Around the NBL – Week 18

Check out our latest round-up of the action from the NBL this past weekend from Division 1 down to the NBDL as the first piece of silverware is decided.

National Cup Final

Manchester Magic successfully defended their National Cup title after coming from 20 points down to beat Worthing Thunder 97-84 in Sheffield. Ellis Cooper picked up the MVP award after his 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists sparked a Magic revival that included a dominant 41-point fourth quarter.

Division One

Derby Trailblazers (11-2) closed the gap on the D1 leaders, Manchester Magic (12-1), after beating Hemel Storm (9-5) 77-66 with David Watts netting 26 points for the victors. Team Northumbria (9-3) continued their run of form and moved into third with a 78-64 success at home to Lancashire Spinners (8-6) on Sunday as Chuck Duru and Jack Preston both scored 18 points apiece off the bench.

Essex Leopards (8-5) left it late to beat Reading Rockets (9-5) after a basket in the dying seconds handed the home side a 74-72 victory. The Leopards were down 15 at the half, but thought back with a 28-15 final quarter. Will Ashby top scored with 18 points, while Ladi Brown added 15.

The Rockets bounced back the next day, but were pushed all the way by Kent Crusaders (1-10) before prevailing 63-71 on the road. D’Montre Edwards top scored with 26 points as Reading used an 11-2 run late in the fourth to get over the line.

Finally, London Lituanica (8-4) remain in the top six after recording a 75-65 victory at home to Bradford Dragons (3-11), on Sunday. Julius Visockas and Ausridas Petraitis starred with both players finishing with 23 points in the win.

Division Two

London Greenhouse Pioneers (9-2) kept their place at the top of D2 after defeating London Westside (0-10) 75-42 behind 23 points from Ian Berry. Solent Kestrels (9-3) have closed the gap after a double-winning weekend at home with Louie Kirkman scoring 24 points in a 90-83 win over Liverpool (4-8), before netting 19 in a 75-70 victory against Derbyshire Arrows (8-4) the following day.

The Arrows had beaten Nottingham Hoods (7-3) on Saturday with Joseph Baugh scoring 23 points in the 76-71 success. Loughborough Student Riders (8-2) earned a 55-83 win away at Worcester Wolves II (2-10), despite 29 points from Disraeli Lufadeju with Raheem May-Thompson leading the triumph with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Ipswich (8-4) are still in the mix and they defeated Eastside Eagles (1-10) 54-79 on the road with Tom Sadler scoring 16 of his 19 points in the first half. East London All Stars (9-5) were also victorious on their travels after beating Brixton Topcats (3-8) 59-70 to move third.

Division Three

Team Newcastle University (10-0) re-claimed top spot in D3 North and continued their winning streak with back-to-back wins at the weekend. On Saturday, they defeated City of Sheffield Saints (5-8) 61-70 on the road, before beating Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (8-5) 87-68 behind a 30-point effort from Robbie Lemons.

NULC had defeated Team Birmingham (5-5) 85-55 on Saturday with Omar Khanani and Kieran Jones scoring 29 points apiece. Also, Mansfield Giants (5-8) were edged out 85-86 in overtime by Birmingham Mets (6-7), while Derby Trailblazers II (3-8) defeated Myerscough College (5-7) 101-79 with the visitors paced by Raheem Idris’ 29 points.

In D3 South, Thames Valley Cavaliers (12-0) maintained their unbeaten record with a successful double-header of their own with Martelle McLemore netting a combined 60 points over the weekend. The American put up 33 in a 60-91 win away at Barking Abbey Crusaders (4-9), before helping his side to a 103-71 victory at home to Plymouth Raiders II (7-5).

Team Solent (9-5) are in second place after they eased past Loughborough Riders (5-7) 86-66 with Brunel Ducks (9-5) claiming a 74-84 win at Northants Thunder (5-10) as Joel Henry top scored with 23 points. Meanwhile, Plymouth bounced back with an 80-71 success over Middlesex LTBC (7-4) and Oxford Brookes University (8-5) defeated Barking & Dagenham Thunder (1-10) 94-76 with Abdoulaye Sylla netting 31 in the win. Also, a balanced scoring effort led Brentwood Fire (6-7) to a 99-68 victory against London United (3-9).

NBDL

Gateshead Phoenix (8-0) continued their unbeaten start in the North-East with a 62-76 win away at Nottingham Hoods II (4-4) to make it eight from eight.

In the North-West, University of Chester (10-1) continue to march on after beating Manchester Magic II (6-5) 103-65 with three players passing 20 points. Preston’s College Titans (8-2) recorded an emphatic 91-37 success over Liverpool II (1-10), while on Saturday, Blackburn College Spinners (8-3) had beaten Tameside (6-4) 77-65 with 15 points from Josh Houghton.

Kent Crusaders II (5-4) claimed an 82-61 victory over Southampton University (3-5) in the South with Sam Lane leading the way with a game-high 27 points.

In the South-East, Greenwich Titans (11-1) maintained their two-game advantage after beating Cambridge Cats (4-6) 104-59 behind 38 points from Yassin Bouraidah. Southwark Pride (9-1) are still well placed and they kept up the pressure with a 58-63 triumph at Anglia Ruskin University (0-11). Kings Lynn Fury (7-3) defeated Northants Taurus (1-11) 97-90, while Essex Blades (5-5) were beaten 78-87 at home to London Thunder-Lewisham (5-6), and Dagenham Dragons (6-3) defeated West Herts Warriors (5-6) 60-90 on the road.

Cardiff Met Archers (10-3) continue to lead the way in the South-West after beating City of Birmingham (7-7) 56-74 away from home with James Dawe scoring 24 points. Coventry Tornadoes (9-4) are close behind following their 78-51 win over the struggling Birmingham Mets II (1-12), while Bristol Academy Flyers II (8-5) defeated Oxford City (7-6) 85-72. Elsewhere, Cardiff City (7-5) claimed an 82-50 win against Oxford Stealers (4-8) with Lewis Tucker netting 20 points and Swindon Shock (6-7) saw off TCAT Shropshire Warriors (5-8) with an 82-67 victory.