BCB Trophy – Pool Stage / Northern Group
Nottingham Hoods 79 (25, 41, 64)
Derby Trailblazers 76 (21, 53, 69)
Derby Trailblazers fell to a 79-76 away loss to Nottingham Hoods in their opening match of the
BCB Trophy. There were promising signs from the new-look roster, but their failure to execute on
offence in the second half ultimately cost them dearly.
The Blazers racked up 53 points in the first half as they opened a twelve-point advantage over their
East Midlands rivals. However, they were restricted to just 23 points in the remainder of the match
as the Hoods once again took the local bragging rights.
Malcolm Smith led Derby’s efforts with an impressive 23 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two
assists, while Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner Evan Walshe had an impressive debut,
with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. Jai Pathmarajah added eight points, six rebounds
and five assists, while captain Rob Marsden finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
The Hoods were led by Cameron Kahn with 25 points and eight rebounds, while Cameron Polak
had 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Christian Moore finished with 14 points and
eight rebounds.
Derby took their time to find their rhythm and found themselves trailing throughout the majority of
the first quarter, which started with five unanswered points from the home side. Smith and
Pathmarajah then cut the gap to 5-4, before another six straight points put Nottingham back in the
driving seat.
The Blazers replied in kind to make it a one-point game once again and the two sides traded
baskets until a triple from Connor Washington and an offensive put-back from Marsden gave Derby
their first lead, at 17-16 with 4’02” on the clock.
It was short-lived as Luke Triggs restored Nottingham’s advantage and after another exchange of
baskets, a three-pointer from Faaris Mughal sent the Hoods into the first break with a 25-21 lead.
The opening stages of the second quarter were close, but Derby eventually nudged ahead thanks
to a lay-up from debutant Kendrick Gilbert and a three-pointer from Walshe. Hoods briefly
responded with a triple from Khan, but Derby were about to set off on what became their best spell
of the game.
A basket from Smith was followed by back-to-back scores from Walshe, although Nottingham
replied with a three-point play from captain Elliot Bailey.
Pathmarajah then converted from downtown, and Smith added seven straight points to bring up the
half-century for the Blazers. Pathmarajah then split a pair of free-throws before a basket from
former Blazer Simeon Perry was matched by Marsden to make it 53-41 at the half-time break.
Unfortunately, Derby couldn’t carry the momentum of that 19-8 run into the second half. The Hoods
opened the third quarter with an 11-5 run, which forced the Trailblazers into an early time-out with
the score at 58-52. The remainder of the period was close, with Hoods only managing to shave
one point off Derby’s lead, to make it 69-64 going into the fourth quarter.
That final period started strongly for the Hoods, Washington was adjudged to have fouled Polak
whilst he was attempting a three-pointer, and the American sank all three shots from the line. A
three-point attempt from debutant Rodney Glasgow Jr was off the mark, but Kahn quickly showed
how it should be done as he gave Hoods their first lead since the second quarter.
May-Thompson then made one of two at the line for the Blazers before Savery-Richards did
likewise for Nottingham. Smith could also only manage one of two at the line on each of his next
two visits to the stripe, but it was enough to nudge Derby back into a 72-71 lead with 6’24” left in
the game.
Savery-Richards and Smith then exchanged baskets, with Smith adding a bonus from the line to
make it a two-point game, but the remainder of the match was littered with errors from a Blazers
perspective.
A turnover and subsequent foul by Walshe sent Savery-Richards to the line, and despite only
having made one of three up to that stage, he sank both free-throw to tie the scores at 75-all.
Smith then missed an off-balance mid-range attempt, and Moore drove inside to put Hoods ahead
by two.
Derby took a time-out, but it did nothing to steady their nerves. Smith converted one of two at the
line before the two sides contrived to miss a total of eleven shots between them with Nottingham
also turning the ball over twice in the next two and a half minutes.
The Blazers then called a time-out with 24 seconds left, trailing 77-76. It should have been simple
from there. Get the ball inside and score as late as possible to leave the home side with no chance
of a response.
Instead, Pathmarajah went for glory, throwing up a three-point shot which was well off the mark.
Kahn grabbed the crucial defensive rebound, leaving Derby forced to foul. With two seconds left,
the American sank two out of two at the line to seal a 79-76 home win and leave the Blazers
wondering what could have been.
Hoods: Kahn 25, Polak 14, Moore 14, Savery-Richards 7, Triggs 7, Bailey 5, Smith-White 4, Mughal 3,
Perry 2, Akano 0, Ross DNP, Sandu-Nelson DNP.
Derby: Smith 23, Walshe 13, Marsden 8, Pathmarajah 8, Washington 7, Glasgow Jr. 6, Brown 4,
Gilbert 4, May-Thompson 3, Burr DNP.
The Trophy continues next Saturday when Derby travel to Yorkshire Dragons for a 6.15 pm tip-off.
Written by Nigel Cash.
