EVERTON TIGERS - HISTORY IN THE MAKING

The Everton Tigers is a professional basketball team based in the city of Liverpool and plays in the British Basketball League, the UK’s only professional league.

The club is an Official Partner of the Everton Football Club and can trace its roots back to 1968 as part of the Toxteth Tigers community youth programme.

Formation

The Everton Tigers officially began in June 2007, and was formed to build upon the good work of the Toxteth Tigers.

First season - 2007-08

The first Everton Tigers squad were presented, by Coach Henry Mooney, to the public at Goodison Park on 20th September in the UEFA Cup home game against FC Metalist Kharkiv. And their first competitive match was on 29th September 2007 away to neighbouring EBL team Manchester Magic which resulted in a very close 71-76 victory.

The Tigers' first BBL match, however, was an away defeat to Plymouth Raiders on 6th October, and their first home game, at Greenbank Sports Academy on 12th October also ended in defeat to London Capital 58-69. Their first historic BBL win occurred in their game, against ,

The debut season continued well with some notable highlights, such as the Tigers first game at the Echo Arena against the Cheshire Jets which was also the first time the Tigers featured in a live televised broadcast on Setanta Sports on 19th March 2008. Although they lost 80-103, this game had the highest basketball attendance in the UK since that legendary Manchester Giants/Sheffield Sharks play-off final.

The team completed their first season with a 16-17 record, finishing in 7th place and qualifying for the end-of-season Play-off’s although their first and last game in the play-offs was an 81-72 away to eventual champions Guildford Heat.

Second season - 2008-09 season - BBL CUP WINNERS

The second season began by appointing Tony Garbelotto, assistant coach of Great Britain, as the new first team coach, with Henry Mooney becoming Head of Basketball Development.

A new look squad started their season once again with a friendly with Manchester Magic at the Echo Arena, going down to a 61-65 defeat.

However, the league campaign began with a 61-80 away win against Sheffield Sharks in Sheffield, and a home victory against London Capital 107-69 at Greenbank.

The season progressed strongly, and the Tigers were always in contention in the League, finishing with a 24-9 record, and runners-up spot to the Newcastle Eagles, who were mostly their nemesis throughout the season – apart from one unforgettable game.

The Tigers had progressed past Sheffield (69-88) and MK Lions (75-97) in the BBL Cup, and faced Newcastle who edged the semi-final first leg with a 112-105 victory at the Metro Radio Arena. The Greenbank return produced a thrilling performance and a 97-86 victory for an aggregate 202-198 win and a first BBL Cup Final against the Plymouth Raiders.

On 18th January 2009, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham the Tigers claimed their first silverware in a devastating performance by beating the Raiders 103-49.

They recording the biggest winning margin in BBL Cup Final history, the most points, and the least conceded.

Newcastle restored their order by defeating the Tigers in the BBL Trophy semi-final, however.

However, having secured the runners-up spot, Everton then qualified for their first ever Play-off Final, facing Newcastle Eagles in an exhilarating Championship Game.

Newcastle looked the much stronger team for the first three-quarters, and led 70-52 entering the fourth, but led by GB international and Tigers captain Richard Midgley and his 36-point haul - a new record in Play-off Final history - Everton were a missed 3 point attempt on the buzzer from overtime, and just lost 87-84.

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE BBL CUP WIN 2008/09

Third season - 2009-10 season - Play-Offs Champions

Everton Tigers finished the 2009/10 season on a high by claiming the BBL Championship Play-off title with an 80-72 victory over Glasgow Rocks at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on Saturday.

Tigers' success came thanks in no small part to Kevin Bell, who scored 18 points and contributed 4 assists, a performance that secured him the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

"It's a great way to end the season," Tigers Head Coach Tony Garbelotto enthused after the game. "I'm proud of the guys and happy for the fans, who got their rewards for their efforts."

For Everton, this success helps to make up for last year's disappointment, when they finished as runners-up to Newcastle Eagles. Tigers secured their place in today's Final courtesy of wins over Cheshire Jets and reigning Champions Newcastle Eagles.

Tigers were fastest out of the traps. They scored ten of the first 13 points and then enjoyed a 13-0 tear later in the first quarter to lead 23-7. In that second tear, Everton hit two three-pointers from Kevin Bell and James Jones and Bell almost got a third, but was judged to be inside the arc.

Trailing 23-9 after the opening stanza, Rocks kept pace in the early exchanges of the second period. However, Tigers were soon extending their advantage, taking it out to as many as 22 points at 45-23. Trey Moore bagged two three-pointers in that streak. Player/Coach Sterling Davis showed himself to be Rocks' brightest scoring prospect in the first half, but still Glasgow trailed 45-28 at half-time.

The game turned on its head in the third quarter and the shots that had previously been going in failed to drop for Tigers. Glasgow cut the deficit down to single figures at 49-40 to Everton. Jessie Sapp then hit back-to-back three pointers as that gap was cut still further to 54-49 with 1.45 to go in the quarter.

Rocks trailed by just three points at the end of the third quarter at 56-53, and Rob Yanders levelled the game at the start of the final period. A Mike Crowell three-pointer gave them their first lead of the game at 59-58 soon after. Suddenly long range shots were starting to fall for the Scots, having been 0 from 15 attempts in the first half.

It set up a gripping finale, but Everton were not ready to throw in the towel. They hit a string of threes of their own, notably from Kevin Bell, Trey Moore and Andrew Thomson. Six unanswered points saw Tigers re-take the lead and with less than one minute to go they had re-established a double digit lead at 77-66. Copeland and Yanders both fouled out for Rocks, as Tigers made the result sure from the foul line.

Trey Moore was the game's top scorer, with 22 for Tigers; Rob Yanders topped the scoring for Rocks with 15.

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE BBL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS WIN 2009/10

EVERTON TIGERS SEASON BY SEASON RECORDS
SEASON	DIV	POS	P	W	L	PTS	PLAY-OFFS	BBL TROPHY	BBL CUP
2007/08	BBL	7th	33	16	17	32	Q-FINAL	1st ROUND	1st ROUND
2008/09	BBL	2nd	33	24	9	48	RUNNERS-UP	SEMI-FINALS	WINNERS
2009/10	BBL	5th	36	21	15	42	WINNERS	SEMI-FINALS	Q FINALS