Hoods Narrowly Defeat the Trailblazers in Thrilling Home Victory

Hoods Narrowly Defeat the Trailblazers in Thrilling Home Victory

The Nottingham Hoods secured a hard-fought 84–81 victory over the Derby Trailblazers in the final regular-season meeting between the two sides. Having already faced each other in both trophy competition and earlier league action, with Nottingham narrowly winning both. The stage was set for another tense encounter with Derby seeking revenge after a one-point defeat last time out and the Hoods looking to extend their perfect start to 2026. The contest delivered exactly as promised in front of a packed crowd at Harvey Hadden Sports Village.

The opening quarter was played at high intensity, but unlike recent performances, the Hoods struggled to find offensive rhythm. A lack of discipline and ball movement allowed Derby to seize early control, led by the dominant inside presence of S. Walker, who scored six quick points. Nottingham captain E. Bailey responded with five points of his own to keep the home side within reach, but Derby’s depth of scoring proved decisive as they built an 11-point lead midway through the quarter. The Trailblazers closed the period firmly in control at 25–9.

Facing a significant deficit, the Hoods showed resilience to begin the second quarter. B. Johnson set the tone with four early points, and contributions from across the roster helped Nottingham steadily chip away at the Derby lead. A strong collective effort on the offensive glass created valuable second-chance opportunities, allowing the Hoods to reduce the gap. Although still not at their fluent best, this response to adversity was encouraging, and Nottingham went into halftime trailing 38–30.

Following tactical adjustments at the break, both teams returned with increased intensity. Improved ball movement and a clear intent to attack the paint saw Nottingham apply sustained pressure, drawing fouls and scoring consistently inside. D. Nixon led the charge with nine points early in the quarter, while Derby suffered a setback as S. Walker picked up his third foul and was forced to the bench. With the paint opening up, T. Williams capitalised repeatedly, scoring inside and igniting the crowd with an impressive block at the defensive end. The momentum swing saw the Hoods take a narrow two-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Nottingham carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with a quick 6–0 run. Derby responded strongly with an 8–0 burst of their own, led by M. Smith, bringing the scores level midway through the period. The Hoods then delivered from long range, knocking down three crucial three-pointers to regain control. Despite continued resistance from S. Walker inside, Derby were unable to overturn the deficit, and Nottingham held firm to clinch an 84–81 victory.

The win extends the Hoods’ unbeaten run in 2026 and further highlights the impact of improved teamwork and defensive effort in recent weeks. T. Williams delivered a standout performance with 28 points and 12 rebounds, supported by strong contributions throughout the roster. Nottingham will look to carry this momentum forward as they return to the road next week to face the Bristol Hurricanes.