While in the South, NASSA maintained top spot going into the New Year but they suffered a setback in the final weekend.
Leicester Warriors (10-3) are alone in second spot after they edged Encon Derbyshire Arrows (9-4) 73-68 with the two teams level on points before their encounter.
Taking a narrow 17-15 lead after the first quarter, the Warriors raced away at the break, taking a 43-35 advantage. The Arrows fought back to narrow the gap back to two going into the fourth quarter, but Leicester had enough to seal the win.
Akinyemi Hassan-Oladele paced Leicester’s attack with 18 points. Hamza Ibrahim led Derbyshire with 18.
Bristol Academy Flyers II (11-0) will end the year at the top of the hill in the North but they were made to work hard for their 83-78 win at struggling Liverpool (2-10).
Going into the final 10 minutes, Liverpool were flying after three solid quarters, capped by a three from Louis Rogerson-Evans to put them 65-61 ahead going into the fourth.
But Bristol went up a gear, winning the final period 22-13, and Corey Hill leading the way with 23 points.
NASSA (10-2) remain top for the Christmas period, but their title challenge hit a speed bump with an 82-79 loss to the London Stars (10-2).
Callum Vines and Peter Onubogu starred for the Richmond Knights (9-4) as they narrowly held off the Barnet Bulldogs (3-8) 64-60.
Vines and Onubogu had 11 points to lead the Knights in a physical contest, where they recovered from a below par first quarter to breeze clear in the second and keep the Bulldogs, led by Chuck Duru’s 16 points, at bay.
Near the bottom, there was a much needed win for the Cobham Scorchers (3-9) as they downed the Westminster Warriors (2-10) 65-55.
And a fourth quarter burst from London Elite (6-5) resulted in a 92-88 victory on the road to Essex Rebels II (2-11).
The Londoners had to come from behind, as Essex led for the majority of the game, even enjoying what looked to be a comfortable 70-62 cushion after three. But a 30-18 onslaught in the final quarter proved decisive.
There were just three games to see out 2024 in NBL3. Daniel Taylor’s 16 points was enough for the Plymouth Raiders to secure a 65-56 win over Bracknell Cobras.
However, it was a mixed weekend for the Sheffield Sharks, who lost 72-53 to the West Yorkshire Hawks but bounced back as they eased past Tees Valley Mohawks 82-62.
Liverpool 78-83 Bristol Academy Flyers II - LIVE STATS
Encon Derbyshire Arrow 68-73 Leicester Warriors
NASSA 79-82 London Stars - LIVE STATS
Essex Rebels II 88-92 London Elite - LIVE STATS
Barnet Bulldogs 60-64 Richmond Knights - LIVE STATS
Cobham Scorchers 65-55 Westminster Warriors - LIVE STATS
Sheffield Sharks 53-72 West Yorkshire Hawks
Plymouth Raiders 65-56 Bracknell Cobras
Sheffield Sharks 82-62 Tees Valley Mohawks
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Word by John Hobbs
