Division One leaders Derby Trailblazers suffered their second overtime loss of the season at London Mets on Saturday, going down 115-113 as their title hopes took a knock.

 

A buoyant Mets side, with their confidence clearly boosted by lifting the EBL Men's Trophy the previous weekend, raced to a 40-18 advantage. Their outside shooting in those early stages was phenomenal, as they nailed six three-pointers in the first twelve minutes of the game.

 

Defensively, the Londoners committed eight first quarter fouls, but the Trailblazers struggled to convert from the line, missing seven out of 12 in the game's opening stanza.

 

However, Derby then battled back to get into a position from which they had a chance to win the game. In particular, they were boosted by a 10-0 second quarter run starting with a technical foul on Okolie Ugbana sending Martyn Gayle to the line for two points. On the subsequent possession Matt Shaw was able to dish off to Gayle for a relatively easy lay-up, bringing the score back to a much more respectable 40-28.

 

After a basket from Ugbana, Gayle spotted up for a three-pointer, before Shaw was called for a third foul less than five minutes into the second period. However, Stedroy Baker stepped up to control the play and provide Derby with some great opportunities to narrow the gap still further.

 

Simon Spencer nailed a three-pointer with one minute twenty left before half time and strong defence led to three consecutive steals for the Blazers. Sam O'Shea, Dave Attewell and Baker all sank two from two at the line to close the gap to 60-55 at half-time.

 

While the second quarter was all about gritty determination and fight back, the third was more about quality basketball. The Trailblazers eventually took the lead with just under five minutes on the clock thanks to a score from Spencer and Gayle knocked down a late three to leave the Blazers 79-78 ahead going into the fourth.

 

The home team dominated the final quarter, with leads of up to eight points at some stages. However a three-pointer from Simon Allaway with eight seconds left cut the gap back to 101-99. A quick foul sent Arturo Noha to the line for one of two, before Gayle sent the game into overtime with a long range shot.

 

Madourie opened the extra period with a dunk off an assist from Allaway, but Mets replied with back to back threes from Adeluloa and Bola. Baker then drove to the hoop for two and with just over 90 seconds left, Gayle was fouled. He converted one of two leaving Derby 108-107 behind.

 

Bola was then sent to the line for the Londoners, where he converted both shots, but another three from Gayle tied the game at 110.

 

With tensions mounting, Mets called a time out. Strong defence followed, before Dave Attewell was called for his fifth foul, sending Bola to the line for one of two. Allaway then turned the ball over, allowing Noha to complete a fast break. With around 25 seconds left, Gayle nailed his seventh three-pointer of the night to tie the game at 113.

 

It was Bola who hit the winning shot, when he converted with 1.2 seconds remaining giving his side their eighth league win of the campaign.

 

Gayle finished the night with 28 points, while Madourie added 19 and Allaway had 15. The Londoners were led by Adeluloa with 25, Noha on 23 and Bola with 20 points.

 

Full EBL results from 6/7 March