BCB Trophy | Northern Group
Derby Trailblazers 78 (14, 29, 47)
Signs Express Falkirk Fury 68 (18, 43, 59)
Rob Marsden delivered a true captain’s performance to steer Derby Trailblazers away from danger
as they came from behind to beat Falkirk Fury 78-68 in their third game of the Northern Group in
the BCB Trophy.
The veteran centre sank nine of the points in an 11-0 third quarter burst which got Derby back on
track against the Scottish champions. The other two came from Malcolm Smith, who took over at
the start of the fourth quarter to score eight of the points in the 14-nil run which set Derby up for
victory, thanks to a blistering 31-9 final quarter.
Marsden finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Smith led the scoring with 22 points,
seven rebounds, three assists and one block. Jai Pathamarajah returned from illness to net an
impressive 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals, and Rodney Glasgow Jr enjoyed a
classy home debut with 17 points and six assists.
Both sides were missing experienced personnel, with Evan Walshe, Raheem May-Thompson,
Kendrick Gilbert and Casey Burr all absent for Derby, while Falkirk were without Joe Hart and
Yves-Jonathon Ndongala, just days after seeing their star forward Princetown Onwas leave for
SLB side Sheffield Sharks.
The visitors were led by Bantu Burroughs with 18 points and seven rebounds, with Murray Hendry
adding 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Adnan Jalil finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
“To get a win in those circumstances was exactly what we needed and precisely what we’d worked
so hard to achieve, so I’m really pleased for the guys and for the fans,” enthused the Trailblazers
Head Coach Kyle Henderson.
“If I’m honest, we didn’t play well in the first half, and we were down by as many as twenty-four
points at one stage. Because we were low on bodies once again, I had to use time-outs to rest legs
and then when they started to pull away, I didn’t have a time-out to use, and they went into half-time
with a lead of fourteen points.
“So, at the break, we did an immediate reflection and made some adjustments and fair credit to the
guys, they came out in and chipped away with the mentality of stop one, score one, and we kept
doing that to eventually produce a huge 31-9 fourth quarter,” he said.
The visitors started strongly, opening up a 9-4 lead, but three points from Smith helped trim the
gap, Although Falkirk added a pair of free-throws immediately after a Derby time-out, inside and
outside scores from Glasgow Jr gave the Blazers their first lead at 12-11. It was short-lived as Fury
went on a 7-2 run to close the quarter with an 18-14 lead.
Pathmarajah opened the second with a three-pointer, only for Falkirk to go a 7-nil spree, but Derby
fought hard to get back in contention. A 10-4 run of their own trimmed the gap to just two points,
before a triple from Burroughs prompted a second time-out from the Blazers, trailing 32-27 with
3’29” on the clock.
In the remainder of the half and the start of the third, nothing went to plan from a Derby
perspective. They were outscored 11-2 in the run up to the break and 12-2 immediately afterwards
as Fury’s lead peaked at 55-33 with 5’22” on the clock.
That was the cue for Marsden to enter beast mode and his aggressive work in the paint quickly
trimmed the gap to fifteen points, thanks to an 11-2 run. Falkirk halted the run with a basket from
Burroughs, but a three-point play from Pathmarajah, followed by a pair of free-throws from
Glasgow Jr trimmed the gap to 59-47 heading into the final quarter.
The final period began with Charlie Brown’s only score of the night, although he did add nine
rebounds and six assists in an important cameo off the bench. Smith then took over where
Marsden had left off, netting eight quick points as part of a 14-nil run which nudged Derby ahead
with seven minutes left.
Falkirk rallied with seven straight points, but with the crowd behind them the Trailblazers dug deep
and closed out the game with another inspired 17-2 run to seal their first win of the season and
provide hope that qualification for the knockout stage of the Trophy could still be possible, despite
a poor start to the group stage.
Reflecting on a result which will live long in the memories of those who were in attendance at the
University of Derby, Coach Henderson said it was a taster of what I know his team can achieve:
“We dropped into a zone and moved the ball a lot better in the second half and that resulted in us
taking much better shots than we were in the first half. I thought Rob’s performance was insane.
He did a great job of cleaning up the glass and he was aggressive on offence, looking to attack
and score, particularly in the third quarter where he scored six points in a row.
“So, now we look to Newcastle next weekend and we know we have a chance of qualifying.
They’re a tough team, but if we get the win and other results go in our favour, then we have a
chance or reaching the knockout stage of the Trophy,” he said.
Derby: Smith 22, Pathmarajah 19, Glasgow Jr 17, Marsden 13, Washington 5, Brown 2, Paradysz 0,
Scoburgh 0, Burr DNP, Gilbert DNP.
Falkirk: Burroughs 18, Hendry 16, Jalil 11, Leginas 10, Erterkin 5, Bunyan 4, Hencher 4, Daniels 0,
McGuire 0,
Derby’s final group match in the Trophy is at home to Newcastle Knights on Saturday 26th
September at the University of Derby Sports Centre at 7:30 pm.
Written by Nigel Cash.
DERBY TRAILBLAZERS WEEKEND REVIEW 2026 #01
Other results from around the club are as follows –
BLAZERS U14 BOYS MATCH REVIEW: NOTTINGHAM WILDCATS 78 – 47 DERBY TRAILBLAZERS
It was a tough opening test for the Derby Trailblazers U14 boys, falling 78 to 47 away to a well-drilled, experienced
Nottingham Wildcats side.
Despite facing seasoned opposition from the opening tip, the young Blazers matched their rivals for sheer effort and
work rate across the full 40 minutes. The energy levels never dipped, with every player stepping up to battle for loose
balls and fight for possessions.
Ultimately, early-season inexperience proved decisive. A string of missed open layups, growing pains with offensive
spacing, and lapses in help defence allowed the Wildcats to build and stretch out a scoreline that felt slightly flattering
given the continuous hustle Derby brought to the floor.
There is plenty of raw potential to build on, and the focus now shifts directly to the practice court to fine-tune
rotations, clean up the finishing inside, and tighten up the defensive cohesion ahead of the next fixture.
U15 BOYS MATCH REVIEW: SMETHWICK SPARKS 93 – 26 DERBY TRAILBLAZERS
It was always set to be an uphill battle for Derby Trailblazers U15 YBL side in the U16 Cup, facing a formidable
Smethwick Sparks roster stacked with top-tier National League talent.
Going toe-to-toe with a Premier-level outfit boasting a significant height advantage and intense physicality across the
board, the young Blazers refused to back down. Derby fought relentlessly on both ends of the floor, matching the
contest with genuine grit and refusing to let their heads drop right up to the final buzzer.
Despite the lopsided 93-26 scoreline, the chemistry within the squad continues to grow. Derby produced several fluent
spells of unselfish team basketball, moving the ball well and demonstrating real cohesion against older, bigger
opposition.
It was a tough day on paper, but a massive character-building experience for a group finding its identity. Derby now
turn their attention to bouncing back next Saturday as they return home for their first fixture on familiar hardwood.
U18 MEN II MATCH REVIEW: DERBY TRAILBLAZERS 81 – 72 LINCOLN PANTHERS
Derby Trailblazers U18 Men II opened their campaign with a gritty, hard-earned 81 to 72 victory over Lincoln Panthers.
After a tense, closely contested opening period that ended 20–18, the lads settled into their rhythm to carve out a
43–37 half-time lead. Lincoln kept the pressure on throughout the second half, but a composed and determined push
in the fourth quarter ensured Derby pulled away down the stretch to lock down the win.
A solid opening day performance and plenty of positive momentum to build on as the season gets underway.
U16 BOYS CONFERENCE MATCH REVIEW: LEICESTER RIDERS 75 – 49 DERBY TRAILBLAZERS
It was a scrappy start to the campaign for Derby Trailblazers U16 Boys Conference side, suffering a 75-49 defeat away
to Leicester Riders in a game that was far closer than the eventual margin suggested.
Both teams struggled to establish any fluent rhythm during a cagey, defensive opening quarter, though Derby managed
to edge ahead with a narrow one-point lead heading into the second. Offensive flow remained hard to come by, and a
few costly turnovers allowed Leicester to capitalise, racking up 26 points in the frame to Derby’s 16 and handing the
hosts a nine-point cushion at the interval.
The third quarter proved to be another gritty affair, but Derby began showing real flashes of their ceiling. Sharper ball
movement, unselfish offensive sets, and relentless hustle on loose possessions kept the contest alive and shifted
momentum.
Derby carried that fierce intensity straight into the final period, keeping the pressure firmly on the Riders and sitting
within just eight points with five minutes remaining on the clock. Unfortunately, a second mid-game injury coupled
with mounting foul trouble took its toll down the stretch, allowing Leicester to string together a late scoring run that
inflated the final deficit.
Despite the difficult finish, the resilience, work ethic, and positive passages of play showcased through the middle
quarters offer plenty of encouraging foundations to build upon as the squad continues to gel.
U18 PREMIER MATCH REVIEW: YORK EAGLES 54 – 75 DERBY TRAILBLAZERS
Derby Trailblazers U18 Men Premier made a statement on opening weekend, kicking off their campaign with an
emphatic 75-54 road victory over York Eagles.
Facing a towering York side boasting three players standing well over 6’6″, what Derby lacked in sheer size, they more
than made up for with unrelenting defensive ferocity. The high-octane trio of Demetrius Brown, Stevie Azemia, and
Logan Scoburgh spearheaded a suffocating defensive masterclass that set the standard early. Not only did the Blazers
hold their own by controlling the glass against the giants, but they repeatedly turned stops into high-speed transition
points on the break.
York attempted to stall Derby’s flow by sitting in a zone defence throughout the contest, posing questions on how to
crack the paint. The Blazers answered with composed perseverance and patience, relying on sharp ball rotation and a
standout offensive showcase from Lewis Spencer. Spencer poured in a game-high 26 points to lead all scorers,
continually punishing lapses in the coverage.
Derby kept York at arm’s length the entire way, never allowing the hosts to pull within single digits before running
away with a commanding 21-point win to begin the season in style.
U16 MEN PREMIER MATCH REVIEW: DERBY TRAILBLAZERS 77 – 95 COB ROCKETS
Derby Trailblazers U16 Men Premier opened their campaign with an action-packed, character-testing home clash
against City of Birmingham Rockets, falling 77-95 in an encounter brimming with grit and high potential.
With 60% of the roster making the jump from conference basketball straight into the premier tier, Derby were
immediately thrown in at the deep end against a seasoned Rockets outfit featuring two national team setup regulars.
Early nerves proved costly across the opening twenty minutes, as Birmingham capitalised on tentative moments with
ruthless efficiency to carve out a commanding 24-point cushion by the half-time break.
The interval offered a chance to reset, and the Blazers responded with an electric third-quarter surge. Locking in on
defence, Derby smothered Birmingham’s possessions, forcing multiple 24-second shot clock violations, contesting
every perimeter attempt, and executing swift, clinical transition offence. Derby ripped through the period with a
dominant 28-11 run, cutting the deficit to just seven points and showing the true ceiling of this developing group.
The break heading into the fourth quarter arrived at the worst possible time for Derby’s momentum, offering the
visitors a breather to regroup. Leaning heavily on their international pedigree in clutch situations, the Rockets
managed to steady the ship down the stretch and pull clear to seal the win.
Despite the loss, the second-half fightback proved Derby can compete with the league’s heavyweights, providing
immense belief and valuable lessons for the season ahead.
