Premier League Three Horse Race To the Finish: Phoenix, Belfast Star and Ballymena
Three teams are neck and neck down the stretch of the BNI Premier Men’s league. With one win separating all three teams with with three or four games left for teams, the Men’s premier league is set up to be a nail biter.
1 | ![]() | ![]() | Phoenix BC | 13P | 11W | 2L |
2 | ![]() | ![]() | Belfast Star | 13P | 11W | 2L |
3 | ![]() | ![]() | Ballymena BC | 12P | 10W | 2L |
Ballymena BC and Belfast Star have the toughest run in with two of the remaining three games against each other with Star still to play against UU Tigers and Ballymena to play away to Omagh Thunder. Meanwhile Belfast Phoenix have to catch up on a game against Tyrone Towers and have to also play away games to BC Wolves and Queens BC.
Queens BC sit just beneath the leading pack with an 8-6 record meanwhile relegation is far from settled. Northstar Warriors and Omagh Thunder have had a steady return as both teams are in their first time back in Premier league after a number of years absent with BC Wolves sandwiched between them, as they are not having their normal run of form in the Premier League after having a number of years as back to back champions. Ulster University Tigers and Tyrone Towers finish off the season in 8th and 9th place.
Bangor City Warriors Claim Division 1 Title In First Ever Season
Bangor City Warriors recently claimed the BNI D1 title in their first year. The North Down based team formed in 2023 and have been nothing short of dominant in their first year. Their impressive 11-2 record sees them crowned champions with 1 game to spare.
We spoke to head coach, Nick Compton, about the excitement around the teams first year and reaching their first piece of silverware in what has been a very successful and exciting first season for the Bangor City Warriors.
“We have a blend of experienced and young local basketball players who have played together for the last few years in Bangor that decided to make the jump and compete in local Basketball NI leagues. We could not have anticipated the success with have had early on but are very excited with the Division 1 title this season. It has been fantastic to bring basketball back to North Down. Ours Men’s teams offer a great example for our U16 and U14 teams of what to work to. We hope to grow and develop the club in the coming years giving people an opportunity to play basketball in North Down. The success of the men’s team this season will act as a springboard for the club and future seasons to come. Go Warriors!”
Nick Compton, Bangor City Warriors Head Coach
Bangor will face off against Queens BC in the playoffs this year while Ballymena 2, North-Star Warriors 2, BC Wolves and UU Tigers 3 jostle around for the middle of pack. Tyrone Towers 2 and UU Tigers 2 currently sit at the bottom of the table.
The next set of fixtures are as follows:
19/02 | University Ulster Tigers 2 v Queens BC |
29/02 | Bangor City Warriors v University Ulster Tigers 3 |
02/03 | BC Wolves v University Ulster Tigers 2 |
Fliers Fly High with Perfect Season
Newry Fliers are just one win away from a perfect season after winning all 14 of their games so far. Paul Crawley’s last year with the South Down side is going to perfect plan as the team just have to see off their close neighbours Mourne BC in their final game.
1 | ![]() | ![]() | Newry Fliers | 14P | 14W | 0L | 909F | 516A | 42Pts |
New faces to Basketball NI Mourne, Antrim Jets, Poyntzpass Pumas and Magherafelt Titans as well as stallworts Lurgan Lakers are moving steady along and finding their feet in the league picking up their fair share of wins and losses battling it out against each other.
All leagues will draw to close and winners will be crowned before the commencement of the BNI Playoffs in March.
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