REVIEW - Worthing & Bristol pick up vital wins as the title races heat up!

NBL Division One

 Leicester Warriors 77 v 75 Team Newcastle 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 3.00pm

Live Stats

Leicester Warriors tipped off a weekend of close games with a two point win over their visitors from the North East, as were not able to capitalise on an early lead. While the hosts started brightly, it was Newcastle who held the advantage when the first quarter came to a close, behind a 17-4 run late in the opening stanza. Coach Karl Brown's side responded well stormed back in front with a solid defensive effort in the second period; Newcastle limited to just 13 points in the quarter. The Warriors' lead would not be relinquished in the second half, as they comfortably led by double digits until the latter stages. 

A layup from Carl Pearson saw the Warriors lead 77-65 when the game entered the final five minutes, but two triples from Fran Urli sandwiched a pair of Eric Stafford free throws as Newcastle went on a quick 8-0 burst to make it 77-73. Ben Seipt got in on the late game action, as his layup cut the lead to 77-75 with two minutes to play. However, the visiting side came up empty on their final possessions; their efforts to tie or take the lead going amiss. Despite untimely miscues from the Warriors, Coach Ian Hewitt's squad were unable to take advantage down the stretch and complete their momentous comeback.

Taylor Johnson led all scorers in Leicester's eighth win of the campaign, a game-high 26 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals being enough to help his team to victory. A quieter afternoon scoring the ball saw Raphell Thomas-Edwards still chip in his customary double-double as he supported with 11 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, while Joshua Pollock chipped in 11 points of his own in limited minutes. Carl Pearson added 10 points and four rebounds to round out the double figure scorers, while Elhji Jabby came off the bench for an impactful six points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Fran Urli came off the bench to lead Newcastle with 18 points, three rebounds and four assists, while Onyekachi Nzerem added 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in a full 40 minutes of action. Ben Seipt finished with 13 points, five rebounds and eight assists, while Eric Stafford had 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks. 

 

 Thames Valley Cavaliers 70 v 73 Loughborough Riders 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 6.00pm

Live Stats

For the second weekend running, the Thames Valley Cavaliers found themselves in an exciting late-game battle - but the West London squad came out on the losing side of this one as Loughborough pinched a narrow road win. The visitors started the better of the two sides and led early on, amassing a double digit advantage at one point in the first stanza. However, the hosts responded with a 10-0 run and trailed by just two points when the first period came to a close. The Cavs run continued throughout the second and third periods, as they took a double figure lead of their own and held a 15 point when their advantage peaked near the end of the third quarter.

An offensive explosion down the stretch gave Loughborough a chance, sparking a comeback that brought them right back from a 13 point deficit when the final stanza began. Prince Lartey sunk a layup with just over five minutes to play to give Thames Valley a slender 64-58 advantage, before an 11-0 sparked by Kyle Jimenez and Hosana Kitenge gave Loughborough a 64-69 lead with 1:43 remaining. Lartey cut the lead to four points when he split a pair at the line, before Jonas Dieterich stepped up from the foul line in the closing stages to extend the Riders' lead back to 65-71. Abdoulaye Sylla knocked down a layup to bring it back to a four point gap, but Dieterich again held his nerve in the clutch as he went two-from-two after being fouled. With the Loughborough standing at 67-73 with 12 ticks remaining, a desperation triple from Martelle McLemore made it 70-73 before a smart timeout from Mark Jarram allowed the Riders to get the ball in safely and watch time expire. 

Jonas Dieterich led by example as the Riders' captain paced his squad with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Niall Harris chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Hosana Kitenge contributed a solid double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Reis Pinnock matched the big man's output on his return from injury with 10 points and four rebounds of his own. Crucial scores from Kyle Jimenez saw him come off the bench to add nine points and five rebounds. Abdoulaye Sylla had a game-high 19 points to lead the Cavaliers, while adding 10 rebounds to complete his double-double. Prince Lartey finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Martelle McLemore was kept relatively quiet as the Cavs' prolific scorer was held to 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. 

 

 Nottingham McDonalds Hoods 78 v 71 Manchester Magic 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 6.30pm

Live Stats

In the third single digit ball game of the early NBL Division One weekend, Manchester Magic weathered a poor second quarter to compete down the stretch but came up just short. An excellent start to the contest from Coach Simon Fisher's side saw the North West visitors lead by as many as 11 when the game got going. However, the tide quickly turned as the Hoods unleashed a 12-0 run to end the opening stanza with a one point lead. With Nottingham leading 30-28 midway through the second period, the hosts went on another run, as a 17-3 spell gave them a dominant lead when the teams headed for the locker rooms. The Magic came out fighting in the third quarter to show that they weren't down and out just yet, making consistent efforts to cut the deficit to single digits. The lead was cut to as few as six points in the fourth quarter, as the Magic rallied well late on - but couldn't quite get over the hump to get back in contention to take the result. 

The Hoods' victory was paced by recent signing Anastsios Traianos who had a game-high 18 points off the bench for Coach Ryan Westley. US big man Cole Welle added a double-double of 16 points, 13 rebounds and two steals, while David Watts chipped in 12 points and three rebounds off the bench. Luke Mitchell contributed a nine point, six rebound effort, while big man Andrej Slavik finished with eight points, six rebounds and two blocks. The Magic were led by 17 points, three rebounds and three assists from Ryan Lewis, while import centre Jonathan Barnes pulled down an impressive 16 rebounds with 11 points to complete his double-double. Andre Gayle added 13 points and two rebounds, while Richard Bell chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. 

 

 Hemel Storm 98 v 101 Essex Leopards 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 7.00pm

Live Stats

The all-East region local derby in Hertfordshire on Saturday night gave us yet another single digit ball game, as Essex Leopards took control of the game down the stretch when it mattered most. The visiting side took the lead early on as they built a double digit advantage in the first period behind a strong run of scoring - pouring in 33 points in the quarter. The Stormtroopers continued to spur their team on, and Coach Robert Youngblood's squad rallied just before the half as they reeled off a 14-4 run to regain the lead. A dominant defensive effort from Hemel saw the Big Cats limited to just 13 points in the third quarter, which allowed the Storm to pull away and lead by as many as 13 points. The visitors edged ahead once again with four minutes to play behind a strong 12-0 run, before the two sides traded baskets as the game entered the final stages.

Lee Hodges tied things up at 90-90 when he split a pair a the foul line; the clock showing 2:28 remaining. TrayVonn Wright would split a pair of free throws of his own to give Hemel the lead, before back-to-back scores from Darrell Bethune and Asante Sandiford saw the Leopards take a 91-94 advantage. Blayne Freckleton, Bode Adeluola and Bethune took it in turns to trade free throws, before a Wright and-one allowed Hemel to take a 97-96 lead. Essex guard Findlay Wood stepped in the clutch and nailed a dagger triple with just eight ticks remaining as the Big Cats edged ahead, 97-99. Sandiford later kept his cool at the stripe to extend the Essex lead to 97-101, before Freckleton could only cut the deficit to three in the dying seconds when his free throw made things 98-101. 

Asante Sandiford had a team-high 27 points, five rebounds and three assists to pace the Leopards, while Sam Newman put in a captain's performance with 26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Big man Lee Hodges finished with a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds, while late-game hero Findlay Wood added 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Leading all scorers on the day was TrayVonn Wright who poured in 30 points to go with 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Captain Tom Adorian added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Bode Adeluola finished with 13 points, 12 assists and two steals. Leome Francis came off the bench to add another double-double to the losing effort, as he ended with 13 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, while Blayne Freckleton contributed 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. 

 

 Derby Trailblazers 74 v 56 Barking Abbey Crusaders 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 7.15pm

Derby Trailblazers picked up an impressive victory on their home floor on Saturday night, a game in which they led comfortably most of the way. Coach Matt Shaw's side came out of the gates tentatively, which allowed the Barking Abbey squad to keep pace throughout the first quarter - as the Blazers edged ahead by four. A better showing on the offensive end saw the hosts extend their lead in the second stanza, as the visitors headed for the locker rooms down by 13 points. A better third quarter effort saw Coach Lloyd Gardner's team pinch the third quarter by a single point, but down the stretch the home side comfortably pulled away and were able to take a commanding win in front of the Blazers' fans. 

Malcolm Smith led all scorers with a game-high 18 points, while Matt Ward-Hibbert added 16 points and Isa Brandon chipped in 15. Kyle Carey led a low-scoring Barking effort with 13 points, with Robin Bedford the only other double digit scorer with 12. Chris Feeney added nine points in the Crusaders' loss. 

 

 Worthing Thunder 73 v 72 Team Solent Kestrels 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 7.30pm

Live Stats

A single point win for Worthing over the league-leading Team Solent Kestrels at the Thunderdome on Saturday night made things interesting in the race for the league title. The visitors settled in well in this crucial game at the top of the NBL Division One standings, as Coach Matt Guymon's side quickly built a double figure advantage. The lead was quickly enveloped by an improved Thunder effort either side of the first quarter break, as a strong run gave player-coach Josh Goddard's squad a slender lead of their own. The Kestrels would edge ahead just before the break, but the second half was all Worthing as they pinched the lead back, and did not relinquish the advantage - despite the Southampton-based side tying things up numerous times down the stretch.

Back-to-back scores from Herm Senor II and Travis Charles to start the fourth made it 60-60, but Jorge Ebanks responded with a 10 point burst - the only response coming by way of a Senor II jump shot. With Worthing now holding a 70-62 lead, the game got a little scrappy with a low scoring couple of minutes. Charles knocked down two free throws, before back-to-back scores from Senor II and Elliott Dadds tied things up at 72-72 one again. Louie Kirkman sent Ebanks to the foul line with 49 seconds remaining and the Thunder guard split the pair for the 73-72 advantage - few would think this would be the final score of the game. However, back-to-back turnovers from Senor II and Dadds saw Solent cough up the ball in the crucial moments, before Brendan Okoronkwo came up empty at the foul line to give the Kestrels a chance. Senor II got a look at a triple that would have given Solent the lead, but it wouldn't go down as Worthing escaped with what may turn out to be a vital result. 

Jorge Ebanks led the victorious Thunder squad with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Zaire Taylor ended with 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Alex Owumi knocked down four triples to chip in 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Tom Ward added seven points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals. The Kestrels' US imports combined for 53 points in this one, with Travis Charles leading all scorers with 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals, while Herm Senor II finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Elliott Dadds offered support with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Tayo Oyefusi patrolled the glass well with 17 rebounds to go with three points. 

 

 Team Solent Kestrels 93 v 56 Team Newcastle 

Sunday 17 February 2019 - 3.00pm

Live Stats

In a rare outing at St Mary's Leisure Centre, it was a solid bounce-back win for the Team Solent Kestrels as they put their loss to Worthing behind them with a dominant win. Coach Matt Guymon's side set the tone early on, as they exploded for 32 points in the first quarter, building a double digit lead. The deficit quickly grew to 20 points for Coach Ian Hewitt's outfit, but the North East side rallied just before the half to pinch the second stanza and only trail by 14 points. Coming out of the locker rooms looking like a team with a point to prove, the Kestrels locked in on defense in the third and limited their visitors to just six points in the period, while extending their lead out past 30 points. The dominance continued in the fourth quarter as Newcastle began to look ahead to a long road trip home from the south coast, as the lead touched 40+ points at points down the stretch.

Travis Charles once again led the Kestrels with 26 points and six rebounds, while Herm Senor II had a double-double of 17 points, 11 assists and four steals. Elliott Dadds added 16 points, five assists and three steals, while Chris Scarlett came off the bench to chip in 13 points and two steals. Captain Louie Kirkman finished just shy of a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists, rounding out the double digit scorers for the hosts. Fran Urli had 16 points and five rebounds to lead Newcastle, while Ben Seipt was the other major contributor with 15 points and three rebounds in the loss. 

 

 Barking Abbey Crusaders 70 v 86 Worthing Thunder 

Sunday 17 February 2019 - 4.00pm

Live Stats

Worthing Thunder capitalised on their vital victory over Team Solent on Saturday night with a strong road win over Barking Abbey on Sunday afternoon. The hosts edged ahead early on, but this would be their only lead on the day as Worthing quickly took control and never looked back. The visitors put together an impressive run either side of the half time break that saw their advantage balloon out to beyond 20 points, before the Crusaders fought back to get the deficit back to just 10 points. However, the Barking Abbey run couldn't bring it any closer, as the Thunder maintained their double digit advantage the rest of the way to take a routine result - seeing the Crusaders drop both of their weekend double-header.

Alex Owumi took his turn leading the stacked Worthing roster with 26 points, having knocked down five triples in the process, while adding seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. A rare appearance off the bench for Zaire Taylor saw him finish with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals, while Jorge Ebanks provided support with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals. Brendan Okoronkwo chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Ismael Fontaine contributed an eight point spark off the bench. Captain and starting point guard Ade Adebayo had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead Barking, while Jonathan Brown finished with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists. Kyle Carey had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Robin Bedford ended with nine points and six rebounds off the bench. 

 

 Loughborough Riders 70 v 73 Thames Valley Cavaliers 

Sunday 17 February 2019 - 4.30pm

Live Stats

A weekend of familiarity saw these two sides match up twice, as the road team took a coincidental 70-73 victory in each contest. Sunday's encounter in the East Midlands saw a tight game go the way of the Riders in the early going, before Thames Valley responded to take a lead of their own in the third stanza. The hosts lead much of the way late on, as the fourth period looked to be going their way as Coach Mark Jarram hoped to wrap a double-header of victories. However, the visiting West London squad had other ideas down the stretch.

The hosts biggest lead of the final quarter came when Ethan Damerum hit a layup to give the Riders a 66-61 lead, but Aiden Saunders quickly responded with a triple to make it 66-64. Niall Harris got the rim for two, before Saunders knocked down another triple to make it 68-67 with just over three minutes remaining. Harris split a pair at the line, before Abdoulaye Sylla got to the basket to tie the contest at 69-69. With just over a minute to play, Martelle McLemore kept his cool at the line to stroke in a pair of free throws, as the Cavs took a crucial 69-71 advantage. After a couple of sloppy turnovers, Hosana Kitenge found his way to the line and split the pair, meaning the Riders trailed 70-71 in the closing thirty seconds. With the Cavaliers needing to just run out the clock, Kitenge came up with a steal and found Dieterich for a shot at the game, but his jumper rimmed out and the Riders had to foul McLemore once again. The reigning NBL Division Two MVP showed his clutch gene as he sunk both free throws to give Thames Valley the definitive 70-73 lead. Coach Jarram had one final timeout and drew up a play for Lucien Cristofis, but the recent National Cup MVP couldn't get the triple to drop as the visitors pinched the result.

Martelle McLemore had an outstanding game alongside his late-game efforts, leading all scorers with 26 points and nine assists, while Abdoulaye Sylla offered ample support across the box score with 19 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Aiden Saunders crucial fourth quarter shooting helped him add eight points, seven rebounds and two assists in the winning effort. All five Riders' starters scored in double figures, as they were led by Jonas Dieterich's 13 points, five rebounds and two assists. Lucien Cristofis finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Niall Harris had a double-double of 10 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks. Hosana Kitenge chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Alex Roberts had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. 

 

 Reading Rockets 100 v 60 Bradford Dragons 

Sunday 17 February 2019 - 5.00pm

Live Stats

The Reading Rockets ended their recent losing streak with a strong victory on their home floor at Rivermead as they grabbed a commanding win over Bradford. A solid start to the game saw Coach Alan Keane's side edge ahead, before the hosts really made their presence known in the second stanza when they poured in 33 points. Holding a 26 point lead at the half, the deficit was cut into by a sharp run from Bradford, but it wasn't enough to make a significant dent as Reading quickly responded and pulled away once again. A final quarter that ended 27-7 to the hosts saw the Dragons throw in the towel down the stretch as a suffocating defensive effort from the Rockets made scoring difficult to come by as the game came to an end.

AJ Carr had a game-high 28 points to lead Reading, as he added eight rebounds and two blocks. Young Great Britain junior international guard David Chive had an impressive showing with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals, while fellow back-court member Sydney Donaldson chipped in 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. A quiet afternoon for Trae Pemberton saw him contribute 10 points, three rebounds and two assists, while there was a return from injury for Adrian O'Sullivan who had six points and three assists in limited minutes. Rafael Saipe led the Dragons' effort with 17 points, two rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Rihards Sulcs finished with 16 points. Ricky Fetske chipped in 12 points and six rebounds, while big man Allie Fullah came off the bench for 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the loss. 

 

WNBL Division One

 Ipswich 87 v 66 Loughborough Riders 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 3.00pm

Ipswich bounced back from a disappointing loss last weekend with a dominating performance on their home floor to down the Loughborough Riders and continue their assault on the WNBL Division One top four. Pouring in 30 points in the first quarter, Coach Nick Drane's side meant business right from the start, as they never looked back and led from tip to buzzer. A commanding defensive effort in the third limited the Riders to just nine points as the hosts stifled any hope of a comeback. 

Harriet Welham had a game-high 29 points to pace Ipswich, while Charlotte Redhead chipped in 23 points. Esther Little and Susannah Rafiu added 13 points apiece in the high-scoring effort from the Suffolk-based squad. Hannah Dawson led Loughborough on the day with 14 points, while Imogen Cook had 13 and Holly Wright added 11. 

 

 Bristol Academy Flyers 67 v 61 Reading Rockets 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 3.30pm

Live Stats

A tricky double-header saw Bristol Academy Flyers' league-leading record heavily tested this weekend, as they had to battle hard on Saturday to pick up a single digit win over Reading. The visitors started brightly in this one and edged ahead by six points to begin the second quarter, before a strong Bristol run that spanned either side of the half-time interval gave the hosts a close to insurmountable 16 point lead. The deficit was cut back to single digits in the final stanza, but the Rockets could never quite get over the hump to lead the contest, as Coach Gareth Till's squad picked up a hard-fought victory.

Cristina Bigica was vital in the Flyers' win, leading the effort with 26 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Fiona Fox added support with 16 points and four rebounds, while Mai Zilbeti chipped in seven points. Bristol guard Flo Ward finished with eight points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals in a crucial contribution - the NBL would like to wish her well amid reports on Twitter that she had to leave the game due to injury. A balanced scoring effort for Coach David Sanchez' Rockets side wasn't enough to get it done, as Candela Hermida Nunez led her side with 14 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals. Maria Angeles Valdeolmillos Gomez finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Monica Herranz De Antonio and Carmen Segura Moreno supported with 11 points apiece. 

 

 Team Solent Kestrels 64 v 61 Anglia Ruskin University 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 6.00pm

Live Stats

Team Solent Kestrels began their weekend double-header with an extremely narrow win over Anglia Ruskin University, as the hosts nearly fell foul of a strong second half charge by the Rhinos. Having traded single digit leads throughout the first half, The Kestrels made their mark on the defensive end in the third quarter as Anglia Ruskin were limited to just two points out of the half. The stanza saw Solent pour in 25 points of their own as they ran away with a big lead that made the game look like it was over. However, Coach Michael Hanson-Morris' side weren't down and out just yet as they rallied to land their own blow in the fourth - keeping the Kestrels to just four points in the final period. Gradually cutting into the lead through a concerted defensive effort, the Rhinos held Solent scoreless for the final five minutes of the contest, but it just wasn't enough as the Kestrels snuck away with the result.

It was close to a one-woman show for the Kestrels as Geena Gomez poured in 29 points to be far and away the star of the game for Coach CJ Lee. Gomez added three rebounds, eight assists and three steals to her scoring showcase, while she was supported by 10 points off the bench from Stephanie Ellis. A new face for the Rhinos was key to their effort on this day, as Laria Zaffaroni quickly acclimatised to life in WNBL Division One with 20 points, five rebounds and two steals. Nadege Talva added 13 points and eight rebounds, while captain Katrin Hulme chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds. 

 

 Team Solent Kestrels 66 v 72 Bristol Academy Flyers 

Sunday 17 February 2019 - 5.30pm

Live Stats

Bristol Academy Flyers rounded out their tough double-header weekend with another single digit victory, this time coming on the road on the south coast at Team Solent. An even game throughout saw neither team hold a double figure lead at any point, as a game of two halves went the way of the visitors when it mattered. The Kestrels looked comfortable early on, as they held a slender lead throughout the first half. However, the travelling side rallied the third, holding Solent to just six points - as Bristol took back the lead heading into the final stanza. The advantage would never be relinquished as Coach Gareth Till's side made key plays down the stretch, none more crucial than a triple from Cristina Bigica with just under two minutes to play. The Flyers then just had to keep their cool from the foul line to stretch out their lead and hold on for the win. 

Cristina Bigica once again led her side with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Hannah Wallace offered support with 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Mai Zilbeti chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Lisa Juul knocked down big free throws late on to add 10 points and five rebounds. Geena Gomez had another top performance for Team Solent, as the import guard led all scorers with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Andrea Kurkowski finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Earleesha Jackson chipped in eight points and 10 points - both just shy of a double-double. Kristina Karpova rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists. 

 

NBL Division Two

 Liverpool 124 v 56 Derbyshire Arrows 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 5.00pm

Live Stats

In a weekend of extremely close games up and down the NBL schedule, one game stood out as the outlier as a short-handed Derbyshire Arrows side struggled with the scoring prowess of league-leading Liverpool. The hosts set their stall out early as they poured in 36 points in the first period, leading by 20+ points as early as midway through the second quarter. The offensive explosion continued in the second half when the Merseyside squad dropped another 27 points in the third, before a dominant 37-6 final stanza when the Arrows finally ran out of legs. 

Six players hit double figures for Liverpool as they scored in bunches up and down their roster. Starting guard Jack Hudson led the effort with 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Reiss Haggith added 18 points, three rebounds and three assists. Young Archbishop Beck star Dante Sofia came off the bench to add 18 points of his own, to go with three rebounds. Kaphel Ulett-Waul chipped in 16 points, three rebounds and five assists, while Daniel Walsh finished with 13 points and three assists. Tyme Regent-Bascombe rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 points and three rebounds, coming in limited minutes. The low-scoring Arrows effort was paced by Matt Wilson's 17 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Joseph Baugh was the only other major contributor with a 14 point, 10 rebound double-double. 

 

 East London All Stars 73 v 56 Myerscough College 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 5.00pm

Live Stats

Myerscough College tipped off their road double-header in the capital with a rough offensive showing in East London, as the All Stars took advantage in the third quarter to pull away. After an even game in the early going, where the hosts were only able to edge ahead for a narrow lead, Myerscough took their first lead of the game to head into the half-time interval. A well-needed team talk from Coach Dave Greenaway got the All Stars ready to compete when the third began, as they reeled off a number of scores to pull away - dropping 30 points in the quarter. Despite an up-and-down fourth stanza which saw Myerscough make a couple of efforts to cut the deficit, the damage had been done in the third period, allowing East London to maintain their advantage and take the result. 

East London were led by a trio of solid scoring performances, as Kyle Gouveia had a team-high 18 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Aaron Badibo chipped in 17 points and three rebound, while Jonathan James finished with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Myerscough were led by a game-high 24 points from Mate Okros, as the star guard added seven rebounds to his scoring tally. Callan Low was the next highest scoring contributor in a tough offensive encounter, as the Scottish international finished with nine points and two steals. 

 

 Sussex Bears 111 v 103 Westminster Warriors 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 5.00pm

Live Stats

Yet another tight game saw a high-tempo offensive showcase take place on the south coast as Sussex Bears were able to pick up a high-scoring victory on their home floor. The Warriors started the brightest, but Sussex quickly rallied as they went on a run that spanned the first quarter break to turn a six point deficit into a 19 point advantage. The recent Patrons Cup champions fought back to cut the lead before the half-time interval, trailing only by five as the teams headed for the locker rooms. The lead was exchanged numerous times in the third and early in the fourth, before a definitive run by the hosts saw the lead change hands for the final time. An impressive final minute to the contest by James Felstead saw him score the Bears' final seven points, responded to only by Jon Johnson who hit back-to-back triples in the closing moments to give Westminster hope. 

Cordaris Townes continues to show his class for the Bears, as he led all scorers with 36 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Dom Baker wasn't far behind in his scoring exploits for the hosts, as the Sussex captain knocked down seven triples to finish with 27 points, three rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Late-game hero James Felstead had an efficient effort of 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Jasper Chiwuzie chipped in 17 points on 7-9 field goal shooting. The Warriors were unable to get in done in this one despite all five starters scoring in double figures and shooting 40% from the field. Florian Damptey had the best night with 21 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals, while player-coach Jon Johnson finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Justin Hitchman matched his play-callers efforts with 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Juan Manning and Mantas Adomaitis chipped in 16 and 15, respectively. 

 

 Ipswich 112 v 118 London United (OT) 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 5.30pm

Live Stats

A game of two halves in Suffolk saw London United rally from an early deficit to take the spoils in a narrow overtime win. The hosts led by as many as 19 points in the first quarter, before United went on a run that spanned either side of the half-time break to cut the lead and take their own 15 point advantage. The visitors' lead fluctuated as the second half continued, before Ben Winter and Stephen Hemmings hit crucial back-to-back buckets in the final moments to force an extra period. Foul trouble was the primary storyline in the overtime, as United made Ipswich's team foul penalty pay by earning numerous trips to the line, making six of seven free throws in the five minute period. 

United saw four players lead the scoring effort with impressive displays, as Daniel Szatkowski paced the victors with 29 points and four rebounds, knocking down 15-19 from the foul line. New signing Y Napalion had 26 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in his debut performance, while Tomas Butrimas had a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. Modestas Krasauskas struggled from behind the arc in this one, shooting 1-10 from three-point range, but was still able to add 20 points and four rebounds. Cameron Hawes came off the bench to lead Ipswich with 24 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Jed Robinson had 23 points and eight rebounds. Ben Winter had 23 points of his own to go with three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Veron Eze chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds, while Ethan Price finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five steals. 

 

 London Westside 80 v 92 Greenwich Titans 

Saturday 16 February 2019 - 6.15pm

Live Stats

In the penultimate matchup of the NBL Division Two weekend, Greenwich Titans opened up their double-header on the road at London Westside, picking up a vital win in the relegation race. The cross-capital visitors led from tip to buzzer as the dominated the encounter, leading by as many as 19 points in the second stanza, before Westside cut the deficit back to just three points. A sharp run to begin the fourth allowed the Titans to pull away for good, as they clinched a crucial result for valuable points in the lower reaches of the standings. 

Jake Murphy led the Titans with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Ray Akpofure added 21 points and seven rebounds. Jack Green had 14 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Brandon Moncrieffe-Meade chipped in 12 points off the bench. Yassine Bouraidah rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points and two rebounds. Meanwhile, Westside were paced by 23 points and six rebounds from Ryan Wilson, while Donald Morris added 18 points and six rebounds. Santiago Leon came off the bench for 13 points and four rebounds, as the only other double figure contributor for the hosts. 

 

 Greenwich Titans 70 v 73 Myerscough College 

Sunday 17 February 2019 - 2.15pm

Live Stats

The final game of the NBL Division Two weekend was another matchup that came right down to the wire, as Greenwich Titans played host to Myerscough in the unusual surroundings of Southwark Pride's home floor at City of London Academy. Coach Neal Hopkins' side led early on, taking a 13-24 advantage after quarter one. The Titans were able to cut the deficit in the second, trailing by single digits at the half-time break, and held their visitors to the same advantage as the third period came to an end. A strong run by the hosts saw them tie the game at 70-70 in the closing stages, before Callan Low called game with a game-winning triple from the corner that sunk the hearts of the home side. 

Bradley Kaboza led the Myerscough effort with 19 points, while Mate Okros had 16 and Sanmi Fajana finished with 12. Jake Murphy paced Greenwich with 17 points, supported by 13 points from Ray Akpofure and nine points from Courtney Van-Beest.

 

For full Scores & Schedules for this weekend's action, click the link below: