Trailblazers have plenty in reserve
A DEPLETED Derby Trailblazers still had too much for Leicester Warriors, winning 89-67 to complete their second NBL Division One double of the season.
With Josh Guddemi out through injury, Malcolm Smith and Ronald Oberia missing through illness and Rema Lascelles unavailable, it was a youthful Trailblazers squad which made the short trip to Leicester.
However, Derby led throughout, apart from briefly early in the first quarter, as Blake Bowman and Ash Ugo stepped up in the absence of the regular starters, top scoring with 28 and 22 points respectively.
Bowman added seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block, while Ugo completed a double-double with 11 rebounds, as well as five assists and two steals.
“We all know what Blake is capable of doing and it was great to see him rising to the challenge, getting to the basket and really making some great plays and some brilliant dunks,” said Trailblazers head coach Matt Shaw.
“He also added some great assists, too, so it was a pretty good day for him.
“Ash was also so tough at both ends. He defended really well and made things happen, as well as being an effective scorer inside and out.”
Despite being hampered by foul trouble, Jacob Conway added 18 points, two rebounds and two assists and the always dependable Oli Stanley netted 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Leicester’s only lead came at 4-2 but they were held scoreless for the next five and a half minutes as the Blazers took control.
Bowman shot seven of the points in a 10-0 burst, with a Ugo triple making up the tally. Three-point plays from Bowman and Conway ensured Derby took an 18-7 lead into the first break. They quickly stretched their advantage to 28-8 and built their biggest lead of the game at 37-13.
A Warriors burst before the break cut the deficit but Derby were comfortable at half-time, leading 46-30.
Five quick points from Ugo stretched the lead to 19 points early in the third, before Leicester produced their best spell of the game, with seven straight points.
Conway was then called for his fourth foul and coach Shaw quickly called for time to refocus his team. It was Jake Chilver who stepped up this time, hitting a three-pointer and a lay-up on consecutive possessions, before feeding Ugo for another triple.
“All of the guys played their roles and contributed well but Jake’s contribution off the bench was excellent,” added Shaw.
“Leicester had just made a little run at us, so it was good to see him coming in, playing some quality minutes and doing so well.”
Consecutive scores from Ugo saw Blazers briefly match their biggest lead of the game and, at 70-48 going into the final quarter, Warriors were not going to recover.
The biggest highlights of the fourth were dunks for Bowman and Ugo and the Blazers closed out the game with an 11-5 run.
The win kept them two points clear at the top of the table, though second-placed Solent have played two matches less.
Derby are without a game next weekend and will return to action on January 30, away to Loughborough Riders. LEICESTER: Haggith 12, Gayle 11, Henry 11, Turiccki 10, King 7, Pearson 5, Jabby 4, Chingombe 3, Dublin 2, Holland 2. DERBY: Bowman 28, Ugo 22, Conway 18, Stanley 11, Brown 5, Chilver 5.