A recap of the tenth week of the 2017-18 National Basketball League (NBL) season.
(5-2) Manchester Magic 55-77 Hemel Storm (6-1)
Hemel are now the front-runners in D1 after recording an impressive win away at Manchester.
The visitors pulled away in the second quarter and completed a convincing victory with a strong second-half display.
AJ Roberts starred with 29 points along with seven rebounds and five assists, while three other starters hit double figures in the win.
Magic were led by Donte Gittens’ 28-point haul, but they fell to their second league loss of the season.
(2-4) Derby Trailblazers 76-92 Reading Rockets (5-1)
Reading kept pace with the league leaders as they earned a 16-point road win against the Trailblazers.
Tim Gill put up 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Rockets with 17 points for Sydney Donaldson, while Jerrod Hendricks handed out 11 assists to go with 14 points and five steals in the win.
The visitors edged the two opening periods to lead by five at the break before pulling away behind a 13-23 third quarter.
Derby had 17 points from Simeon Esprit with Matthew Ward-Hibbert also adding 16 points as the duo combined for 33 from the bench.
(3-3) Worthing Thunder 85-76 Team Northumbria (3-3)
Northumbria fell to another loss in the league as they went down away from home against Worthing Thunder.
Zaire Taylor poured in 36 points to guide his side to victory as they move to .500 with Jorge Ebanks adding a further 18 points.
After an even 22-22 opening period, Thunder raced away to a double-digit half-time advantage and were able to secure their third league win.
Malcolm Smith had 32 points and 14 rebounds in defeat for Northumbria with Jack Preston also posting a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.
(3-4) Kent Crusaders 61-74 Solent Kestrels (5-2)
Solent bounced back from their previous defeat as they recorded a 13-point road win against Kent Crusaders.
Joe Tagarelli led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the win with Elliot Dadds adding 16 points as the only other player in double figures for the visitors.
Solent dominated the first half to lead 30-52 at the break and despite a valiant response from the Crusaders, they still fell comfortably short.
Caleb Fuller had 16 points and eight rebounds for Kent as they drop below .500 in eighth place.
(2-3) Bradford Dragons 75-77 Team Newcastle University (2-7)
Team Newcastle put their poor run of league form behind them to pull out a narrow win on the road on Saturday.
Joey Bennett top scored with 21 points with Fran Urli adding 19 for their side’s second league win of the campaign.
Bradford Dragons squandered a 30-10 first quarter advantage with a biggest lead of 22 in the contest as Newcastle rallied with a 27-41 second half effort.
Ricky Fetske and Marcus Gooding had 18 each for the Dragons with Urli’s late three proving to be the dagger in the final minute.
Nottingham Hoods (7-0) continued their winning run in D2 with a 59-76 win away at Middlesex LTBC (2-5) on Sunday. T Robinson led the way with 22 points with Modestas Kraskauskas netting a game-high 27 points in defeat.
Essex Leopards (3-2) bounced back with a 94-80 victory over Ipswich (3-4) in overtime after the visitors had produced a 12-27 final quarter to force an extra period. Dougie Bennett and Korry Callum pushed the home side with 17 and 15 points respectively.
Meanwhile, Liverpool (5-2) powered past Westminster Warriors (4-4) in the second half for a 69-75 road triumph behind 25 points from David Ulph.
Thames Valley Cavaliers (5-2) are level in second with Liverpool as they secured a 74-88 win away at London Westside (1-4), while Team Birmingham Elite were also victorious away from home after beating Sussex Bears (4-3) 63-76 with a 13-31 fourth quarter.
Derbyshire Arrows (2-4) picked up their second win in the league as Joseph Baugh’s 22 points helped secure an 89-62 success at home to London Greenhouse Pioneers (1-6).
North
Myerscough College (5-1) picked up another win in D3 North as they defeated Manchester Giants II (0-6) 69-82 on the road, while Loughborough Student Riders II (4-2) earned a 69-80 win away at WLV Albion (3-2).
Doncaster Danum Eagles (3-4) were victorious at home as Matthew Martin fired in 31 points to lead his side past Stoke-on-Trent Knights (3-3).
Elsewhere, Birmingham Mets (3-4) edged out Team Sunderland (3-4) 84-81 with 24 points for Daniel Belgrave, while University of Chester (4-3) secured an 84-75 win over Sheffield Hallam Sharks (4-3) as Phil Brandreth poured in 35 points to counter a 27-point haul from Jacob Cauthorn.
South
Greenwich Titans (4-3) came out on top in a high-scoring thriller against Cardiff City (4-3) as they prevailed 116-107 in overtime. The visitors rallied from 15 down at the end of the third to force an extra period with Lewis Tucker netting 36 points in defeat.
Oxford Brookes University (5-1) still lead the way as they narrowly beat Essex Blades (2-4) 80-81 on the road with 36 points from Jay Miller, while Cardiff Met Archers (2-4) were beaten 79-81 at home to East London All Stars (4-1).
North
Blackpool (7-1) opened the weekend with an 82-87 victory away at Kingston Panthers (6-2) with 25 points each from Chris Hodkin and Aitor Estrada.
Calderdale Explorers (7-0) are showing no signs of slowing down at the top as they defeated Tameside (3-3) 47-63, while York Vikings (4-3) edged out Newcastle Eagles U23 (3-4) for a 71-68 success.
Meanwhile, Sheffield Sabres (5-2) saw off Manchester Magic II (0-7) 65-81 with Stockport Falcons (3-3) beating Myerscough College II (3-5) 67-85 behind Barry Plummer’s 30 points and Barrow Thorns (1-6) eased past Sefton Stars (0-6) 78-38 for their first win.
Midlands
Derby Trailblazers II (7-0) continued their winning start on Sunday as Jake Wesselingh netted 25 points in an 87-68 win at home to Warwickshire Hawks (4-3).
Northants Thunder (4-2) inflicted a second loss on Team Derby (6-2) as Holt netted 25 points in a 95-84 victory, while University of Nottingham (6-1) moved into second as they eased to a 75-107 win at Nottingham Trent University Hoods (1-5) with 39 points for Josh Smith.
Elsewhere, Charnwood College (2-5) beat Shropshire Warriors (2-5) 56-77 on the road with Birmingham Mets II (1-6) overcoming Mansfield Giants (2-5), 75-87 to end their drought.
South-East
The unbeaten start of Barking Abbey Crusaders (6-1) was ended on Saturday as BC Medelynas London (5-0) recorded an 88-79 home triumph.
Third-placed Chelmsford Lions (4-2) were beaten 81-88 at home to Richmond Knights (3-3) with Andrew Wallace netting a game-high 31 points for the visitors.
Norfolk Titans (2-5) defeated Cambridge Cats (3-3) 77-69, while London Thunder-Lewisham (2-5) eased to a 78-60 win at home to Anglia Ruskin University (2-5) with a three-way tie at the bottom.
South-West
Taunton Tigers (5-0) maintained their perfect record in D4 South-West action with an 72-64 victory over Southampton University Sharks (4-4), while Bristol Academy Flyers II (5-1) kept up the pressure by beating RCT Gladiators (3-3) 70-88 on the road.
Meanwhile, Oxford Stealers (1-6) defeated Gloucester Saxons (1-5) 74-59 for their first win and Surrey Rams (1-3) claimed an 84-72 win at home to Thames Valley Cavaliers II (3-4).
Quarter-Finals:
Manchester Magic 67-57 Team Newcastle University
Loughborough Student Riders 79-76 Bradford Dragons
Solent Kestrels 89-67 Reading Rockets
Thames Valley Cavaliers 89-91 Hemel Storm
Four remain in the National Cup following the last eight action over the weekend.
Manchester Magic remain on course for another final appearance after they saw off Newcastle University 67-57 and face a trip to Solent Kestrels next after they earned a convincing 89-67 success over Reading Rockets with 18 points apiece for Herm Senor and Joe Tagarelli.
Hemel Storm edged out Thames Valley Cavaliers 89-91 on the road, despite 30 points for Martelle McLemore, with Dave Ajumobi netting an incredible-game-winner, while Loughborough Student Riders overcame Bradford Dragons for a 79-76 victory.
Final moments at Uxbridge tonight. Scores tied at 89 all when this happens @ajukobe pic.twitter.com/XUaNIZ7Xca
— Hemel Storm (@hemelstorm) November 19, 2017
Semi-Final Draw:
Hemel Storm v Loughborough Student Riders
Solent Kestrels v Manchester Magic
Semi-Finals to be played 10 December
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