Recap
Eagles rout Trailblazers to end season on high note
The Eagles hosted Derby Trailblazers today in the final game of their 2018/2019 national league season looking to end with a strong finish after a disappointing season overall. The match started well with the Eagles roaring out to an early 14-0 lead after just four minutes of play, authored by a line-up made from entirely first year players at the age group. Early on it was clear the Eagles were the superior team and after the first rotations began to take their foot off the gas defensively allowing Derby to reach nine points in the final five minutes of the quarter as the Eagles went in to the break up 26-9.
The second quarter started with the Eagles picking the defensive intensity back-up slightly and pushing their lead out further courtesy of good two-way play from swingmen Jerrard and Cox as they combined for the first 15 points of the quarter for the hosts, as they began the quarter on a 15-5 run through the first six minutes of the period. Again however the intensity dropped for the Eagles once the substitutions started to take effect as the last four minutes saw the period ended with both teams playing pretty evenly with the Eagles only able to further increase their advantage by two meaning the score at the half time break was 51-22 in the Eagles favour.
Out of the halftime break the Eagles struggled offensively only scoring 7 points in the first five minutes of the period, with the visiting Trailblazers opening the second half on a 10-7 run. However, following a time-out and some rotations the Eagles once again opened their lead behind 12 points from Leperrier as the hosting Eagles pulled away with a 21-6 run to end the quarter.
The final quarter saw the hosts ease up even further to allow Derby to play some successful basketball on their way to winning the fourth quarter 15-13 as the Eagles seemed content to let the clock run out on the game, lacking the burst of scoring they had shown in every other quarter of the game. As the game ended the Eagles came out on top 92-53.
Eagles Academy Coach David Sayers said “This was a good ending to what has been a tough season for our team. Now the real work starts for the guys as they look to add improvements to their game ready for next season. Some good building blocks with several of the juniors starting to show more as the season wore on, so some hopes for a good season next year for the boys.”
Top scorers for the Eagles were Junior forward Leperrier with 24, supported by 17 a piece for Junior forward Sheeran and Under 16’s captain and senior forward Jerrard in his final game at the age group. Derby Trailblazers were led by big-man Bridges with 18 he was followed by Cooper with 9 as multiple Trailblazers chipped in with 7 or less on their way to 53 points.
