NBL1 recap: Week 6 (6/7 November 2021) - live streams, stats and more

With 11 games in week six, there was plenty of potential for teams to make a move up the D1M table.

After some stunning contests, no unbeaten teams remain in the league as Nottingham and Solent tasted defeat this weekend. 

There were also a pair of wins in double-header action for Newcastle and Worthing, allowing both teams to climb up the standings.

There's a recap of all the weekend's scores below, and each result is also clickable if you wish to view the live stats.

Team Solent Kestrels (6-1) 78-83 Thames Valley Cavaliers (4-2)

Thames Valley handed Solent their first loss of the season on Saturday, claiming an 83-78 victory and opening up the D1M title race in the process.

Coach Guymon's side had enjoyed a significant home winning streak that stretched back nearly three years, but Hakeem Sylla's 19-point, 10-rebound double-double on 8-11 shooting helped push the Cavs to an unlikely result.

Sylla was supported by solid performances from AJ Roberts and Jakobi Bonner (13pts each), plus 11 from Blayne Freckleton and 14 more from Charles Acquah-Davis off the bench.

Travis Charles led the way for the hosts with 20 points as guard Cole Gentry scored 17 more as the only two Solent players to make it to double digits, though Andre Arissol did have six points, nine boards and seven assists.

A 10-0 run in the second quarter broke open a tight game in Solent's favour, suggesting the hosts may be about to run away with the contest as they eventually led 47-40 by the main change.

In an uncharacteristically lax defensive performance, Solent allowed TVC to shoot 48% from the floor, including 25/47 from inside the arc, allowing coach Banks' side back into the contest.

Winning the third frame 21-15 left the tie evenly poised and it was the former D1M runners up that seized their chance, scoring the final six points of the game to seal a statement win.

Results across the weekend means that six teams have now lost either one or two games, with no side remaining unbeaten across an even first six weeks of the season.

Elsewhere this weekend

Bradford Dragons (1-4) are off and running with their first win of the season after beating Essex Rebels (0-6) 88-85.

Former BBL man Zach Gachette was the hero for the Dragons as he closed on a game-high 35 points. Essex did take the final quarter 29-20 but their comeback would eventually fall just short despite 22 points from Rory Winter.

Reading Rockets (4-2)maintained their title challenge after an impressive 93-81 win against Hemel Storm (5-2).

Tyler Cartaino fell just two assists short of a triple double, closing on 16 points, 12 rebounds and eight dimes. Reading sent five other players to double-digits scoring, which was enough to cancel out Taylor Johnson (32pts) and Greg Poleon (24pts) as they combined for 56 of Hemel's 81 points.

The league's only other undefeated team also fell this weekend, with Nottingham Hoods (4-1) losing 101-94 on the road against Team Newcastle University (4-3).

Hoods had led 69-62 heading into the final quarter but a 39 point blitz from the hosts set up a solid come-from-behind win. David Moya played the full 40 minutes for Newcastle and enjoyed a fantastic haul of 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

London Lions II (4-3) didn't start their weekend how they'd have hoped, losing 93-75 at home to Loughborough Riders (2-5).

Justin Hedley fell a single rebound short of the double-double for Loughborough, finishing on 19 points and nine boards, as the Riders picked up their second win of the season.

Twenty five points from former Player of the Week Tom Ward helped push Worthing Thunder (6-1) past Derby Trailblazers (3-4) in a high-scoring contest that ended 102-90.

Worthing scored 31 points in both quarters of the first half, building a 62-36 lead that they'd hold on to the rest of the way.

Like Bradford, Leicester Warriors (1-6) claimed their first win of the season on Saturday as they beat Oaklands Wolves (1-5) 84-79.

American Van Turner was on fire for the hosts, closing on a game-high 31 points that included four three pointers. Jordan Jackson (21pts) and Kane Daley (20 pts) combined well for the Wolves but they couldn't do enough to seal the W.

Moving into Sunday, Solent bounced back from their first defeat of the season to beat Loughborough 99-60.

Solent shared the load well to close with 27 assists as Elliott Sentance top-scored off the bench. He had 14 points.

Derby's weekend went from bad to worse as they lost again, this time going down 89-82 at home to Newcastle.

After taking a back seat to Moya the day before, Ronald Blain was back to his old self as he dropped 31 points to go with 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks in a do-it-all performance.

Leicester couldn't craft a repeat of Saturday's win as they were beaten 103-85 in Hemel.

Greg Poleon showed he is back to his best following an early-season injury, putting together a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double as Taylor Johnson top scored with 31 points.

The weekend closed with Worthing claiming a second win in as many days, this time beating London Lions II 94-85.

After impressing Saturday in the win over Derby, guard Jarred Dixon kept his form going to score 24 points, adding eight boards and four assists.

This weekend's results:

Saturday 6 November

3pm - Essex Rebels 85-88 Bradford Dragons

3pm - Leicester Warriors 84-79 Oaklands Wolves - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

4pm - London Lions II 75-93 Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

5pm - Team Newcastle University 101-94 Nottingham Hoods - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

5pm - Reading Rockets 93-81 Hemel Storm - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

6pm - Team Solent Kestrels 78-83 Thames Valley Cavaliers - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

7:30pm - Worthing Thunder 102-90 Derby Trailblazers - LIVE STATS

Sunday 7 November

4pm - Team Solent Kestrels 99-60 Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM

4:15pm - Derby Trailblazers 82-89 Team Newcastle University - LIVE STATS

5pm - Hemel Storm 103-85 Leicester Warriors - LIVE STATS

7:30pm - Worthing Thunder 94-85 London Lions II - LIVE STATS

.

Main image credit - Luke Simcock