Bristol Academy Flyers II fell for the first time this season in their 13th game to Myerscough, while the Archers put St Helens to the sword in an action-packed weekend.
In WNBL2, thought, London All Stars’ perfect record remained intact.
Myerscough Basketball Academy (5-7) shot up the standings and into the top six with a deserved 89-73 victory over previously unbeaten Bristol Academy Flyers II (12-1).
Trailing after the first quarter, Myerscough simply couldn’t miss from the field in the second period, to take a 47-35 lead and bettered that heading into the final 10, extending the advantage to 69-51 en-route to a big win.
Mark Rangeley paced Myerscough with 25 points and 14 rebounds, with Marcus Robinson supporting with 22. David Thomas provided the only true scoring threat for Bristol with 22 points.
Cardiff Met Archers (4-8), who were once stuck at the bottom of the standings have now climbed up to seventh, thanks to an impressive 74-59 win over a lacklustre St Helens Saints (9-1) in South Wales.
Dan Flaherty led the Archers with 21 points, shooting a solid 64% from the field as they took advantage of the Saints’ subpar field goal percentage of just 28%. Kieran Jones led the visitors with 16.
Bristol’s slip up meant that Leicester Warriors (12-3) join them at the top of the NBL2 North table, after they secured a 68-59 win at Manchester Magic (7-6). Ashley Ugo amassed 17 points for the Warriors.
Worcester Wolves (4-9) also grabbed a precious win as 24 points from Wilfrid Santhe helped them to a narrow 70-69 victory over Teesside Lions (4-7).
Bristol Basketball United 4-8 have given themselves some breathing room between them and the bottom two, with an 80-71 win to Liverpool (2-11). Tyrin Hollis led Bristol with 21 points.
A final quarter ambush from the London Stars (12-2) kept them top of NBL2 South with a 96-76 win over a stubborn London Elite (7-6).
The Stars led 65-61 heading into the final quarter but with the game nicely balanced. That was until a four-point play from Joshua Smith-White changed the game in their favour as Elite couldn’t find a way back.
Ryan Martin flirted with a triple-double of 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead Stars, matched by Nojus Zajankauskas, who drained four triples for his 20 points. Romario Spence led Elite with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Team Solent Kestrels (11-1) remain second as they saw-off Westminster Warriors (2-12) 94-74. Russell Gariepy led Solent with 22 points as Isa Brandon added 16 more.
NASSA (10-4) slipped to a fourth loss of the season as their comeback attempt against Barking Abbey (11-1) came up just short, with a 64-63 final score.
17 points from Ethan Conway helped BA to keep pace in the top four, with a game-high 22 points from Sable Cooper failing to get NASSA over the line.
Richmond Knights (10-5) hold on to fifth as they comfortably disposed of winless Endeavour Ipswich Basketball (0-13) 91-67.
The Knights’ lead peaked at 30 points with Stephen Asante enjoying a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds in the victory. Lee Linton-Hodges led Ipswich with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Lanre Ayinla and Bakary Coulibali starred for Greenwich Titans (6-6) as they won 99-89 on the road to Barnet Bulldogs (4-9). Ayinya led with 29 points, hitting three triples with Coulibali adding 27 on 61% shooting in the win.
Cobham Scorchers (5-9) finally got the better of Essex Rebels II (2-12) after overtime as 23 points from Charles Ollis gave them an 85-77 win at the ACS International School.
Josephine Maignomo made sure that London All Stars’ (10-0) perfect record remained in Pool II as they recovered from a first quarter setback to beat London Cavaliers (4-5) 49-40.
Maignomo had 13 points as the All Stars came back from a slight 16-13 first quarter deficit to lock down the Cavaliers and secure another win.
East London Phoenix (7-3) stay in second as they secured an 84-71 win over second-from-bottom London Thunder (1-10). London Elite (7-2) keep their spot in the top three with a narrow 55-52 success over Oaklands College Wolves II (6-5).
Down at the bottom, there was a much-needed win for Team Solent Kestrels (4-5) away from home as 18 points from youngster Tilly Goddard gave them a 68-58 win over Endeavour Ipswich Basketball II (4-6).
In Pool I, Bromsgrove Bears (7-1) are the league leaders, as 25 points from Rebecca Brindley helped them to a 63-56 victory over Plymouth Marjon Patriots (3-6).
Charnwood Riders (3-6) fought back from a poor second quarter to edge Cardiff City (4-4) 65-62. Trailing 37-33, the Riders stormed back in the second half to claim the win.
Cardiff Met Archers (6-3) made the long trip to the North West worth their while as they started hot and never looked back, beating Liverpool 90-76 (1-7).
Bristol Basketball United 80-71 Liverpool - LIVE STATS
Cardiff Met Archers 74-59 St Helens Saints - LIVE STATS
Manchester Magic 59-68 Leicester Warriors - LIVE STATS
Teesside Lions 69-70 Worcester Wolves - LIVE STATS
NASSA 63-64 Barking Abbey - LIVE STATS
London Stars 96-75 London Elite - LIVE STATS
Barnet Bulldogs 89-99 Greenwich Titans - LIVE STATS
Team Solent Kestrels 94-74 Westminster Warriors - LIVE STATS
Cobham Scorchers 85-77 Essex Rebels II (After 1OT) - LIVE STATS
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 67-91 Richmond Knights - LIVE STATS
Cardiff City 62-65 Charnwood Riders
London Elite 55-52 Oaklands College Wolves II
London All Stars 49-40 London Cavaliers II
Bromsgrove Bears 63-56 Plymouth Marjon Patriot Women
Liverpool 76-90 Cardiff Met Archers
Plymouth Marjon Patriots 73-78 Portsmouth Force
London Lions Foundation 92-57 London Sharks
Charnwood Riders 83-88 Derby Trailblazers II
Oakland Wolves 64-79 Northamptonshire Titans
Brighton Bears 84-49 Surrey 89ers
Sheffield Elite Basketball Academy 55-59 Sheffield Sharks
East London Phoenix 84-52 Essex Charge
Islington Panthers 60-68 Greenhouse Sports
Manchester Kings 70-88 Tees Valley Mohawks
West Yorkshire Hawks 89-70 Tameside Vikings
Bracknell Cobras 60-69 Oxford Hoops
University of East Anglia 59-74 University of Hertfordshire Storm
Myerscough Basketball Academy 89-73 Bristol Academy Flyers II - LIVE STATS
Endeavour Ipswich Basketball II 58-68 Team Solent Kestrels
London Thunder 71-84 East London Phoenix
CoLA Southwark Pride 96-90 London United (After 1OT)
Cheshire Wire TBC-TBC Stockport Falcons
Plymouth Raiders 65-63 Bath Basketball
Cardiff Met Archers TBC-TBC Crawley Storm
.
.
Words by John Hobbs
