BCB WEEK 9: HURRICANES OFF THE MARK; BLAZERS PUT OUT DRAGONS' FIRE
There was activity at the foot end of the BCB standings in a full schedule that started on Friday night.
And at the top, with Newcastle Knights and Reading Rockets not in action this weekend, Yorkshire Dragons had the chance to go clear of the BCB standings.
Key Storylines
- Hurricanes off the mark with deserved win in Nottingham
- Derby halt Yorkshire's unbeaten run
- MBA comes up clutch at Loughborough
Recap
Bristol Hurricanes (1-8) finally got their first win in the BCB with a deserved 91-79 victory over the Nottingham Hoods (3-6) in the East Midlands on Friday night.
The Hurricanes recovered from going behind after the first quarter to storm their way to the win, holding the Hoods to just 42 percent shooting, while going an efficient 56 percent in their own right.
Daniel Edozie shot 11-for-14 from the floor for a team-high 22 points to lead Bristol. He also collected 13 rebounds. Elvisi Dusha, fresh off international duty with Albania, chipped in with a masterful 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting and 14 assists.
Tyrone Williams led all scorers for Nottingham with 31 points, but fall to their fifth straight loss in the league.
The Hurricanes’ neighbours across the road, Bristol Flyers II (0-9), did not share the same joy, losing 95-55 to the Milton Keynes Breakers (5-3), leaving them as the sole team in the BCB yet to win.
Derby Trailblazers (5-2) ended the Yorkshire Dragons’ (7-2) six-game unbeaten run in the league, as Mo Walker guided them to a 98-90 win.
Walker had 27 points and 15 rebounds, helped by Raheem May-Thompson’s 22, to lead Derby. Jordan Whelan led the Dragons with 24 as they missed the chance to go clear at the top of the table.
Worthing Thunder (7-2) needed Matthew Bryan-Amaning to hit a crucial lay-up with 8.6 seconds left that gave them an 82-81 win away to the Loughborough Riders (2-7).
In a closely contested battle, where neither side enjoyed a lead bigger than eight points, it was always going to come down to the wire, and Thunder just had the edge, despite missing key players, most notably Adrian Scarborough, through injury.
Michael Joiner had a chance to win it, but his three-pointer didn’t find the mark.
Elijah Maynard had 27 points for Worthing, who ended their mini two-game losing run. Jalen Cook led the Riders with 20.
Essex Rebels (4-6) put the heartbreak of last Saturday’s double overtime loss to the Newcastle Knights behind them by beating the Hemel Storm (3-6) 98-85 on the road.
Miles Brown continues to showcase his offensive prowess, flirting with an ultra-rare quadruple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals to lead the Rebels. He took 25 of Essex’s 80 field goal attempts in total.
Taylor Johnson led Hemel with 29 points and 15 rebounds.
Zack Powell starred for the City of Birmingham Rockets (4-3), as they overcame the London Cavaliers (5-4) 101-70 at Uxbridge College. Powell had 28 points, and the Rockets sank 14 three-pointers in the win.
