Essex Rebels 83 (18, 39, 65) } BCB League
Derby Trailblazers 91 (21, 44, 69) }
Photo credit – Nick Higgins.
Derby Trailblazers held their nerve to survive a spirited third-quarter fight-back by Essex Rebels,
as they snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed 91-83 away win. The result saw
them leapfrog their opponents to move up to ninth place in the BCB league table.
Jai Pathmarajah led the team with 24 points as he went two from two from three-point range and
six from six at the free-throw line. He also added two rebounds, five assists and one steal. Connor
Washington shot 67% from long range on his way to 17 points, two rebounds and three assists,
while Mo Walker had a double-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one block.
For Essex, Miles Brown’s haul of 35 points, one rebound, five assists and two steals were
ultimately in vain as the Trailblazers maintained their 100% winning record at the University of
Essex Sports Arena.
Derby got off to the perfect start, as Walker found Washington for a three-pointer, but the opening
four minutes remained close, as both sides exchanged scores on a regular basis. However, a turn-
around jump shot from May-Thompson sparked a 6-nil run to take the Blazers into a 16-9 lead.
The Rebels replied with back-to-back triples from Daniel Johnson-Thompson and Brown and after
a pair of free-throws from Pathmarajah, another long-range basket from Tom Child tied saw the
scores tied at 18-all. Washington then rounded the first quarter off with his second triple of the
game, via the first of a game-high nine assists from Charlie Brown.
His second led to another three-pointer for Washington which stretched the lead to 24-18. Mou
Wol-Cummings then sank a pair of free-throws before a basket from Smith sparked a 9-2 run
which was capped off with an outside shot from Pathmarajah via yet another Brown assist to make
it 33-22.
Essex then gradually started to whittle away at Derby’s lead and had it down to five points before a
second triple from Pathmarajah was followed by a May-Thompson dunk, restoring a ten-point
advantage and prompting a time-out from the Rebels with 3’39” on the clock.
After shaky spells from both sides, Brown then struck from outside the arc and after the Blazers
turned the ball over and fouled to stop another long-range attempt, he sank all three shots from the
line to help his side take a 44-39 lead into the half-time break.
Derby started the third quarter with consecutive turnovers which led to a three-point play from
Brown and a layup from Johnson-Thompson which tied the game. That was the start of a 19-4 run
which included four three-pointers as the home side suddenly opened up a 58-48 lead from out of
nowhere.
It was halted by a three-pointer from Brown, a pair of free-throws from Pathmarajah, a steal by
Brown and a lay-up from May-Thompson, who then converted one from two at the line before
Washington sank a pair of free-throws to tie the scores once again.
Derby’s 10-nil run was ended by a three-pointer from Johnny McKew and after the two sides
exchanged a series of scores, the Blazers ended a nervy quarter with six unanswered points to
take a 69-65 lead into the final quarter.
After Johnson-Thompson opened the fourth by splitting a pair of free-throws, Derby responded with
back-to-back scores from Smith and a three-pointer from Washington to make it 76-66. However,
Essex were in no mood to concede defeat and began to chip away at the deficit once again.
The closest they came was when a triple from Brown was followed by a lay-up from Remy Udeh to
make it 80-76, but Derby responded with an 11-2 run as their lead peaked at 91-78 with twenty-five
seconds remaining. Essex then brough the game to a conclusion with a triple from Tom Child and
a lay-up from Udeh.
Trailblazers Head Coach Kyle Henderson says the much-needed win came as a result of hard
work in training:
“We had a very good week of practise following the Newcastle game and the focus has been about
application and bringing some energy onto the court, so it was really good to see that application
helping us to secure the win.
“There were a few little details which made it a tighter game than it perhaps should have been so
we need to do a better job of looking after the ball and making it harder for them to score, but other
than that, I thought we played really well.
“They didn’t have Kyron Martin who’s one of their best three-point shooters, but Brown proved why
he’s one of the stand-out names in the league. When you have players of that calibre, we always
knew they were likely to go on a run which is what they did in the third quarter, but despite going
from twelve points up to ten points down, I thought we managed it really well.
“Overall, I thought we shared the ball really well and everyone apart from Casey [Burr] got on the
scoresheet which is always pleasing. Obviously, Jai top scored, but to have five guys scoring 15 or
more shows it was a real team effort, so every player deserves recognition for that,” he said.
Essex: Brown 33, Child 15, Udeh 11, Winter 10, Johnson-Thompson 6, McKew 3, Gent 2, Wol-
Cummings 2, Hudson 1, Amako 0, Idiata-Mendez 0, Temilola 0.
Derby: Pathmarajah 24, Washington 17, Walker 16, Smith 15, May-Thompson 14, Brown 3, Marsden 2,
Burr 0, Lawrence DNP, Pastor DNP.
Derby are back at home next Saturday as they take on Bristol Hurricanes in a 7:30pm tip-off at the
Clarence Wiggins Sports Centre.
Written by Nigel Cash.
Photo credit – Michael Taylor.
Here are other results from around the club…
BLAZERS U14 BOYS DOMINATE PHOENIX IN STYLE
Derby Trailblazers U14 Boys continued their dominant run in the Local League with a third clinical victory over Rushcliffe Phoenix this season. From the opening tip, the Trailblazers established a suffocating defensive presence, consistently breaking down opposition attacks at the half-court line. This defensive intensity translated directly into a high-octane transition game, allowing the team to build a commanding 22-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. The relentless pace remained unchanged through the second period, with the Trailblazers heading into the halftime break firmly in control at 41-7.
Rather than simply coasting through the second half, the Trailblazers coaching staff utilised the lead to implement a specific tactical challenge for the players. To move the focus toward half-court execution, the team was instructed to stop scoring lay-ups from fast breaks. Instead, players were required to dribble back out and systematically set up their five-out offensive motion. While this adjustment naturally slowed the scoring rate as the boys adapted to the new constraints, the discipline remained high, and the lead grew to 51-9 by the conclusion of the third quarter.
The final period saw the Blazers maintain this structured approach while being given the green light to shoot from beyond the arc when left open. Although Rushcliffe Phoenix found more success finding the basket in the fourth, the Trailblazers remained productive, adding 17 points to their total. The game concluded with a 51-point winning margin for the Derby side, marking a performance defined as much by tactical restraint and development as by the impressive final scoreline.
LOVE AT FIRST BASKET: BLAZERS U14 BOYS NL 95 ILKESTON 41
Derby Trailblazers U14 Boys National League squad delivered a standout performance on Valentine’s Day, producing a clinical display of team basketball that left plenty for the home crowd to love. From the opening tip, the ball movement and collective play were arguably the best seen so far this season, with the Blazers consistently finding the open man and playing with an unselfish rhythm. The high levels of effort and energy were evident across the entire roster, ensuring a relentless tempo that Ilkeston struggled to contain throughout the contest.
There were numerous statistical highlights to take away from the 95-41 victory, most notably a highly impressive two-point shooting efficiency that climbed north of 50%. Perhaps even more pleasing for the coaching staff was the fact that every single player on the scoresheet contributed points, reflecting the balanced and inclusive nature of the Blazers’ offensive sets. It was a complete performance that saw the team maintain their intensity from start to finish, resulting in a comprehensive 54-point winning margin.
With this significant win secured, the focus for the Derby side now shifts immediately to the training floor. The squad will be looking to build on this momentum throughout the week as they prepare for a highly anticipated local clash against the Nottingham Hoods next weekend. The standard set in this performance provides a fantastic platform for the challenges ahead in the National League schedule.
NIGHTMARE FOR CHASERS AGAINST BLAZERS U18 CONFERENCE
The Derby Trailblazers U18 Conference side travelled to Sheffield to face the Dream Chasers, establishing themselves as the superior outfit from the opening tip-off. The offensive display was defined by exceptional ball reversal, as the squad worked the perimeter effectively to create high-quality, open looks. This unselfish approach paid dividends on the scoreboard, particularly as the Blazers’ shooting remained clinical from the free-throw line throughout the contest.
While the offensive rhythm was a constant, the defensive side of the ball provided a more tactical narrative. At various points, the Blazers found themselves challenged while sitting in a 2-3 zone, occasionally allowing the Dream Chasers to penetrate the middle of the floor. However, a strategic shift into a full-court press completely altered the dynamic of the game. Once the pressure was applied, the Sheffield side struggled to advance the ball over the halfway line, allowing Derby to dictate the tempo and capitalise on turnovers.
The final result of 76-46 was a fair reflection of a performance built on high energy and tactical adaptability. It was a comprehensive road win that showcased the squad’s ability to find solutions mid-game, turning defensive hurdles into transition opportunities. The Blazers leave Sheffield with a thirty-point victory and plenty of positive momentum to carry into their next league fixture.
