Around the NBL - Week 19 - Hoopsfix.com

Around the NBL – Week 19

Check out our latest round-up of the action from the NBL this past weekend from Division 1 down to the NBDL with two teams setting a Final showdown in the Patrons Cup.

Division One

Derby Trailblazers (13-2) continue to keep up the pressure on the D1 leaders after battling their way to back-to-back wins at the weekend. The Trailblazers needed to come from behind to beat Bradford Dragons (3-12) 74-79 on the road with Brian Amabilino Perez top-scoring with 27 points. Ricky Fetske had 23 for the Dragons, who led at half-time, with Dwayne Camille (pictured) making a solid debut from BBL side, Leeds Force.

Matt Shaw’s Derby side then powered their way to victory in the second half in a 78-71 win over London Lituanica (9-5) with David Watts and Dan Watts combing for 37 points. Meanwhile, Manchester Magic (13-1) still lead the way after they eased to an 88-69 win over eighth placed Essex Leopards (8-6) with Ellis Cooper leading another balanced scoring effort with 15 points.

Reading Rockets (11-5) moved into third, but didn’t have things all their own way as they were made to work hard for a double-winning weekend at home. The Rockets edged out Leicester Warriors (5-8) 69-66 on Saturday, before eventually seeing off Tees Valley Mohawks (1-13) 67-62 less than 24 hours later as an 8-0 run sealed the victory. Danny Carter led the way with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Dave Ajumobi also had a double-double with 14 points along with 12 boards.

Elsewhere, Worthing Thunder (5-9) returned to winning ways following their National Cup Final defeat as they claimed an 87-84 win at home to Team Northumbria (10-4). James Cambronne finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds in the win with Tom Ward adding 24 points. Marc Steutel’s side bounced back the next day to move back into fourth as Lewis Champion netted 31 points in a 56-79 success at Kent Crusaders (1-12) despite having trailed by four at the half.

Hemel Storm (10-5) also defeated Kent at the weekend with Nik Rhodes netting an impressive 36 points in an 82-72 home victory on Saturday. Lancashire Spinners (9-6) held on to defeat Westminster Warriors (2-12) 76-71 as they were paced by Connor Murtagh’s 16 points, while London Lituanica defeated Tees Valley 64-76 on the road behind 35 points from Ausridas Petraitis.

Division Two

Solent Kestrels (10-3) defeated London Westside (0-11) 72-80 on the road to become the new leaders in D2 as the title race took another twist. Ben Maranan top scored with 22 points, while Elliott Dadds added 18 and Louie Kirkman had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds

Previous leaders London Greenhouse Pioneers (9-3) dropped to third after being beaten 65-58 away at Nottingham Hoods (8-4) with Lukasz Siczek leading the way with 17 points. The Hoods had been on a poor run and came into the game on the back of a disappointing 80-65 loss on the road against Liverpool (5-8) with Martin Calvo instigating a much-needed victory for his side with 19 points.

Loughborough Student Riders (9-2) remain well positioned in second, having lost the fewest amount of games, and they continued to prove their credentials with a 73-80 triumph at Ipswich (8-5) with Raheem May-Thompson scoring 17 points. The home side were led by Tom Sadler’s 20 points as they surrendered a five-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Killamarsh Derbyshire Arrows (9-4) kept themselves in the mix with an 82-62 success against Worcester Wolves II (2-11), with Disraeli Lufadeju scoring 21 points for the visitors as he combines playing duties with the BBL side. And, finally, Brixton Topcats (4-8) enjoyed a routine 67-51 win over Eastside Eagles (1-11) to boost their top eight hopes.

Patrons Cup

Loughborough Student Riders will meet East London All Stars in the 2016 Patrons Cup Final after both teams recorded victories in the last four on Sunday.

East London All Stars were led by Anthony Okereafor’s 27 points in their 79-71 win at home to Liverpool with Aaron Smith adding 20 points. Meanwhile, Loughborough claimed a 56-63 win away at Solent Kestrels after resisting a late fightback from the D2 leaders – Will Maynard top scored with 16 points.

Division Three

Team Newcastle University (11-0) maintained their strong position at the top of D3 North after earning a comfortable 64-92 win away at Myerscough College (5-8) with Robbie Lemons and Tayo Oyefusi leading the way with 30 and 25 points respectively.

Meanwhile, Doncaster Danum Eagles (10-2) continued to lead the chasing pack after beating Mansfield Giants (5-9) 104-93, paced by 29 points from Oliver Hylands and a further 27 from Matthew Martin. Also, Birmingham Mets (7-7) defeated Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (8-6).

In D3 South, Thames Valley Cavaliers (12-0) pulled away in the middle periods in an 86-92 win away at London United (3-10) on Sunday, while Team Solent (10-5) defeated Middlesex LTBC (7-5) 71-79 on the road to stay second. Oxford Brookes University (9-5) claimed a narrow 73-74 win away at Brunel Ducks (9-6) and Loughborough Riders (7-7) beat Brentwood Fire (6-8) 79-62 to improve to .500.

Also, Northants Thunder (6-10) recorded an 81-64 win over Barking Abbey Crusaders (5-10), who then responded with a 69-72 overtime win at Barking & Dagenham Thunder (2-11) – who themselves had beaten Plymouth Raiders II (7-7) 84-71 the previous day for their second win of the campaign.

NBDL

Gateshead Phoenix (9-0) made it nine straight in the North-East on Sunday after claiming a 94-68 win at home to Derby Trailblazers II (1-7). Elsewhere, Sheffield Sabres (4-3) edged out Nottingham Hoods (4-5) 60-58 in overtime, while Kingston Panthers (1-6) were beaten 60-66 at home to Sheffield Hallam Sharks (5-2), who remain second.

In the North-West, Preston’s College Titans (9-2) closed the gap on division leaders University of Chester (10-1) with a 69-81 victory away at Tameside (6-5). Blackburn College Spinners (9-3) are not far behind as they eased to a 60-91 win on the road against Manchester Magic II (6-6) with Josh Houghton scoring 25 points, while Calderdale Explorers (6-5) defeated Kendal Warriors (1-9) 91-53.

Sussex Bears (8-0) maintained their unbeaten record in the South, but needed overtime to see off Southampton University 83-85 on the road. Hank Rivers and Joe Carter both scored 18 points apiece to help see the visitors home. Also, Reading Rockets II claimed a 79-75 win over Folkestone Saints behind 27 points from Tyler Foard.

In the South-East, Dagenham Dragons (7-3) moved into joint third alongside Kings Lynn Fury (7-3) after narrowly avoiding becoming the first scalp of Anglia Ruskin University (0-13) by winning 72-76 on the road. London Thunder-Lewisham (6-6) were 83-50 victors over Anglia Ruskin the following day, while Cambridge Cats (5-6) defeated West Herts Warriors (5-7) 85-58 and Essex Blades (6-5) picked up a 76-91 success away at Northants Taurus (1-12).

Cardiff Met Archers (11-3) extended their advantage at the top of the South-West with an 89-78 victory over second-placed Coventry Tornadoes (9-5) with Asa Waite scoring 27 points. Sporting Club Albion defeated Cardiff City (7-6) 84-77, while Bristol Academy Flyers (8-7) suffered a 76-58 loss at City of Birmingham (8-7) with Daniel Belgrave top scoring with 21 points. Also, Oxford Stealers (5-8) eased past city rivals Oxford City (7-7) 83-55 and Swindon Shock (7-7) recorded a 67-75 win away at Birmingham Mets II (1-13).

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