Around the NBL – Week 16 Recap

By Bradley Gains on February 25, 2015

Check out our latest round-up of all the action across the four divisions of the NBL including the finals of the National Trophy Patrons Cup and National Shield.

Division One

Kent Crusaders (12-3) gained the outright lead in the D1 title race with a 92-77 home win against Worthing Thunder (7-9), while two of their title rivals were beaten by the bottom two sides. Adetola Akomolafe had a big game with 29 points with Akwasi Yeboah adding 20. The visitors were led by Hank Rivers’ double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Second-placed Essex Leopards (11-4) did win after they defeated Tees Valley Mohawks (5-9) 77-69 with Dave Ajumobi and Will Ashby contributing 15 points apiece, while Romonn Nelson had 21 in defeat with the visitors still without Bryan Hockaday.

Derby Trailblazers (11-5) suffered a shock defeat at Westminster Warriors (4-11) despite a 19-point haul from Raheem May-Thompson. On Sunday, Reading Rockets (11-5) also fell to a surprising loss, beaten 84-75 at home to basement side NASSA (4-11) after an impressive 35 points from Wayne Yeboah.

Elsewhere, Bode Adeluola had a monster 43 points in vain as Hemel Storm (5-12) lost 106-96 at home to Bradford Dragons (6-11). Darren Best added 22 points, but it was a 27-point haul from Miguel Lorenzo Leis and 24 from JP Davis that guided the visitors to success.

Division Two

With the top two not in action after squaring off in the final of the Patrons Cup, Derbyshire Arrows (11-5) spurned the chance to make up ground after losing 75-68 on the road at Brixton Topcats (7-9). A dominant 26-9 opening quarter set the tone for the hosts in the surprise win, despite 22 points and 10 rebounds from Cameron McCallum.

Loughborough Student Riders (11-6) moved level with Ipswich Basketball (11-6) after beating their opponents 95-75 as Reiss Haggith netted 4-6 from deep for a game-high 23 points from the bench. Also, Worcester Wolves II (3-12) beat Birmingham Mets (5-12) 85-72 behind Erikas Jakstys’ 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while London Westside (3-12) edged out Eastside Eagles (4-12) 53-52.

Division Three

Nottingham Hoods (17-2) have moved into top spot in the North after beating Sheffield Sabres (3-15) 92-67 away from home, with Liverpool (16-1) not in D3 action this weekend. Calvin Morant-Hudson had 27 points in a 78-60 defeat for Mansfield Giants (9-10) at home to City of Sheffield Saints (11-8), before they bounced back with a 79-69 win over Sheffield Sabres the following day.

Tees Valley Mohawks II (4-15) needed overtime to beat Hull Wasps (4-13) 83-81 as Logan Holloman top scored with 35 points. Also, Team Birmingham (10-9) lost 79-75 at home to Sefton Stars (10-9), and Derby Trailblazers II (11-6) enjoyed a comfortable 93-70 victory against Leeds Allerton High Force (2-15).

Solent Kestrels (13-2) still lead the way in the South after beating Barking Abbey 88-55, on Sunday. Thames Valley Cavaliers (12-3) moved into second following a 78-71 road win at Northants Thunder (6-10). Plymouth Raiders II (12-4) dropped to third after they lost 79-59 away at Team Solent (8-7), while Middlesex LTBC (6-9) fell 76-72 at home to Cardiff Met Archers (4-10).

Division Four

Barking & Dagenham Thunder (11-2) held on to their lead in the East Midlands after beating College of West Anglia Fury (7-5) 88-67. Brentwood Fire (10-2) are still on their tails as they eased past Cambridge Cats (9-4) 83-52, while Hertfordshire Warriors (3-10) defeated Anglia Ruskin University (1-12) 78-69.

In the Midlands, Doncaster Danum Eagles (13-0) are still perfect after crushing Derby Trailblazers III (6-8) 102-48 with 30 points coming from Matthew Martin. Loughborough Student Riders II (13-1) remain half a game behind as they saw off Birmingham Mets II (4-8) with relative ease, 97-46. Sheffield Hallam Sharks (6-7) won 75-73 at TCAT Shropshire Warriors (1-13), and City of Birmingham (7-7) defeated Sporting Club Albion (7-7) 71-63.

All of the games in the North were played on Sunday, and Team Newcastle University (16-0) made it 16 straight after following up their National Shield triumph with a 67-55 home win against Sunderland City Predators (4-11). Myerscough College Giants (16-1) emphatically beat Sefton Stars II (4-10) 78-36, while Prestons College (9-6) produced an 80-point rout of Kendal Warriors (2-15) with a 117-37 victory, and Gateshead Phoenix (10-7) beat Leeds Tigers (6-10).

Brunel Ducks (14-3) are now tied with BC Crawley United at the top of the South-East after splitting their weekend double-header. They fell to a 76-71 loss at home to Greenwich Titans (13-4) before responding with a 95-62 win at Twickenham Tigers (6-11). The win for Greenwich keeps them in the hunt, adding to another road win as Carl Williams scored 31 points in a 103-87 victory at London United II (3-13). Sussex Bears (12-5) defeated London Greenhouse Pioneers II (0-15) 71-64, and Kent Crusaders II (8-7) thrashed London Westside II (2-12) 91-29.

Finally, in the South-West, Oxford Brookes University (15-0) are still unbeaten after they saw off Bristol Academy Flyers II (8-7) 86-51. Southampton University (3-12) enjoyed another win as they defeated Cardiff City (6-8) 104-74, while Swindon Shock (12-3) won twice on the road; beating fourth-placed Thames Valley Cavaliers II (8-7) 79-71 and Oxford Sealers (6-9) 73-62. Reading Rockets II (3-12) beat Bristol Storm (4-12) 69-59, while Jake Ireland hit 31 points as Woking Blackhawk Flyers (10-5) withheld a late fightback from Thames Valley Cavaliers II to win 96-88.

BE Senior Finals Day

Manchester Magic complete the double with crushing National Trophy win
Newcastle University Knights defeat Liverpool to claim National Shield success
Steven Gayle leads Lancashire Spinners to Patrons Cup victory

Get to any games? What are your thoughts on the weekend results? Let us know in the comments!

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