Teesside Lions continued their surge in form with back-to-back home victories at the Olympia Arena, defeating Cardiff Archers on Saturday night before following up with another strong performance against Sheffield Sharks II on Sunday. The weekend results mean the Lions have now won four of their last five games, building real momentum as the season progresses.

Saturday’s clash with Cardiff was played in front of a packed Olympia Arena and immediately carried the feel of a big occasion. Teesside started with intent in the opening quarter, pushing the pace and establishing an early rhythm behind the scoring of Mike Hood. Hood set the tone with aggressive drives and confident perimeter shooting as the Lions edged ahead in a fast-paced first period.

Cardiff responded in the second quarter through Gareth Williams and Macaulay Jones, briefly trimming the deficit with improved ball movement and outside shooting. Teesside, however, remained composed. Hood continued to punish defensive lapses, while Miles Felletti added timely baskets to ensure the Lions carried a narrow but important lead into the interval.

The third quarter proved decisive. Teesside tightened up defensively and converted stops into transition points, stretching the game just enough to regain control. Hood’s scoring burst during this spell gave the Lions breathing space, and although Cardiff continued to compete, the momentum had swung firmly towards the hosts.

In the final quarter, Teesside managed the game intelligently. Cardiff made one last push, but the Lions answered every challenge with calm execution, closing out the contest to the delight of the home crowd. Hood finished with a game-high 32 points to earn Game MVP honours, with Felletti adding 22 points and 16-year-old junior Jaydon Wise-Malcolm contributing 8 points in another confident senior appearance. Cardiff were led by Gareth Williams with 19 points and Macaulay Jones with 15.

Less than 24 hours later, the Lions were back on court to face Sheffield Sharks II in a very different type of contest. Sunday’s game was more physical and tightly contested from the outset, with neither side able to establish clear separation in the opening quarter. Sheffield’s inside presence caused problems early, while Teesside relied on ball movement and patience to stay level.

The second quarter saw Sheffield enjoy their strongest spell, led by Oscar Baldwin’s dominance on the glass. His work inside kept the visitors in front for stretches, but Teesside responded through Felletti and Hood to ensure the game remained finely balanced heading into half-time.

The third quarter marked a clear shift in momentum. Teesside raised the defensive intensity, forced turnovers, and began to dictate the tempo. Felletti caught fire during this period, repeatedly finding ways to score and pushing the Lions into a narrow lead. The atmosphere lifted further when Jayden Wise-Malcolm produced a huge slam dunk that brought the Olympia Arena to its feet and underlined the growing confidence within the group.

In the final quarter, the Lions showed maturity and control. Sheffield continued to battle, with Oscar Baldwin completing a remarkable double-double of 20 points and 21 rebounds to keep his side competitive. Andrews added 22 points and Kom chipped in with 15, but Teesside’s execution in key moments proved decisive. Felletti closed the game out with authority, finishing with 27 points to claim Game MVP honours, while Hood added 23 and Benas Maldutis contributed 10.

Across the two games, Teesside Lions demonstrated scoring depth, resilience, and an ability to control momentum at key moments. Hood’s explosive scoring on Saturday, Felletti’s leadership and Sunday MVP performance, and the continued emergence of Wise-Malcolm were all central to a weekend that reinforced the Lions’ upward trajectory.

With 32 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists & 2 blocks v Cardiff, Mike Hood was voted the NBL Player of the week.

With four wins from their last five outings, Teesside will look to carry this confidence forward as the season enters a crucial phase.

Teesside now prepare for Birmingham City away on Saturday before entertaining league leaders Worcester Wolves on 31 January at Olympia. Tickets available now for this fixture.