Around The EBL – Week 7

Week 7 of the EBL was all purely league action, with a break from cup competitions as we begin to form ideas of which teams will impress over the course of the EBL season.

EBL Division 1

Despite 15+ points each from the trio of Mansour Mbye, Rob Donaldson and Mark Comstock, the Leicester Warriors succumbed to a 64-80 home defeat to the Newham (NASSA) Neptunes, leaving NASSA top of the EBL Division 1 table as the only team with a 3-0 record. NASSA played a team game to get the win with five players in double figures with 12 points or more.

The Essex Leopards began their season with a double header weekend up in the North East of England, first facing off against the Tees Valley Mohawks on Saturday at Teeside University.

A strong first half from Robert Youngblood’s side proved key, as they went into the locker room up 37-49 at the half. An injury to American big man Howard Crawford caused the Leopards to stall slightly, as the hosts began to chip away at the lead, finally bringing the deficit to just two points with 11 seconds to play before the Leopards sealed things at the foul line.

Captain Carl Josey finished with 22 points in the 86-89 win, while Jorge Ebanks continues to impress for the Mohawks as he scored 28.

The next day, the Leopards would travel the relatively short distance to Northumbria University Sport Central, the home of Team Northumbria, for the second game of their double header.

Team Northumbria, traditionally very tough to play at home, took control of the first half to lead going into the break by four points. The tables would turn in the third quarter as Youngblood’s side outscored Steutel’s by 13-19 before TN would go on a run of their own to tie the game with two minutes remaining in the game.

Leopards, however, were again cool down the stretch and secured the 71-74 victory. TN Captain Jamie Glenn scored 23 for the home side while Crawford recovered from the previous day’s injury to score 27.

The two wins make it the first time the Leopards have opened up the season 2-0 since back in 2008.

Elsewhere, the Hemel Storm’s 65-70 victory over the Bristol Academy Flyers sees them sitting in second place with a 2-0 record, and joining them are the Manchester Magic, after 23 points from big man Ryan Lohfink led them to an impressive 66-79 win over the Westminster Warriors.

The Reading Rockets completely bulldozed Team Northumbria on Saturday, running out to a 37 point victory against Marc Steutel’s side. The Rockets took early advantage as they held a double digit lead within the first four minutes of the game, which then extended to almost 30 points at half time.

Rockets Head Coach Manuel Pena Garces used the game as a chance to give his three juniors valuable minutes in an attempt to rest his senior players. The game finished 95-57 to the Champions, who were led by 18 points from GB U20 Lewis Champion, while new signing Cristian Garcia Laya had 13.

The game was marred by an injury to talented guard Gabriel Diaz-Morera, who suffered a suspected broken ankle in the game.

The next day, the Rockets faced NASSA in buoyant mood but, despite the rest given to the senior players, and five players scoring in double figures, they couldn’t put the pieces together to find a win as they went down 71-73 to open the campaign with a 1-1 record.

The Yorkshire derby game between Leeds Carnegie and the Bradford Dragon has always historically been a closely fought affair.

The early stages of the game were all about offense, as both teams got into an early rhythm with the first period finishing tied at 22. In the second quarter, however, Carnegie turned up their defensive efforts and limited the Dragons to just nine points as they went into the halftime break with a 39-31 lead, a lead that would extend to 14 points going into the final period.

With Dragons never giving up and bringing the score close again, it was sealed by an Armand Anebo steal and assist to Rowell Graham for the powerful dunk.

Carnegie were led by Captain Jack Stannard with 26 points while big man Chris McGrew led Dragons with 19.

Things turned around the next day for the Dragons as they travelled the long way to face the Bristol Academy Flyers and picked up the 74-87 victory, for their first of the season.

EBL Division 2

Huddersfield Heat continued their impressive start to life in D2, with a 77-89 victory over the Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows. Orlando Camin took control early for the visitors scoring 13 of their 20 first quarter points, while Derby got into rhythm with a 10-2 run to hold a 23-20 lead at the first interval.

As the game resumed, the Arrows continued where they left off with Akin Lisk-karew and Darren best scoring freely for the home side. However, Chris Bigley and Nick Crowder began to dominate inside meaning that the Heat went into the half time break with a 45-52 lead.

The second half would include runs from both teams but the dynamic of the game remained the same as, despite Lisk-Karew and Best combining for 54 of the Arrows 77 points, an impressive outlay of 19 points and 15 rebounds from big man Orlando Camin led the Heat to victory.

The Derby Trailblazers picked up back to back wins this weekend on the back of American forward Alex Dorr’s impressive play.

On Saturday, they hosted the high flying newcomers, Ipswich Basketball Club in a tight affair in which Ipswich took the early 16-22 lead with Tom Sadler playing well early on. In the second quarter, the Trailblazers showed their class in getting a 10 point lead to take into halftime while getting Ipswich big men Leigh Greenan and Colin Dockrell in early foul trouble, which caused Coach Nick Drane to go away from his usual rotation.

In the second half the lead extended further, and more fouls forced Ipswich’s big man pair to sit again and 35 points from Alex Dorr enabled Derby to wrap up the win 94-86. Josh Johnson top scored for Ipswich with 29.

“This is a lesson learned today,” said Ipswich Head Coach Nick Drane.

“Sometimes you lose a game and sometimes you get beaten. Today we lost the game – Derby is a great club, with great people, good players and an excellent set-up. That said, there were clearly a few occasions today where we made bad decisions which resulted in them, and Alex Dorr in particular, punishing us.

“Bottom line is that we have to make adjustments – if a guy is shooting 90% from the foul line then you can’t put him on the line 19 times!

“However, I still feel that we are going to be a very good team in this division and it is my job as the coach to make those adjustments at practice this week so we are ready for the next battle.”

The next day Derby travelled to face the Loughborough Student Riders, who themselves won the previous day taking down the Worcester wolves II by an 85-59 scoreline.

Alex Dorr, again, showed up and took over the game scoring 23 points to give the Trailblazers the 76-91 win. Dorr has been leading all scorers in various competitions so far this season and averages 31.75ppg in EBL Division 2 alone.

Elsewhere, the LSBU Brixton Topcats retain their spot as the the leaders of EBL Division 2 after a 79-70 home win against the struggling Mansfield Giants.

EBL Division 3

Northern Conference

This week it was announced that Rossendale Raptors Head Coach Jim Fry has left the club just a month into the season. This meant the Raptors would host the Northants Thunder on Saturday without a designated Head Coach on the sidelines.

In a back and forth game it was the calm heads of the Thunder that pulled through with the 93-97 victory on the back of 27 points from Jason Tucker.

Birmingham Mets have been the surprise package so far this season and find themselves on top of the conference after picking up their sixth win from six games with a 60-72 win over the Tees Valley Mohawks II, while the Sefton Stars inflicted a punishing 41-86 defeat on the Derby Trailblazers II.

There were wins for both Sheffield teams as the Saints picked up the win away at the Nottingham Hoods 70-74 with veteran Garnett Gayle scoring 16 points at nearly 50 years of age. While the Sabres defeated the Birmingham A’s 83-91 with Colwill scoring 19 points in the win.

On Sunday, Leeds Carnegie II hosted the impressive Stockport Falcons in a battle of two outstanding shooting guards, the veteran Jason Swaine, and the young Josh Houghton.

The first quarter was very touch and go as both teams tried to feel out the opposition weaknesses as the Falcons attacked the paint, while Leeds scored from the outside. Swaine and Houghton would both find their form from range in the second quarter before the half ended with a big Daniel Pilkington dunk to see the score at 39-42.

The away side came out firing and along with improved defence, outscored Carnegie 14-25 in the third. Jason Swaine and Raffi Saipe would attempt to claw back the deficit but it wasn’t enough as the Falcons went back to Stockport with a 74-87 victory.

Swaine and Saipe would submit efforts of 26 points and 18 points respectively for Carnegie, while Stockport were led by Josh Houghton’s 30 points on 8/9 FG shooting going 4/4 from the arc.

Southern Conference

Team Solent secured a resounding victory over the Cardiff Met Archers 91-47 with American Guard Antonio Mofitt scoring 16 points, while the Hackney White Heat picked up the 64-61 victory over the Solent Kestrels.

20 points from Tarryn Algar weren’t enough for the London Phoenicians as they went down 56-53 to Plymouth Marjon, while conference leaders Canary Wharf London Lituanica retained their position with a 56-87 win over the London Greenhouse Pioneers with Karolis Stepanavicius top scoring with 18 in the win.

D3 new boys Barking Abbey overcame the Oxford Hoops 59-70 led by Patrick Lyons’ 14 points.

“It was an improved performance for us showing signs that we are moving in the right direction,” said Head Coach Lloyd Gardner after the game.

“I was pleased with the desire that the players showed through some times of adversity and having a shortened bench through injury. We still must focus on our turnover rate as it is much too high for us to continue to be successful, but our execution in the half court on both offence and defence was strong once again.”

EBL Division 4

Northern Conference

Leeds Tigers sit on top of D4 North, after another victory gives them a 5-1 record so far this season. They defeated struggling Gateshead Phoenix 81-47, while second place Kingston Panthers beat the Durham Wildcats II 84-73. There was also a win for the Newcastle Eagles II who won at home 78-61 to the Sefton Stars II.

Hull Wasps ran out comfortable 104-67 winners at Leeds Carnegie Academy but didn’t make it easy for themselves. After the Wasps dominated the opening period 32-16, a spirited young academy side had an excellent second quarter performance to prevent the Wasps opening the gap. Leeds won the quarter 23-21 to go in at half-time 53-39 behind. A 24-8 third quarter sealed the victory for the Wasps who were led by a ridiculous outlay of 35 points each from John Stewart and Jack Daley.

Following the game, Wasps head-coach Matt Fawcett said: “Huge credit goes to Leeds; they played hard today. We failed to play at the same high level we are used to.

“Leeds took advantage and made it a game in the first half. Second half we played with some fire and made plays for each other. I personally thought Manuel was outstanding but overall everybody contributed. Jack (Daley) and John (Stewart) played fantastic and Eldar (Ravilevich) made his debut and did a great job.

“We have things to work on this week and hopefully we will be ready for both games next weekend.”

Midlands Conference

In the Shropshire Warriors 80-60 victory over the Birmingham Mets II, Luke Grant and Hall combined for 50 points to sink the Mets to leave the Warriors in joint second place in the conference after five games.

There were also wins for the Warwickshire Wizards to join the Warriors in second place after their 73-65 win over Sporting Club Albion, while the Derby Trailblazers III secured an 85-63 win over the Loughborough Student Riders II.

South Eastern Conference

BC Medelynas London don’t do small scoreline wins, as is evident again this week with their 58-122 thrashing of the Maidstone Warriors which sent them into second place with a 4-0 record so far this season.

The Cambridge Cats also picked up a big 103-77 win over London United Harefield Academy, while the Ware Rebels won away at Greenwich Titans 71-77 to secure the top spot in the conference with a 5-1 record.

Deividas Butkevicius was the star man in the COWA Fury’s win over the Peckham Pride as he scored 30 points in the 62-88 win, while 32 points was the number dropped by Damoy Robertson in London Westside II’s thrilling 85-84 overtime victory over the Brentwood Fire.

Nick Squires and Rob Squires both scored 18 points to lead the Southend Scorpions to a resounding 94-56 victory over London United Harefield Academy who are now yet to win any of their first five league games this season.

Midlands South West Conference

The Reading Rockets II weren’t as successful as their first team, as they lost at home to the Southampton University Sharks 52-58, while Oxford Brookes University destroyed the Bristol Storm 104-56.

The Swindon Shock picked up the 78-92 win over the Hertfordshire Warriors while the Milton Keynes Mustangs defeated the Woking Blackhawk Flyers 75-70.

Matt Garton stood out for the Bristol Academy Flyers II with 34 points although the team went down 69-82 to Middlesex LTBC, while Oaklands College Wolves picked up back to back wins over Cardiff City 84-68 and Middlesex LTBC 78-74 with Davies scoring 28 and 23 points respectively.

National Shield

The one game in the National Shield 2^nd Round saw the Stockport Falcons advance by beating the Sefton Stars 75-72 on the back of 34 points by Paul Cantwell.

Thoughts? Did you get to any games?