Basketball: Longpre leaves Lions in the lurch

The Milton Keynes Lions' attempt to beat the Plymouth Raiders for eighth place in the BBL Championship and the last qualifying spot for the play-offs suffered two setbacks this week.

First, the Lions' American rookie Brett Longpre left for home. Then the Birmingham Bullets' coach Darran Ling dropped his Americans, LaTaryl Williams and Johnny Phillips, ahead of their game at Plymouth tonight.

Longpre, a 6ft 5in guard from Pennsylvania, was the Lions' leading scorer, the second best free-throw shooter in the BBL and was ranked 13th in the three-point shooting stats.

The Lions' head coach Nigel Lloyd said: "It is a shame Brett has made this decision, especially without consulting myself or the management. The coaching staff has worked hard with him throughout the season and I know the club has taken care of all his needs. However, it is up to him."

The Lions' owner, Vince Macauley-Razaq, said: "I feel sorry for his team-mates that he has let down as well as everyone connected with the club, especially at this time as we look set for the play-offs. The lads will have to work even harder."

New day (slowly) rising – As Brasileirão gets underway, Brazilian football stumbles, rather than leaps into the future

The average Serie A crowd last year was 13,000 - comparable to Australia’s A-League.

by James Young

24 May 2013 04:31 PM

iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco

Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...

by Gareth Purnell

24 May 2013 02:00 AM

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages

Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...

by Martin Ayres

23 May 2013 05:29 PM

Most Viewed
Most Shared
Most Commented

Get your summer started with British Military Fitness

BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes

Visit York Nook Get reading

Prizes & offers Business videos

Visit York

Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world

Military Fitness Nook Get reading

Prizes & offers Business videos

Making reading fun for kids

Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.

Military Fitness Visit York Get reading

Prizes & offers Business videos

Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign

Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.

Military Fitness Visit York Nook

Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Military Fitness Visit York Nook

Get reading Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Military Fitness Visit York Nook

Get reading Prizes & offers

Independent Dating

Show Me

Between: and

Location:

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.