NBL D1 Round 6 (Regular Season): Rockets lose their first game against Riders

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Rockets (2-1) in Birmingham on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by fourth ranked Riders (4-1) 97-77. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Rockets. Riders made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game, while Rockets only scored five points from the stripe. Naturalized German guard Justin Hedley (192-1996) had a double-double by scoring 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American guard Elijah Bailey (190-1997, college: New Haven) chipped in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was guard Martyn Gayle (190-1989) with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Rockets' coach rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Riders moved-up to third place, which they share with Essex R. Newly promoted Rockets keep the seventh position with one game lost. Riders is looking forward to face league's leader Derby Trailblazers at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rockets will have a break next round.
NBL D1 top team - Derby Trailblazers (5-1) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat ninth ranked Thunder (1-4) 87-77. American guard Sam Masten (190-1999, college: Northern St.) notched 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and Jase Harrison supported him with 18 points and 8 assists. Even 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists by forward Hafeez Abdul (201-1995, college: MSUB) did not help to save the game for Thunder. Derby Trailblazers have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 5-1 record. Thunder at the other side dropped to the tenth place with four games lost. Derby Trailblazers will play against Riders (#4) in Loughborough in the next round. Thunder will play at home against BA Lions (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked BA Lions (0-4) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fourth consecutive match to eighth ranked Knights (2-2) 89-87 on Saturday evening. The best player for the winners was Emmanuel Kanwei who scored 25 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was Juan Manning who recorded 24 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Knights maintains eighth position with 2-2 record. Loser BA Lions still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with London E.. Knights will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. BA Lions will play against Thunder (#10) in Worthing and hope to get finally their first victory.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 6: Bradford D. destroyed London E. on the opponent's court 105-73. Nottingham H. lost to undefeated Reading R. in a home game 84-93. Thames Valley C. was rolled over Essex R. on the road 60-80.



BA London L. - Newcastle 87-89

Bottom-ranked BA Lions (0-4) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fourth consecutive match to eighth ranked Knights (2-2) 89-87 on Saturday evening. The best player for the winners was center Emmanuel Kanwei (207-2003) who scored 25 points and 6 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). American forward Justin Hopkins (196-1998, college: Texas Southern, agency: Players Group) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Juan Manning (-1997) who recorded 24 points and 8 rebounds and guard Sam Akano (180-2001) added 19 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Knights maintains eighth position with 2-2 record. Loser BA Lions still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with London E.. Knights will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. BA Lions will play against Thunder (#10) in Worthing and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Newcastle: K.Emmanuel 25+6reb+2ast, J.Hopkins 16+12reb+3ast, L.Rooney 15+4reb+1ast, M.Allman 10+1reb, M.Joshua 9+1reb, S.Jason 8+8reb
BA London L.: J.Manning 24+8reb+2ast, A.Sam 19+3reb+2ast, W.Amarlie 10+5reb+2ast, G.Harry 9+1reb+1ast, O.Lewis 6+7reb, G.Harry 6+4reb

London E. - Bradford D. 73-105

Rather expected game in London where bottom-ranked Elite (0-4) was crushed by eleventh ranked Dragons (2-4) 105-73 on Saturday. Dragons made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 Elite turnovers. Dragons looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was guard Micah Savery-Richards (190-1999, college: Lewis & Clark) who scored 27 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Swingman Joe Buchanan (193-2005) chipped in 27 points and 7 rebounds. Five Dragons players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Afrasyab Khalil (183-1999) who recorded 24 points and 4 assists and guard Kane Daley (191-2002) added 10 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Elite's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Dragons moved-up to ninth place. Newly promoted Elite still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with BA London L.. Dragons will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Elite will play against Cavaliers (#11) in Binfield and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Bradford D.: M.Savery-Richards 27+6reb+5ast, B.Joe 27+7reb+1ast, J.Williams 18+5reb+5ast, Z.Tordoff 12+10reb+1ast, R.Sulcs 10+5reb+2ast, E.Jabari 7+3reb+7ast
London E.: K.Afrasyab 24+2reb+4ast, D.Kane 10+6reb+3ast, D.Orija 8+1reb, N.Ty 5+6reb+1ast, A.Saunders 5+3reb, G.Jordan 4+3ast

Nottingham H. - Reading R. 84-93

Rather predictable result in Nottingham where top-ranked Rockets (4-0) defeated 5th ranked Hoods (3-2) 93-84 on Saturday. Rockets looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was point guard Zackery Powell (183-2000) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. American guard Elijah Maynard (193-1996, college: WAU) chipped in 22 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Joshua Guddemi (200-1994, college: New Haven) who recorded a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds and American guard Landon Taliaferro (196-1997, college: Fairfield) added 25 points and 4 steals respectively. Four Hoods players scored in double figures. Hoods' coach tested eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Rockets have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 4-0 record behind leader Derby T. Loser Hoods keep the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Hemel Storm. Rockets will meet at home Rebels (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Hoods will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Reading R.: E.Maynard 22+3reb+2ast, P.Zackery 21+12reb+9ast, P.Finleigh 14+1reb, L.Champion-Alleyne 9+5reb+2ast, C.Alexander 7+4reb+3ast, R.Pinnock 7+7reb+5ast
Nottingham H.: L.Taliaferro 25+2reb+3ast, J.Guddemi 17+10reb+3ast, G.Skoric 13+12reb+2ast, J.Campbell 12+4reb+6ast, K.Live 10+1reb+1ast, S.Diogo 7+4reb+1ast

Essex R. - Thames Valley C. 80-60

Not a big story in a game in London where 10th ranked Cavaliers (1-5) were rolled over by third ranked Rebels (4-1) 80-60 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was guard Elias Poorman (193-2000, college: Midland CC) who scored 10 points and 9 rebounds. American power forward Trey Chapman (203-2001, college: HPU) chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. Five Rebels players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Serbian forward Igor Stokic (201-1999, college: Dalton St.) who recorded 8 points and 18 rebounds and point guard Bode Adeluola (179-1989) added 15 points respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rebels have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 4-1 record behind leader Derby T., which they share with Loughborough. Cavaliers lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the eleventh place with five games lost. Rebels will meet league's second-placed Rockets in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Cavaliers will play against Elite (#13) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Essex R.: T.Chapman 11+6reb, W.Ben 11+4reb+2ast, B.Luke 10+3reb+3ast, K.Martin 10+3reb, E.Poorman 10+9reb+3ast, O.Victor 10+3reb+1ast
Thames Valley C.: S.Lewis 15+3reb+1ast, B.Adeluola 15+2reb+3ast, A.Roberts 12+2reb+5ast, I.Stokic 8+18reb+3ast, S.Mergim 6+3reb, R.Joseph 2+2reb

Derby T. - Worthing T. 87-77

NBL D1 top team - Derby Trailblazers (5-1) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat ninth ranked Thunder (1-4) 87-77. Derby Trailblazers players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Thunder's players. American guard Sam Masten (190-1999, college: Northern St.) notched 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and naturalized American swingman Jase Harrison (192-1994, college: Whitman) supported him with 18 points and 8 assists. Four Derby Trailblazers players scored in double figures. Even 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists by forward Hafeez Abdul (201-1995, college: MSUB) did not help to save the game for Thunder. Forward Daniel Johnson-Thompson (199-1998) added 20 points and 10 rebounds. Derby Trailblazers have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 5-1 record. Thunder at the other side dropped to the tenth place with four games lost. Derby Trailblazers will play against Riders (#4) in Loughborough in the next round. Thunder will play at home against BA Lions (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Derby T.: S.Masten 20+5reb+5ast, J.Harrison 18+2reb+8ast, R.May-Thompson 17+2reb, C.Johnson 13+6reb+4ast, M.Smith 8+8reb+6ast, R.Marsden 6+5reb+1ast
Worthing T.: H.Abdul 23+8reb+5ast, D.Johnson-Thompson 20+10reb, T.Okiki 5+7reb+1ast, T.Ward 4+5reb+3ast, F.Tyler 2+4reb+1ast, L.Moore 0+1reb

Birmingham R. - Loughborough 77-97

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Rockets (2-1) in Birmingham on Saturday night. Hosts were rolled over by fourth ranked Riders (4-1) 97-77. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Rockets. Riders made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game, while Rockets only scored five points from the stripe. Naturalized German guard Justin Hedley (192-1996) had a double-double by scoring 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American guard Elijah Bailey (190-1997, college: New Haven) chipped in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. Bailey is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Riders players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was guard Martyn Gayle (190-1989) with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Reiss Faure-Daley (185-1997) scored 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Rockets' coach rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Riders moved-up to third place, which they share with Essex R. Newly promoted Rockets keep the seventh position with one game lost. Riders is looking forward to face league's leader Derby Trailblazers at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Rockets will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Loughborough: E.Bailey 22+5reb+5ast, V.Ndoukou 20+5reb, J.Hedley 19+14reb+4ast, H.Gamble 10+11reb+2ast, H.Dan 10+2reb, O.Edward 8+6reb+2ast
Birmingham R.: M.Gayle 18+7reb+4ast, F.Reiss 11+8reb+4ast, K.Teesdale 11+2reb+1ast, S.Toluwase 8+5reb+2ast, B.Tew 7+3reb+1ast, R.Oberia 7+2reb+1ast