 |
RAF Careers - Click here for Info |
RAF Careers - Click here for Info
NBL Britball.com Front
More.. Profiles Archive Search Features The News Wire
Interactive Hang-Time News by Email Hoopchat Frequently Asked Questions
Balanced Inter split Worthing
NBL CONFERENCE: INTER BASKET LONDON 83 WORTHING THUNDER 77
Inter Basket London did everything to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they just held on overcome Worthing Thunder in the NBL Conference match at the Space Centre in Hackney on Saturday evening.
From a seemingly invincible position of leading by 18 points going into the final quarter, Inter contrived to allow their opponents to get back to within two points before managing to hold on for an important victory in the quest for positions for the end of season play-offs.
Early on, good team defence and excellent shooting, particularly from Perry Lawson and Franck Batimba, saw the home side open up a 25-12 lead before a 5-2 run saw Thunder reduce the deficit to 10 at the end of the first quarter. However with Ben Smart picking up four fouls in the period, including a mysterious technical, meant that Inter would be without their tallest player for the remainder of the game.
When Laurent Irish and Simon Fisher combined to trigger an 8-0 run at the start of the second stanza, the lead stretched to 14 but good play from Marvin Addy, Sean Hampton and Gaylon Moore kept the South Coast team in it, although the half ended with a sensational pass from Grant Ebanja that gave Irish his sides final basket as they led 46-37 at the half.
The third quarter saw some of Inter's best play of the season as tough defence and, for once, good shot selection took the lead into double figures. With only Moore scoring regularly for the visitors, Mansour Mbye and Batimba shared 22 of the Londoners 29 points as they led 74-56 at the end of the period.
But just as easily the lead began to evaporate as poor ball movement and shot selection by the hosts led to Worthing go on a 14-2 run sparked by the appearance of coach Gary Smith on the court. Two foul shots from Batimba should have steadied matters but another 8-0 run brought the score back to 78-76 with two minutes remaining and the crowd sensing an improbable comeback.
However a time out and change of defensive formation for Inter seemed to work, An Andrew Bailey free throw was followed by a foul on Irish whilst attempting a three point shot. Smith, as a player, got a technical foul for arguing which led to the home player converting all four foul shots to effectively settle the match.
Batimba 19, Irish 18 and Lawson 17 were Inter's top scorers, Moore 31 and Hampton 23 the leaders for Worthing but Inter contrived to make the final score much closer than it needed to be.
NBL Division One Men: Ealing Tornados 79 Derbyshire Arrows 65
The Derbyshire Arrows slipped to their second defeat of the season as the Ealing Tornados deservedly took the top of the table battle by 79 – 65. Only Jeff Bevington (26) could find any answers to the Tornados swarming defense on the night as the Arrows were out rebounded, out hustled and generally out played by the London side.
The Arrows Jamie Davidson scored the first basket of the game but the Tornados were to hit 4 “3 pointers” as they took a 19 – 13 first quarter lead. The Arrows with Bevington & Waite battling close to the basket briefly levelled at 25 – 25 midway through the second quarter, but Cadogan & Deppisch responded again to give the Tornados a 36 – 32 interval lead.
The third quarter was closely contested as Gayle tried hard with Ellmer to rally his troops but despite the constant threat of Jeff Bevington the Tornados extended their lead to 57 – 51.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Tornados, the Arrows choosing to shoot from long range rather than work through Bevington in an effort to close a game that was slipping away, sadly it was to prove a costly mistake as the Tornados closed the game out with a 13 – 2 run, to win 79 – 65.
The Tornados were good value for their victory, getting commanding performances from their big guns, Cadogan 28, Deppisch 16 & Fontaine 15, while the Arrows had too many of their stars off colour on the night.
This defeat for the Arrows opens up the Title race, the Arrows must win their remaining 6 games to take the Championship, beginning with the visit of the Cardiff Clippers on Sunday 10th March.
HULL ICEBERGS 69 MANSFIELD EXPRESS 107
The Hull Icebergs suffered their second straight loss against an impressive Mansfield Express side.
The away side had a 5-0 run to take the early lead 5-2 with 7.30 left. They continued their hard work and a 10-4 run had them up 15-6 with 4.33 remaining in the Quarter, prompting home coach Kevin Penny to call a time-out. However, it was the Express who came out of the time-out with energy and another 9-2 tear plus a three pointer at the buzzer had them up 28-10.
Hull started with a 4-0 run at the beginning of the second Quarter. Mansfield though were a determined side today and another 11-2 tear increased their lead to 39-16 with 6.00 to go. A three pointer from the brilliant Dylan Bogg put the Express up 47-24 with 3.09 left. The Icebergs did come back with a 6-2 run of their own. However, the rest of the Quarter belonged to Bogg as two more threes in the last 30 seconds had Mansfield leading 56-35 at the half.
The home supporters were hoping that a rejuvenised Hull team would take to the Court but apart from a three by Miguel Canelo to leave Hull trailing 58-40 with 2.00 gone, it was Mansfield that continued their onslaught. A 6-2 run had them up 64-42 with 6.00 remaining in the Quarter. The frustration was all too much for the Icebergs Coach who received a Technical Foul. Another three from Bogg put them further in front at 74-47 and to round off the Quarter the Express went on a 8-0 tear to lead 82-47 at the buzzer.
It was a case of just running the clock out in the Final Quarter for the Icebergs, but even that proved costly as they lost Forward John Brignall who was carried from the Court with an injury. Mansfield went on another 7-0 tear in the mid part of the Quarter, as they ran out comfortable winners.
Despite this win, Mansfield remained near the foot of the table, as both North London Lords and Cardiff Clippers picked up victories to move onto five wins along with the Express. North-West London, whose game was postponed, have now been reined in to join them, and Worcester Wolves (beaten in a low scoring game at Cardiff) are only one win ahead.
Huge disappointment, though, for Liverpool. The Merseysiders looked as though they could close to within two points of their visitors, North London, as they led throughout the first three quarters of their meeting. It was not to be, as a 15-20 turnaround to the Londoners in the fourth gave the Lords a two point victory – and left Liverpool six points adrift at the foot of the table, with only five games remaining.There was only one match in Division One Women, and Sheffield Hatters took full advantage, as they moved to the top of the table with a convincing 31 point victory at Spelthorne Acers.
In Division Two Men, North, wins for the top three left the positions unchanged, with Middlesbrough College still breathing down the necks of Dudley Bears, but needing the leaders to slip up in one of their last five games.
Northampton Neptunes’ home defeat rules them out of the top four, and a play-off spot, but Hanley Hornets enhanced their play-off hopes as their home victory over Nottingham gave them a four-point cushion in fourth place. Nottingham, however, have games in hand, and have the best chance of forcing their way into the play-off frame.
In Division Two, South the top two met at Goresbrook as Barking and Dagenham hosted newly-crowned Southern Champions, Bristol Bombers. The game was nip and tuck throughout, with the visitors shading the first quarter by two, their hosts reversing the deficit by the half, and the teams locked together on 53 points at the three-quarter mark. Finally it was Bristol who successfully defended their unbeaten record, with a narrow 4-point victory, but Barking will remain optimistic that they can reverse that result when Bristol visit them in the NBL Shield semi-final next weekend – and if they should meet in the Championship Final in May.
Before the play-offs, however, the “Erks” must consolidate their Southern runners-up position, as this defeat has dropped them to five defeats – the same number as Brighton Cougars (without a game this weekend), and just one less than Taunton Tigers and Tamar Valley Cannons (who met at Plymouth, with the Tigers running out 14 point victors) and Brixton Topcats, who disposed of Swindon Sonics by 34 points.
There was only one game in Women’s Division Two, and that was in the South, where Brighton Magic edged closer to the top two of Plymouth Racers and Swindon Sonics, thanks to an 11 point win over London Towers.
Copyright Britball. Download is subject to Britball's Terms and Conditions
