DOUBLE HEARTBREAK FOR HEMEL IN MIDLANDS; RIDERS GROUND DERBY

All teams are now off and running to end of the first whole weekend of exhilarating BCB Trophy action.

In the Midlands, City of Birmingham Rockets made it double heartbreak for Hemel Storm in less than 24 hours, and the Loughborough Riders made it a mixed weekend for the Derby Trailblazers.

Eric Donaldson drilled a three-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play to give the Rockets a thrilling 84-83 victory over the Storm, who suffered back-to-back last-second defeats to open their season, following the narrow loss to Bristol Hurricanes the night before.

Sam Newman had an opportunity to clinch victory for Hemel, but his three-pointer from the top of the arc missed everything, sending the Birmingham fans into hysteria.

Lucas McGregor shot an impressive 8-for-10 from the field as he led six Rockets players with 20 points. Donaldson added 15. Matt Norman led the Storm for the second game running with a game-high 27. Loughborough Riders started their BCB Trophy adventure by grounding the Derby Trailblazers 96-88 on the road.

Derby, who convincingly dispatched Bristol the day before, held a slender 68-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter, when the Riders ambushed them with a 16-3 start to the period to open the game in their favour, and despite the vocal Trailblazers following, Loughborough secured the win.

Johde Campbell splashed eight triples for 28 points, along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Harlond Beverly Jr and Sean Walker both led Derby with 26.

Nottingham Hoods got their season off and running by condemning newly-promoted Bristol Flyers II to their second loss in the Trophy as Tyrone Williams starred in the win. Tyrone Williams led Hoods with 21 points and 7 rebounds as the victors shot 51 percent from the floor. Nassim Ladjimi shot 50 percent for the Flyers for his 19. Yorkshire Dragons put themselves in the driving seat in the Northern group as they edged Newcastle Knights 122-120 after overtime in an exciting battle on Tyneside. Nick Lewis exploded for 36 points and dished out 9 assists for the Dragons, who clinched their second win of the weekend. Sam Trunley had 31 for the Knights, who dropped their first game of the new season.