Around the NBL – Week 11

By Bradley Gains on January 22, 2015

Check out our latest round-up of all the action across the four divisions of the NBL including the final four of the National Shield.

Division One

Derby Trailblazers (10-3) edged Leicester Warriors (7-5) 76-74 in a tense encounter on the road. The Trailblazers were down by three with under two minutes to go, but were bailed out by huge 3-pointers from Alex Dorr and Chris Shalvoy. American Derek Knutty led the Warriors with 19 points, but Shalvoy had a game-high 23 for the league leaders. Essex Leopards (9-1) came within five points of BBL opposition in the first round of the BBL Trophy on Friday before returning to D1 action with a 70-61 home win against Manchester Magic (6-6). David Ajumobi top scored for the hosts with 14 points, while Lukas Winegarner contributed a near double-double effort with 10 points and 9 boards from the bench.

NASSA (2-9) caused an upset on Saturday evening as they pulled off a 95-92 road win at Worthing Thunder (6-6). A late 9-0 run helped the visitors to victory, led by 22 points and 12 boards from Wayne Yeboah. Thunder were without Hank Rivers and Tomas Seduikis as their six-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end. Milton Chavis had a game-high 29 points for the hosts, with Louis Allen adding 21.

Kent Crusaders (6-1) continued their strong league form with a 93-58 victory at home to Hemel Storm (4-8). Adetola Akomolafe led the Crusaders with 21 points and 13 boards, while Josh Steel added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the win. Darren Best led the visitors with 17 points as they briefly held a four-point cushion at the end of the opening quarter.

Team Northumbria (6-4) defeated Westminster Warriors (3-9) 79-73 after being led by Chris Hatch’s 22 points, while Lewis Champion added 19. Westminster suffered a second defeat on the road as they were beaten 106-84 by Tees Valley Mohawks (3-8) the following day as Romonn Nelson dropped 30 points. There was also another loss for Leicester this weekend as they were beaten 96-89 on the road by Bradford Dragons (5-7), who were led by JP Davis’ 26 points.

Division Two

Lancashire Spinners (10-2) held on to top spot in D2 after they produced a dominant display to beat London United (1-8) 118-63. Mark Rangeley top scored with 23 points from the bench as all five starters also reached double figures. London Lituanica (9-1) remain in tight pursuit as they picked up two wins on the road over the weekend. A 78-68 victory against Loughborough Student Riders (8-5) preceded a narrow 76-75 win at Brixton Topcats (5-7) as they survived a major comeback to hold on.

Jerelle Okoro ensured Loughborough bounced back as his 33 points helped them to a convincing 96-53 win on the road at London United. Derbyshire Arrows (9-3) eased to a 103-65 win at home to Worcester Wolves II (2-7) with 24 points apiece for Chris Dixon and Cameron McCallum, while Ipswich Basketball (9-3) also stayed in contention with a 76-70 win at home to London Westside (1-9). Birmingham Mets (3-9) were another team to win at home as they defeated Brixton 77-69 on Saturday, as were London Greenhouse Pioneers (6-4) as they crushed Eastside Eagles (3-8) 77-47.

Division Three

There was a surprise result in the North Division as Nottingham Hoods (12-2) fell to a 66-61 defeat away at City of Sheffield Saints (7-6) with perhaps one eye on their National Shield semi-final (see below). Newcastle Under Lyme Colege Knights (9-4) defeated Hull Wasps (2-10) 81-57, while Sefton Stars (8-5) picked up a 98-76 win at Leeds Allerton High Force (2-10) as both teams lead the chasing pack. Mansfield Giants (7-6) were awarded a 20-0 victory against Team Birmingham (7-7) and Tees Valley Mohawks II (2-12) claimed just their second win after beating Sheffield Sabres (2-10) 69-54. The Mohawks were then beaten 84-62 at home to Sefton the following day.

Thames Valley Cavaliers (10-2) took over as the new leaders in the South after they leapfrogged their opponents Plymouth Raiders II (10-3) with a 75-73 success. Solent Kestrels (9-1) still have just one defeat to their name after they crushed Team Solent (6-6) 85-59, with BC Medelynas London (6-3) further afield in fourth despite their 82-73 win against Hackney White Heat (4-7). There were two road wins as Barking Abbey (3-8) defeated Cardiff Met Archers (2-8) 96-76 and Middlesex LTBC (5-7) saw off Oxford City Hoops (1-8) 109-95 in a high-scoring encounter.

Division Four

The perfect record of Barking & Dagenham Thunder (8-1) came to an end as they were forced to forfeit their road clash with Cambridge Cats (6-3). Brentwood Fire (6-2) were able to close the gap at the top with an emphatic 103-57 win at Anglia Ruskin (1-8), while Northants Taurus (5-3) also picked up a walkover against Oaklands College Wolves (1-8).

Doncaster Danum Eagles (9-0) made it nine from nine in the Midlands after defeating City of Birmingham (6-5) 90-85. Loughborough Student Riders II (9-1) remain hot on their heels as they recorded a 78-64 victory at home to Derby Trailblazers III (5-5), while Sporting Club Albio (5-5) eased past TCAT Shropshire Warriors (0-10) 71-47.

Myerscough College Giants (12-1) moved clear at the top of the North with a dominant 76-33 cruise away at Lancashire Spinners II (5-8). Elsewhere, Sunderland City Predators (3-8) beat Kendal Warriors (1-11) 82-55 on the road, and Tameside (9-3) were also victorious on their travels after narrowly beating Prestons College (6-5) 74-72 to remain in contention near the top.

Bud Johnston led Sussex Bears (10-2) to a dominant 118-72 road win at London United II (3-9) with a 38-point haul to keep his side top of the South-East division. BC Crawley United (10-3) bounced back from a defeat last week to keep up the pressure on the leaders with two victories; edging to a 69-67 road win at Folkestone Saints (5-6) having beat Brighton Cougars (7-5) 91-62 on Saturday. Greenwich Titans (9-2) are well placed in third after they recorded a double-winning weekend at home; beating Kent Crusaders II (6-5) 66-36 and London Westside II (1-9) 82-45. Brunel Ducks (7-2) crushed London Greenhouse Pioneers II (0-11) 96-53 to move into fourth, with Brighton also losing 66-63 away to Twickenham Tigers (4-8).

In the South-West, Oxford Brookes University (10-0) are still unbeaten after they saw off title challengers Swindon Shock (7-3) with a 79-70 triumph on the road. Bristol Academy Flyers II (7-3) moved into joint second as they defeated Reading Rockets II (2-8) with a 67-62 away win, while Thames Valley Cavaliers II (6-2) remain poised to pounce as they beat Bristol Storm (3-7) 74-51. Woking Blackhawk Flyers (5-5) won the mid-table battle as they eased to a 97-75 home victory over Cardiff City (3-4).

National Shield

Semi-Finals

Liverpool saw off D3 North title rivals Nottingham Hoods with a 93-88 overtime success to reach the final of the National Shield. The two teams could not be separated in regulation, with the game ending 80-80. Martin Calvo top scored for the victors with 20 points, while Nottingham were led by Ben Stanley’s 26 points. The other semi-final saw Team Newcastle University book their spot in the final after comfortably seeing off Oxford Brookes University with a convincing 82-69 win. The final will take place in just under a month’s time on 21st February.

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

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