Check out our latest round-up of all the action across the four divisions of the NBL featuring the final four of the National Trophy.
Manchester Magic defeated Hemel Storm 90-79 as Italian Simon Anumba top scored for the home side with 23 points. Darren Best scored a game-high 31 points on debut for the visitors following his recent release from BBL side Manchester Giants. Derby Trailblazers held off a late fightback from Worthing Thunder to set up a semi-final clash with Manchester. The trio of Alex Dorr, Chris Shalvoy and Raheem May-Thompson scored 21, 20 and 19 points respectively in the win, while Milton Chavis led the hosts with 20 points.
Bradford Dragons snatched a 75-73 win against Kent Crusaders after JP Davis’ game-winner with a second to go. The home side recovered from a 5-point half-time deficit to book their place in the semi-finals. Davis and Ricards Sulcs had 19 points apiece for the Dragons, to counter Akwasi Yeboah’s game-high of 20.
“First of all, credit to Bradford, I thought they played well and they now have one of the deepest rosters in our league,” said Kent Head Coach Lloyd Gardner.
“We showed tremendous character today and that was pleasing but I think everyone in our program will have a sense of frustration about some of the correctable mistakes that we made. We will get back into work now and hopefully this will light a fire even more for our league campaign. ”
Leicester Warriors caused an upset by avenging their league defeat the previous day to beat Essex Leopards 72-50 after a strong first-half display. The Warriors led 42-15 at half-time after holding their opponents to just five second quarter points. Leome Francis led all scorers with 18 points.
SF Draw:
Manchester Magic v Derby Trailblazers
Leicester Warriors v Bradford Dragons
Derby Trailblazers (9-3) saw their lead at the top of D1 loosen after Worthing Thunder (6-5) pulled off an impressive 95-93 win on the road. Milton Chavis led Thunder in scoring with 30 points, and dished out 11 assists, while Louis Allen added 23 points off the bench and Hank Rivers contributed yet another double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Raheem May-Thompson had a double-double from the bench, with 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead the home side, with Alex Dorr producing an all-round display with 23 points 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
Essex Leopards (8-1) were one of the benefactors of Derby’s loss as they closed in after beating Leicester Warriors (5-5) 79-68. David Ajumobi top scored with 15 points, with Will Ashby and Albert Margai adding 13 and 11 points respectively. The visitors were led by a double-double from Derek Knutty, who had 20 points and 13 boards in the loss. The Leopards had begun the 2015 NBL action with an 85-71 road win at Hemel Storm (4-7) in the opening weekend of the year.
Reading Rockets (7-3) are gathering momentum in the league as a strong third quarter (26-14) put them in the ascendancy before holding on to an 86-82 victory away at Team Northumbria (5-4). Alex Zurn top scored with a game-high 25 points to lead the Rockets, while Danny Carter added 22 points and 9 rebounds with both sides shooting 25+ free throws. Lewis Champion had 22 points for the hosts, with Aimn Rezk adding a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Bradford Dragons (4-7) were led by American guard JP Davis, as he dropped 35 points to inspire a 90-85 home win against Manchester Magic (6-5). The visitors were led by Ellis Cooper’s 32, but it wasn’t enough to bring them the 2 points.
Mike Martin led Westminster Warriors (3-7) to an 82-79 win against NASSA (1-9), scoring 19 points to counter a 28-point haul from Anthony Okereafor for the Neptunes. The game was level heading into the final quarter, but Westminster managed to edge ahead down the stretch to pick up their third win of the season. Finally, Kent Crusaders (5-1) recorded a 79-71 road win at Tees Valley Mohwaks (2-8).on for the win.
In a top of the table clash, Ausridas Petraitis had a monster game with 30 points and 39 rebounds (23! offensive) to lead London Lituanica (7-1) to an important 81-78 victory at Lancashire Spinners (9-2).
Closing in, in joint second are Ipswich Basketball (8-3) and Derbyshire Arrows (8-3), who both picked up weekend victories. Derbyshire held off a spirited challenge from London Westside (1-8) to win 85-80 despite 28 points from Chiedozie Offiah. As for Ipswich, they enjoyed a much more comfortable win as they defeated London United (1-6) 104-66, paced by Leigh Greenan’s 24 points.
Loughborough Student Riders (7-4) remain in the mix in a closely contested top half of the table as they earned an 84-57 road win at Eastside Eagles (3-7). Harry Turner and Caitlin Raftopoulos combined for 49 points in an 87-80 away loss for Worcester Wolves II (2-6) at Brixton Topcats (5-5). Also, there was a win for London Greenhouse Pioneers (5-4) as they prevailed 79-62 at home to Birmingham Mets (2-9).
Liverpool (12-1) ran out convincing 87-64 winners over Hull Wasps (2-9), who were forced to concede a 20-0 forfeited loss away at Sefton Stars (6-5) the following day. Nottingham Hoods (12-1) continue to keep pace with their rivals at the top after beating Tees Valley Mohawks II (1-11) 85-62 away from home.
Also in the North, Sefton had earlier defeated City of Sheffield Saints (6-6) 79-65, while Team Birmingham (7-6) beat Derby Trailblazers II (7-4) 67-65 with England U18 international Sedale Hanson-Young scoring 26 points. Sheffield Sabres (2-9) were beaten 82-70 at home to Mansfield Giants (6-6), and Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (8-4) improved their solid position with a 62-53 home win against Leeds Allerton High Force (2-9).
In the South, Plymouth Raiders II (10-2) recorded a double-winning weekend at home, to claim top spot having ended the unbeaten start of Solent Kestrels (8-1) with a 69-52 success. The following day, the Raiders defeated Northants Thunder (4-7) 76-60 to move clear, with the losing side also having lost 88-79 away at Team Solent (6-5) on Saturday.
Tadas Bagdonas scored a game-high 38 points for Middlesex LTBC (4-7), but they fell to an 85-70 loss away at Barking Abbey (2-8). Thames Valley Cavaliers (9-2) won 88-71 on the road against Hackney White Heat (4-6), while BC Medelynas London (5-3) also won on their travels, beating Cardiff Met Archers (2-7) 104-66.
In the East Midlands, teams 3-5 were all in action with Cambridge Cats (5-3) beating Oaklands College Wolves (1-8) 61-56 away from home, and College of West Anglia Fury (5-3) also winning on road with a 114-68 triumph over Northants Taurus (5-3).
Matthew Martin dropped 40 points as Doncaster Danum Eagles (8-0) kept their perfect record in the Midlands in tact with an 86-67 win away at Birmingham Mets II (3-6). City of Birmingham (6-4) leapfrogged Derby Trailblazers III (5-4) with a crushing 98-59 win, while Nottingham Hoods II (3-7) beat Shropshire Warriors (0-9) 53-49 and Sheffield Hallam Sharks (4-5) eased past Sporting Club Albion (4-5) with an 82-52 victory.
Team Newcastle University (11-0) are still unbeaten in the North, after picking up two more wins over the weekend. They defeated Tameside (8-3) 84-63 on Saturday, before beating Prestons College (6-4) 75-55. Myerscough College Giants (11-1) are level on points after they cruised towards a 97-point margin of victory, beating Liverpool II (0-9) 130-37; scoring 32+ in each quarter, whilst keeping their opponents to no more than 10 points. Sunderland City Predators (2-8) lost 57-54 at home to Sefton Stars II (3-7), while Leeds Tigers (5-6) won 69-60 away at Lancashire Spinners II (5-7).
Sussex Bears (9-2) are the new leaders in the South-East after they beat Twickenham Tigers (3-7) 101-53 having come out of the blocks with a dominant 38-9 opening quarter. Previous leaders BC Crawley United (8-3) fell to a 95-80 defeat at Brunel Ducks (6-2), who were led by Benji Lawmann’s 24 points. Brunel were then beaten 78-58 at Folkestone Saints (5-5) on Sunday, while Brighton Cougars (7-3) defeated Twickenham Tigers (3-7) 81-66.
Get to any games? What are your thoughts on the weekend results? Let us know in the comments!
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