BCB Trophy | Northern Group
Derby Trailblazers 71 (20, 36, 52)
Yorkshire Dragons 87 (25, 56, 74)
Derby Trailblazers BCB Trophy campaign ended on Saturday night as Newcastle Knights rode into
the University of Derby to take a comprehensive 87-71 away win and secure top place in the
Northern Group as a bonus.
For Derby, it was a second successive season where their Trophy plans came off the rails without
progressing beyond the group stage. Their 1-3 record sees them finish a disappointing fourth in the
five-team group.
It was a difficult night for the Trailblazers, whose task had been made much harder earlier in the
day, when Nottingham Hoods won 118-85 away to Falkirk Fury. That meant that Derby not only
had to beat Newcastle, but they also had to win by eleven or more in order to finish top of the group of
teams with a 2-2 record.
Against a talented roster such as the Knights, it was never going to be easy, and when they opened
the game with a 14-2 run, the writing on the wall was already starting to form. Those opening three
minutes were littered with errors, with the jump ball lost, six shots missed and an eight-second
violation.
In contrast, Newcastle didn’t miss a single shot and had just one turnover. They were boosted by
the impressive AJ McGinnis, who knocked down two of his four three-pointers as he set off
towards a game-high 20 points, to which he added three rebounds, four assists and three steals.
His efforts were backed up by Jalen Shirley, who finished with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists
and one steal, while Hafeez Abdul completed a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, and
Luke House had 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
It was a very different story for Derby, for whom Jai Pathmarajah was the only player to reach
double figures, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Malcolm
Smith and Raheem May-Thompson both added nine points, capturing five and four rebounds
respectively, while Kendrick Gilbert and Evan Walshe each finished with eight points.
From 14-2 down, the Blazers finally found some rhythm at both ends of the court. A jump-shot from
Rodney Glasgow Jr. sparked a 10-2 run which also saw four points from May-Thompson and two
each for Smith and Charlie Brown.
That cut the gap to 16-12 and the remainder of the first quarter was tightly contested with the two
sides exchanging scores right through to the final minute, when Walshe struck from outside to
make it a one-point game. However, Derby’s joy was short-lived as McGinnis replied 19 seconds
later to make it 24-20 heading into the first break.
The lead was quickly up to nine at the start of the second, prompting a time-out from the home side
with 8’39” on the clock. The Blazers got a response with a triple from Connor Washington and a
jump shot from Pathmarajah, but the Knights replied with ten straight points as Shirley and
McGinnis both struck from inside and out.
Another Derby time-out followed and although the next two minutes were evenly contested, a dunk
from former Trailblazer Theo Riley sparked a 14-2 run which gave Newcastle a 56-36 half-time
advantage.
A blistering 14-4 start to the third quarter saw their lead peak at 70-40 and while the writing on the
wall was now pretty much complete, Derby didn’t give up the fight. A basket from Pathmarajah was
matched by two free-throws for Abdul, before Pathmarajah converted from outside and added a
coast-to-coast drive, sparking a 10-2 run, with May-Thompson providing the remaining five points.
A basket from Shirley took the score to 74-52 at the end of the third quarter. Derby started the
fourth with seven straight points as baskets from Pathmarajah and Smith were followed up by a
three-point play from Walshe.
Newcastle replied with baskets from Adomas and House, prompting a final time-out from the
Blazers with 6’20” left in the game. When play resumed, Pathmarajah cut the gap to 17 points, but
six quick points from the Knights piled on yet more pain, before Derby closed out the game with a
10-2 run which included a three-pointer and three out of three at the line from Gilbert.
Derby: Pathmarajah 24, May-Thompson 9, Smith 9, Gilbert 8, Walshe 8, Glasgow Jr 6, Washington 5,
Brown 2, Marsden 0, Scoburgh 0, Burr DNP.
Knights: McGinnis 20, Shirley 17, Abdul 16, House 16, Lukosevicius 7, Riley 5, Cox 4, O’Hara 2, Angus
0, Rogers 0, Sheeran 0.
With the Trophy now over for another season, attention switches to the BCB league season, which
gets underway with a trip to Nottingham Hoods next Saturday at 6:00 pm.
Written by Nigel Cash.
DERBY TRAILBLAZERS WEEKEND REVIEW 2026 #2
It was another stacked weekend of action across the board for the Derby Trailblazers, featuring tough battles, statement performances, and grit on both ends of the floor. From the senior ranks right through to our academy and junior sides, here is your full rundown of how the Blazers fared this past weekend.
FOURTH QUARTER FALTER SPOILS STUNNING BLAZERS U18 FIGHTBACK
It was a frustrating afternoon on the road, which saw Derby Trailblazers U18 Men II fall to a 78 to 71 defeat against the Sheffield Arrows U18.
The Blazers took time to settle into their rhythm, trailing 23–20 after the opening frame as the side struggled to lock down defensive consistency. Sheffield capitalised on the momentum before the break, extending their cushion to 41–34 at the half-time buzzer.
Derby produced a fierce response out of the locker room. Putting together their finest stretch of basketball on the day, the Blazers overwhelmed Sheffield with a 25–14 third-quarter surge to turn the deficit into a 59–55 lead heading into the final ten minutes.
However, costly defensive lapses and second-chance points on the glass allowed Sheffield to wrestle back control down the stretch, outlasting Derby to seal the result.
While the blistering third-quarter fightback offered plenty of encouragement, self-inflicted mistakes at critical moments proved decisive. The squad will take the lessons forward, shifting focus toward tightening up the interior defence and controlling the boards ahead of their next outing.
SPIRITED FOURTH QUARTER FALLS SHORT AS BLAZERS U14 DROP TOUGH BATTLE WITH THUNDER
Derby Trailblazers U14 showed relentless heart and determination despite ultimately falling to an 85–66 defeat against Thunder.
Derby stormed out of the gates with authority, commanding the tempo early to build an 8–0 cushion over the opening four and a half minutes. However, uncharacteristic defensive miscommunications and sudden offensive hesitation allowed Thunder to flip the momentum dramatically, unleashing a punishing 21–1 run to close the opening period ahead.
Thunder continued to push their advantage through the second quarter, heading into the half-time break leading by 19. The margin failed to reflect the true effort on the floor from the Blazers, who battled fiercely but were repeatedly denied by cruel bounces off the rim alongside tough whistle luck.
Refusing to let the contest drift away, the Trailblazers answered the call after the interval. Digging deep to match Thunder’s physical intensity, Derby stemmed the tide throughout the third before launching an all-out assault in the fourth quarter.
A fierce, high-energy surge cut the deficit to just 12 points with nearly five minutes left on the clock, putting serious pressure on the visitors. Unfortunately, mounting foul trouble down the stretch halted the charge just as momentum peaked, allowing Thunder to see out the contest.
Despite the final scoreline, the Blazers can take immense pride in their grit and unyielding work ethic from the opening whistle to the final buzzer.
PERFECT START CONTINUES AS BLAZERS U15 ROLL PAST KETTERING PHOENIX
Derby Trailblazers U15 delivered an emphatic home debut, powering past Kettering Phoenix 68–47 to maintain a flawless start to the YBL campaign and improve to 2–0 on the season.
Bursting out of the blocks with sharp offensive precision, the Trailblazers seized control early and never relinquished the front foot. The side set a punishing tempo from the opening tip, establishing a lead that grew steadily thanks to balanced scoring and vital contributions across the entire roster.
While brief defensive lapses emerged across stretches of the contest, the Blazers answered immediately at the other end. Crisp ball movement, clinical finishing, and rapid responses to Kettering scores ensured the Trailblazers remained firmly in the driver’s seat throughout.
With two impressive victories under their belt, the squad will take high energy into the training gym this week to fine-tune the defensive details ahead of another stiff challenge next weekend.
DRAMATIC SEASON OPENER SEES BLAZERS U18 III OUTLAST WARRIORS IN THRILLER
Derby Trailblazers U18 III kicked off their campaign in sensational fashion, holding their nerve in a gritty road battle to secure a 70–66 victory over Leicester Warriors.
The contest began with a testing first quarter as the Trailblazers took time to shake off early rust and adjust to the speed of the game. However, a tactical switch to man-to-man coverage changed the complexion of the afternoon completely. Derby locked in defensively, ratcheting up the intensity to force tough looks, control the tempo, and settle into their offensive rhythm.
Head coach Matt had challenged the squad during mid-week preparations and prior to tip-off to trust one another and outwork their opponents—a demand the boys answered with emphatic collective effort. Even through recent adjustments within the coaching setup, the squad displayed remarkable composure and unity down the stretch to pull off a thrilling opening-day triumph.
It was a performance that firmly sets the benchmark for the season ahead, giving the side massive momentum to carry onto the practice court this week.
SHORT-HANDED BLAZERS U18P SHOW RELENTLESS FIGHT TO TOPPLE MYERSCOUGH IN CLOSE THRILLER
Derby Trailblazers U18 Premier produced a true test of character on the home floor, digging deep through illness and injury to outlast a formidable Myerscough side 90–86 and move to 2–0 on the regular season.
Operating far from full strength, the Trailblazers were locked into a fierce, back-and-forth arm wrestle from the opening tip. Neither outfit could establish a cushion greater than single digits, with high-octane pressure dictating terms at both ends of the floor.
When the visitors threatened to seize control with a heavy third-quarter surge, the Blazers answered with the maturity and resilience of a seasoned outfit, weathering the storm and refusing to buckle under pressure.
Every player called upon delivered crucial minutes, spearheaded by standout offensive displays from Lewis Spencer and David Felix. Double-digit scoring efforts from Demetrius Brown and newcomer Jayden Atpoveta ensured Derby maintained the firepower needed to edge ahead down the stretch.
Holding firm in the dying minutes to seal an enormous statement victory, the squad now shifts focus to another stern examination on the road against St Helens next weekend.
