NBL1 recap: Week 9 (27 November 2021) – live streams, stats and more

It was a snowy weekend for some, but all six D1M games came through unscathed.

There were important wins for Solent, Hemel and Thames Valley as the race for top spot continues to ramp up.

There's a recap of all the action below, and each result is also clickable if you wish to view the live stats.

Thames Valley Cavaliers (6-2) 85-66 Worthing Thunder (8-2) 

Thames Valley pushed themselves into the thick of the title mix with a commanding 85-66 home win against fellow challengers Worthing.

The hosts managed to keep one of the league's most free-flowing offences in check, limiting Thunder to their second-lowest points total of the season.

Hakeem Sylla led all scorers for TVC with a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double, with Jakobi Bonner (16pts) and AJ Roberts (14pts, 8reb, 4-6 3pt) both impressing.

Worthing never really got going in Uxbridge, failing to score more than 18 points in any of the four quarters as Hafeez Abdul (19pts, 9reb) top scored off the Thunder bench.

The visitors came into the game in good form, winning four in a row that included victories against Hemel and Derby. That run came to an end as the South coast side shot 31% from the floor, compounded by a 5-26 (19%) clip from beyond the arc.

It wasn't a fate suffered by the hosts, who's 47% shooting day was boosted by a predictably efficient effort from Sylla (9-13) around the basket. The talented big also helped the Cavs dominate the glass, winning that battle 60-31.

Handing Worthing their second defeat of the season means that Thames Valley can draw level with Thunder on 16 points if they can win their two games in hand, though both teams still have a loss more than leaders Solent.

Elsewhere this weekend 

Team Solent Kestrels (9-1) managed to keep their noses out in front at the top thanks to a comfortable 108-68 victory over Oaklands Wolves (1-8).

Solent overpowered their opponents in the first quarter, a familiar blueprint for the defending champs, and leading 36-18 after the opening 10 minutes the visitors never looked back.

Orlan Jackman was the pick of the bunch for TSK, he had 17 points and eight boards on 8-10 shooting. Jordan Jackson top-scored for Oaklands, he had 15.

Hemel Storm (6-3) registered their sixth win of the season as they saw off London Lions II (5-5) 106-89.

Greg Poleon (38pts, 13reb) and Taylor Johnson (37pts, 7reb, 8ast) both recorded impressive stat lines for Hemel, with 27 points from Elijah Maynard leading the way for the Lions.

In an important battle for the eight playoff spot, Bradford Dragons (4-4) came out on top, beating Loughborough Riders (3-7) 80-74.

Zach Gachette continued his recent good form for the visitors, dropping a game-high 27 points to go with a team-high 10 rebounds.

Twenty points from Victor Ndoukou paced the Riders, who couldn't hold on for the W despite leading by double-digits early in the fourth quarter.

Essex Rebels (0-8) once again played hard with no reward, losing narrowly to Team Newcastle University (5-5) 112-105.

In an exciting contest where both teams enjoyed quarters scoring north of 30 points, it was Ronald Blain's sensational 44 points across the full 40 minutes that proved to be the difference for Newcastle. The American added 15 rebounds and five assists to cap a stunning afternoon's work.

Ben and Rory Winter both scored 21 for the hosts, who have now lost by single digits in three of their last four games.

Finally, a heavyweight clash between another pair of top four hopefuls saw Derby Trailblazers (6-4) knock off Reading Rockets (4-3) 83-72.

A 32-20 final quarter allowed the hosts to erase a slender deficit to start the fourth, eventually winning by double-digits.

Malcolm Smith led the way for Derby, scoring a game-high 31 points. Lewis Champion had 17 for the visitors as the top scorer of five different Rockets who all made it to double figures.

This weekend's results:

Saturday 27 November 

3pm – Oaklands Wolves 68-108 Team Solent Kestrels – LIVE STATS 

4pm – London Lions II 89-106 Hemel Storm – LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM 

6pm – Loughborough Riders 74-80 Bradford Dragons – LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM 

6:30pm – Thames Valley Cavaliers 85-66 Worthing Thunder – LIVE STATS 

7pm – Derby Trailblazers 83-72 Reading Rockets – LIVE STATS 

7pm – Essex Rebels 105-112 Team Newcastle University – LIVE STATS  

Sunday 28 November

National Cup - London Lions II 77-53 Oaklands Wolves

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Main image credit - Graham Hodges