Reigning D2 playoff champs Milton Keynes Breakers are now enjoying life in D1M, meaning the door is open for a new club to put their name on this year's trophy.
Barking Abbey used a blistering 25-10 second quarter as a springboard to begin life in Division 2 South with an 82-59 win over Westminster Warriors.
Obinna Ekufu paced BA with 19 points, supported by 14 from Adam Lukosevicius. Justin Hitchman led the Westminster charge with 17 points.
Richmond Knights struggled to pull away, but a strong second half eventually helped them create separation from Cobham Cobras, winning 97-74 on the road.
Stephen Asante put on a scintillating offensive display, scoring 27 points for the visitors, with Abdul Oladipupo leading Cobham with 20.
Elsewhere, BC Medelynas London saw off newly-promoted Essex Rebels II 97-70 in Colchester, with Ryan Martin leading the way for the winners with 20 points.
Despite a tough 430-mile round trip, Myerscough Basketball Academy returned with a solid 96-88 win over Cardiff Met Archers in the Welsh capital.
In a back-and-forth battle, the two teams were tied up at 62-62 before the visitors from the North-West pulled away in the game's latter stages.
Bristol Academy Flyers used a 13-2 spurt to breeze clear and beat Worcester Wolves 81-65 on the road to begin their season on a high.
Nassim Ladjimi led the Flyers' balanced scoring effort with 14 points, and he also dished out four assists in the win.
In a physical, closely fought battle, Manchester Magic used a solid fourth quarter to narrowly overcome Encon Derbyshire Arrows 67-65. Oluwademilade Babalola led the way for the Magic with 14 points.
Leicester Warriors made the long trip to Liverpool worthwhile, grabbing a deserved 96-76 win. Hassan Yusuf starred with 20 points, cancelling out Chris Bigley's 16.
NBL 2 South
3:30pm – Barking Abbey 82-59 Westminster Warriors – LIVE STATS
3:30pm – Cobham Scorchers 74-97 Richmond Knights – LIVE STATS
4pm – Essex Rebels II 70-97 London Stars – LIVE STATS
NBL 2 North
2pm - Cardiff Met Archers 88-96 Myerscough Basketball Academy - LIVE STATS
3pm – Liverpool 76-96 Leicester Warriors
5:15pm – Encon Derbyshire Arrows 65-67 Manchester Magic
7:30pm – Worcester Wolves 65-81 Bristol Academy Flyers – LIVE STATS
Charnwood Riders 92-82 Cambridge Cats
Tees Valley Mohawks 53-64 Sheffield Sharks
Plymouth City Patriots 114-74 Bracknell Cobras
Cardiff Met Archers II 71-87 Brighton Bears
London Sharks 79-68 Essex Charge
Canterbury Academy Crusaders 43-68 CoLA Southwark Pride
Islington Panthers 41-94 East London Phoenix
Crawley Storm 76-58 Oxford Hoops
Bath Basketball 86-67 Surrey 89ers
Nottingham Trent Hoods 68-102 Birmingham City University
Kent Crusaders 62-82 NCC London Lions Foundation
University of East Anglia 51-86 Oaklands Wolves
Stockport Falcons 67-86 West Yorkshire Hawks
Tameside Vikings 66-64 Manchester Swarm
Derby Trailblazers II 94-77 Northampton Titans
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Words by John Hobbs
