Around the NBL – Week 21

Division One

Manchester Magic (15-1) enjoyed a double-winning weekend to keep themselves in control of D1. Paul Middleton’s side eased to a 101-69 win against Westminster Warriors (2-15) with Alvaro Alarcon Lizaur netting 22 points, before the Spaniard top scored again with 19 points in a 63-85 road win against Tees Valley Mohawks (2-15).

Derby Trailblazers (15-3) remain level on points with Magic after they too recorded back-to-back victories at the weekend after beating Kent Crusaders (2-14) 89-56, and Leicester Warriors (6-10) 75-79 in overtime the following day. Reading Rockets (12-5) are in third and they posted a convincing 55-85 road win at Westminster with 17 and 16 points coming from Danny Carter and D’Montre Edwards, respectively.

Meanwhile, Hemel Storm (12-6) began the weekend with a 113-104 success in overtime against Essex Leopards (9-8) as Bode Adeluola and Nik Rhodes both put up 33 points in the win, before they suffered an 84-71 defeat at Team Northumbria (11-4). Lewis Champion netted 26 points, while Siman Stewart tallied 14 points along with 17 rebounds to keep the North-East side well placed in fifth.

Lancashire Spinners (11-6) recorded an 85-79 win over London Lituanica (10-7) as Kyle Carey starred with a 29-point haul on 11-of-14 shooting from the field. Steven Gayle also chipped in with 20 off the bench as Ausridas Petraitis’ dominant 35 points and 18 rebounds wasn’t enough for the visitors. Lituanica’s weekend went from bad to worse on Sunday as they were beaten 74-72 by Kent with RJ Eytle-Rock scoring 21 points in just their second win of the campaign.

Also, Tees Valley had picked up their second win as 29 points and 12 rebounds from Joel Madourie led the visitors to an 83-88 win at Worthing Thunder (6-11), despite a remarkable 29 points, 17 boards and seven blocks from James Cambronne. Bradford Dragons (5-13) had a mixed weekend in their pursuit of a playoff spot after losing 74-80 at home to Leicester, before pulling off a 70-74 victory at Essex as Nick Moore scored 27 points and collected 14 rebounds.

Division Two

Loughborough Student Riders (12-2) held on to top spot in D2 with a comfortable 50-79 win away at Derbyshire Arrows (10-6), on Saturday. Raheem May-Thompson finished with 25 points as the visitors dominated the final quarter 6-23 to make sure of the win. Solent Kestrels (12-3) remain in hot pursuit after Louie Kirkman’s double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds led his side to a 59-68 win away at Brixton Topcats (4-10) with the visitors making an impressive 2-23 start.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Hoods (10-4) recorded a 66-80 win on the road against East London All Stars (9-7) as Miguel Lorenzo Leis went a perfect 15-of-15 from the field on his way to 33 points. Liverpool (7-8) defeated Ipswich (8-7) 85-72, paced by 24 points from David Ulph, while London Westside (1-12) picked up their first win by beating Worcester Wolves II (2-13) 72-65, and Eastside Eagles (1-13) forfeited a 20-0 defeat at London Greenhouse Pioneers (12-3), who are also firmly in the title mix.

Division Three

It wasn’t to be unlucky number 13 for Team Newcastle University (13-0) as they extended their unbeaten run in D3 North with a 65-73 win away at Team Birmingham (7-6) as Robbie Lemons netted 36 points. Newcastle Under Lyme College Knights (9-7) racked up 37 points in the opening quarter on their way to a 91-101 win on the road against Leeds Force Academy (1-11), while Sefton Stars (9-7) claimed a 75-96 win at Myerscough College (5-10). Also, Mansfield Giants (6-10) suffered an 83-97 home defeat to City of Sheffield Saints (7-8), and Birmingham Mets (8-7) edged out Derby Trailblazers II (3-11) 92-90 in overtime.

In D3 South, Oxford Brookes University (12-5) moved into second with a dominant 90-60 victory against Barking Abbey Crusaders (5-12) with Abdoulaye Sylla leading the way with a 31-point haul. Team Solent (11-6) lost ground as they slipped to third following an 85-81 defeat away at Brunel Ducks (11-6), while Barking & Dagenham Thunder (3-12) claimed their third win of the season with a 70-65 success at home to Brentwood Fire (6-11).

NBDL

Gateshead Phoenix (10-1) suffered their first defeat in the North-East after being beaten 62-58 away at Sheffield Sabres (7-4), who moved into second. Meanwhile, Nottingham Hoods II (5-5) were victorious 55-87 on the road against Kingston Panthers (1-7), and Sunderland City Predators (4-5) were handed a 20-0 win over Derby Trailblazers III (1-9).

In the North-West, Josh Houghton netted 33 points to lead Blackburn College Spinners (10-3) to an 83-90 overtime success at Calderdale Explorers (6-7), despite a combined 63 points from Cyrus Dennis and Nathaniel Akins. Manchester Magic II (7-7) defeated Tameside (7-6) 83-77, and Liverpool II (2-11) claimed a 110-101 victory at home to Kendal Warriors (2-11), behind 40 points from J Low.

Thames Valley Cavaliers II (7-2) missed out on the chance to go joint top in the South alongside Sussex Bears (8-1) after falling to a 70-80 home defeat to Woking Blackhawk Flyers (5-5), on Sunday, while Southampton University Sharks (4-6) were awarded a 20-0 win against Folkestone Saints (3-7).

In the South-East, Greenwich Titans (14-1) are still clear at the top after recording an 83-98 win on the road at Northants Taurus (2-13) with Yassin Bouraidah netting 36 points in the comeback win. Elsewhere, Southwark Pride (11-2) needed overtime to see off London Thunder-Lewisham (6-8) on the road as Thai Segwai-Lodge finished with 20 points. Kings Lynn Fury (10-3) defeated Cambridge Cats (5-8) 92-63 and were then handed a 20-0 win against Dagenham Dragons (7-5), while Essex Blades (8-5) enjoyed an 81-94 triumph away at West Herts Warriors (5-9).

Coventry Tornadoes (11-5) moved level on points with South-West leaders Cardiff Met Archers (11-4) with a 71-56 victory over Bristol Academy Flyers II (9-8) as Lionel Antoni netted a 31-point haul. Also, Martyn Gayle scored 26 points to help City of Birmingham (9-8) to a 74-66 win against Swindon Shock (8-8), while Cardiff City (9-6) eased to a 44-63 win away at Birmingham Mets II (1-14).