BCB Round 22 (Regular Season): #1 Newcastle is defeated by Birmingham R.

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Knights (18-4) in Newcastle on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Rockets (16-5) 110-102. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Knights. Birmingham R. made 25-of-29 free shots (86.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Point guard Zackery Powell (183-2000) had a double-double by scoring 27 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Ronald Blain (196-1997, college: HPU) chipped in 27 points and 8 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) during the contest. At the losing side American-Israeli guard Sam Trunley (190, college: CWRU) responded with 32 points. Knights' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Birmingham R. moved-up to third place. Newcastle at the other side still keeps top position with four games lost. Birmingham R. are looking forward to face Loughborough (#13) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Newcastle will play against the league's second-placed Reading (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Milton Keynes (#4) were upset in Derby by eighth ranked Derby T. 94-86. Guard Charlie Brown (190-2001) notched a double-double by scoring 11 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the effort and Jai Pathmarajah supported him with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Even 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists by guard Jordan Spencer (188-1994, college: Augustana) did not help to save the game for Breakers. Derby T. (11-10) moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Nottingham H. Milton Keynes at the other side keep the fourth position with six games lost. Derby T. will play against bottom-ranked Bristol AF 2 (#14) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Milton Keynes will play against Yorkshire D. (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Flyers 2 (0-22) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their 22th consecutive match to fifth ranked Cavaliers (13-8) 110-70 on Saturday evening. Juan Manning fired 33 points (!!!) and 4 assists for the winners. Nassim Ladjimi produced 23 points for lost side. Flyers 2's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. London C. maintains fifth position with 13-8 record. Loser Flyers 2 still closes the standings. London C. will meet at home Hemel Storm (#11) in the next round where they are favorite. Bristol AF 2 will play against Derby T. and hopes to get finally their first victory.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 22: Essex R. II lost to Bristol H. on the opponent's court 78-85. Loughborough unfortunately lost to Yorkshire D. in a home game 71-76. Worthing T. recorded a loss to Hemel Storm on the road 94-101. Reading defeated Nottingham H. on its own court 93-77.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by Elias Poorman of Reading R..



Newcastle - Birmingham R. 102-110

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Knights (18-4) in Newcastle on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Rockets (16-5) 110-102. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Knights. Birmingham R. made 25-of-29 free shots (86.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Point guard Zackery Powell (183-2000) had a double-double by scoring 27 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Ronald Blain (196-1997, college: HPU) chipped in 27 points and 8 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) during the contest. Five Rockets players scored in double figures. At the losing side American-Israeli guard Sam Trunley (190, college: CWRU) responded with 32 points and American swingman Jaron Thames (198, college: MWSU) scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. Knights' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Birmingham R. moved-up to third place. Newcastle at the other side still keeps top position with four games lost. Birmingham R. are looking forward to face Loughborough (#13) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Newcastle will play against the league's second-placed Reading (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Birmingham R.: Z.Powell 27+6reb+12ast, B.Ronald 27+8reb+2ast, O.Jackman 24+6reb+2ast, E.Donaldson 13+6reb+4ast, M.Gayle 10+4reb+2ast, O.Luke 9+3reb+1ast
Newcastle: S.Trunley 32+4reb+2ast, T.Jaron 23+6reb+2ast, G.Rowell 14+7reb, W.Neighbour 9+3reb+4ast, H.Mekhi 8+2reb+3ast, D.Bradley 8+6reb+10ast

Bristol H. - Essex R. II 85-78

There was a minor upset in Bristol where 10th ranked Essex R. II (9-13) was defeated by thirteenth ranked Hurricanes (5-15) 85-78 on Saturday. Bristol H. looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Naturalized Nigerian guard Denzel Ubiaro (190-1997, college: Marshalltown) fired 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Lithuanian power forward Vilmantas Dilys (207-1987) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds. Four Hurricanes players scored in double figures. Swingman Kyron Martin (193-1999, college: WAU) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and point guard Tom Child (185-1998) added 13 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side. Essex R. II's coach tested twelve players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Bristol H. moved-up to twelfth place. Loser Essex R. II keeps the tenth position with 13 games lost. Bristol H. will meet Loughborough (#13) on the road in the next round. Essex R. II will play against Birmingham R. having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Bristol H.: U.Denzel 20+5reb+4ast, V.Dilys 17+5reb+3ast, E.Dusha 14+1reb+6ast, C.Samuels 13+6reb+1ast, J.Dang-okodo 8+1reb+1ast, D.Edozie 6+14reb+2ast
Essex R. II: M.Kyron 23+10reb+4ast, C.Tom 13+5reb+2ast, R.Udeh 9+2reb+1ast, W.Ben 9+8reb+2ast, G.Harry 7+6reb+1ast, A.Michael 6+2reb

London C. - Bristol AF 2 110-70

Bottom-ranked Flyers 2 (0-22) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their 22th consecutive match to fifth ranked Cavaliers (13-8) 110-70 on Saturday evening. London C. made 21-of-25 free shots (84.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 20 Bristol AF 2 turnovers. Forward Juan Manning (-1997) fired 33 points (!!!) and 4 assists for the winners. American guard AJ Roberts (195-1990, college: Union, TN) chipped in 19 points. Four Cavaliers players scored in double figures. point guard Nassim Ladjimi (188-1995) produced 23 points and forward Ebuka Ekwegh (192-1998) added 8 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for lost side. Flyers 2's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. London C. maintains fifth position with 13-8 record. Loser Flyers 2 still closes the standings. London C. will meet at home Hemel Storm (#11) in the next round where they are favorite. Bristol AF 2 will play against Derby T. and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
London C.: J.Manning 33+3reb+4ast, R.AJ 19+3reb+2ast, C.Mekhi 12+10reb, B.Marquel 12+4reb, D.Ainembabazi 11+2reb, D.Danny 9+8reb+7ast
Bristol AF 2: L.Nassim 23+2reb, S.Nikolas 8+3reb, H.Yusuf 8+3reb+3ast, E.Ebuka 8+6reb+6ast, C.Jack 6, B.Anthony 5+2reb+4ast

Loughborough - Yorkshire D. 71-76

Very predictable result in Loughborough where sixth ranked Dragons (13-10) defeated 13th ranked Riders (5-17) 76-71 on Saturday. Strangely Loughborough outrebounded Yorkshire D. 47-35 including 34 on the defensive glass. Naturalized Canadian guard Nicholas Lewis (190-1993) fired 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Naturalized Canadian Corey Johnson (196-1996, college: Harvard) chipped in 18 points and 6 rebounds. Four Dragons players scored in double figures. Dragons' coach Paul Cantwell used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Michael Joiner (196, college: Seton Hill) produced a double-double by scoring 27 points and 11 rebounds (made all of his eleven free throws !!!) and his fellow American import guard Jalen Cook (196, college: Minot St.) added 17 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side. Yorkshire D. maintains sixth position with 13-10 record. Loser Riders keeps the thirteenth place with 17 games lost. Yorkshire D. will meet higher ranked Milton Keynes (#4) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Loughborough will play against Birmingham R. (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Yorkshire D.: J.Corey 18+6reb, N.Lewis 14+5reb+5ast, J.Jefferson 12+3reb+3ast, M.Jack 10+5reb+2ast, W.Jordan 9+1reb+1ast, U.David 5+9reb+1ast
Loughborough: M.Joiner 27+11reb, J.Cook 17+5reb, C.Johde 10+3reb+5ast, E.Levi 6+12reb+1ast, N.Cameron 4+6reb+1ast, H.Dan 3

Hemel Storm - Worthing T. 101-94

There was a minor upset in Hemel where 9th ranked Thunder (10-11) was defeated by eleventh ranked Storm (6-15) 101-94 on Saturday. Hemel Storm looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists. Americans were the main players on the court. Guard Matthew Norman (193, college: N.Dakota) fired 27 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Power forward Darien Nelson-Henry (211-1994, college: Pennsylvania) chipped in a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Forward Justin Hopkins (196-1998, college: Texas Southern) produced 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and forward Adrian Scarborough (198-2000, college: Catawba) added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Four Hemel Storm and five Worthing T. players scored in double figures. Hemel Storm maintains eleventh position with 6-15 record. Worthing T. lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 11 games lost. Hemel Storm will meet higher ranked London C. (#5) on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Worthing T. will play against Nottingham H. (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hemel Storm: N.Matthew 27+6reb+5ast, D.Nelson-Henry 19+10reb+6ast, K.Walker 14+9reb+4ast, S.Newman 12+5reb+12ast, V.Eze 11+3reb, B.Inger 9+8reb+4ast
Worthing T.: J.Hopkins 22+6reb+7ast, L.Jonathan 16+3reb+3ast, A.Scarborough 16+7reb+4ast, M.Elijah 13+4reb+4ast, M.Bryan-Amaning 10+5reb, A.Bode 7+1reb

Derby T. - Milton Keynes 94-86

Milton Keynes (#4) were upset in Derby by eighth ranked Derby T. 94-86. Trailblazers dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Breakers' 36. Trailblazers players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. Guard Charlie Brown (190-2001) notched a double-double by scoring 11 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the effort and American guard Jai Pathmarajah (193, college: S.Georgia St.) supported him with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Trailblazers players scored in double figures. Even 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists by guard Jordan Spencer (188-1994, college: Augustana) did not help to save the game for Breakers. American guard DaShawn Jackson (190, college: Indianapolis, agency: Origins Sports Group) added 21 points and 8 rebounds for lost side. Derby T. (11-10) moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Nottingham H. Milton Keynes at the other side keep the fourth position with six games lost. Derby T. will play against bottom-ranked Bristol AF 2 (#14) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Milton Keynes will play against Yorkshire D. (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Derby T.: S.Malcolm 21+4reb+3ast, W.Maurice 21+7reb, J.Pathmarajah 18+6reb+7ast, C.Brown 11+8reb+12ast, W.Conner 9+1reb+1ast, M.Rob 7+6reb+3ast
Milton Keynes: D.Jackson 21+8reb+3ast, J.Spencer 19+9reb+6ast, B.Ben 9+6reb, F.Blayne 9+2ast, W.Xavier 9+9reb+1ast, D.Jonas 8+3reb+2ast

Reading R. - Nottingham H. 93-77

Everything went according to plan in Reading where second ranked Rockets (17-4) beat 7th ranked Hoods (11-10) 93-77 on Sunday. Reading outrebounded Nottingham H. 42-24 including a 16-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Australian forward Cooper Creek (203-2001, college: Assumption) fired a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American guard Jax Bouknight (185-2002, college: Flagler) chipped in 21 points. Bouknight is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Rockets players scored in double figures. Rockets' coach Samit Nuruzade used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Tyrone Williams (196, college: ODU) produced 28 points and his fellow American import forward Bryce Johnson (198, college: Sacred Heart) added 14 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Reading maintains second position with 17-4 record behind leader Newcastle. Loser Hoods keeps the seventh place with ten games lost. They share the position with Derby T.. Reading will meet at home league's leader Newcastle in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Nottingham H. will play against Worthing T. (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Reading R.: J.Bouknight 21+2reb+3ast, S.Yusef 17+1reb+2ast, C.Cooper 13+13reb+1ast, E.Poorman 12+7reb+4ast, B.Malik 10+3reb+6ast, C.Simon 8+1reb
Nottingham H.: T.Williams 28+4reb+3ast, B.Johnson 14+8reb+1ast, D.Nixon II 14+1reb+7ast, A.Adedo 8+1reb, A.Sam 7+3reb+4ast, E.Bailey 5+4reb