 1990–91

1989–90 • 1988–89 • 1987–88

The 2004-2005 season was the 18th campaign in the history of the British Basketball League, which commenced on October 2, 2004, and ended with Newcastle Eagles' win in the Play-off Final on May 1, 2005. Eagles won their first piece of silverware in 13 years with victories in the Play-offs and the BBL Trophy, against Brighton Bears on their home court at The Brighton Centre.^[1]

The League saw the addition of a new franchise for the first time in eight years - when Edinburgh Rocks joined in 1998 - with Plymouth Raiders stepping up from the English Basketball League Division 1.

Contents 1 Teams 2 Notable occurrences 3 BBL Championship 3.1 Final standings 3.2 The Play-offs 3.2.1 Quarter-finals 3.2.2 Semi-finals 3.2.3 Final 4 BBL Cup 4.1 Final 5 BBL Trophy 5.1 Final 6 Statistics leaders 7 References

Teams

Team	City/Area	Arena	Capacity	Last season
Birmingham Bullets	Birmingham	North Solihull Sports Centre	1,000	10th
Brighton Bears	Brighton	The Brighton Centre & Burgess Hill Triangle	3,600 1,800	1st
Chester Jets	Chester	Northgate Arena	1,300	5th
Leicester Riders	Leicester	John Sanford Centre	800	9th
London Towers	London	Crystal Palace NSC Arena	3,500	3rd
Milton Keynes Lions	Milton Keynes	Bletchley Centre	800	8th
Newcastle Eagles	Newcastle upon Tyne	Telewest Arena	6,500	6th
Plymouth Raiders	Plymouth	Pavilions	1,480	New
Scottish Rocks	Glasgow	Braehead Arena	4,000	4th
Sheffield Sharks	Sheffield	Hallam FM Arena & Ponds Forge	8,500 1,600	2nd
Thames Valley Tigers	Bracknell	John Nike Sports Centre	1,000	7th

Notable occurrences

• Following the withdrawal of major sponsor, Brighton Bears pulled out of the FIBA Europe League just weeks before the start of the tournament, meaning that no British teams would be competing in European competition for the current season.^[2]
• Plymouth Raiders played, and won, their first game in the BBL on October 2, 2004, beating the visiting Milton Keynes Lions in a low-scoring game that finished 63-46 in favour of the rookies.^[3]
• The first piece of silverware up for gabs, the BBL Cup, was won by Brighton Bears after defeating Scottish Rocks, 90-74 in the Final at the National Indoor Arena, in Birmingham.
• Newcastle Eagles won their first title in 13 years after upsetting Brighton in the BBL Trophy Final, which was played at The Brighton Centre. Eagles ran out 85-60 winners in a very one-sided spectacle.
• leicester riders moved back to the city of leicester after securing a venue and sponsorship with dmu

BBL Championship

Final standings

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	Percentage
1. Chester Jets	64	40	32	8	0.800
2. Newcastle Eagles	62	40	31	9	0.775
3. London Towers	58	40	29	11	0.725
4. Sheffield Sharks	52	40	26	14	0.650
5. Brighton Bears	44	40	22	18	0.550
6. Scottish Rocks	38	40	19	21	0.475
7. Thames Valley Tigers	36	40	18	22	0.450
8. Milton Keynes Lions	30	40	15	25	0.375
9. Plymouth Raiders	24	40	12	28	0.300
10. Leicester Riders	22	40	11	29	0.275
11. Birmingham Bullets	10	40	5	35	0.125

	= League winners
	= Qualified for the Play-offs

The Play-offs

	Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
	1	Chester Jets	81
	8	Milton Keynes Lions	71
						1	Chester Jets	74
						6	Scottish Rocks	72
	3	London Towers	63
	6	Scottish Rocks	65
											1	Chester Jets	75
											2	Newcastle Eagles	78
	2	Newcastle Eagles	105
	7	Thames Valley Tigers	72
						2	Newcastle Eagles	75
						4	Sheffield Sharks	65
	4	Sheffield Sharks	91
	5	Brighton Bears	56

Quarter-finals

April 15, 2005

Newcastle Eagles

105–72

Thames Valley Tigers

Telewest Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne

April 16, 2005

London Towers

63–65

Scottish Rocks

Crystal Palace NSC Arena, London

April 16, 2005

Sheffield Sharks

91–56

Brighton Bears

Ponds Forge, Sheffield

April 17, 2005

Chester Jets

81–71

Milton Keynes Lions

Northgate Arena, Chester

Semi-finals

April 30, 2005

Chester Jets

74–72

Scottish Rocks

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

April 30, 2005

Newcastle Eagles

75–65

Sheffield Sharks

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

Final

May 1, 2005	Report	Chester Jets	75–78	Newcastle Eagles		National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
		Scoring by quarter: 14-13, 24-24, 22-18, 15-23
		Pts: Charles Smith, 22		Pts: Julius Joseph, 21

BBL Cup

Final

January 16, 2005	Report	Brighton Bears	90–74	Scottish Rocks		National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
		Pts: Andrew Alleyne, 27		Pts: Donald Cole, 22

BBL Trophy

Final

March 6, 2005	Report	Brighton Bears	60–85	Newcastle Eagles		The Brighton Centre, Brighton
		Pts: Ronnie Baker, 21		Pts: Jeremy Hyatt, 22

Statistics leaders

Category	Player	Stat
Points per game	Trey Moore (Chester Jets)	22.8
Rebounds per game	Terrence Durham (Plymouth Raiders)	13.6
Assists per game	TJ Walker (Newcastle Eagles)	7.3

References

Preceded by 2003-04 BBL season

BBL seasons 2004-05

Succeeded by 2005-06 BBL season

2011–12 British Basketball League Cheshire Jets · Durham Wildcats · Glasgow Rocks · Guildford Heat · Leicester Riders Mersey Tigers · Milton Keynes Lions · Newcastle Eagles · Plymouth Raiders · Sheffield Sharks · Worcester Wolves