Around the NBL - Week 13 - Hoopsfix.com

Around the NBL – Week 13

Check out our latest round-up of the action from the NBL this past weekend from Division 1 down to the NBDL as the National Cup holders reach another domestic final.

National Cup

Manchester Magic confirmed their spot in next month’s National Cup Final after beating Derby Trailblazers 55-76 on the road. The defending champions built a six-point lead going into half-time before holding their opponents to just four points in the third to all but secure the victory. Ellis Cooper led the way with 21 points, while Jack Minister added 16 and Alvaro Alarcon Lizaur had 13. Magic will face either Loughborough Student Riders or Worthing Thunder for the right to claim the season’s first piece of silverware on January 24.


Division One

Reigning D1 champions Essex Leopards (5-3) inflicted a first loss on London Lituanica (6-1) after pulling off an impressive 68-89 win on the road, despite 27 points from Ausridas Petraitis. The Leopards were led by Ladi Brown’s 21-point haul as they opened up a 17-point advantage at half-time to set the platform for the win.

Meanwhile, Hemel Storm (7-2) continue to build momentum in the league after beating Worthing Thunder (2-6) 79-61 for their fourth straight victory. Bode Adeluola top scored with 17 points as five players reached double figures for the hosts, while Brendan Okoronkwo had a game-high 19 for Worthing as the Cup semi-finalists slipped to a fourth consecutive league defeat.

Neal Hopkins’ Lancashire Spinners (5-4) edged out Bradford Dragons 96-100 on the road as Mark Rangeley scored 24 points with the visitors racking up 61 points in the first half alone. The Dragons were aiming for a third straight win, but fell short despite a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double from Nick Moore and 23 points from Jason Swaine, which included six of his side’s 14 triples.

Westminster Warriors (1-8) finally claimed their first league win of the season at the ninth time of asking after easing to a 47-94 win away at Kent Crusaders (1-7) with Jon J Johnson and player-coach Julius Joseph scoring 18 and 17 points respectively. Also, Leicester Warriors (2-6) completed a remarkable turnaround victory as they rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Team Northumbria (6-3) 77-61 at home at the weekend. Leome Francis had 21 for the Warriors as they produced a 32-14 final period to take the win.


Division Two

The unbeaten start of Nottingham Hoods (6-1) came to an end in D2 on Saturday when Solent Kestrels (4-2) claimed an impressive 66-63 victory behind 20 points from Ben Maranan and 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals from Louie Kirkman. For the Hoods, Miguel Lorenzo Leis had 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Lucasz Siczek scored 22 as the duo combined for all but 18 of their team’s points.

London Greenhouse Pioneers (6-1) have gone level at the top after recording a comfortable 77-53 home win over Worcester Wolves II (2-6) as Dean Prosenica led the way with a 27-point haul. Ipswich (6-2) are half a game behind the top two after they saw off Brixton Topcats (2-6) 60-77 on the road with Sam Newman top scoring with 19 points, while junior international Caleb Fuller added 13 points off the bench.

Derbyshire Arrows (5-1) are not too far adrift in fourth as they picked up their fifth league win with a 78-88 success at London Westside (0-6) with Joseph Baugh netting 25 points for the visitors. Meanwhile, Aaron Smith scored 20 points in a 62-56 home success for East London All Stars (5-3) over Loughborough Student Riders (4-2), while Liverpool (2-5) crushed Eastside Eagles (0-7) 111-41 with Chris Bigley scoring a game-high 24 points.


Division Three

Doncaster Danum Eagles (8-1) returned to winning ways in D3 North with a 99-89 home win against Myerscough College (5-4) with Josh Metcalf (23), Matthew Martin (21) and Oliver Hylands (20) combining for 64 points in the win. Sefton Stars (7-4) are a place behind in third after 18 points from Scott Summersgill led them to a 50-69 win away at Birmingham Mets (5-5).

Elsewhere, Kieran Jones dropped 36 points as Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (5-4) racked up 44 points in the final quarter in an emphatic 108-79 win at home to Tees Valley Mohawks II (2-7), while Mansfield Giants (5-4) defeated Derby Trailblazers II (2-6) 87-84.

Thames Valley Cavaliers (8-0) remain unbeaten in D3 South after they recorded a convincing 71-106 win away at Northants Thunder (1-9). Leaders of the chasing pack, Team Solent (6-3), lost ground with a 67-63 loss on the road at Plymouth Raiders II (4-3), while Oxford Brookes University also suffered a defeat as they were beaten 94-103 at home to Brentwood Fire as Joe Matthews fired in 36 points for the victors.

Loughborough Student Riders II (6-3) capitalised on the aforementioned losses by winning back-to-back on the road to move into joint second. Thomas Yome scored 28 points in both wins as the Riders edged out Barking & Dagenham Thunder (1-7) 80-82, before beating London United (2-4).


National Shield

Team Newcastle University continued the defence of their title with a 60-80 victory away at Barking & Dagenham Thunder in the quarter-finals. Martelle McLemore poured in 32 points as Thames Valley Cavaliers defeated Middlesex LTBC 112-95 with Baptiste adding a further 29 points in the win.

Oxford Brookes University also secured their spot in the last four after edging out Doncaster Danum Eagles 94-92 in a thrilling encounter. Abdoulaye Sylla scored 30 to lead his side to victory, with Oliver Hylands also netting 30 for the defeated visitors. Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights complete the line-up after a 23-point haul from Omar Khanani led the hosts to a 66-51 win over Team Birmingham.


NBDL

Kingston Panthers (1-5) were beaten 49-59 at home to Sheffield Sabres (2-3) in the North-East, while Sunderland City Predators were scheduled to take on Nottingham Hoods II.

In the North-West, Kaiyem Cleary scored 29 points to lead Manchester Magic II (5-4) to a 69-76 road win at Calderdale Explorers (3-4), while Blackburn College Spinners (6-2) also enjoyed success on their travels after beating University of Chester (5-1) 73-81 to end their opponents’ unbeaten start.

One game took place in the South this weekend as Southampton University (3-3) recorded a comprehensive 108-53 home win against Reading Rockets II (0-6) with a balanced scoring attack.

In the South-East, Greenwich Titans (8-1) moved two games clear at the top with a 99-77 win at home to Kings Lynn Fury (4-2) as Yassin Bouraidah led the way with 39 points. Essex Blades (5-2) eased their way to a dominant 98-39 win against Anglia Ruskin University (0-8), while Dagenham Dragons (4-2) edged out London Thunder-Lewisham (3-5) 62-59. Finally, Cambridge Cats (2-4) claimed their second league win with a convincing 118-83 victory at home to Northants Taurus (1-8).

Cardiff Met Archers (7-2) remain top in the South-West after beating Oxford Stealers (3-5) 80-69, while Coventry Tornadoes (6-3) kept up the pressure with a 69-60 home win over Cardiff City (5-4). Sporting Club Albion (6-3) recorded a 48-70 win away at Birmingham Mets II (0-9), and there was also a road win for Oxford City (4-5) as they defeated City of Birmingham (3-6) 74-86.

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