Around the NBL – Week 7

By Bradley Gains on October 28, 2015

Check out our latest recap of all the action around the NBL.

Division 1 league action continued this weekend after just one game in the opening six weeks with all 14 teams having now begun their campaigns.

Reading Rockets made it two wins from two as they defeated Kent Crusaders 63-51 in a low-scoring encounter with D’Montre Edwards scoring 21. London Lituanica joined the Rockets at the top with two victories after following an 83-74 victory over Westminster Warriors with a 65-86 success at Bradford Dragons with Ausridas Petraitis top-scoring with 29 points in each game.

Essex Leopards powered past Worthing Thunder in the second half on their way to a 57-89 win away from home as Will Ashby and Ladi Brown had 19 points apiece. Even with the absence of Ellis Cooper, Manchester Magic opened their league campaign with a 78-59 victory at home to Leicester Warriors.

Derby Trailblazers needed overtime to see off Hemel Storm on the road as 36 points from David Watts helped his side to a 112-119 victory. Bode Adeluola had 33 in response for the home side, while Carl Josey added 26. Meanwhile, Team Northumbria were also victorious on their travels as they defeated Lancashire Spinners 74-81 as Neil Randolph led the way with 20 points.

In the National Cup, the quarter-finals line-up has been set after the Third Round took place on Sunday.

Seven teams from Division 1 have been joined by D2 side Loughborough Student Riders after they caused an upset by beating Hemel Storm 73-71. Raheem May-Thompson and Harrison Gamble – also part of Leicester Riders’ BBL squad – led the way with 21 and 12 points respectively in the victory.

Lancashire Spinners avenged their league loss to Team Northumbria as Nick George led his side to an 84-83 victory with a 30-point haul. Lewis Champion had 28 for the visitors, but they were unable to follow up their league success. The Spinners will face local rivals Manchester Magic in the last eight after Paul Middleton’s side overcame the challenge of Nottingham Hoods with a 75-64 triumph.

Reading Rockets kept their unbeaten start to the season rolling on with an 89-59 win at home to Plymouth Raiders II, while Worthing Thunder defeated Kent Crusaders 87-68 with 24 points from Louis Allen as they set a clash with the Rockets. London Lituanica also advanced as they recorded an 83-66 win over East London All Stars.

Essex Leopards made it a successful weekend following a nail-biting 70-69 victory at home to Westminster Warriors as they withheld a late fightback, while Derby Trailblazers made it back-to-back road wins as they enjoyed a comfortable 94-69 win at Leicester Warriors as Dan Watts led a balanced scoring effort with 15 points.

QF Draw: Thunder-Rockets; Magic-Spinners; Leopards-Trailblazers; Riders-Lituanica

In Division 2, Ipswich (2-0) maintained their unbeaten start with a 70-45 victory at home to Eastside Eagles (0-1). Leigh Greenan had another huge double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Nottingham Hoods (2-0) are also at the top after they defeated Derbyshire Arrows (0-1) 81-70 with Miguel Lorenzo Leis scoring 23 points.

London Greenhouse Pioneers (1-0) claimed an opening win as they recorded a 75-60 victory away at London Westside (0-2), while Anthony Okereafor led East London All Stars (1-0) to their first victory with an 84-55 triumph over Brixton Topcats (1-1)

There was a repeat of last year’s D3 Playoff Final and Solent Kestrels (1-0) gained revenge by crushing Liverpool (0-1) 92-58 as Louie Kirkman top scored with 20 points for the visitors. Loughborough Student Riders (1-1) preceded their Cup scalp by recording a dominant 106-59 win against Worcester Wolves II (0-2) with Lucien Christofis top-scoring with 25 points.

Team Newcastle University (4-0) made it four wins from four in Division 3 North as Robbie Lemons netted 33 points in a 78-67 home win against City of Sheffield Saints (2-2). Myerscough College (3-1) lost their unbeaten start as they suffered a 65-72 defeat at home to Derby Trailblazers II (1-2) with Barish Salih leading the visitors to a first win with 24 points.

Scott Summersgill scored 22 points to lead Sefton Stars (2-2) to a comfortable 87-67 win at home to Tees Valley Mohawks II (0-3), while Birmingham Mets (2-2) claimed a 91-80 win over Mansfield Giants (2-2) despite a 40-point effort from Mike Buffalo.

In Division 3 South, Thames Valley Cavaliers (4-0) continued their winning start with a 98-71 success at home to Barking Abbey Crusaders (0-4) with John MacCauley and Martelle McLemore combining for 42 points. Brunel Ducks (3-1) are second after they defeated Northants Thunder (1-3) 103-87 as Joel Henry and Korry Callum scored 26 and 24 points respectively.

Oxford Brookes Unviersity (2-2) won the battle of the promoted sides as they beat Barking & Dagenham Thunder (1-3) 64-46 on the road, while Team Solent (1-1) claimed an 81-58 win away at Loughborough Student Riders II (2-2) following a strong start.

NBDL action also continued this weekend – in the North-East, Sunderland City Predators (1-2) claimed their first league win with a narrow 60-62 victory at Sheffield Sabres (0-1).

In the North-West, Manchester Magic II (2-1) suffered their first loss at the hands of University of Chester (2-0) with the visitors claiming a 65-81 victory. Daniel Pilkington scored over half of his team’s points with 33 in a 63-96 loss for Liverpool II (0-3) against Preston College Titans (2-1). Calderdale Explorers (2-0) maintained their winning league start with a convincing 96-45 victory at home to Carlisle Panthers (0-2). On Sunday, Tameside (2-0) earned a 66-45 win over Blackburn College Spinners (1-2).

Southampton University (2-0) recorded their second win in the South after beating Kent Crusaders II (2-1) 53-51, while Sussex Bears (2-0) are also joint top of the group as they defeated Woking Blackhawk Flyers (0-3) 65-76 on the road behind a 30-point haul from Bud Johnston. Thames Valley Cavaliers II (3-1) defeated London United II (0-2) 51-82 on the road, on Sunday.

In the South-East, Essex Blades (2-1) claimed a 69-85 win away at London Lewisham-Thunder (1-2), while Greenwich Titans (3-0) continued their winning league start with a 69-89 victory on the road at Cambridge Cats (1-2). Dagenham Dragons (3-0) join the Titans at the top after they earned an 83-73 win at home to West Herts Warriors (1-2). On Sunday, Southwark Pride (2-1) defeated Anglia Ruskin University (0-3) 74-48 behind 22 points from Gedi Juozapaitis; there was also a 91-108 win for Kings Lynn Fury (2-1) at Northants Taurus (0-3).

Cardiff Met Archers (3-1) closed the gap on the leaders in the South-West with an 86-62 victory over City of Birmingham (2-2), while TCAT Shropshire Warriors (3-1) edged out Swindon Shock (2-2) 62-61 and Bristol Academy Flyers II (4-1) moved top with a 77-38 win against Sporting Club Albion (1-3) followed by an 82-88 success over Oxford City (0-3) the following day. Cardiff City (3-0) defeated Oxford Stealers (1-2) 71-64 with Sorena Orandi top-scoring with 35 points, and Coventry Tornadoes (2-2) won 44-70 at Birmingham Mets II (0-4).

For full results/tables click here.

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