Around the NBL - Week 5 - Hoopsfix.com

Around the NBL – Week 5

Check out our latest round-up of all the action across the four divisions of the NBL:

National Trophy

Kent Crusaders booked their spot in the quarter-finals after beating NASSA 89-74 last Thursday. Dau Jok top scored with 26 points while recent import addition Tola Akomolafe added 21. Essex Leopards are also guaranteed of a place in the last eight after they recorded an 85-76 win on the road against Hemel Storm to move top of Pool B thanks to a dominant final quarter display. The visitors outscored their opponents 29-12 in the fourth and were led by David Ajumobi’s 28 point haul.

Division One

League leaders Derby Trailblazers (6-1) extended their advantage at the top with an 84-75 win on the road against Tees Valley Mohawks (2-4). Romonn Nelson had a game-high 29 points in vain for the hosts with Bryan Hockaday adding an all-round display of 18 points, 15 boards and four assists. Derby were led by Raheem May-Thompson’s 24 points from the bench while Alex Dorr contributed 19 points and 11 boards.

Reading Rockets (2-3) were boosted by their returning trio in a 101-84 home win against Worthing Thunder (1-4) as Alex Zurn put up 30 points in the win as well as eight assists and seven steals. His haul was narrowly edged by Milton Chavis’ impressive 32 points on 11-15 shooting but it wasn’t enough to push Thunder to victory with Hank Rivers also adding a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Team Northumbria (3-3) claimed a hard-fought 78-76 win at home to Manchester Magic (4-2) having been down 15 points at one stage. Ellis Cooper starred again for Manchester with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 6 steals while Ryan Lohfink added 17 points including the go-ahead basket in the final 30 seconds to put the visitors up by one. Jack Wilson converted 1/2 from the foul-line to tie the game before Lewis Champion held his nerve with two clutch free throws to secure the win for Northumbria. Chris Hatch top scored with 20 points while Mick Di Stasio added 13 and 9.

Westminster Warriors (2-4) claimed their second win with an 83-79 victory over the Bradford Dragons (1-5). BBL veteran Julius Joseph was a perfect 5-5 from the field including 3-3 from downtown on his way to 18 points with team-mate Justin Hitchman adding the same total. Tamas Szlavik had 19 points on 9-10 FG shooting for the visitors. The Dragons also fell to a 63-61 defeat in Essex (3-0) as the Leopards maintained their unbeaten start. Albert Margai had a game-high 17 points as the home side took the final quarter 17-11 to seal the win. Bradford were led by double-doubles from Rihards Sulcs (16pts/11rbs) and Miguel Lorenzo Leis (14pts/12rbs).

Division Two

London Lituanica (4-0) put in a commanding performance to crush London United (0-4) 110-48 behind an incredible triple-double from Ausridas Petraitis, who finished with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists! Tomas Skardzius added 23 points and 12 rebounds while Julius Visockis dished out 10 assists to go along with his 15 points. Lancashire Spinners (5-0) kept their perfect start in tact with a 79-67 win against Brixton Topcats (2-3) with Josh Haughton scoring 17 off the bench while Ipswich (5-1) recorded their fifth win after a big performance from Leigh Greenan (26pts/18rbs) inspired a 94-82 win at home to the Loughborough Student Riders (3-3), who were led by Will Maynard’s 28 point haul.

Elsewhere, Eastside Eagles London (2-3) defeated London Westside (1-5) while Worcester Wolves II (1-5) picked up their first win beating Birmingham Mets (2-4) 95-83 behind Harry Turner’s 27 points and London Greenhouse Pioneers (4-1) continued their good start with a 79-71 win at Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows (3-3) as Jules Dang Akodo and Tyrell Isaacs top scored with 21 points apiece.

Division Three

Liverpool (8-0) made it eight wins from eight in the North with a 77-63 win away at Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (5-3) while Nottingham Hoods (8-1) kept up the pressure with a successful double-header over the weekend. They powered past Sheffield Sabres (1-6) 109-57 with a dominant 38-14 third quarter before inflicting a second defeat on Mansfield Giants (2-6) with a 90-81 success on the road. Mansfield had been edged out by the City of Sheffield Saints (3-5) the previous day, losing 103-100 despite a combined 66 points from Mike Buffalo and Calvin Morant-Hudson.

Tees Valley Mohawks II (0-8) are still yet to taste victory after losing 74-66 at home to Hull Wasps (2-4), who picked up their second win while Derby Trailblazers II (7-1) defeated Leeds Allerton High Force (2-5) 84-77 and there was a 98-65 win for Sefton Stars (4-3) over Birmingham Mets (4-4) as Scott Summersgill led the way with 33 points.

Solent Kestrels (6-0) still lead the way in the South after maintaining their unbeaten start with a 79-52 win over basement side Barking Abbey (1-6). It was a good weekend for Middlesex LTBC (3-4) as they defeated Cardiff Met Archers (1-6) 80-76 prior to a 103-97 win against Oxford City Hoops (1-5) the next day. Plymouth Raiders II (6-2) eased to an 86-64 win at home to Team Solent (4-4) while Thames Valley Cavaliers (6-1) held onto second spot by beating Northants Thunder (4-3) 95-86.

Division Four

Barking & Dagenham Thunder (7-0) needed overtime to see off College of West Anglia Fury (3-2) 89-82 on the road and stay top of the East Midlands group. Meanwhile, Hertfordshire Warriors (1-5) came out on top 77-67 in the battle of the winless teams against Anglia Ruskin University (0-6) and Brentwood Fire (4-1) defeated Cambridge Cats (3-3) 84-74 at home.

Loughborough Student Riders II (6-0) made it six in six with an 88-68 win away at Birmingham Mets II (3-4) while Doncaster Danum Eagles (5-0) maintained their own perfect record by beating Derby Trailblazers II (3-3) 94-80. Eddy Brownell scored 34 points to lead Sheffield Hallam Sharks (3-4) to a 85-71 win over the Shropshire Warriors (0-5) and City of Birmingham (5-4) split their road double-header; beating Nottingham Hoods II (2-5) 70-41 before losing 91-79 to Sporting Club Albion (3-5).

Team Newcastle University (7-0) moved into joint top position of the North group after picking up two wins on the road; beating Sunderland City Predators (2-5) 100-53 prior to a 79-42 success at Prestons College (4-3) – tarnishing their double-header having beaten Kendal Warriors (1-6) 73-39 the day before. Myerscough College Giants (7-0) carried on their strong start with a convincing 99-46 win away at Sefton Stars II (0-6) while Lancashire Spinners II (3-4) topped Liverpool II (0-6) 82-54 and Leeds Tigers (3-4) fell to a 79-59 home defeat against Gateshead Phoenix (5-3).

Sussex Bears got a 100-78 victory over London Greenhouse Pioneers II (0-5) to improve to 5-1 in second place in the South East, while Brunel University London (4-0) kept up the pressure with a 70-53 home win against Twickenham Tigers (1-5). London United (2-6) suffered two defeats on the road; losing 83-74 to Kent Crusaders II (3-1) before being handed a 78-49 loss by the Greenwich Titans (4-2). Brighton Cougars (3-2) recorded a big win away from home, beating Folkestone Saints (3-5) 91-84.

Oxford Brookes University (7-0) extended their advantage at the top of the South-West with a 99-72 success against Bristol Academy Flyers II (4-3). Southampton University Sharks (0-7) forfeited their game against Cardiff City (3-2) while Thames Valley Cavaliers II (4-2) edged out Woking Blackhawk Flyers (3-4) 85-81 and Bristol Storm (3-3) defeated Reading Rockets II (2-5).

Get to any games? Anything worth mentioning? Let us know in the comments!

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