Around the NBL - Week 10 - Hoopsfix.com

Around the NBL – Week 10

Check out our latest round-up of the action from the NBL this past weekend from Division 1 down to the NBDL as three teams book their spots in the National Cup last four.

Division 1

Manchester Magic (5-0) remain the front-runners in D1 as they recorded their fifth straight league win with a comfortable 83-46 win at home to Tees Valley Mohawks (0-4). Alvaro Alarcon Lizaur led the way with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Simon Anumba went 6-of-8 inside the arc for his 15 points as minutes were spread throughout the roster with 33 points coming from the bench. Rob Donaldson had over half of his side’s points with 24 as the Mohawks still await their first league win.

Reading Rockets (4-0) bounced back from their recent home defeats in the National Trophy to continue their unbeaten league start, although they needed double overtime to eventually see off Westminster Warriors (0-5) 87-84. D’Montre Edwards top scored with 24 points, while Danny Carter and Antonio Robinson weighed in with 16 points each as the Rockets. The Warriors were paced by Reuben Tatham-Nunn’s 18 points in a valiant effort from the visitors. Another side still unbeaten in D1 are Derby Trailblazers (4-0) as they claimed a 75-71 victory at home to Leicester Warriors (1-4) with a combined 47 points coming from David Watts (26) and brother Dan Watts (21) as they took the final quarter 23-15.

Kyle Carey was the game-hero for Lancashire Spinners (4-2) after netting the winning basket in the final seconds to hand his team a 93-95 win on the road at Worthing Thunder (2-3). The 18-year-old scored eight of his 15 points in the final quarter as the Spinners racked up 28 in the fourth to make it four league wins in a row. Connor Murtagh had a game-high 23 points along with nine rebounds in the win, while the hosts had a combined 64 points from three of their starters. James Cambronne had 22 points and 10 boards; Tom Ward also went for 22 and dished out seven assists and Josh Brown reached 20.

Team Northumbria (3-1) halted the run of Hemel Storm (3-2) on Saturday with a 73-86 win on the road as they overturned a seven-point half-time deficit with a strong second half display. Lewis Champion top scored with 19 points for the visitors with Damoy Robertson adding a further 15 points. Meanwhile, Essex Leopards (2-2) were also victorious away from home as they heaped further misery on Bradford Dragons (0-5) as they recorded a 60-81 success behind 12 points apiece from Tom Martin, Will Ashby and Ladi Brown.


National Cup

Loughborough Student Riders reached the Semi-Finals after causing another Cup upset after beating D1 opposition for the second round in a row as they took down London Lituanica 83-75. Raheem May-Thompson played another starring role with 23 points, while Harrison Gamble weighed in with 18 poins to help secure the win.

Defending champions Manchester Magic moved a step closer to retaining their title as they saw off Lancashire Spinners 84-71 in Sunday’s local derby. The home side were boosted by the return of Ellis Cooper and the American did the damage with a 24-point haul. As for the Spinners, they were unable to repeat their opening game upset in the Trophy, and were led by veteran duo Mike Bernard and Nick George, who had 17 and 15 points respectively.

Derby Trailblazers advanced as they claimed a 69-79 win away at Essex Leopards as David Watts led the way with 19 points. Four players hit double figures for the Leopards with Ladi Brown top scoring with 17 in the defeat. The teams were level at half-time, but it was the visitors who pulled away in the fourth quarter to take the victory.

The final quarter-final between Worthing Thunder and Reading Rockets takes place on November 29 with the semi-final draw to be made prior to that fixture.


Division Two

Nottingham Hoods (5-0) are the only unbeaten side remaining in D2 after they inflicted a first loss on East London All Stars (3-1) with a 100-89 victory at home on Saturday. Lucasz Siczek top scored with 23 points and dished out seven assists, while Miguel Lorenzo Leis finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. For the All Stars, Aaron Smith dropped 33 points and Arif Sempala had 23.

Ipswich (3-2) returned to action this weekend with an 86-81 victory at home to Liverpool (1-3) as Sam Newman netted EIGHT 3-pointers on his way to a 28-point haul. Josh Johnson added 17 points and seven assists from the bench in the win, while the visitors were led by Tadas Merkelis who went 8-of-13 from beyond the arc in a similar 28-point haul.

Elsewhere, Solent Kestrels (2-1) returned to winning ways with a 97-73 victory at home to Brixton Topcats (2-3) with Louie Kirkman netting 28 points in the win. Worcester Wolves II (1-4) claimed their first league win of the season after beating London Westside (0-4) 75-68, while Eastside Eagles (0-4) fell to a 52-62 defeat at home to London Greenhouse Pioneers (3-1).


Division Three

Doncaster Danum Eagles (6-0) made it six straight wins in D3 North to join Team Newcastle University (6-0) at the top as five players hit double figures in their 56-89 win away at Tees Valley Mohawks II (1-5). Oliver Hylands led the way with 21 points, and there were 18 points apiece for Tom Hodson and George Corwill. Birmingham Mets (5-2) closed the gap on the top two on Sunday as they defeated Derby Trailblazers II (2-3) with a 60-72 road triumph.

Mansfield Giants (3-3) pulled out a 71-74 road victory at City of Sheffield Saints (3-3) to join them in a three-way tie for fourth along with Myerscough College (3-3), who were beaten 86-81 on the road at Sefton Stars (3-4). Also, Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (2-4) claimed their second win with a 92-74 success at home to Leeds Academy Force (0-5) as Kieran Jones (24) and Omar Khanani (23) combined for 47 points. For the visitors, James Banton and Micah Savery-Richards both scored 22 points.

In the South, Team Solent (4-1) moved to within a victory of leaders Thames Valley Cavaliers (5-0) after beating Brunel Ducks 92-61 despite 23 points from Joel Henry. Oxford Brookes University (4-3) moved into the top four with their fourth victory as they edged out Barking Abbey Crusaders (1-6) 71-73 on the road behind Abdoulaye Sylla’s 28 points. Also, Plymouth Raiders II (3-1) defeated Northants Taurus (1-6) 88-76, and Brentwood Fire (2-3) edged out Barking & Dagenham Thunder (1-5) 74-73.


National Shield

In the last remaining Third Round encounter, Thames Valley Cavaliers booked their spot in the last eight with an 85-62 home win over Bristol Academy Flyers II behind 21 points apiece from Martelle McLemore and John MacCauley.

QF Draw: Barking & Dagenham Thunder v Team Newcastle University; Oxford Brookes University v Doncaster Danum Eagles; Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights v Team Birmingham; Thames Valley Cavaliers v Middlesex LTBC


NBDL

Nottingham Hoods (3-1) claimed an 80-47 win over Kingston Panthers (0-3) in the North-East before Gateshead Phoenix (5-0) continued their winning start with a 70-57 win over Sheffield Sabres (1-3) on Sunday.

In the North-West, Preston College Titans (4-1) posted a 71-77 win away at Manchester Magic II (3-4) before Tameside (4-1) joined them at the top on Sunday with a 78-48 win of their own against Manchester. Blackburn College Spinners (3-2) moved above .500 as they saw off Calderdale Explorers (3-1) 79-52, while Liverpool II (1-5) recorded their first win with a narrow 81-82 victory at Kendal Warriors (1-4), despite 34 points from Gareth France. Also, University of Chester (3-0) were handed a 20-0 forfeited win against Carlisle Panthers (1-5).

Thames Valley Cavaliers II (3-0) maintained their unbeaten start in the South with a 62-70 win away at Woking Blackhawk Flyers behind while Folkestone Saints (2-2) edged out Southampton University (2-2) with a 71-68 victory.

In the South-East, Greenwich Titans (5-1) recorded a dominant 112-61 success over Northants Taurus (1-5), while Southwark Pride (5-1) were also victorious at home; beating London Thunder-Lewisham (2-4) 77-60, despite 25 points from Josh Edwards. Meanwhile, Essex Blades (4-2) kept up the pressure on the top two with a convincing 82-40 victory at home to West Herts Warriors (3-3) with Vladimir Vukovic netting 20 points in the win.

Table-toppers in the South-West, Bristol Academy Flyers II (6-2) suffered a 68-74 loss in overtime at home to Coventry Tornadoes (4-3) as Lionel Antoni led the way with a 25-point haul for the visitors. Cardiff City (4-2) closed the gap with a 75-60 victory against Birmingham Mets II (0-6) to move into a three-way tie for second, while Swindon Shock (4-3) edged out City of Birmingham (3-4) 60-59. Oxford City (2-4) completed the weekend’s action with a 75-74 win at home to TCAT Shropshire Warriors (4-2) behind a 34-point haul from Marcus Traemmler.

Check back each week for the latest NBL round-up!

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