D2M returned with plenty of action for week 19 as 12 games took place, including four double-headers as the regular season approaches the finish line.
Myerscough’s double header really went to plan as they recorded two victories in week 19. Neal Hopkin’s side would have been looking to bounce back from their one-point National Cup final defeat and produced the perfect response.
Against the Arrows, Amari Williams recorded a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds as Myerscough's dominant third quarter pulled the game away from the hosts.
Joseph Baugh also hit 22 points of his own but a further 20 points from Lewis Mcglasson ensured the road win for Myerscough.
McGlasson also notched 17 points along with teammate Oluwasanmi Fajana for Myerscough as they pulled off another road win at Chester, with the 78-85 win ending the hosts’ four game winning run.
Manchester Magic didn’t enjoy the same success in their double header, with a 66-83 home defeat to Charnwood being followed by a 91-85 defeat on the road to Derbyshire Spartans. A dominant second quarter from Charnwood helped them get the win over their play-off rivals, with things only set to get worse for Magic on the Sunday.
Magic’s Richard Bell recorded a 34-point, 18 rebound double-double but it was the 32-point, 10 rebound double-double from Spartan’s Ashley Kalugin-Ugo that would compound Magic to two defeats in as many days.
There was no surprise result in the top vs bottom clash in the Northern Conference as Newcastle eased to an 87-42 win over Sheffield Hallam, with Paul Elderkin’s 18-point, 14-rebound double-double helping the hosts on their way to the win.
Bristol Hurricanes’ narrow 84-81 win over Birmingham Elite ended their three-game losing streak, while Elite’s winless run stretches to four games. Benas Andriekus’ 27-point, 10-rebound double-double earned a valuable win for Hurricanes.
In the Southern Conference, there was another top vs bottom encounter with a similar result, as Essex Rebels ran out 95-69 winners against Sussex Bears. James Felstead did hit an impressive 25-point, 13-rebound double-double for bottom side Bears but Essex proved too strong for the visitors.
Ipswich lost ground on top spot after a defeat on the road to BC Medelynas London. There were plenty of high-scoring performances, with Jake Eynon and Luke Mascall-Wright registering 36 and 33 points respectively for the visitors. Ausridas Petraitis also hit a double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds for the hosts as a strong fourth quarter gave the London side the win.
Cardiff Met Archers endured two losses in their double header weekend in London, a 99-74 defeat on the road to Greenwich Titans with Spyridon Kapsalos hitting 36 points for the hosts. A 92-70 defeat to East London All Stars followed, making the trip back to Cardiff a long one for Archers.
The win got All Stars’ weekend back on track, after coming second best in the 85-77 encounter with London Westside. Grant Bryant’s 25-point, 11-rebound double-double wasn’t enough to stop them falling short to their London rivals as Donald Morris also impressed with 20 points for the hosts.
Finally, London Greenhouse Pioneers edged a 74-71 win over Solent Kestrels II, thanks to Yonathan Napoleon’s double-double of 31 points and 11 rebounds. Benjamin Maranan’s 24 points for Kestrels pushed Pioneers all the way, but another 22 points from Tom Martin helped Pioners take the win.
3:00pm - Greenwich Titans 99-74 Cardiff Met Archers - LIVE STATS
3:00pm - London Greenhouse Pioneers 74-71 Team Solent Kestrels II - LIVE STATS
4:00pm - Essex Rebels 95-69 Sussex Bears - LIVE STATS
5:30pm - Bristol Hurricanes 84-81 Team Birmingham Elite - LIVE STATS
6:00pm - University of Chester 78-85 Myerscough College - LIVE STATS
6:00pm - London BC Medelynas 107-95 Ipswich - LIVE STATS
6:15pm - London Westside 85-77 East London All Stars - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Manchester Magic 66-83 Charnwood College Riders - LIVE STATS
7:00pm - Team Newcastle University 87-42 Sheffield Hallam University - LIVE STATS
1:30pm - East London All Stars 92-70 Cardiff Met Archers - LIVE STATS
4:15pm - Derbyshire Arrows 73-85 Myerscough College - LIVE STATS
5:00pm - Derbyshire Spartans 91-85 Manchester Magic - LIVE STATS
Nine games in week 20 means there’s still plenty of action to come in D2M.
In the Northern Conference, Sheffield host Birmingham with both sides in need of a win, Magic travel to Bristol Academy Flyers, who also face Myerscough in a double-header for them, while the Hurricanes take on Charnwood.
Leaders Newcastle travel to Derbyshire Spartans and Chester will go up against Derbyshire Arrows in the rest of the Northern Conference.
There’s a London derby in the Southern Conference as Pioneers take on Westside, Ipswich look to get back to winning ways against Greenwich Titans, while East London All Stars host Team Solent Kestrels II.
Main image - Luke Simcock
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