National Trophy Semi Final Derby Trailblazers 71 Reading Rockets 53
Saturday 11th February 2012 Tip off 7.30 pm
Moorways Leisure Centre
In a game which Derby deserved to win, if for no other reason than their outstanding shooting last night, the referees were the most talked about participants in the packed Moorways Leisure Centre as they stopped two very good teams playing the spectacular type of basketball they have served up in three previous matches so far this season where the margin of victory has been 1 point, 2 points and 6 points for either team.
Both teams played superb defence but in the first half Rockets were called for twice as many fouls as Derby leaving Rockets having to sit out key players on the bench as they were in personal foul trouble. Such interruptions inhibited players and coaches alike and took away from a compelling semi-final that this still fought to be.
Rockets scored first through Robbie Parker but Trailblazers hit the first of their 5 threes. Luke Nelson hit a pair of free throws only for Derby to hit another treble as both their shooting guards were on fire. When Nelson, Parker and Lukas Aleksandravicius were each called for their second personal fouls, Derby scored a most unusual 4 point play with Gayle hitting a three and scoring the bonus point from the free throw line as he was adjudged to have been fouled. This play was the primary difference between the teams at the first break with Rockets down by 8 - 13 points and the foul count 8 - 3 against Rockets.
Rockets again scored first after the break through Ryan Lohfink who repeated the feat moments later to make it a one point game. Both teams swapped baskets on the next few plays so Rockets were well in contention early in the second period. However Rockets’ captain was called for his second personal foul and had to retreat to the bench. Derby had an 8 - 0 run before Harrison Gamble hit his only three of the game, and Rockets first as they trailed by 6 points. Two more crucial officials calls saw Parker and Aleksandravicius on 3 fouls each and time on the bench as Derby made the most of the disruptions these caused and scored the next 8 points to take a 14 point lead at 33 - 19 to the locker room.
Up until the last 2 minutes of the half Rockets had been called for 13 fouls to Derby's 4, a reflection that Coach Nuruzade was finding difficult to understand as he took Rockets to the interval where some good entertainment tried to give both sets of supporters a different focus and something other than the officiating to talk about. Gayle and Kakad had 10 points each through superb shooting and with Whittington dominating the boards with 14 rebounds, Nuruzade knew the team talk had to be special to give Rockets the platform to secure a National Trophy final place for five of the last six seasons....and the first trophy he had led Rockets to last season.
Only two referees took to the court in the third quarter as one had pulled a muscle and couldn't continue. Derby scored first from the free throw line but a quality assist by Nelson saw Lohfink score before Nelson drove for two and Parker spun for another couple of points. Derby hit a trademark three pointer but Rockets now fought tenaciously on the boards with Lohfink and Gamble taking down defensive rebounds as they also cut Trailblazers lead with a 3 point play from the captain. However the next minute was controversial and changed the game as a spectacle and as a real contest as Nelson was called for his third and fourth fouls within 15 seconds, Lohfink called for his fourth personal foul seconds later and Coach Nuruzade given a technical foul for his frustration. Derby benefited from the free throws and possession and suddenly the game was a 15 point one. Parker hit two from two from the foul line before being the third Rockets player on 4 fouls. With Kastytis Normantas having returned to Lithuania for specialist treatment and recuperation on his damaged hamstring meaning he'll be out probably for the rest of the season and Rockets not allowed to sign anyone as it's past the transfer deadline, it meant that yet again the young players so prominent in Rockets team would be asked again to step up and lead from the front. Nuruzade was not disappointed as Lewis Champion again looked comfortable and authoritative driving Rockets on. He was again outstanding.
Jon May , playing with a strapped and injured shoulder, showed outstanding courage as he was fouled and fell awkwardly, recovering to keep his 100% shooting record for the game but not able to be as prominent on the boards with his injury but still reducing Trailblazers lead to just 10 at the final break 38 - 48.
May hit a three pointer to make it an 8 point game but unfortunately the next two Rockets three point efforts came back off the ring as they stopped Derby scoring but just couldn't take any more advantage. Another Rockets offence was called for a double dribble just as the Derby crowd was rightly getting concerned. Both defences had been on top throughout the game but with Rockets having 2 players fouled out and four on four fouls, Derby kept their composure and finished with 8 from 9 from the free throw line to give the game a scoreline that didn't truly reflect it, to take the win 71 - 53.
Top scorers for Rockets were Parker with 12 points, Lohfink with 10 and May with 9.
