Trailblazers hit back with a win double
DERBY Trailblazers responded to the previous week’s double defeat with league and cup wins on the road over another busy weekend.
They saw off Loughborough Riders 79-72 in NBL Division One on Saturday, then eased past Bradford Dragons 91-77 in the National Cup.
They will be at home to powerful Team Solent Kestrels in the cup quarter-final on Sunday December 5.
Itr was a blistering second half performance which did the trick in the Loughborough match after Derby edged the first quarter but found themselves 47-35 down at half-time against a muchimproved Riders.
Derby were off the pace in the first half and a much-improved Riders side were 47-35 ahead at half-time.
However, the Blazers took the third quarter 15-7 and powered through the fourth 29-18.
“Loughborough were excellent in the first half and we really didn’t get going,” said head coach Matt Shaw.
“We managed to pick up our performance levels up in the second half.
“We defended a lot better and that was the catalyst for finding a way to get the scoreboard rolling, too.
“I was really pleased with the way we responded and it was a much-needed win with some really pleasing signs.”
The Blazers were led by Blake Bowman, whose 25 points included seven of 10 at the freethrow line after drawing seven fouls. He added eight rebounds.
Raheem May-Thompson had 18 points, nine rebounds and seven steals.
“I was delighted to see Blake have such a good performance and I thought Raheem was just phenomenal,” said Shaw.
“He filled the stats in every category and that’s probably the best he’s played this season.”
LOUGHBOROUGH: Gamble 15, Hedley 14, Ndoukou 11, Bielak 10, Gudza 6, Hayden 6, Muca 5, Wild 3, Gordon 2, Orija 0, Morrell DNP, Oputa DNP.
DERBY: Bowman 25, May-Thompson 18, Smith 12, Dieterich 11, Elliott-Sewell 10, Carter 3, Brown 0, King 0, Ugo 3, Bruggeman DNP, Prospere DNP, Roberts DNP. DERBY had missed Ryan Bruggeman with injury for the first game and he was still unavailable the next day but the news that Bradford were missing both of their imported players, Ricky Fetske and Rihards Sulcs, made the Blazers strong favourites the next day.
And although the Dragons battled hard to keep the game close most of the way, that is how it panned out.
“It definitely wasn’t our prettiest performance against Bradford but they always have a way of making it tough,” said Shaw.
“They’ve got a whole handful of injuries and credit to them for making it as difficult as it was.
“We never seemed to be able to get a total grip on it or get away from them despite leading for most of the game.
“I guess the most important thing was to get the win no matter how it came.”
This time it was Jonas Dieterich who led Derby with 28 points, nailing six of 12 three-point attempts.
Malcolm Smith completed a 26-point, 10 rebound doubledouble.
Leighton Elliott-Sewell had 15 points, four rebounds, four steals and a block; May-Thompson 14 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Charlie Brown and Kayne King ran the backcourt particularly well, finishing with 13 and nine assists respectively.
BRADFORD: Gachette 34, Laing 12, Edwards 11, Harris 11, Walsh 6, Armstrong 3, Bright 0, Cousins 0, Fetske DNP, Sulcs DNP.
DERBY: Dieterich 28, Smith 26, Elliott-Sewell 15, May-Thompson 14, King 0, Brown 2, Ugo 2, Bowman 1, Carter 0, Bruggeman DNP, Perry DNP.