Lee Manning collected the joint-highest rebounds and Kyle Marsh was among the weekend’s top-scorers in Spain, while there was double delight for Simon Brown and Ian Sagar as they returned to action in Germany. 

After a disrupted season so far, Brown and Sagar began 2021 by helping RSV Lahn-Dill to two victories in as many days. First-up on Saturday was a clash against Jim Palmer’s Rhine River Rhinos Wiesbaden, with Brown and Sagar scoring four and six points, respectively, to help Lahn-Dill secure a 57:87 victory. Palmer scored five points for Wiesbaden. 

Onto Sunday and Brown and Sagar were back on court this time at home against Hannover United. Brown and Sagar’s scores were reversed from the day before with Brown scoring six points and Sagar four, but the result was the same, a victory for Lahn-Dill to move them four points behind table toppers RSB Thuringia Bulls, who have played a game more. 

The Bulls continued their unbeaten season to date with Helen Freeman scoring six points in RSB Thuringia Bulls’ 73:41 win against BBC Munsterland. 

Peter Cusack scored 13 points and Thomas Smith 10 points as they both made an impact from the bench in Baskets 96 Rahden’s win over RBB Munchen Iguanas (51:90).  

In Spain, Kyle Marsh posted game-high totals for points and assists, while Lee Manning collected the joint-highest rebounds in the Division de Honor as BSR Amiab Albacete beat Abdi Jama’s Amivel 49:75 to move up to second in the table. 

Marsh’s points tally of 26 was the second highest of the weekend in Spain as he led the scoring in Albacete’s victory, along with 10 assists. Manning topped the game’s total rebounds with 18, including being instrumental at the heart of Albacete’s defence, with 16 defensive rebounds. 

Gaz Choudhry recorded 14 points and seven assists, Ben Fox added 11 points and Harry Brown seven with the GB five amounting for 67 of Albacete’s 75 points. Abdi Jama scored a three-pointer in his 13 points for Amivel. 

Next-up for Albacete is a game against Mideba Extremadura, who are one point behind Albacete but have played a game less. Phil Pratt continued his record of having one of the best assist averages in the league, with a game-high 17 assists as Mideba beat Fundacion Aliados 72-50 on Saturday. 

Pratt scored four points towards Mideba’s total with George Bates and Billy Bridge scoring 14 and 10 points, respectively, to begin 2021 with a win. 

There was no such joy for Terry Bywater and Gregg Warburton as CD Ilunion lost 87:57 against league leaders Bidaideak Bilbao BSR. Bywater scored nine points – including a three-pointer – and recorded seven assists. 

Will Bonner and Lee Fryer were both part of the Servigest Burgos side which beat Iberconsa Amfiv 71:61; a game which included three of the 2017 Men’s U23 World Championships winning team. Lewis Edwards scored 14 points for Amfiv, with Sam Mack also in action for the Vigo-based club. 

James MacSorley’s BSR ACE Gran Canaria were comfortable victors, ending a successful week with a 16:93 victory over Getafe BSR. 

Most Points (GB Players) 

26 – Kyle Marsh (Albacete; Spain) 

14 – George Bates (Mideba; Spain); Gaz Choudhry (Albacete; Spain); Lewis Edwards (Amfiv; Spain) 

13 – Peter Cusack (Rahden; Germany); Abdi Jama (Amivel; Spain) 

Most Assists (GB Players) 

17 – Phil Pratt (Mideba; Spain) 

10 – Kyle Marsh (Albacete; Spain) 

7 – Terry Bywater (Ilunion; Spain); Gaz Choudhry (Albacete; Spain) 

Most Rebounds (GB Players) 

18 – Lee Manning (Albacete; Spain) 

7 – Phil Pratt (Mideba; Spain) 

6 – George Bates (Mideba; Spain) ; Will Bonner (Burgos; Spain); Ben Fox (Albacete; Spain)