EBL Division Two Ipswich 85 Birmingham Mets 65 Ipswich played their final home game of the season on Saturday in front of another packed gym at Copleson, taking an emphatic 20-point win against the Birmingham Mets.

East Anglian Daily Times: The match sponsor, Alton 5 Star Windows, presented a cheque for £250 to the teamThe match sponsor, Alton 5 Star Windows, presented a cheque for £250 to the team (Image: Archant)

The game started with Ipswich racing out of the blocks. Captain Tom Sadler nailed three quick mid-range jump shots and combined that with a huge block that had the crowd on its feet as Ipswich quickly ran out to a double-figure lead.

With Josh Johnson finding his teammates with ease, Sam Newman was able to continue his deadly accuracy from the three point line while Sadler continued to dominate.

Ipswich were firing on all cylinders as they opened up a 26-11 lead by the end of the period.

In the second quarter Ipswich continued their offensive efficiency but their defence took a turn for the worse as Birmingham made a series of three-pointers. Ipswich held a 49-34 half-time edge.

The third quarter saw Ipswich re-establish their dominance behind the play of Leigh Greenan, Luke Mascall-Wright and the brilliance of Colin Dockrell, who connected on eight straight points including an off-balance hail-mary shot at the end of the shot clock that again lifted the big crowd. Ipswich now led 68-46.

In the fourth quarter Ipswich extended their lead to 30 points before Coach Nick Drane opted to rest his starters.

Bobby Ralston was given his first game of the season and Rory Winter also enjoyed some minutes as the Suffolk side eventually finished the job with a winning margin of 85-65.

Drane said: “We played really well today. We haven’t achieved our goal of promotion but with three games to go we are still very much in the hunt for that third place and a good home draw in the playoffs.”

With Derby Arrows dropping a third straight game Ipswich sit in third place in EBL Division Two. If they win all their remaining games they will finish the season with the same record as last year.