All four of the men’s match-ups lived up to the billing, while two women’s sides booked their places in the semis.
We also found out who has progressed to the latter stages of the Junior National Cup categories.
The draws for the senior competitions' semi-finals have been made, as have those for the U16 boys and U18s men, while we now know the finalists of the U16 girls and U18 women's competitions. Full details at the foot of this article.
Newcastle dominated the fourth quarter to take the victory, having gone into the final stages 11 points adrift.
Ronald Blain was the hero with an incredible 54 points, bettering the admirable efforts of 34-point Jarred Dixon and 31-point Hafeez Abdul for Thunder.
Team Solent Kestrels eased into the final four with a 80-56 win at Derby Trailblazers.
Blake Bowman posted 21 points for the hosts, but their scoring was otherwise kept to a minimum with the reigning league champions proving too strong.
Star man Hakeem Sylla was on song for Thames Valley Cavaliers as they booked their place in the semis with a 80-69 win at Nottingham Hoods.
Sylla’s 25-point haul helped Cavaliers put Hoods to the sword, while Morakinyo Williams’ 20 points for Hoods also impressed on the day.
BA London Lions pulled off a league and cup double shock as they sent D1M high-flyers Hemel Storm out of the competition.
After racing ahead in the third quarter with an eight-point margin, it was time to hold on as Hemel went on the charge to try and salvage the tie. Despite a 27-15 fourth in Hemel’s favour, Barking prevailed and Jase Harrison’s 24 points proved decisive.
Ronald Blain does it again! 👑
— NBL (@NBLengland) December 6, 2021
Not content with one Player of the Week calibre performance, he sent Newcastle into the semi-finals of the National Cup 🔥 #GameTime | #NBL2122 pic.twitter.com/7f4fmHsUti
There were two incredibly close contests in the first two Women’s quarter-finals as Anglia Ruskin pipped Cardiff Met Archers with a 76-75 win on home territory.
The hosts recovered from a disastrous second quarter to pull off a 25-16 score in the third, giving Archers a mountain to climb that proved agonisingly just out of reach.
Another fantastic advert for the National Cup saw giant killers Stockport Lapwings down CoLA Southwark Pride on their own turf in a 48-47 upset.
The D2 Lawpings, fresh from sending 2020 runners up Nottingham Trent Uni out of the competition, recovered from a testing opening quarter to take the second 20-11 and set themselves up for an upredicted win over the D1 high-flyers.
𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦…
— Cardiff Met Archers (@ArchersBasket) December 5, 2021
…from our D1 Women 🆚 Anglia Ruskin University in a very competitive game.
Final score: 76-75#amdaniarchers #archerfamily pic.twitter.com/xcdIYQLY8L
Team Newcastle University 108-106 Worthing Thunder
Derby Trailblazers 56-80 Team Solent Kestrels
Nottingham Hoods 69-80 Thames Valley Cavaliers
Hemel Storm 84-85 BA London Lions
WNBL NATIONAL CUP
Anglia Ruskin 76-75 Cardiff Archers II
CoLA Southwark Pride 47-48 Stockport Lapwings
Team Newcastle University v Thames Valley Cavaliers
Team Solent Kestrels v BA London Lions
Stockport Lapwings v Thames Valley Cavaliers or Bristol Academy Flyers
Anglia Ruskin University v Team Solent Kestrels or Sheffield Hatters
Bracknell Cobras v Manchester Magic
Sussex Storm or Team Solent Kestrels v Charnwood College Riders
CoLA Southwark Pride v Ipswich Basketball Academy
U16 Boys National Cup Semi-Finals
Richmond Knights v St Albans Wolves
Manchester Magic v Islington Panthers
Manchester Mystics v GCA Haringey Angels
All games to take place on Sunday 9 January 2022 unless otherwise stated.
For more on this season's finals events, please use the button below.
