Towers storm through to last four
Haribo London Towers old heads banged together and out-lasted the running guns of Derby Storm, taking a 76-72 victory to advance to a uni-ball Trophy semi-final match up with Thames Valley Tigers.
But despite all their greater strength in depth, Towers had to fight to cope with the energy on show from the Storm who never wavered in their ultimately doomed quest to return the final they lost last season, despite utilising their three Americans for almost the entire game.
As so often though for the capital giants, it was Danny Lewis who made his team tick to the top, notching a game-high 26 points including six in a crucial 11-2 final quarter run which left his team 71-64 ahead with 1:34 left and in command.
"We had a couple of low points in the game but overall we did pretty well," said Lewis. "They had some great dunks and blocks in the first half but it's not about that. It's about who scores the most points and who plays the better defence and that was us."
Derby certainly did get top marks for entertainment, Cypheus Bunton starring with a series of blocked shots, ending on six and adding a team leading 18 points. His team built up an early nine point advantage after five minutes played, with Ray Schultz opening his account early against the side who released him earlier this season.
Only in the latter stages of the second quarter did Towers come back, a change of defensive strategy precipitating a 9-0 run to close the first half putting them in front for the first time.
Ahead 42-39 entering the third quarter, Towers soon extended that gap to 10 points, Lewis' three pointer capping a 7-0 run. His team's shooting from open play dried up though, as they missed six field goal attempts as Storm closed to 55-53 early in the final stanza.
Storm thrice then edged into the lead, latterly when Darrian Evans finished off a break which his steal had started for a 63-64 scoreline with 3:49 remaining.
But Towers proved irresistible and with three of Derby's team fouling out before time ran out, the Midlands side could come no closer than three points.
"They played controlled chaos out there," said Towers' Martin Henlan who notched 11 points and 12 rebounds.
"They tried to get us up and down the floor, get the crowd on their side and tire our old guys out. It's great that Danny and Steve (Bucknall) brought us through."
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