Second period scoring burst sees Blazers equal record
A BLISTERING 45-point second quarter helped Derby Trailblazers pull away from struggling Oaklands Wolves and record their 10th NBL Division One victory of the season.
They finished 124-93 winners to equal the most points they have ever scored in a league match in regulation time, though it was well short of their biggest winning margin.
But there was concern for the Blazers as they lost captain Oli Stanley to an ankle injury after less than six minutes of action.
Jacob Conway returned from his ankle injury and, despite not starting, led the team with 24 points in just over 21 minutes.
With Blake Bowman netting 20 points, Malcolm Smith and Josh Guddemi each contributing 19 points and Ronald Oberia adding a further 14, Derby were at their free scoring best, especially in that 45-17 second quarter.
Charlie Brown finished just shy of a rare triple-double, with seven points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Trailblazers head coach Matt Shaw was delighted with the performance and the result.
“It was a really high-paced game and I think it was probably one which was fun to watch,” he said. “It perhaps wasn’t the best defensive performance, but I think the high tempo really suited us.
“It was good to see some guys returning from injury and really contributing. Just getting Jacob, Josh and Ronnie back into the flow and racking up some decent minutes and points production was really important as well.”
There was little evidence of what was to come as the lead changed hands seven times in the first quarter and ended with the sides tied 22-22.
However, the Trailblazers stepped up at both ends in an astonishing 45-27 second period, which featured a pair of spectacular dunks from Oberia and Bowman and a buzzer-beating triple from Conway.
Oberia spotted up for a threepointer from the corner to put Derby 26-24 ahead and it was a lead they would not surrender for the remainder of the game.
It was only after the Blazers increased their lead to 40-35 at the midpoint of the quarter that the real onslaught began.
Three-point plays from Brown and Oberia helped stretch Derby’s lead to 18 points and it stayed around that margin until halftime, but Derby produced another breathtaking play before the break.
With three seconds on the clock, Obi Egbunike sank two free shots for Oaklands. Brown inbounded the ball to Bowman and after a couple of quick dribbles, he released the ball to Conway, who launched a three-pointer from the corner.
The buzzer sounded while the ball was in flight, but it swished home to make it 67-49 at the break.
Derby opened the third with an 8-5 run but Smith picked up his fourth foul. With Stanley injured, Guddemi came off the bench to play a key role as he continued his return towards full fitness.
Oaklands briefly cut the gap to 75-58 but the Blazers responded with a 19-0 run which Guddemi opened with a three-pointer and capped off with a three-point play.
It meant Derby went into the
final break leading 95-65 and although Seth Wylie opened the fourth with a triple for the visitors, the Blazers responded with another 9-0 burst, which featured six points for Ash Ugo and a three-pointer from Theo Riley.
Guddemi said it was a great game to be a part of.
“We were unlucky with Oli getting injured early on, but we pulled together as a team and I think everyone performed really well,” he said.
“We’re not really happy with giving up 93 points but I think our offence was a key factor in us winning the game.
“They couldn’t really handle the press and I think the guys came ready to play.”
DERBY: Conway 24, Bowman 20, Smith 19, Guddemi 19, Oberia 14, Brown 7, Ugo 7, Prospere 6, Riley 4, Bousfield 2, Chilver 2.
WOLVES: Santiago 32, Daley 20, Roberts 14, Wright 7, Egbunike 6, Gastaldi-Davies 6, Wylie 6, Cummings 2.
Derby will be hoping Stanley’s ankle injury clears up for their double-header next weekend, away to Bradford Dragons on Saturday (2pm) and home to Team Newcastle on Sunday (5.30pm).
Both games will be played at the Nottingham Wildcats Arena.