Trailblazers are set for tougher test in return

DERBY Trailblazers will not be putting too much focus on their opening-day victory over Reading Rockets when they face their old foes in the return match at the Clarence Wiggins Sports Centre tonight (7.15pm).

The game will be part of a double header of basketball action, with Trailblazers Women taking on Worcester Wolves ahead of the men’s match (4.30pm).

Reading arrive in third place of NBL Division One with an 8-4 record but one of those defeats came against Derby in October, an impressive 94-84 victory for the away side.

But the Rockets have improved since then, led in scoring by American pair Trae Pemberton and AJ Carr, and have a Trophy semi-final to look forward to.

Derby began the new year with league defeats to Hemel and Leicester last weekend and head coach Matt Shaw knows his side will have to play hard to complete a league double.

“We managed to nudge past them in the season opener back in October but they’ve been on a good run of form since then, so I’m expecting a totally different kind of game,” he said.

“We are going into the game off the back of two narrow losses but we are hoping to bounce back. We have taken quite a few positives from last weekend’s performances but losing hurts and we have to try and use that feeling as extra motivation for the game against Reading.”

Now half way through their first season in WNBL Division Two, Trailblazers Women head coach Leanne Chandler is full of hope for the rest of the campaign.

“I think our women’s programme already has a lot to be happy about,” she said.

“With a 4-2 record and sitting second in the league, the team have been a positive addition to the league. Both of our losses have been close games and our team is improving week on week.

“The season started with a nail-bitter away at Worcester, a game we won, and with the second half of the season now approaching, it will now be a test to see how the Trailblazers can push on.”