BCB WEEK 1: DERBY CREEP PAST BIRMINGHAM; ULPH LANDS 20/20 GAME

The opening weekend of the BCB regular season saw standout performances and teams across the country putting their marker down on Saturday.

And all the excitement was in memory of much-loved former Essex Rebels, Hemel Storm and Ipswich player Lee Linton-Hodges, who passed away last week. There was 24-seconds of applause before all games taking place.

Key Storylines

• Ulph lands monster double-double in Yorkshire's win over Newcastle
• Derby survive fourth-quarter blitz to beat Birmingham 
• Reading also forced to cling on to victory at Hemel

Recap

In an early BCB Trophy rematch, Yorkshire Dragons got the better of the Newcastle Knights again, thanks to a huge showing from David Ulph.

Ulph had 29 points and 22 rebounds in the Dragons' 103-94 win on Saturday. But his performance wasn't only major talking point. Nick Lewis led Yorkshire with 32 points, with Bradley Dean hitting nine triples to lead Newcastle with a eye-catching 40 points.

Derby Trailblazers led by 20 after three quarters, but still had to hang on for a 90-85 win over the City of Birmingham Rockets.

With less than a minute to play, Rockets' Zack Powell hit a three-pointer to make it 88-84, turning what was once a 24-point deficit to just four. The Trailblazers hung on and saw out the game to secure a nail-biting victory.

Evan Oliver went 5-for-6 from three-point land for a game-high 25 points to lead Derby. Eric Donaldson posted a double-double of 22 points and 12 board in vain for Birmingham.

Reading Rockets also hung on to victory, as they edged past Hemel Storm 93-91 on the road.

Victor Olarerin's free throws with less than two minutes to play would eventually seal the win, but they need to withstand intense pressure from Hemel.

Veron Eze would land free throws to narrow the gap, but Darien Nelson-Henry spurned his chance to take the game into overtime, giving Rockets a nervy finish, which they survived.

Malik Bryant led the Rockets with 27 points and nine rebounds. Nelson-Henry posted 20 for the Storm.

Elsewhere, there were wins for the Essex Rebels, who used a 26-7 first quarter to coast past the Bristol Hurricanes 91-60.

Milton Keynes Breakers enjoyed home comforts as they toppled London Cavaliers 80-73, and Worthing Thunder needed a 38-18 third period to eventually got the better of a stubborn Bristol Flyers II side 95-76.

On Sunday, Nottingham Hoods overcame Loughborough Riders 69-58 to score their first win of the campaign. 19 points and nine assists from Tyrone Williams proved to be enough for the win.