Tees Valley Mohawks announced their arrival in NBL Division One as Logan Ryan scored 50 points in a 107–84 victory over Liverpool.
The result gave the newly promoted Mohawks their first league win of the season and produced the outstanding individual scoring total from the weekend’s men’s Division One programme.[2]
Ryan’s performance came with one important statistical caveat. Basketball England said problems with the live-stat service meant a complete box score was not available, so his shooting splits and other totals could not be fairly compared with the week’s Player of the Week candidates.[6]
What was recorded, however, was a 50-point performance in a 23-point victory — an early indication that Tees Valley have enough scoring power to cause established Division One opponents problems.
Promoted teams making an impression
The Mohawks were not the only newcomers to make an encouraging start.
Oaklands Wolves moved to 2–0 in their debut Division One campaign after holding off Barnet Bulldogs. Milo Sigmund supplied 19 points and 11 rebounds, including five successful three-pointers from seven attempts, to earn Basketball England’s men’s Player of the Week award.[2][6]
London Elite also began with consecutive victories, while Sussex Storm claimed their first win by beating City of London Academy 76–65. Malachi Boakye-Yiadom scored 31 points for Sussex and was selected in the Division One Team of the Week.[2][6]
Those early results are significant because promotion is often followed by an adjustment period. Instead, several of the new teams are already influencing the top of the standings.
Ryan’s 50 was not the weekend’s only huge total
The National Cup programme produced another 50-point performance. Brendan Goods reached the mark as Worthing Thunder and Bears defeated Gravesend Spartans 86–58.[2]
Elsewhere, Milton Keynes knocked Division One side Worcester Wolves out of the Cup with an 86–60 victory, while London United edged Richmond Knights 69–68.
The mixture of promoted teams winning in the league and lower-division sides eliminating Division One opposition gave the weekend more than one surprise.
What it means for Tees Valley
One explosive performance does not settle where the Mohawks will finish, particularly while the full statistical picture from the Liverpool game remains unavailable. It does, however, establish Ryan as a player opponents will have to plan for.
For Tees Valley, the wider positive is that the scoring translated into a comfortable team victory rather than an individual display in defeat.
The early Division One table remains too young for firm conclusions, but the Mohawks, Oaklands, London Elite and Sussex have already shown that the league’s newer names are not simply there to make up the numbers.