It was a busy weekend in Division Two as Team Newcastle moved ever closer to winning the Northern Conference and teams jostled for playoff spots across the country.
Newcastle showed why they are league leaders with a hard-fought win over a very impressive outfit in Myerscough on Saturday.
It was a close one to call with both sides putting in remarkable performances over the course of the regular season, but it was the hosts who went on to do the double over their title rivals.
In a low scoring game it needed something special in a tight affair and Emmanuel Kabengele shone for Newcastle with 21 points. Captain Amari Williams led the way for the visitors with a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double but it's Newcastle who move four points clear as they push for the title.
It wasn't to be all doom and gloom for Myerscough, who got back to winning ways the following day with a 73-55 win over Team Birmingham Elite.
Newcastle did, however, enjoy a second win of week 23 with a 79-70 win at Derbyshire Arrows. It came courtesy of another star performance from Kabengele, whose double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) cancelled out Xavier Mcintosh's 26 points for Arrows.
Manchester Magic finally got back to winning ways with a 72-63 road win at Chester. Isaac Ray's 20 points haul wasn't enough to make up for Chester's slow first quarter, as Magic's Joshua Grant helped his side with 19. Richard Bell also stepped up with a 14-point, 17-rebound double-double to end Magic's five-game losing run.
Bristol Hurricanes continued their run of form with a huge 117-67 win over Sheffield. Hurricanes were rampant throughout, starting with 39 points in the first quarter. The hosts' Bruce Adjei was the highest scorer with 23 and was closely followed by 22 from Sheffield's Zane Goodwin but Hurricanes proved too strong on home soil.
In the final Northern Conference contest Charnwood College Riders broke the century on the road with a 111-82 victory at Derbyshire Spartans.
In the South, London Westside went big as they beat bottom side Cardiff Met Archers 100-77, with Abiodun Adedo and Lisandro Lussenhoff hitting 20 points. Alexander Koukouravas also managed 20 of his own for Archers, albeit in vein as Westside were too hot to handle.
Sussex Bears couldn't build on their recent win and fell just short to Team Solent Kestrels II 79-81. Ashley Williams' double-double (24 points, 13 rebounds) was enough to stop Bears catching them in the table.
London Greenhouse Pioneers impressed on the road with a 84-79 win over Ipswich. There were some huge performances from Jake Eynon (27 points, 11 rebounds) and Yonathan Napoleon (28 points, 18 rebounds) and it was the latter's side who would finish on top.
Leaders Essex Rebels also came out on top in their title rival clash with BC Medelynas London. Michael Swain put in a 32 point performance to pull away even further at the top of the pile.
East London All Stars won big on home court to see off the challenge of Greenwich Titans by 93-71. Arturo Noha Pascual impressed on the road with 24 points but it wasn't enough to prevent defeat.
2:20pm - Sheffield Hallam University 0 - 20 Bristol Hurricanes
3:45pm - Cardiff Met Archers 77 - 100 London Westside - LIVE STATS
5:00pm - Sussex Bears 79 - 81 Team Solent Kestrels II - LIVE STATS
5:30pm - Ipswich Basketball 79 - 84 London Greenhouse Pioneers - LIVE STATS
6:00pm - University of Chester 63 - 72 Manchester Magic - LIVE STATS
6:00pm - BC Medelynas London 71 - 84 Essex Rebels - LIVE STATS
7:00pm - Team Newcastle University 67 - 52 Myerscough College - LIVE STATS
7:00pm - Derbyshire Spartans 82 - 111 Charnwood College Riders - LIVE STATS
4:00pm - Myerscough College 73 - 55 Team Birmingham Elite - LIVE STATS
4:15pm - Derbyshire Arrows 70 - 79 Team Newcastle University - LIVE STATS
4:30pm - East London All Stars 93 - 71 Greenwich Titans - LIVE STATS
5:30pm - Bristol Hurricanes 117 - 67 Sheffield Hallam University - LIVE STATS
Ipswich and Greenwich Titans look to get back to winning ways as they face off, London sides Medelynas and Pioneers go head-to-head while All Stars travel to Kestrels II.
All Stars will also host Sussex Bears on Sunday while leaders Rebels host Westside.
In the North, Newcastle continue to march to the title at Bristol Academy Flyers, while Myerscough will aim to get back on track at Charnwood.
Hurricanes will want to keep this run going as Derbyshire Spartans come to town, while Magic have a good chance to get two wins on the trot when they host Sheffield.
The bottom side in the North also face a rare Thursday night game against Team Birmingham Elite, who will then play Arrows at the weekend.
On the Sunday Myerscough and Magic go head to head and Hurricanes host Charnwood.
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