Thunder’s size is too much for the Trailblazers
Worthing Thunder came away with their division league win of the season when they defeated Derby Trailblazers 84-82 at home on Sunday. This victory breaks a four-game losing streak and will be a morale-boosting effort to get the win over such highly rated opposition.
Thunder were led in scoring by their two most recent additions, Hank Rivers and Vinnie Darpino, who had 23 and 22 respectively. It was Darpino who carried Worthing through the first half with his excellent shooting slicing through Derby’s defence. The reliable Rivers worked hard through-out and amassed his points total quietly.
The Thunder had built a reasonably comfortable lead, and in the third quarter they led by as many as 12 points. But a spirited fight-back from Derby saw them cut Thunder’s lead down to a single point. With Darpino on the bench, and the duo of American forwards Rivers and Marcus Tullis fouled out, it took some strong Thunder defence to hold out for the win.
Canadian-British guard Courtney Small had a typically productive night for Worthing. He finished with a mammoth seven steals, plus17 points which included two clutch free-throws that sealed the match. Derby’s British shooting guard Martyn Gayle led all scorers with 26.
In fact for long stretches, it was only some excellent long-range shooting that kept the Trailblazers in the match. Thunder dominated the inside, nearly doubling Derby’s total of points in the paint. It seems that shipping out 6’2” guard Chris Talley for 6’8” forward Hank Rivers has been a master-stoke, and Worthing are using their size to full advantage.
It was a very interesting weekend for results in EBL1. On the Saturday strugglers Leicester Warriors narrowly defeated likely title challengers London Leopards who were without American big-man Ousman Krubally. And it was another 2-point loss for Derby, as they went down 79-81 at home to Reading Rockets. Westminster and Bristol also came out on top in their encounters.
It was a great weekend overall for the Rockets, who then took on Westminster Warriors at home, crushing them 101-47. There were second victories for Leicester Warriors and Bristol Academy Flyers, and also wins for Tees Valley and Leeds.
